BIG GAME · STALKING · SEPTEMBER
Red deer hunting in the rut
Dawn at 1,500 metres with a 12-pointer answering the next ridge over. The most prestigious hunt on our calendar — and the shortest window. For 1–5 hunters — and we will not compromise on trophy quality.
- Duration2 or 3 days
- Hunters1–5
- MethodStalking
- WindowMid-Sep–early Oct
- AltitudeBy trophy size sought
- DifficultyDemanding
ABOUT THE HUNT
What to expect
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) rut in the second and third weeks of September. The stags come down from above the tree line into the alpine meadows to roar; nothing in European hunting compares to dawn at 1,500 metres with a 12-pointer answering the next ridge over.
We stalk on foot from a high-camp cabin reached by 4×4 plus forty minutes of hiking. Days are 04:30 starts, return for late breakfast, midday rest, then back out from 16:00 to last light. Both packages run this rhythm — dawn and dusk sessions with a midday rest.
We hunt the Carpathians, the Apuseni, and the Gorj mountains; the altitude we work at depends on the size of trophy you are after.
Good to know
Oradea, Cluj, or Timișoara — whichever is closest to your hunting zone. Airport transfer arranged on request (not included in the package).
Hotel, guesthouse, or hunting cabin — depending on your hunting zone.
Common Romanian choices: .270 Win, 7×64, .30-06. Flat-shooting calibre for 150–250 m ridge shots; quality 2.5–10× scope.
Rifles, shotguns, and ammunition can be rented on site — bring a valid hunting permit from your home country and we’ll sort the rest at booking.
Layered pre-dawn cold-mountain kit, broken-in hiking boots, 8×42 binos — non-negotiable for glassing.
Hunters chasing the iconic Carpathian roar — short window, demanding stalk, the finest trophy on our calendar.
Choose a package
The 3-day package captures the full rut window. The 2-day package is for tighter schedules — same guide, same area, fewer mornings.
2-day rut stalk
Short window, intense — mid-September
from1,040EUR
Non-hunting companion: 3 nights × 170 EUR = 510 EUR
- 2 days of dawn + dusk stalks with a 1:1 guide
- 3 nights of accommodation (hotel, guesthouse, or hunting cabin)
Not included
- Travel to and from Romania
- Airport transfer
- Rifle rental service
- Alcoholic drinks
- Trophy fees + preparation — per the trophy-prices table
- Personal cold-weather gear
3-day rut stalk
Full rut window — the recommended way to hunt the Carpathian roar
from1,420EUR
Non-hunting companion: 4 nights × 170 EUR = 680 EUR
- 3 days of dawn + dusk stalks with a 1:1 guide
- 4 nights of accommodation (hotel, guesthouse, or hunting cabin)
Not included
- Travel to and from Romania
- Airport transfer
- Rifle rental service
- Alcoholic drinks
- Trophy fees + preparation — per the trophy-prices table
- Personal cold-weather gear
WHAT EVERY PACKAGE COVERS
Included services
The same ten services are part of every hunting package on our calendar — paperwork, hospitality, and on-the-ground organisation handled end-to-end.
- Lodge accommodationHotel, guesthouse, or hunting cabin — venue depends on the hunting zone.
- Full pensionThree meals a day, traditional regional cooking, non-alcoholic drinks throughout.
- Hunting permitRomanian hunting permit filed on your behalf before arrival.
- Temporary firearm permitTemporary import + hunting-firearm permit for the duration of your stay.
- Official hunting invitationIssued by us; the document your home authority needs to clear travel.
- Border-crossing assistanceEntry and exit, from rifle paperwork to customs questions.
- Hunting organisation on the groundBeat selection, hide setup, drives, scouting — handled by our team daily.
- Dedicated translatorEnglish, German, or French speaker present at every briefing and drive.
- Specialised technical staffForester, professional guide, beater team where the hunt format calls for one.
- Internal transport on the hunting ground4×4 / minibus inside the hunting area; transfers between lodge and beats.
Not included: travel to and from Romania (airport pickup can be arranged at cost), ammunition, trophy fees and trophy preparation per the published trophy-prices table, optional firearm / optic rentals, and alcoholic drinks beyond the welcome dinner.
WHERE YOU HUNT
Where this hunt takes place
Where this package puts you in Romania, and what the country is like there.
- Transylvania
- Maramureș
- Muntenia & Oltenia
- Bucovina & Moldova
- Crișana & Banat
HUNTING SEASONS
When the season opens
Both the gov-regulated opening window and the prime sub-window when this hunt produces the best trophies and the densest action.
10 Sept – 15 Nov
10 Sept – 5 Oct
Peak trophy quality and activity inside the legal window.
- Firearms only — bows and crossbows are not lawful hunting means in Romania.
- Thermal and night-vision sights are not permitted for this species.
- This species may not be hunted at feeders, at salt licks, in drives, or with driving dogs.
Reference dates only. The Romanian Ministry of Environment's annual hunting order is authoritative; quotas for derogation species (bear, wolf, lynx) shift independently. We confirm the operative rules at booking.
TROPHY PRICING
Trophy prices
The trophy is never included in the package — every trophy fee, preparation charge, and penalty is billed from the table below. The package above covers the hunt, lodge, meals, permit, transport, and translator only.
Trophy prices
| Trophy weight (kg) | Price | Over base |
|---|---|---|
| < 7.0 | 1,780 € | – |
| 7.00 – 8.00 | 1,950 € | +7.5 € / 10 g |
| 8.01 – 9.00 | 2,700 € | +8 € / 10 g |
| 9.01 – 10.00 | 3,500 € | +10 € / 10 g |
| 10.01 – 10.50 | 4,500 € | +21 € / 10 g |
| 10.51 – 11.00 | 5,550 € | +22 € / 10 g |
| 11.01 – 11.50 | 6,650 € | +26 € / 10 g |
| 11.50 + | 8,950 € | +60 € / 10 g |
Penalties
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Missed shot penalty | 250 € |
| Wounded but not recovered | 1,500 € |
| Bizarre trophy fee | 1,500 € |
Optional services
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Temporary hunting permit | 50 € |
| Trophy preparation | 50 € |
| Red deer hide | 100 € |
Trophy fees, preparation, and penalties are always billed separately from the package price — no fee is ever hidden inside the package.
FROM THE FIELD
Trophy wall
Recent trophies from this programme. Click any photo to see it full size.
FROM THE JOURNAL
Read more in the Journal
Getting your trophy home from Romania: CITES, veterinary certificates, EU vs non-EU, taxidermy and shipping
From closing protocol to your wall: the documents Romania issues, what your country wants, what CITES covers, and how to ship a stag head.
- 26 Aug 2026
Why Carpathian stags grow 10 kg antlers: genetics, altitude and a century of forest policy
The Romanian Carpathians produce Europe’s heaviest red deer antlers. The biology, the history and the forestry behind it – and what it means for where you hunt.
- 12 Aug 2026
Travelling with a firearm to Romania: what changes if you come from Germany, the UK, the US or Switzerland
The European Firearms Pass, the Romanian import permit, the two-rifle limit, and the extra steps for British, American and Swiss hunters – one checklist.
- 24 Jul 2026
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to what hunters ask before booking this hunt. The full terms are on the Rules & Conditions page.
When is the hunting season?
How many days does the hunt last?
How many hunters can take part?
How demanding is this hunt?
What does the package price include?
What is not included in the package price?
Which airport should I fly to?
Where will I stay?
Which rifle or shotgun should I bring?
Can I rent a gun on site?
What should I pack?
How much is the trophy fee?
Is a deposit required?
How do I book?
BOOK YOUR HUNT
Request a bookingRed Deer Stalking
Tell us which offering you want, your dates, and how many of you. We will reply with a full package quote as soon as possible.
STAY IN THE PROGRAMME
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