Hunting in Romania

Romania is a country with a high percent of intact natural ecosystems. We can find here the biggest area of natural forest from Europe. On its territory, there are a lot of corridors of migration. The high level of the diversity of the ecosystems and the geographically localisation reflects on the floristically opulence – more then 3500 species of superior plants and fauna – over 30.000 species. The hunting areas have dimensions of minimum 5.000 hectares of plains, 7 hectares of hills and 10.000 hectares in the mountains. Many times there are grouped in hunting complexes with big areas, and all theses look like this for an incorporated and a lasting management of the species of hunting interest.

CARPATHIAN STAG

When the forests were better represented in the plain and hill areas, the stags were present in the plains, hills and hillocks. With the development of the human society, the habitat became Carpathian and in some mountain areas has disappeared completely. Because of the measures taken, the population of stags renewed in the mountainous areas. As a result of the natural selection from Carpathians, the corporal dimensions of the Romanian stags are superior comparing to those from the Western Europe, the male can weight about 250 kg. The hunting period for males is between 1 September and 15 December and for females between 1 September and 15 February. The National Forest Administration has a natural population with a special value where you can find natural trophies of the most powerful stags from Europe. The most valuable trophy had 261,25 points CIC, and the first 10 trophies from Romania had over 240 points CIC.

ROEBUCK

Once disappeared from the plain and hillock forests, the roebuck has a high potential of reproduction compared to the stag and can be found in Carpathian forests and in the meadows of the Danube Delta. The hunting season for roebucks is between May 15-September 15 for males and September 1- February 28 for selection. Special trophies can be found in all hunting areas administrated by the National Forest Administration. The top of the series is 211.67 points CIC, and the first 10 trophies are over 176 points

CHAMOIS

The pearl of Carpathians is described by Couturier as a subspecies of Rupicapra carpatica. Because of the repopulation organized by the National Forest Administration, the chamois lives now almost in all areas of the country. The hunting season for the chamois is between September 15-December 15. The best results were obtained around the date of October 15. The momentousness of the landscape and the keenness of the senses of the chamois can offer you the possibility to catch a special trophy and an unforgettable hunting. Romania registers the biggest trophies of chamois in the whole world. In Fagaras Mountains was registered the world record of 141,10 points CIC, and in other areas of Carpathians were caught the first 20 world trophies. The first 10 trophies from Romania exceed 126 points CIC.

WILD BOAR

Brassy and blood-minded, this knight in armour of the forest may offer special moments of hunting. Being very adaptable, during summer time, the wild boar walks a lot, and, at the end of autumn, it retracts, searching shelters with fruits. From the Danube Delta to alpine forest (where it finds food and shelter), we find the wild boar. The hunting season is between August the first and February 15 for males, and for females, the hunting period is between August the first and January 31. The most used hunting methods are chasing and spying, and during wintertime, is hitting. Many times, dogs too participate too, and that makes hunting more interesting. The National Forest Administration has special trophies. Usually, the animal must have more then 150 kilograms in order to be hunted, but sometimes it had been hunted animals with more then 250 kilograms.

BROWN BEAR

The bear has all the qualities to be a redoubtable opponent of the hunter. It has good senses, it is resistant, powerful and fast. The Brown Bear lives In the Carpathian Forests of Romania. Usually he stays away from the people, but in special situations he comes near the cities for food. Very rarely it attacks domestic animals, mostly big cattle. The hunt of the bear is banned by the law but there are some situations when it can be hunt with some special permits. Is very important to remember that the law prohibits to knock down a bear with a pellet. Only the bullet is accepted. The king of the European forests and the biggest carnivorous of the area, the brown bear is the lord of the hills and mountains. Because of a special management, in Romania there is the biggest density of bears from the entire Europe. In Romania, the bear is a protected species, but in some cases, when their number is too high, the hunting is allowed. (their hunting is approved by the Forest Ministry). Assuring the management of the forest and of the fauna, the National Forest Administration took special care of the areas where they discovered bears. The most used hunting methods are: hitting, spying and chasing. Hitting is for spring, chasing is for autumn. Females with whelps are protected. Romania is known for its most trophies earned for skull and for fur. The world record in fur is owned by a trophy with 687.79 points in 1983, and in skull, the world record in 1994 was 69,47 points. The most valuable 10 brown bear furs are in Romania.

MOUFLON

Acclimatized species, mostly in the south part of the country, can offer beautiful trophies for hunting in a special environment. The hunting season for the mouflon is between September 15 - December 15.

MARTEN

In Romania one can find 2 species of marten: tree marten (Martes martes) and stone marten (Martes foina). While tree marten likes to live in smooth forests, until the superior limit of the forest vegetation, stone marten lives near the villages like the polecat (Putorius putorius). The hunting season for martens and polecats is between 15 September-31 March, but you can find the most beautiful furs between December and February.

HARE

The hares live both in the forests and in the field. Te best conditions for development and multiplication of the hares are when the winters are mild and the level of the snow is low. The highest density of hares in Romania is at altitudes under 400 m, where it is hot and the level of precipitations is low. The hare also lives at high altitudes at over 1500m or in the alpine environment. The hunting period for the hare is between November 1-January 31 and the most used method of hunting is the chase.

The Pheasant

The water and the accessibility of food are the elements that improve life conditions. The absence of winter make the south and west areas of hunting to be the best for this species. The hunting season is between October the first and February 28. The most used method of hunting is "chasing". Another method of hunting is hunting with dogs. This method offers unforgettable moments. The Quail The quail hunting begins the hunting season. At the end of the summer, hunting lovers will relax in the traditional manor houses. The hunting period is between August 15 and November 15. The best hunt is the one with dogs.

The Partridge

The substantial abatement of using chemical substances in agriculture and the reappearance of the side’s land and of the boscages, as a result of the reimbursement of the properties, has recreated the conditions of reconstruction of population of partridge. You can find partridges in the plain and up hill, where the snow cannot stop food access. The hunting period is between October 15 and December 31. The most used hunting procedure with dogs is “jumping”. Geese and fen ducks

The geese and the fen ducks from Romanian fauna are sedentary species. Plashes, lakes and rivers are their home. We can find here thousands of specimens. Summer goose is one of the principal species of hunting interest. The painters prefer ducks. You can see ducks in their paintings. Geese and big duck hunting season is between August 15 and February 28 and for little geese the hunting period is till March 15. Hunting methods are different and specific to the place. The most used method for geese is spying them on the plash when they leave or come back from the field. For ducks, the most used method is going closer to it, only where the field permits you to walk on water, on the shore, or from the boat. Other species of birds are plash chicken (Gallinula chloropus) and big cormorantssi (Phalacrocorax carbo). The hunting period is August 15 and March 15.

Hunting Areas

District Bacau – the stag, the roebuck, the marten Buzau – the wild boar, the bear Botosani – the rabbit, the marten Galati – the rabbit Iasi – the wild bear Neamt – the fallow deer Suceva – the wild boar Vaslui – the wild boar Vrancea – the bear, the wild boar, the roebuck, the pheasant

Hunt seasons

Big hunt
The Carpahtian Dear ( Cervus elaphus ) - 01.09 - 15.12
Dears (Dama ), males - 01.09 – 15
Deers and young male goats - trophy - 01.09 - 15.02
The hind ( Capreolus capreolus ) - selective - 01.06 - 15.09
Mouflon ( Ovis musimon ), male - trophy - 15.09-15.12
The black goat ( Rupicapra rupicapra ), males and females - 15.09 - 15.12
The wild boar ( Sow ) - 01.08 - 15.02
The brown bear ( Ucsus arctos ), only with hunting licence, between 15.03 - 15.05 and 01.09 - 31.12 Lake birds hunting
The quail (Cotumic cotumix ) - 15.08 - 15.11
The moor hen (Gallinago gallinaria) - 01.09 - 30.04
The coot (Fulica atra)15.08 - 15.03
The brant - 15.08 - 28.02
Fen ducks - 15.08 - 15.03
The grouse (Scolopax rusticola)- 01.09 - 30.04
The starling (Sturnus vulgaris)- 01.08 - 03.03
The partridge (Tetrao urogaltus) - 01.04 - 15.05