HUNTING FOR EXPERIENCES IN THE NATURE
Almost everybody has got an opinion about hunting – and nothing is better to discuss at a table. In a simple way you are either for hunting and tagged as a cold blooded and blood thirsty animal killer or you are a vegetarian and a friend of “all birds in the world”. Well… it is definitely easier to go hunting if your opinion is somewhere in between and if you have realized that to go hunting today is a hobby and not a question about the survival of mankind. Primitive instincts can be controlled like everything else - you don’t have to shoot for surviving and all European countries have well developed policies to protect and enlarge the flora and fauna. Then it is acceptable to take part in an organized arrangement in the nature with the only final purpose to shoot a wild animal. It is our opinion, that the best hunting experience is reachable when you as a hunter have seen the nature as it is today, and after that imagine yourself in the nature and look for experiences there.

HUNTING WITH Horses & Hunting
We have organized hunting tours to Bulgaria in 10 years and we have sent quite many hunters through the biggest Danish hunting agencies. That’s the reason why we know exactly where to go for the right experience and where the game is or must be. We always combine the best hunting with the best game. We are not interested in sending hunters to a district only because of the game but also because of the nature. We are fascinated about the experiences in the nature waiting for you out there.

HUNTING IN BULGARIA
Bulgaria is one of the most restrictive hunting countries in Europe. The game is controlled by the National Forestry Board and the seasons for hunt are changed from year to year. For instance the season for roebuck has been changed many times for the last years in order to protect the population. Now the opening is 1 of May.

Over 25% of the country is covered by mountains from 600-2925 m. above sea level. The span in nature, climate, nature protection and care of the wildlife are some of the reasons for the superb fauna: Red deer stags with beautiful antlers – the world record of 273,60 CIC is Bulgarian, wild boars over 22-24 cm are taken home several times during a season, fallow deer and roebuck, mouflon, chamois, brown bear, wolf, jackal, fox and wild cat. A wide range of game you don’t find easily in other European countries. Here you find something for everybody and every pocket. The best hunting experience doesn’t automatically mean that you have to go for the biggest possible trophy. Bulgaria is the right choice also if you want to combine hunting with horse riding!

Come and hunt with us, enjoy the nature and the hospitality.

THE STAY DURING THE HUNT
All hunters are met at the airport by an interpreter and a representative from the hunting estate. When the formalities concerning the import of the weapon (rifle or shot gun) are finished, the party continues directly to the estate and normally the director is holding an information meeting about the upcoming hunt. The next morning the first outing starts and the experiences are ahead. For most kind of game 4 to 5 hunting days are enough, but we recommend you to plan 7 nights with 6 full hunting days. If you want to hunt red deer stag during the rut or chamois it is always min. 6 hunting days. If you are “lucky hunter” you will always have the possibility to continue the hunt in the estate for other kind of game or in another estate nearby.

SOMETHING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL HUNT IN BULGARIA
Every guest hunter will have his own stalker from the estate. Normally you have 2 outings a day (morning and evening) with duration from 3 to 5 hours. It could happen that the Bulgarian stalker cannot accept a certain animal to be taken by the hunter. Often the reason is a selective purpose and according to the Bulgarian regulation it has to be followed.
Even the landscape is quite different from the European flat land we do not require special physical conditions because the estate and the stalker in charge always plan the hunt according to the wishes and the possibilities of the hunter. But of course the chance for a good result will always be bigger if you are in a good physical condition. All over Bulgaria you can find high seats: From the most primitive wooden construction to the more comfortable with an oven.
As all over the world every estate has its own plan for the game. It is the Bulgarian stalker who gives the final sign for shooting and we remind you that a game wounded is the same as a taken. Wounding is calculated to 50% of the ordered weight of the trophy, if not stated with a price directly in the pricelist.
Driven hunt is organized for hunters in a party from 6 to 12. The drives consist of beaters with dogs and normally you have the chance to shoot wild boar, fox and jackal during the driven hunt. Hinds, does, calves etc. are not to be taken during a driven hunt.
When ordering an individual hunt with a certain weight of the trophy the estate guarantees the size to hunter with a +/- of 15 % (except for wild boar). If the trophy is smaller or bigger the hunter has the right to refuse to take it under the condition that the stalker has made a mistake and the shot has been given after acceptance from the stalker. The National Forestry Board has a special commission taking over such cases. You do not pay for missing shots in Bulgaria, but they are writing them in the records.

BOOKING
When booking we are asking for a deposit of 50% of the ordered size of the trophy. This trophy deposit is for regulation after the hunt is over: We will either pay you money back or send you an extra bill. All payments are regulated according to the information in the hunting record.

THE HUNTING RECORD
After the hunt a special hunting record has to be made. This record has to be signed by the hunter, the stalker and the interpreter. All details and information of interest have to be written in this record. Also eventual problems have to be noted.
The record is your proof that you have mentioned eventual disagreements during stay and it is a condition before claiming after the return. The hunter is accepting its content by signing. The record can not be changed afterwards. Eventual oral agreements are invalid under no circumstances. The record is also the basis of the final invoice. All trophies have to be paid after the return.

MEASUREMENT
One of the conditions to get your trophy out of Bulgaria is that the official committee under the National Forestry Board in the district has to measure the trophy. Normally and if it’s possible the measurement is taking place 24 hours after the cleaning. If the hunter has to leave the estate within 24 hours after shooting the game it is the weight as it is minus 5 % that will be stated in the record. This measurement is not the final as the trophy according to the European regulations for the CIC system has to be measured 3 months after it has been taken.
For red deer stags over 250 CIC points, fallow stags over 200 CIC points, roe bucks over 160 CIC points, mouflon over 230 CIC points and wild boar over 140 CIC points a special rule for export from the country will be valid.

TRANSPORT OF THE TROPHIES
The hunting estate is responsible for all formalities for the export inclusive veterinary documents. Many hunters bring home their own trophies immediately after the hunt and others use international shipping agents. All costs in connection with the transport and export of the trophies are paid by the hunter. Usually the estate can help you to pack and transport the trophies to the place of shipping (please calculate with a smaller fee). Of course we are ready to find the best option for you.

MEAT AND SKIN
The meat and the skin are not a part of the trophy (except of game where the trophy is the fur). Against a minimum fee it is possible to get the skin into your possession. We recommend you just before the start of the hunt to agree with the estate and the stalker if you need the skin for a mounting later on. Neither the skin nor the meat can be exported without special documents.

CITES
Some game in Bulgaria is under the protection of the Washington convention and noted in the lists of CITES. The wolf and the brown bear are the best examples. The export from Bulgaria requires special documents – a paper work we are specialists in granting to our hunters.

HUNTING INSURANCE, HUNTING LICENSE, FIREARM CERTIFICATE
As a hunter in Bulgaria you need all the mentioned documents and they are a condition to the hunt taking place.

TIPPING
It is not a must, but it might be helpful. It is not easy to say how much is expected, because tipping is a very personal matter and as a matter of fact a question about how satisfied you are. Many people usually are involved in making your stay to something special and if you have been satisfied a kind of acknowledgment/gratuity will be valued (exactly like in Poland or Scotland).

Horses & Hunting is working with districts all over Bulgaria. On our list we have about 15 favorites – and we have all kind of game. In general the standard of the accommodation is on a high level and the food is perfect. The Bulgarian kitchen is very much like the Greek and all lodges can offer you excellent Bulgarian wine. All lodges are situated in beautiful surroundings.

You are welcome to contact us by email for an offer and we will revert to you with further details.

Na sluka
- as they say in Bulgarian