The Hunting Consortium | Europe- Balkans

Balkans

Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia

The Balkans are the region of Southeastern Europe which lie between western Europe and the Middle East. It is composed of Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and various republics of former Yugoslavia and Albania. The Balkans are famous for their rich hunting grounds and wild, sparsely populated mountains. Endowed with several mountain ranges, beautiful coastlines and lush river valleys, these countries boast a long list of European species. They offer excellent trophy quality red stags, Alpine chamois, Alpine ibex, Balkan chamois, mouflon, fallow deer, roe deer, and wild boar, as well as rarer species such as the European brown bear, wolf and lynx. Macedonia is also the only country, except Greece, which can offer hunting for the coveted Kri Kri ibex.

Since Greece no longer has a sport hunting program of consequence, we must sadly eliminate it from our discussion of hunting destinations. Romania by contrast is so important a hunting destination, that The Hunting Consortium has stationed a full-time representative there. We give this country its own section in our inventory of popular European destinations for hunters.

The Balkans are such as necessity to the traveling hunter today that The Hunting Consortium now has its own European headquarters there. Our full-time professional hunter and Director of European Operations, Anton Tonchev, oversees this multinational program from his office in Skopje, Macedonia. “Tony” supervises the endeavors of our several regional representatives and is busy developing new programs in the ever-evolving European hunting scene.

As elsewhere in Europe, our programs in the Balkans have been designed specifically for our clients. Our staff travels frequently in the region, updating information and selecting new areas, always looking for the best hunting opportunities and the most reliable operators. Our partners in the Balkans are some of the most experienced and professional operators in Europe. Accommodations are very comfortable, with excellent foods and wines. The hunting is perhaps the best it has ever been in this region.

MACEDONIA

This small land-locked country, about the size of the state of Vermont, became independent in 1991 with the break up of Yugoslavia. It is one of the most mountainous countries of Europe with a small population and a long and proud hunting heritage. Rugged mountains and vast forests make this little country an ideal spot for traveling hunters.

Macedonia has become the primary destination for hunters seeking exceptional trophies of Balkan chamois, which are numerous there. There are also good populations of mouflon, wild boar, and other European species. The wolf population is among the densest in Europe and has become the best place in Europe for wolf hunting.

Macedonia is also home to several famous game reserves where exotic species such as Himalayan tahr and Aoudad sheep have been stocked. It is the only country in Europe, outside Greece, which allows the harvest of Kri Kri ibex, a form of bezoar ibex which developed in the Greek Islands and has now been stocked in Macedonia.

Accommodations are comfortable and the cuisine is excellent, blending Eastern and Western dishes.

BULGARIA

The rugged mountains and remote valleys of Bulgaria coupled with its quaint Eastern culture have made this country a fascinating destination for traveling hunters. Rich in wildlife, Bulgaria is more primitive than most other eastern European countries. The infrastructure is poor, the economy is agrarian and most of the country is mountainous, all of which contribute to it being an excellent country for hunting.

Bulgaria has long been famous for its huge red stags and is still the primary attraction for most hunters. Bulgaria also has excellent populations of Balkan chamois, roe deer and wild boar, as well as reasonable numbers of mouflon and fallow deer in some places.

On the finer estates, amenities are above average and Bulgarian service is always friendly and courteous.

CROATIA

This small country, about twice the size of Macedonia, was also spawned in the break up of Yugoslavia in 1991. It is blessed with a long and beautiful coastline, rich alluvial plains along the Drava and Danube river valleys, vast forests, and the rugged Dalmatian Mountains. These varied habitats harbor most of the major European game species. Croatia also boasts an excellent infrastructure, which, although damaged during the civil war of the 1990s, has largely recovered and is today one of the best in the Balkans.

One of the most important hunting destinations in Europe, Croatia has lured hunters from far and wide for hundreds of years. The famous valleys of the Drava River, which separate Croatia from Hungary and the Danube River, which separates it from Serbia, have produced some of the largest red stags ever taken. The rich flood plains of these rivers also produce excellent roe deer.

Croatia’s forests are full of wild boars and a significant population of European brown bears. The coastal mountains produce excellent mouflon rams and Balkan chamois, as well as the wild Dalmatian Ovan, or wild sheep - a progenitor of our domestic sheep.

Croatia’s Adriatic Coast has been a tourist destination for generations and therefore there are an abundance of excellent hotels, guest houses, and hunting lodges throughout the country. Good road networks make traversing the country easy and quick, making hunting in several areas easily possible during the same trip.

SERBIA

Beset with political problems and with an infrastructure that was heavily damaged by the NATO air strikes during the Balkan War of the 1990s, the hunting industry of Serbia lags behind those of its neighbors. Nevertheless, this country still delivers some fine roe deer trophies in the rich and famous Vojvodina region along the Danube River.

The southern-most spur of the Transylvanian Alps, part of the Carpathian Range, run into the eastern part of Serbia and some Carpathian chamois are found there. However, the hunting prospects for that species are so much better in neighboring Romania, that we prefer to arrange hunts for that species in Romania.

BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA

This small compound nation has been effectively independent only since the end of the Bosnian War (1992- 1995). Bosnia was the scene of the worst fighting and atrocities in the civil war that followed the break up of Yugoslavia and the infrastructure was heavily damaged. This was once one of the best places in Europe to hunt European brown bear, wolves, and was also known for big wild boar.

Hopefully, the natural resources of Bosnia & Herzegovina will soon recover and this land will once again host traveling sportsmen. For now, we wait and we watch.

SLOVENIA

First of the new republics to break away from former Yugoslavia, Slovenia made a rapid transition to a market economy, largely without damage or disruption. It is now a member of the European Union and of NATO. This small mountain country, about the size of Vermont, is home to the Julian Alps, with remote green valleys, sprinkled with charming little villages, much like neighboring Austria. Here the traditions of the mountaineering folk and their hunting heritage are as strong as ever.

Tourism is one of Slovenia’s major industries and the friendly people of this country welcome thousands of visitors every year. The infrastructure is excellent and there are comfortable guest houses and hunting lodges scattered throughout the mountains.

The primary species hunted here are Alpine chamois, as well as roe deer, wild boar and some red deer. There is also a small quota for free-ranging Alpine ibex.

Balkans Species List:

European Brown Bear

Alpine Ibex

Kri Kri Ibex

Alpine Chamois

Balkan Chamois

European Red Deer

European Fallow deer

European Roe deer

Mouflon

Wolf

Wild Boar

Lynx

European Wild Cat

Dalmatian Sheep

Exotic Species List:

Himalayan Tahr

Aoudad Sheep

Axis Deer

Feral Goat

“Bob and his crew are experienced professionals. Every trip is meticulously planned with true military precision. I have very much enjoyed my trips with Bob and would not trust anyone else to outfit my hunts in Europe!”

-Craig Boddington

"Bob Kern and The Hunting Consortium have been arranging hunts for me for more than 10 years. His staff always does a great job. I've been to very remote hunting areas and have never had any major problems. I collect quality trophies consistently, including, 22 Ovis species and 26 Capra. With The Hunting Consortium's help, I hope to achive the Super 30 of each. Bob Kern and The Hunting Consortium helped me earn the SCI Hunting Award Ring and The Conservation and Hunting Award."

- Page Mays

"For almost a decade now, I have asked Bob Kern & Corey Knowlton to provide me with the best international hunts on planet earth. They have always came through and provided me with some of the most exciting adventures that i have had in my career."

-Jim Shockey