During the last HIT fair in Vicenza, talking to Gianni Alesi, owner of AFV Arborio, he suggests that we go together to Bulgaria in the period of the roar of the deer, a hunt organized by his friend Nadia Georgeivia in an area less than two hours from Sofia . It is an enclosure of over 4.000 hectares full of good trophies, even if a little perplexed by the speech of the fence, Gianni assures me that nothing is noticed and it is real hunting, I decide to try.
Departure on September 16th, accompanied by a friend from Brescia and my faithful Sako Carbonlight cal. 300 Win Mag with Steiner Ranger BC 4-16 × 56 optics, the cartridges chosen are the 180 grs Sako superhammerhead, bonded bullets with lead tip, particularly suitable for this type of game.
As expected on September 16 we arrive in Sofia with a direct flight from Rome, after the airport procedures for weapons, accompanied by Nico, our interpreter and driver, we arrive at the beautiful hunting lodge of Byalka. On the ground floor there is the dining room managed by Ianca, a cook attentive to all our food and time needs, while on the upper floor there are the rooms, spacious and comfortable, each with its own bathroom and a sitting room that we use as a storage for our luggage, weapons, backpacks and everything needed for hunting.
The next morning at 5,30 the companions come to pick us up, each with his off-road vehicle heads towards the chosen area. A few minutes and we arrived, left the car on the edge of a clearing, we stop to listen, soon we hear the first bellowing in the distance, we have arrived at the right time!
Without hesitation, Sandro, my companion, heads towards a valley from which at least two "voices" of different deer come, the approach is not easy, the ground is strewn with dry leaves, mainly coming from majestic oaks that overlook us similar to columns of a cathedral, we try anyway but suddenly the wood falls silent and with it our hopes vanish. In the evening, however, we spot a beautiful deer, but the considerable distance, 255 meters, and the lack of good support suggest that I try to approach, but the sound of our footsteps soon alarms him and makes him flee.
On the second day I meet some young wandering deer and try two approaches, but I am always betrayed by the noise caused by the very dry undergrowth, in the evening I finally manage to approach a male intent in his love dance, I arrive at about fifty meters and I glimpse the long tips of the crowns protruding from the bushes of the clearing in front of us, I wait for it to give me a better view but, the wind turns, and the king with his harem mumbles away.
Finally, the night rains and on the third morning we set off full of hope, the temperature has dropped and as we get off the off-road vehicle, three deer fill the air with their bellowing. Sandro heads decisively towards one of these, we still face an uphill forest in the dark, the bellowing is getting closer and closer, when we reach the edge, a steep bushy meadow opens up in front of us, we stop behind a large oak tree and, shortly after, craving, from the upper edge about 70 meters from us, the king of the wood appears. Sandro immediately signals me to pull, unfortunately my view is blocked by two small trees, I take two steps to the left and, leaning on my alpenstock, I frame the deer in the telescope reticle and pull the trigger. The deer reacts and leaves, fifty meters and I see the grass moving, it must have fallen. We wait a few minutes and we get closer, I hit him in the lungs, he is still alive and tries to get up, I immediately finish him off with a coup de grace. It is a splendid 15 points trophy, sweaty and very satisfying.
Back to the hunting lodge, big party and ritual photographs. The next day, the last one, I approach another beautiful deer, but Sandro tells me that he is young and it is better not to pull him, I enjoy his bellowing and his harem. Thus ends the Bulgarian adventure, the Balkan mountains gave me a beautiful deer and an exciting hunt, with a perfect organization, Nadia and Gianni proved to be perfect organizers and hosts.
Carbine used: Sako 85 Carbonlight cal 300 Win Mag, 61 cm barrel + muzzle brake, metal magazine all in only 2,90 kg. Steiner Ranger BC 4-16 × 56 scope with ballistic turret, parallax adjustment and illuminated 4A reticle. Sako ammunition with Sako 180gr Superhammerhead ball.
For information: Gianni Alesi 3387524815, [email protected]