CROATIA Hunting Information

[mark-hunter]

Wild boar fever, in Croatia.

 

[Sika98k]

Unfortunately they do now have real wild boar fever ! I was booking a hunt with a group in E. Croatia for next January (2024).
I received an email from “our man in Croatia “ sounds like a spy thriller, huh.
Anyway a severe storm has done a lot of structural damage. The forests have all had a lot of trees knocked down and even worse a bad outbreak of ASF in the Balkans has decimated the wild boar population.
He reckons it could be 3 years before hunting gets back to normal.

 

[mark-hunter]

Anyway a severe storm has done a lot of structural damage.

In last years, the storms get more severe then ever.

This year, during this storm, a tree fell on my house. An old oak. By luck, the center mass of the tree fell sideways and scratched the roof, but several strong side branches, destroyed few bricks, chimney, and few bricks on the roof, plus bent few meters of metal plate drains. So, minor damages at my home, but it could be much worse.

In the neighborhood, many large trees fell, including some 100 year old pine trees.

Then, there was the floods following the storms. I dont remember storms of that magnitude, ever before.

 

[HuntingGold]

Wow! I'm glad you are ok and happy that the damage is repairable.

 

[mark-hunter]

Update on general information and conditions on hunting in Croatia.

I believe that in my earlier posts I covered all aspects of hunting in Croatia, and what to expect.
One thing I accidentally did omit.

Testing the rifle before the hunt.

It is my experience that nobody ever asked me to test or zero the rifle before the hunt.

Somehow, this is not customary or common procedure.
There could be numerous reasons for that from cultural and traditional, to the basic lack of local range.

So, what to do?
So, a visiting hunter, is advised that upon a contact with the hunting agency or reputable outfitter verifies in advance to have option to test and zero the rifle before the hunt.

Generally, the system is following.
The hunt is in most cases organized by hunting agency, in cooperation with some local hunting club that operates their local hunting concession.

So, the hunting agent, upon client request will need to confirm this with local club, and then to confirm the same to visiting agent. ( a matter of a phone call, made on time, so local club can prepare some target and brief the hunting guide - very simple)

As mentioned earlier, usually, hunting clubs don't require this from their club members, and this part of hunting procedure can easily be omitted by them when meeting with client, or overlooked by agency when organizing the hunt.

Local hunters - club members have under their personal responsibility and ethics to keep rifles zeroed, and no fixed rules are established to test the rifles before the hunt, or before the season in most of the cases.

Some clubs do this on the season opening, but many do not.

Thus it is wise for visiting foreign guest in Croatia to confirm the options for zeroing the rifle through his agency contacts before going to the hunt.

 

[mark-hunter]

Will post the hunt report when getting some time to write.
For a time being, some pix.

 

[HuntingGold]

Very nice! Looking forward to your report.

 

[D-Orcutt]

Nice I’ll be there in September for a hunt

 

[mark-hunter]

Very nice thread i will link below, and will add a nice illustration to my Croatian thread.
Two of my roe bucks above, are hunted not far away from this area.

Driven Hunts In Croatia

Day 1: Kutina hunting grounds Early in the morning, the hunting tour operator drives us to the Kutina hunting ground. On the half-hour journey, we pass through small, snow-covered villages until we reach the hunting lodge. There, we meet up with the leaseholder of the Kutina hunting ground...

www.africahunting.com

 

[mark-hunter]

Been to my annual pheasant hunt in the North of a country, with couple of my good hunting friends.
Due to our private obligations we could spend just one day. Usually we go for two days hunting.

Early start of a long day required us to get on the road around 04.00 am, had a coffee on a highway road stop, and be as agreed by 08.30 at hunting ground.
The area is Zelendvor, one of the most famous hunting areas of former yugo president marshal TIto, where once alegedly he had a record of his daily bag of pheasants, as the story go. (many years ago).

After ex Yugo state collapsed, the hunting area had its ups and downs through privatization process, but as I visit this place at least once per year for a last decade, its steady improvements in the quality and bird numbers are visible. This years additons where new bird raising pen, and a rifle shooting range 100 meters.

Lodging, and restaurant in old mittel European style here, and by now trap and clay targets and rifle shooting range is available for visiting guests. Trap shooting range is one of the oldest in the country.

Zelendvor is one of the oldest and most historically significant hunting grounds in Croatia, established in 1870 by Count Marko Bombelles. Located in what is today Varaždin County, close to border with Slovenia, and the hunting ground was initially designed for organized hunting, with pheasants introduced from South Moravia by good Count Bombelles.
Its landscape, characterized by open fields, natural hedges, small woodlands, and well-drained sandy and gravelly soils, provided an optimal environment for small game breeding and hunting.
Available species today are phaesants, partridges, quail, hares, fox, roe deer.

Throughout its history, Zelendvor has followed traditional European and Austro-Hungarian hunting culture, which can still be felt today

On arrival we had another coffee and small chat with the owner and long known friend, and had meeting with our young guide Kris.

As it will be seen, our guides three dogs were fantastically trained, 2 springer spaniels and a german short haired, they kept close to hunting party, flushing birds out at good shooting distance and marking on spot

The first drive went through the morning, and brought many nice birds.
Then of to lodge we went for a good warm lunch.
After the lunch, we had a short breifing again on a new area, and we were good to go.

Pheasants were plentiful, and then as a cherry on the top there was a hedgerow, full of partridges flushing out.
The hunt was crowned by my friend taking down a fine woodcock.
Woodcock is known locally as the queen of the woods. Never hunted in big numbers, and always highly praised!
My highlight of the day was a two distant flying cocks, hit perfectly with proper lead in crossfligh.
(despite number of good misses I had in a first drive)

At the end of a day, while I stayed at the bar to chat with owner (and organize local plucking of birds), my two eager friends went to get a chance for a roe deer doe from a high seat, with last sunlight, but had no luck this time.
All in all, after all formalities were sorted out, we had the long road back home. And came at home around 23.00 lt, full of emotions. (Yes, all details we discussed in forthcoming days)

A wonderful day in the field, with fantastic working dogs in open plains and nature of the North!
Most likely, I will go back next January.

 

[sierraone]

Spent a year there in 97-98, but wasn't allowed to hunt. The levee along the Dunav going south from Batina was covered in pheasants, pigs and medium to large antlered game. I truly enjoyed my time there and other parts of the country. We just had a lot of restrictions since the war was in the recent past.

 

[mark-hunter]

Now things are much more hunter-friendly. years of 97-98, and peaceful reintegration of former occupied regions was difficult period.
As a hunter I cannot complain on opportunities around, today.

 

[mark-hunter]

The winter slowly passed. Winter is shotgun season, and while I spent those long months mostly with a shotgun in hand, my deer rifle was quietly waiting for its time—the spring roe buck season.

A month before the opener, I took the rifle out to check zero. Everything was perfect. Ready.

Formally new hunting season starts on 1st April.
Hunter year legally lasts from 01st April til 31st march here.

By the 1st April and for next season a hunter annual registration mark should be received.
It is in a form of small sticker, that looks like postal stamp, and it is then glued to hunters id card for this year.

I was waiting for the date of 16th April, first day of roe buck season.
That was supposed to be THE DAY.

In April, the bucks are plentiful, the grass and crops are low, visibility good, and bucks have not been hunted since last September, so they are less spooky after spending fall and winter without hunting pressure.

In may and june, conditions in the fields worsen.
Less bucks are around, because of the hunting off take, and the crops and vegetations are high, asking more time and effort to get a buck.

End of july, beginning of august - in some places there are mosquitos to accompany a hunter, heat, but also this is a time for roe deer rut.
They come on a calling. This is special experience.

The hunting season ends on 30 September.

But during the September, they hide in forests, stay in shade, they are exhausted after mating, less active and keep collecting fat to survive the winter.
Numbers are low, as many have been taken during the season.

So, my time, to hunt them across the seasonal options, and if I can choose is from 16 April, till 1st of may.
For me, this is the best time!

But, by early April this year, my annual hunter registration sticker has not arrived.

I called everywhere and everybody but to no avail.
Some administration problem, printing issue, what ever..

Dont worry it will come shortly, they said!
16th of April came, the sticker has not arrived!
I was desperate.

Then, under the force majeure of administrational kind, I had nothing else but to turn back to home works, reconstruction of the house, boat maintenance for next season.
The days without that sticker, slowly passed, and I tried not to think about it.

FInally, I got it!
Received by the end of April, almost two weeks after season opened!

I called the hunting area owner, and manager Zoran.
Do you still have some bucks on quota?
Yes, a few!

Can I come next days, and will bring a friend?
Sure, come next Tuesday.

Can I try for two bucks, and he will try for one?
Sure, we can manage!

Ufff, a deep sense of a relief came on my side!

So, Tom and me, two friends, off we went for planned 2 days hunt.
I had my doubts and concerns, because with 2 weeks of season open, some bucks will be taken, and opportunities will be less.

At 2 am we went off, arriving to the place just before 5 am, with dark all around us.

Zoran met us infrornt of the hunting lodge, gave us the paperwork, and before the dawn broke, we were at our blinds.

Mile, the hunt muster, who took us to the blinds, told me:

If you shoot, do not come down from blind, because here the two bucks have their overlapping territory, and second one can come out.
I will pick you up in any case, by 08.30.

Okey... Sounds good, but knowing my bad luck, I had my realistic doubts about two bucks, from same blind, on same morning
At least this sounded conforming, about two bucks circling around, giving me a good chance at least for one.

The hunting area is well known, but mostly famous for pheasant and partridge hunts.

Roe deer side animal on game management plan.
There are plenty of roe around, but very limited number of annual off take.

Hunting here for a roe deer is mostly from blind, and area is easy for hunt. Fields are well managed, flat, and easy for long walks during pheasant hunt.

While I was sitting in blind, I was waiting to hear a shot from another position where my Friend Tom was sitting with his Blaser r8 in hand.

My blind was in the middle of forest crossroads. I could see clearly in 4 directions, at 90 degree angle, along the road clearings.
It was a very dense bush aside of each road. And if I take a shot, it will be somewhere along these clearings, where also the grass is most green.

In the bush, in permanent shadow, there was almost no grass.

I used a chance to measure the distances to all visible land marks.
The shot could be taken anywhere between 50 and 300 meters. I memorized few distances to some trees and similar objects.
So, minutes passed.

Ups!
And a roe buck came out!

And it is not too far away.
I Checked the antlers, ok - acceptable for my standard. (I dont shoot medals)
I rested the rifle on rail of blind, and found the buck in crosshair.

He was a bit too close for my taste, because blind had a roof, but it was not closed, and he was walking directly to my direction.

In a few moments I was certain he will see me.
Also, he was walking towards me, which meant short time, before getting alert.
I kept crosshairs at the chest, and when he stopped, I fired!

Effect was instant, at measured distance of 80 meters.

Buck down!
What next?

I was instructed not to come down from blind, in case another buck comes out next.

I resisted the urge, and kept discipline.

I stayed put, after I was certain the buck will not go away, and will stay there.

2nd buck for me?
Hardly! I am not that lucky, but I was not worried. I had two days to hunt.
2nd one will come out eventually, maybe tommorow.

So, I took a cigarette, a rare luxury for me, on the blind, but I had no particular reason to deny myself such luxury considering I had a buck down, 2nd one will not come out due to my bad luck and all I had to do is stay put, and wait for 08.30 to be picked up by Mile.

The cigarete was still burning in my hand, when I saw a movement on the clearing, alongside the road, 180 degrees from the place where first buck was.

Naaay, it cant be...I thought.... I am certain of my bad luck, and this should be unshootable doe on morning graze...

But just to keep my mind at peace, I took Leica binos.

My god!
Another buck! 16o meters.

Moving away from me, fairly fast.
The antler looked older, seamingly in decline, as it comes to decline after 7 years of age!
Perfect!

Just, not to be so perfect situation - he was walking away from me, on the right side of clearing. First measured distance was 160 meters, and even in the binocular he was not representing too big target.

I put the rifle on the rail of the blind, but to connect the crosshair to the target, I had a branch of a tree blocking the view.
And I dont want to shoot through the branch.

When I moved the rifle to the right, I lost the rest, because now the rifle was over the entrance to the blind, and it had no rest there!

I wanted now the jim shokey tripod, but I left it in the car.

Buck kept his pace still walking away, with distance mercylessly increasing!

To improvise some rest I put the left hand over the rail, stretched the palm out, and rested the rifle on my free floating palm.
It was still still shaky, but better than nothing.
At least I was clear from that branch.
Bullet will pass at least 4 inches away from branch.

Now, semi satisfied with shooting stance, I followed the buck.
Still walking away. Fairly fast.
Approaching 200 meters mark.

Suddenly he stopped. He then turned sideways and looked at my direction, with crosshairs behind the shoulder, I let it go!

I heard a dull impact sound of bullet hitting home.
In a recoil of the rifle I did not see the effect of impact, and when the rifle settled I could see rear part of roe buck entering dense bush to the right.

Great!
Just when I was getting used on DRT procedure with previous buck, this one started hide and seek game!
In the same time, I was not 100% certain of where I hit, due to my shaky shooting stance.

In my mind, I did everything OK, but I did not have that inner feeling of a good shot.

I went there to check, found few drops of blood, but the bush was totally impenetrable for me. I tried entering the bush, saw nothing, and came out empty handed.

I called hunt master Mile, and told him to bring a dog.
His pet is jack russel, who enjoys special position at his place, among other bird dogs he has.

Shortly Mile was here, and Benko, jack russel champion dog. Jack russel sits with him in front seat. So, I went back into the blind to identify the position of place of shot.

He walked forward with dog along the clearing.

I looked through binocular till he reached position.
I tried yelling to stop, but he didnt hear.
I called by mobile phone, he picked up.

This is position! Stop here, look around!

I didnt finish the sentence, jack russel launched like from catapult after getting the smell in the nose!
I was looking the events from distance, and Mile walked into the bush!

I was about to climb down to follow them, but Mile was already out, pulling the buck.
I went there.

Took the moment and measured the distance to the blind: 178 meters!

Mile said, the buck was 50 meters in the bush.
He was shot behind the shoulder, lower in the heart area

Now we had to collect animals to car, and go back to lodge for a breakfast.
it was about 7 am in the morning, and by that time the shot from my friend Tom on another blind has not been heard yet.

At 08.30, Mile collected Tom from blind, empty handed.

We had now a day to kill, before late afternoon outing.
I had no idea what I can do next, my tags had been filled.

But first order of the day was to get some sleep. We hit the road at 2 am, and I woke up at midnight. I went to rest at 22, so I had less than 1 hour of sleep.

Tom was probably in same shape.

We woke up by early afternoon. Made new plan.
New blind for Tom.
And I got permit for jackal and fox, at least to have something to do.

It took 2 hours in the blind, till I heard a shot in the distance.
Tom is acclaimed long range shooting competitor, and I had no doubts, his roe buck was down. I took my mobile from the pocket, and waited for a call!

15 minutes later, a call came: I have a roe buck down, call them to pick me up!

Okey. I called back the lodge, told them to pick him up, then to pick me up.

it was still a daylight. We could do an easy dinner, and go home after sorting out the papers.

We came home, one day earlier, around midnight.

I took with me all three bucks, cut in quarters, to dress them and pack the meat in freezer bags.
On arrival home, I covered them and placed some frozen water bottles over the venison to keep cold till morning.

Small gear and equipment checked from back pack and stored in the locker, and finally I found some energy to do the last thing for the day: clean the rifle.

Then I knocked off, exausted.

This extra day was so usefull. next morning I dressed all the venisson. It took me 4 hours. then I called Tom to pick up his part, and got mine into the freezer.

Finally I had some time to rest.
Becasue, mrs mark-hunter, had already packed me up for another trip. Tomorrow, we were to go to Budapest, Hungary, for next 4 days to Eric Clapton concert, and local sightseeing.

But that is a story for another day.

 

[Miletic]

Conscientious hunting at the beginning of the season.
Nothing else was expected from you! Beautiful trophy!
Congrat!!!!!