At my state SCI event, I was the high bidder of a Roe Deer hunt in Serbia. The owner of the operation suggested that I do the hunt in April. Is there any advantage or disadvantage of doing this? I assume they would have their antlers back by that time. This would be for 2025.
I hunted from Croatian side, near border to Serbia. Same region.
Area. Vojvodina, North Serbia.
This area was once covered by Panonian sea. In the soil often can be found sea shells from that time, for example.
This left the soil rich with minerals, and in turn makes probably the best roe bucks trophies in europe. Strongest antlers.
There are plains and crop fields, you can expect long shots, 300 meters. Usual shooting is from stick.
Other areas.
There are other roe buck areas in central Serbia, such as hills and mountains, but they will not produce the best trophies, such as on the plains in the north of the country.
Early season, april, up to may.
advantages:
- low grass and vegetation, good visibility over fields
- high numbers of game on the beginning of season
- moderate weather and climate
Disadvantages of early season
- are not against hunter, but a mangament issue:
- in theory, the best trophy old bucks should be left to be taken out on the end of season in fall in order to pass the genes to next generation during rut. Early season should be used to take only lower qualitiy game, to take away from gene pool. However, this does not happen always, outfitters are under commercial pressure. What old bucks managed to make till previous rut, they managed.
Mid season, june, july,
Advantages.
None. But hunt doable, more efforts required to spot the game
Disadvatnages:
High grass, high crops, low visibility, hard to spot the buck
Mosquitoes, heat
Rut season
end of july, beginning of august
Advantages: hunt is dynamic and interesting because roe bucks come to calling, they are responsive.
Calling can be used to hunt from blind.
Disadvantages:
High grass, high crops, low visibility, hard to spot the buck
Mosquitoes, heat
Post rut season up till end of season
Advantages
Better climate, less mosquitos.
Disadvantages.
Less game. Roe bucks exhausted after rut, hide in woods, take rest, collect fat for winter. Small movement of animals. Smaller number of game around in late season. More efforts to be made to spot the game
