Eric Pawlak reminds us that New Mexico’s deadline for all species is March 20. You should be applying for all three exotic species in this draw—Oryx, Ibex, and Aoudad! We would love to help you with the process. Just give us a call at 1-800-755-8247.
When hunters think of the ultimate adventures, Africa and Alaska are usually at the top of the list. Yet tucked away in Europe is a world-class hunting experience that most never know enough about to wish for. It’s a mistake, one I made myself for years, until a recent trip to Slovakia opened my eyes to what hunting in the Old World is truly like. In Europe, centuries of tradition reshape your thoughts about international hunting.
My group of seven rolled into Slovakia in early August, the perfect time for the roe deer rut. We had booked five tags per person through WTA, which initially made me nervous. How could taking that many animals be sustainable? But game management in Europe works on an entirely different level. Their wildlife departments track populations down to individual animals, maintaining detailed records unlike anything we have in the States. They issue licenses based on precise population data, and in many areas, they still need to conduct additional culls because game numbers are so healthy.
The hunting itself felt foreign yet familiar. Watching roe bucks chase does across open ag fields reminded me of hunting pronghorn during the rut. We watched as bucks chased does miles over the horizon, only to return and chase more. We would use the standing corn and sunflower rows for cover, glassing open areas where roe deer congregated on clover and alfalfa food plots.
The guides knew every ridge and valley, pointing out where certain bucks lived and separating solid trophies from medal-class deer. Some mornings started at 3 a.m., with hunters in position before dawn. While some stayed afield all day, others slipped back to the lodge for a late-morning feast and rest before the evening hunt.
The hunting was amazing, and we were not limited to roe deer. Once we arrived, we learned that we could add mouflon and red stag to our hunt. Wild boar roamed the same areas. Come September, fallow deer would be available as well. It’s a mixed-bag type of hunt, where you can customize your hunt on the fly.
The mouflon hunting took us into mountains that could have been transplanted from Montana. We parked at the end of a logging road and stalked through timber, glassing for those distinctive curved horns. On one stalk, we heard an odd noise: two mouflon rams butting heads. Following the sound, we intercepted a bachelor band of rams, all jostling and sparring as they moved through the forest. When the biggest ram separated from the group at 70 yards, I made my shot at a free-range animal that had lived wild in these mountains for years.
The quality of the animals shocked everyone. Multiple hunters took mouflon that exceeded expectations. One member of our group dropped a 320″ red stag that wasn’t even on our radar when we planned the trip. These aren’t high-fence operations—this is free-range hunting across extremely varied terrain.
Croatia may be best known for its thousand-plus Dalmatian islands and historic cities like Dubrovnik, but it’s far more than a sightseer’s paradise. This diverse country also ranks among the world’s premier hunting destinations—rivaling Spain and Africa in both variety and quality of game. From the lowlands along the Danube River where some of Europe’s largest red stags reside, to the rugged mountain ranges that harbor massive brown bears, to the coast where mouflon roam, Croatia offers hunters an incredible range of hunting opportunities. Croatia has long been one of WTA’s most popular destinations. And it just keeps getting better!
Here are some of the top choices, beginning in the north and stretching south to cover the full breadth of the country.
Worldwide Trophy Adventures offers a jewel in the Dinaric Alps. This hunting lodge is one of a kind. One of our most popular destinations sits just west of Zagreb, near the town of Ogulin. Our beautiful four-bedroom lodge sits in a secluded forested area surrounded by a variety of species. The surrounding woods hold brown bear, red stag, fallow stag, mouflon, wild boar, roe deer, and more. A world-class staff, excellent meals, and personable guides await your visit above the Adriatic Sea.
