Red stag is far and away the most popular game species on the European continent. Although places like New Zealand and Argentina are considered synonymous with red stag hunting, their native ranges on the European continent offer exceptionally diverse hunting opportunities. With red stag in all corners of mainland Europe, it is highly probable that we have the red stag hunt to meet your needs. Whether high in the Alps of Austria or deep in the forests of Estonia, there is a red stag hunt to match your aspirations.
Like elk, the red stag has a distinctive call, a roar, that will send chills down your spine. As a general rule, the middle of September to the beginning of October are the prime times of the roar, when red stag swarm hunting areas and let everyone know about it. With long seasons, and in many cases the option to use rifle or archery, red stag has seen a boost in popularity.
Red stag hunting has many of the qualities that elk hunters enjoy, and in some ways it can be a natural progression for the passionate elk hunter who’s thinking about trying something new, but with a familiar challenge, on the European continent. With nearly 100% shooting opportunity, reasonable trophy fee pricing, and great opportunities for a whole family vacation, red stag hunting deserves to be underlined in bold type at the top of your bucket list.
Affordable and Authentic
Scotland
Scotland has long been the first European destination for many North American hunters because of the shared language, rich history, beautiful scenery and wildlife, and affordable trophy fees. These are all excellent reasons to add Scotland to your list. All-inclusive packages start at $3,000, and the opportunity for a multitude of harvests on multiple species in a single trip make it even more appealing for those looking to expand their hunting experiences.
Price: From $3,000
Method: Rifle
Season: August 28–October 22
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Highlands
Accommodation: 4–5 Star
Additional Species: Sika Deer, Roe Deer, Wingshooting
Poland
Our partnership with one of Poland’s finest outfitters has provided 100% success on good quality stag over the years, in a price range that nearly all hunters can afford. The classic accommodations, traditional hunting experience, and fantastic sightseeing opportunities make it a natural choice for couples looking to have the best of both worlds. Be sure to put Poland on your list.
Price: From $6,750
Method: Rifle
Season/Best Time: September 10–October 10
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Forest/Fields
Accommodation: 3–4 Star
Additional Species: Fallow Deer, Mouflon, Wild Boar, Roe Deer
France
The foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains are some of Europe’s prettiest settings for hunters as well as adventurous sightseers. Add that it’s only a 45-minute drive to the Mediterranean Coast and this could be the perfect hunt for those looking for a vacation with hunting, or hunting with a vacation, depending how you look at it. Red stag are numerous and trophy quality is very good for the price. In addition to red stag, hunters often harvest mouflon.
Price: From $5,000
Method: Rifle and Archery
Season/Best Time: September 1–February 31
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Foothills and Forest
Accommodation: 4 Star
Additional Species: Mouflon, Chamois, Roe Deer, Fallow Deer, Trout Fishing
Mountain Hunting at its Finest
Austria
Famous for its mountains, Austria offers the finest red stag hunting for those looking for a great mountain hunting experience with good quality animals. The area consistently produces fine alpine red stag and a traditional mountain hunting experience. The scenic nature of this hunt is rarely replicated, and surrounded with a culture of hospitality, you will be in for a memorable experience.
Price: From $5,300
Method: Rifle
Season/Best Time: August 1–November 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Mountains
Accommodation: 4–5 Star
Additional Species: Alpine Ibex, Alpine Chamois, Marmot, Roe Deer, Fly Fishing
Italy
Hunting in Italy is a widely-held secret, unknown to many, yet the Alps in the north of the country offer some marvelous hunting for red stag. The scenic valleys of northern Italy hold plenty of mature and massive red stag. The private areas where we operate can offer gold-medal quality red stag and a world-class experience for hunters and non-hunters alike.
Price: From $9,350
Method: Rifle
Season/Best Time: September 1–January 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Mountains
Accommodation: 4 Star
Additional Species: Alpine Chamois, Roe Deer
Romania
The Carpathian Mountains offer sportsmen and women a best-of-both-worlds experience: the amazingly beautiful mountains, abundant and beautiful wildlife, and very reasonable hunt prices. Hunters can expect 100% opportunity on medal-class red stag. And with chamois, fallow, and roe deer abounding, hunters have the chance to complete a slam in a week’s time.
Price: From $6,000
Method: Rifle
Season/Best Time: October 16–October 21
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Mountains
Accommodation: 3 Star
Additional Species: Fallow Deer, Carpathian Chamois, Roe Deer, Wingshooting
Biggest is Best
Hungary
Long known for having the best free-range red stag in Europe, Hungary offers serious red stag hunters what they want: big mature trophies in bigger areas with amazing scenery. Hungary also offers the chance to harvest some of the finest fallow deer, roe deer, and mouflon as well, making it a hunter’s paradise. There’s a long list of reasons why you should consider Hungary.
Price: From $5,500
Method: Rifle & Archery
Season/Best Time: September 1–December 31
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Forest and Rolling Fields
Accommodation: 3–4 Star
Additional Species: Fallow Deer, Mouflon, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, Wingshooting
Estonia
With trophy quality rivaling that in Russia and Belarus, Estonia offers a safe alternative for those seeking massive free-range red stag as well as brown bear and moose. The small Baltic country is an extremely underrated sporting paradise, having hosted many extremely happy hunters over the years. Small, but massively impressive in every way, Estonia should be on your radar.
Price: From $9,950
Method: Rifle
Season/Best Time: September 10–October 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Forest and Fields
Accommodation: 4 Star
Additional Species: Brown Bear, European Moose, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, Woodcock, Wolf, Lynx
Bulgaria
The forests of Bulgaria are no stranger to massive trophies, with red stag of record sizes being harvested annually. Our partners offer a marvelous all-inclusive hunting experience on 15,000 hectares of pure, gorgeous forest. With opportunities for a variety of additional species, Bulgaria is an action-packed adventure for groups or couples.
Price: From $7,900
Method: Rifle
Season/Best Time: September 1–December 31
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Forested Hills
Accommodation: 3–4 Star
Additional Species: Wolf, Chamois, Fallow Deer, Mouflon, Tahr, Turkey, Kri-Kri Ibex
Estate Hunts
Austria
With estates dating back more than 100 years, our partners offer some of the finest hunting for those who value true quality trophies, comfort, and culture. With record-size red stag consistently topping the books, Austria is one of the most game-rich experiences in all of Europe. This is an experience not to be missed.
Price: From $6,550
Method: Rifle
Season/Best Time: August 1–December 31
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Forests and Fields
Accommodation: 4–5 Star
Additional Species: Sika Deer, Alpine Ibex, Pere David Stag, Wild Boar, Roe Deer, Mouflon, Fallow Deer
France
Our French partners offer one of the finest estate hunts in the entire hunting world. You’ll hunt an estate area the likes of which very few exist, with rolling open spaces as well as steeps and character you rarely find behind a boundary. The exceptional trophy quality and remarkable castle accommodations make this a marvelous choice for sophisticated groups, couples, or single hunters.
Price: From $7000
Method: Rifle and Archery
Season/Best Time: September 1–December 31
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Fields and Canyons
Accommodation: 5 Star
Additional Species: Fallow Deer, Mouflon, Chamois, Roe Deer, Sika Deer
Spain
We are fortunate to offer our hunters a great experience in Spain on a royal hunting estate with world-class accommodations and trophies of record size. The 5,000-acre estate has character that makes the hunt challenging and very rewarding. In addition to great red stag, hunters also have options for wild boar, roe deer, mouflon, fallow deer, Spanish ibex, and more.
Price: From $6,585
Method: Rifle and Archery
Season/Best Time: September 1–December 31
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: High Desert
Accommodation: 5 Star
Additional Species: Spanish Ibex, Roe Deer, Mouflon, Chamois, Fallow Deer, Barbary Sheep
In summary, we here at Worldwide Trophy Adventures pride ourselves on the quality of hunts we offer in Europe and throughout the world. We hope you found this list of great benefit and a good starting place to build your bucket list. Now that red stag is top of mind, please feel free to contact our consultant team to discuss a hunt soon.
