HUNGARY: Roe Deer On The Hungarian Plain And Mouflon Of The Bakony Mountains - Or, How I Came To Despise A Bolt Action Equipped With A Suppressor

[USN]

Well done Sir!

 

[Rifleman97]

I really don’t get how some people shoot when hunting with 0 hearing protection and claim to “not really notice or be bothered by the noise”

I fired my 30-06 once while hunting when I was younger, and decided I would never do that again. I occasionally get spouts of tinnitus, and it started with that one shot.

Ever since then I use those silicone earplugs, I have them very loosely placed in my ear and whenever I hear something like the animal I’m hunting, or have the chance to set up for a shot, I just push them into my ears. Takes about 1-2 seconds and saves me my ears.

However, my entire income comes from having good ears, if I were to go mostly deaf I would quite literally lose my job. I’m a piano tuner and technician by trade

I also hate suppressors personally

 

[Josh P]

Finally figured out how to block a face (though I wasn't expecting the Darth Vader look). Not an issue that concerns me personally very much. Rick is a former offensive lineman and stands 6' 4" and weighs around 320. His right arm is against the beast, so we are not trying to make the boar look larger than he is. The tusks seemingly are not that large, but I think they may just be out of proportion to the massive head.

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Those are both very large critters! Thanks for sharing this and all the other pictures.

 

[mdwest]

thanks for the report Joe! a central Europe combo deer/pig hunt is on our short list.. we've been looking hard at a couple of different options in Romania, Hungary, Croatia, etc.. and plan on hunting for maybe 3 days and touring the surrounding area for 3-5 days sometime in either 2026 or 2027.. looks like replicating your hunt might be a really nice option!

 

[kdenn]

Well done. Great report. Thanks for sharing your adventures, very well written.
I’m big fan of hunting with a suppressor and just had custom rifle made with 20 inch barrel so it’s manageable with suppressor. Have hunt planned in Spain for mouflon with wife hunting Gredos ibex.

 

[Spearhead]

I use suppressors on two of my firearms - both AR platforms. One is the home defense AR with short barrel that still results in a very compact weapon. The other is thermal equipped for doing battle with pigs in the pecans at midnight. For those two purposes, they are an ideal accessory. But on a rifle while trying to stalk game? I just don't get it. And I agree, brakes are an abomination.

Very much agreed about suppressors being a bit of a hassle while stalking. It's like hunting with a fly rod rifle, but stationary stand hunting, it's an obvious joy. And my ears are happy too.

 

[VertigoBE]

Finally figured out how to block a face (though I wasn't expecting the Darth Vader look). Not an issue that concerns me personally very much. Rick is a former offensive lineman and stands 6' 4" and weighs around 320. His right arm is against the beast, so we are not trying to make the boar look larger than he is. The tusks seemingly are not that large, but I think they may just be out of proportion to the massive head.

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That's a proper keiler !

 

[MontanaPat]

I really enjoyed your report, thanks for sharing the details, nice roe deer. I just returned home yesterday from a roe deer hunt in Spain. I agree I just don't care for suppressors on a bolt action hunting rifle. I use hearing protection and just haven't felt the need for one myself. That is also a nice boar your friend shot.

 

[RR 314]

I use suppressors on two of my firearms - both AR platforms. One is the home defense AR with short barrel that still results in a very compact weapon. The other is thermal equipped for doing battle with pigs in the pecans at midnight. For those two purposes, they are an ideal accessory. But on a rifle while trying to stalk game? I just don't get it. And I agree, brakes are an abomination.

To really round out the rifle, it should have had a proper leather wrapped pad. Seriously looks like a great trip and excellent writing. Thanks for the recap.

 

[BJH65]

Well done General! Wonderfully written story and photos, a nice little adventure. The use of suppressors seems quite popular these days in Europe and Eastern Europe, no doubt considered a polite thing when hunting farmland.

I absolutely love my Leica Geovid 10x42 rangefinder binoculars but so far have only found them useful for North American hunting and use my ancient Swarovski 8x30 SLC binoculars for Africa instead.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Congratulations.
Sad to have to wrestle with a rifle like that on a hunt.
I'm sure the pleasure of taking the R8 after the Red's will salve the mind.

Thanks for sharing the tale.

* moderated a few of your writing frustrations away.

 

[gillettehunter]

Some very fine roe deer there. Good job. An 8 inch suppressor is a LOT to add to a barrel. I've seen some closer to 6 inches. Then if you can start with a barrel length of 20 or maybe 22 inches they can be somewhat manageable. Thanks for your report. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Bruce

 

[Muskox]

Wow nice trophies. I am kind of shocked that the first buck is under 400. He doesn't from the photos have the kind of antlers that are light.

Lots of trash or what europeans call pearling equals light. Even with mass.

No trash just mass, equals heavy.

 

[Firebird]

A charming read about an exciting adventure. I hope to get there someday, glad you did and had a great trip-thanks for the pictures and write up!