Pheasant in the springtime (2008)

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Small Game

Romania is well represented by all species of small game, mammals, birds, waterfowl and predators. The country offers spectacular small game hunts, some places being very well represented by more than 1 species where mixed hunts can be well organized.

The Hare (Lepus europaeus L.)

Hare hunting is among the most common types of hunting. The most practiced method of hunt is the driven hunt and can be done using beaters or can be done by the hunters using dogs walking up on parallel line at the same time, the only allowed position of shooting being forward, backward respecting the 45 degrees angle. Hunting for hares can be successful mixed whiting the same hunting area with pheasant, ducks, small predators, wild boar, red stag and fallow deer.

The Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.)

The pheasant was introduced in Romania long time ago, before 1500s. It can be considered a naturalized species because in present it is spread in all the plains, hills and low hills of the country. To increase the density of the wild pheasants, in some places, the repopulations are required aiming to preserve the wild breeders and the offspring adaptability in terms with freedom. Usually, the pheasant hunting methods are by driven with beaters and the most efficient, professional and satisfied way to hunt is made by individual hunters using pointer dogs. Hunting for pheasants can be successful mixed whiting the same hunting area with hares, ducks, small predators, wild boar, red stag and fallow deer.

The Quail (Coturnix coturnix L.)

The quail arrives in Romania at the end of April coming from Central Africa and is going back in October-November. The large number of quails spread all over low altitude fields of the country is caused by the two incubates times made in a year, which helps to increase the number of this species and should not be negative influenced by the hunters. This beautiful kind of hunting is done using pointer dogs. The unrivaled taste of its meat, the very challenging aim and method of hunt stirs the interest of many local hunters and foreign hunters. The quail hunt can be successful mixed within the same area with African Dove, Roe Buck, Wild Boar, Red Stag and small predators.

The African Doves (Streptopelia turtur L.)

The African Doves are summer guests, birds of passage, which, in early summer visits the country in a number of millions specimens. Amazing bird shooting can be organized during the whole hunting season of the species. The main method of hunting is waiting by the agriculture fields. The hunt for African Doves can be well mixed within the same hunting area with Roe buck, Red Stag, Wild boar and small predators.

The Duck (Anas sp. L.)

The Ducks are well represented by 16 species spread all over Romania with the highest density in Danube Delta as a summer guests or as a winter guests.

Starting with beginning of November and during the whole winter, the passage is intensified and the opportunity of amazing hunts is always available in many places in the country. The hunt can be well mixed with geese hunts or other species in accordance with the area of hunting, red stag, roe buck, wild boar, hares, pheasants.

The Geese (Anser sp. L.)

The Geese are well represented in the country, but not in all of its regions. The most hunting interested species are: Big Goose (Anser anser l.) and Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons l.). Other species are much reduced or appear only sporadically in Romania; others are protected by international conventions.

Geese can be hunted with success only by waiting in well-organized hunting lands, using calls, ground camouflaged pits and decoys in places of transition and especially in places where they come for feeding. Usually this hunting is done at the sunset and the very developed geese’s senses require special pellets of 4-5 mm, able for long range shots. The best hunting areas are represented by the Danube Delta, which is the bird’s universe, and all the floodplains of Romanian Plain’s rivers. The hunt can be well mixed with ducks hunts or other species in accordance with the area of hunting, red stag, roe buck, wild boar, hares, pheasants.

The Lark (Alauda arvensis L.)

During the autumn, when the migration starts, hundreds of thousands of larks comes in the country, waking the hunting interest of a few local hunters and a lot of tourist hunters. The hunt can be well mixed within the same area with hare, pheasants, red stag, roe buck, wild boar, ducks, geese and small predators.

The Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola L.)

The Woodcock is crossing the country, early in the spring when the snow starts to disappear, following its way to the north European countries where hatching takes place. In the autumn the woodcock is staying from October until early December, in the mountain forests, hills and plains, preferring the floodplains and meadows of Danube Delta. Usually the woodcock hunting requires rummaging dogs and pointer dogs being done by individual hunters.

The Thrushes (Turdus spp. L.)

The Thrushes are well represented by four species which spread all over the country. The hunting methods are by waiting or by driven using beaters in the fields with heavy dense line of bushes. The dogs are always used for recovery.