European Brown Bear

[EMcC]

I wouldn't say it is organised by the 'Mafia type' but it is now very well controlled in Croatia, not like it used to be.
Each year a number is arrived at and then about 30% is deducted to allow for road kill.
Then permits are issued for the remainder divided between the private clubs and the State hunting areas.
Each hunter is then accompanied by an authorised person who will tell you if an animal is to be taken - or not !!

 

[Shootgun]

I worked with a romanian guy in the USA last year and he told me that the hunting is now all taken over by a kind of follow on mafia type organisation to copy the caucescu reign prices.
Never cheap, but all around the town of Brasov is where I would check out as they come into the town for waste bin rummaging every night.
Its on you tube.
Martin

There is no such thing of ''mafia'' in the hunting industry in Romania. Is rather pay the price or not. The trophy fees are listed on the Romanian Forestry Commission website, so there is transparency.On top of that there is the outfitter fee to pay if you need to use one.
The huge influx of wealthy western shooters is the main reason for trophy prices going through the roof.
The bears on the Brasov City outskirts have been trapped and relocated in a 170 acre special enclosure , on the fringe of Piatra Craiului National Park.

 

[Pine Marten]

I watched "Wild Boar Fever 5" yesterday which takes place in Rumania (I bought it cheap on eBay, but I sort of understand the point of this series now...) and towards the end there's quite an extraordinary scene. Our man Franz see movement down the slope from his post and it turns out not be a be a boar but a massive great bear. It then turns out that it's a female with four cubs which makes the whole situation rather hairy. She walks to within 20m of him, stands on her hind legs to sniff the air and have a look round, and concludes that whatever it is, she doesn't like it one little bit. So he shoulders his rifle, desperately hoping that she'll go away because he doesn't want to shoot a female with dependent cubs. Then she starts to charge! When she's maybe 10 metres away, he and the camera crew and everyone start shouting and screaming at the bear for all they're worth, and five metres away, she stops and turns around back into the drive with her cubs. Franz lowers his gun and is clearly shaking like a leaf.

Really quite a frightening event to witness.

 

[willie_gunn]

Yes, that's an interesting scene from several perspectives.

First, for the fact that the bear approaches to investigate in the first place.
Second, that "fight or flight" turns quickly into fight - presumably because of the maternal instinct of the mother with cubs.
Third, that flight then takes over
Fourth, that our man Franz and his team knew what to do (look big and loud)
Fifth, and perhaps most impressively, that he held his fire. Having seen his almost unbelievable shooting ability demonstrated in the other DVD's in the series, I have little doubt that he could have dropped the bear if need be. But his desire to refrain from so doing says as much about the man as the other clips of him dropping six or seven boar with consecutive shots.

 

[Pine Marten]

Scenes like that are why I keep buying Hunter's Video DVDs when they turn up on eBay. But I have to say that once you've seen the 100th massive keiler fall to a perfect shot whilst charging at full tilt, it does grow a bit repetitive.... I'm starting to find some of the earlier, simpler ones more interesting if less spectacular. I bought one on stalking black bears around Vancouver recently. They're based on a boat, and at one point, they use bear meat as bait for a huge pile of crabs, lobsters and prawns. There isn't as much focus on kit, it's more about the experience. But now I have four of the six WBF films and the OCD person in me wants to complete the set just for the hell of it. Even though I know exactly what to expect.

 

[Greener Jim]

I've seen that video me sen (the mother bear one).

I think that is why driven bear has such a draw for me. Even from a high seat, they're usually not that high or well constructed, you are still pretty exposed to an already pretty angry bear. It is being chased by dogs after all.
On the ground it must be one hell of an experience when 300-600lbs of bear comes bounding near you....and me with a single shot!

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Only passing on what was told to me by a native, just trying to help.
Maybe not mafia but their high prices keep 95% of hunters away.
Martin

 

[Shootgun]

Only passing on what was told to me by a native, just trying to help.
Maybe not mafia but their high prices keep 95% of hunters away.
Martin

I am Romanian myself Martin, from Brasov, and one of my cousins is the head of the Forestry Comission in the region.
Is a matter of supply and demad, and as i said before, the prices rocketed due to the high demand from the western whealty hunters, willing to pay thousands or more fore a quality trophy.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Thats me out of the game even though I was supposed to go over to Brasov on an engineering contract at the end of last year.
how about poaching one with a compound bow?
Joking.
Martin

 

[A1Decoy]

Got 2 tags available this month euro 6000 about £4500 and we are seeing some monsters .Romania near Transilvania went last year had a great time .
Pm me for pictures.
Any size of Bear with no extra Trophy fees makes this a good value trip considering the price of £ to euro at present.

 

[Tartan_Terrier]

One of my friends is going hunting brown bear in Sweden later this year. He's getting ready for his bear shooting test at present (timed series of shots at 100, 80, and 50 metres I think). He's planning on using his .308, which I don't think would be my first choice, but each to his own!

Sounds like it's going to be a pretty exciting trip anyway, and a good deal cheaper than Romania too (which is odd for Scandinavia! )

 

[DAC]

Got 2 tags available this month euro 6000 about £4500 and we are seeing some monsters .Romania near Transilvania went last year had a great time .
Pm me for pictures.
Any size of Bear with no extra Trophy fees makes this a good value trip considering the price of £ to euro at present.

Romania is the country, Transilvania is a region in Romania not a different country.

 

[A1Decoy]

Hi Mr Greener, Please find below our flyer for the European Brown Bear Trip. We understand you are looking for next year but at least this will give you some idea. The Euro is low at the moment so this price is exceptionally good. Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to on call on 07990346783 or 01173 039227. Regards A1 Decoy
View attachment EUROPEAN BEAR TRIP FLYER.pdf