ROMANIA: Roebuck Hunt

[pattesonfamily]

Recently returned from a great hunt with Marius of @HUNTROMANIA.

BLUF: Marius is a great guide who is passionate about his country, its history and its wildlife. He will bust his ass to get you on good animals and his area knowledge is mind blowing. We had hoped to take two roe bucks but given the heat wave crossing Europe and the tall midsummer grass, we only managed to take one old buck. But he was a great one. Will 100% hunt with Marius again.

I arrived in Cluj, Romania late afternoon on a Thursday, after 3 flights and almost 20 hours of travel from home (Boston to LHR to Warsaw to Cluj). The plan was to hunt Fri/Sat/Sun.

But as Marius picked me up from the airport, he asked my favorite question - "Would you like to get a few hours in hunting this evening? Or do you need to rest?" Unabashedly I said, "let's go hunt, I can rest later." We quickly dropped off my gear and changed in to hunting clothes and headed to the field. This would prove a fortuitous decision as the only confirmed shooter we would see would come this evening, right at last light...

This one was still young, and in an area where you can't shoot.

 

[pattesonfamily]

I quickly learned that hunting with Marius meant a lot of upward movement. From the first hunt it seemed we were climbing. Up and down these small valleys threaded by small streams that traversed between woodland and farm land. It was good exercise and a beautiful way to see the country, both of us moving as silently as we could to stalk these elusive animals. One lesson learned was my Courtneys are boot better suited to the African plains than they were the steeply rolling hills of Transylvania. I should have worn my Asolos, and will next time.



We saw a couple of does, and a young buck, but nothing worth getting on the sticks for. About 5 min before last light, we finally saw a mature roebuck about 100 meters off. Marius had him in the binos and I had him in the scope. I definitely appreciated the high quality glass on Marius Blaser R8, it gave me the confidence even in that low light, that I could take an ethical shot, and did.



When we got to the animal, we found that he was an old buck (Marius aged him at 7-7 ½ years old), with typical 3 points on the left antler, but a gnarled mass of 6 points on the right. A fascinating example and one I was super proud to take.

 

[pattesonfamily]

As it turned out, that would be the last shooter we would see. We spent the next 2 ½ days in Marius incredibly robust Nissan Patrol moving from various valley to hill top looking for roe bucks. We would see several does every day among this beautiful country but no bucks. Often, 3 or four beds, freshly laid in would be the only signs of the roe that had slipped away amidst the tall summer grasses.

Only once, again at last light, did we see another buck. But by the time we got on the sticks, we really couldn’t guarantee that the body we saw in the scope was the buck, and not the doe, so I held off. I came to appreciate the value of thermal scopes, even in the day time, for their aid in identifying animals in the tall grass we would have otherwise missed.

The countryside was gorgeous. We drove 4x4 roads that were barely whispers. Steep drop offs that would have terrified some, were it not for Marius’ confidence. Forest curtains opened on the edges of fields like entering some new land, abandoned by farmers 50 years ago, plum and apple trees still loaded with fruit. We saw lots of dove and pheasant along the way.

 

[pattesonfamily]

Marius made sure I was well fed and cared for. We shared some Ciuc beer together with a ranger and Romania’s leading bear researcher, along with smoked roe back strap and wild boar sausage as we talked about the new government and the state of conservation in Romania.

Speaking of conservation, Romania has too many bears, currently at about 2.5-3 times their ideal carrying capacity. We saw lots of bear sign, sheds broken in to, torn up termite mounds, scat and beds.

And for one afternoon, we briefly became the hunted rather than hunters. While set up on the sticks awaiting two roe to pop back out, we heard the crunch of leaves in the forest about 35 meters away, followed by the sounds of a bear sniffing to take in our scent. Thermal couldn’t pierce the forest leaves, but it seemed clear that the bear could see and smell us. And it wasn’t bothered.

Marius had me give him the rifle and he got on the sticks as we had no permit for a bear in this region. For a period of about 10 minutes (it felt longer), we stood in this remote valley, an apex predator unseen but heard within 50 meters. It was quiet and eerie and tense and enthralling. And then it was gone.



I got home and some friends who only hunt whitetails looked at the pictures and said “Why shoot something so small? That’s not a trophy.” It’s hard for them to wrap their brains around what a trophy really is, and especially around what I would term a trophy experience. I’ll savor this hunt in my mind for a long time. Good people, good country, good animals. Great experience.

I’ll be back. For a fixed price hunt for representative animals, its would be tough to beat hunting with Marius. Next time, for a red stag I think.

BTW, I was able to easily bring back my euro skull in my checked luggage. Marius provided me a copy of my license, and I touch based with the USFWS rep at my home airport who told me what form to fill out online before flying. I did that and after a brief stop at CBP with the Dept of Ag folks who inspected the skull, I was on my way before many others on my flight had even gotten their luggage yet. Easy day.

 

[Mekaniks]

What an awesome buck! Congratulations

 

[CEO]

Very cool rack. This is a hunt I look at probably once a month, and have just never pulled the trigger.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Incredible trophy. Congratulations.

 

[Red Leg]

Marius made sure I was well fed and cared for. We shared some Ciuc beer together with a ranger and Romania’s leading bear researcher, along with smoked roe back strap and wild boar sausage as we talked about the new government and the state of conservation in Romania.

Speaking of conservation, Romania has too many bears, currently at about 2.5-3 times their ideal carrying capacity. We saw lots of bear sign, sheds broken in to, torn up termite mounds, scat and beds.

And for one afternoon, we briefly became the hunted rather than hunters. While set up on the sticks awaiting two roe to pop back out, we heard the crunch of leaves in the forest about 35 meters away, followed by the sounds of a bear sniffing to take in our scent. Thermal couldn’t pierce the forest leaves, but it seemed clear that the bear could see and smell us. And it wasn’t bothered.

Marius had me give him the rifle and he got on the sticks as we had no permit for a bear in this region. For a period of about 10 minutes (it felt longer), we stood in this remote valley, an apex predator unseen but heard within 50 meters. It was quiet and eerie and tense and enthralling. And then it was gone.



I got home and some friends who only hunt whitetails looked at the pictures and said “Why shoot something so small? That’s not a trophy.” It’s hard for them to wrap their brains around what a trophy really is, and especially around what I would term a trophy experience. I’ll savor this hunt in my mind for a long time. Good people, good country, good animals. Great experience.

I’ll be back. For a fixed price hunt for representative animals, its would be tough to beat hunting with Marius. Next time, for a red stag I think.

BTW, I was able to easily bring back my euro skull in my checked luggage. Marius provided me a copy of my license, and I touch based with the USFWS rep at my home airport who told me what form to fill out online before flying. I did that and after a brief stop at CBP with the Dept of Ag folks who inspected the skull, I was on my way before many others on my flight had even gotten their luggage yet. Easy day.

View attachment 697826

That is far more than a representative animal. Congratulations on a great accomplishment. Roe deer are my co-favorite animal to hunt. The other is cape buffalo. Try to get back in April when the crops are just emerging.

 

[pattesonfamily]

That is far more than a representative animal. Congratulations on a great accomplishment. Roe deer are my co-favorite animal to hunt. The other is cape buffalo. Try to get back in April when the crops are just emerging.

Yes, I am quite pleased with it!

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

Thank you for the report, and one more time Congratulations for the trophy! Was a pleasure to hunt with you!

 

[Nyati]

What you have we call an un-typical, a very nice one, congrats !

 

[Denvir Tire]

Thank you for the well written report and congrats on a very unique trophy!
While in Romania, did you get to see any touristy type sights?
Will you go back to Romania?

 

[pattesonfamily]

Thank you for the well written report and congrats on a very unique trophy!
While in Romania, did you get to see any touristy type sights?
Will you go back to Romania?

Thanks!

Yes, we have a manufacturing plant there so I go regularly. This was just the first time I'd added a hunt.

On previous trips I've explored a lot of the tourist sites in Transylvania.

 

[Atticus]

Thanks for sharing the great report! Transylvania is a spectacular place and Marius is a terrific guy and guide. Congratulations on a wonderful trophy!

 

[Doug3006]

Congratulations on a fine hunt and a super nice roe deer! Romania is on my “someday list.” Hunting red stag in Romania is on my “someday soon” list.