Wolf hunting in Romania is an ancient bond of love and hate, of fear and respect that binds man to wolf. Perhaps for this very reason the hunt for this predator so impresses and fascinates hunters from every corner of Europe. To experience the thrill, the most popular destination is certainly Romania.
In recent years, our hunters have been learning to know with some precision Romania. Wild and rich land, it is a beautiful paradise for those who love hunting, where it is possible to hunt roe deer, red deer, wild boar, bear, capercaillie, lynx, just to name a few.
You can practice sedentary hunting, migratory hunting but also big game hunting, but above all you can devote yourself to types of hunting that are not too well known, at least in Italy. Among the most fascinating and practiced is the ancient wolf hunt, an atavistic and deep-rooted challenge that still today stimulates hunters who reach Romania from every corner of the world..
In fact, it is estimated that around 3500 specimens are concentrated in Romania, all well distributed among forests, mountains, hills and plains, which are well suited to living in contact with deep snow. The largest group found is located in the wooded areas of the Danube Delta, and for this reason there are numerous hunting trips that point to that destination. Despite the abundance of wild, wolf hunting proves complicated and dangerous and for this very exciting. After all, the wolf is a majestic and elegant animal, which can prove to be lethal, of which in fact little is known. It is mammalian and monogamous, to begin with, and lives an average of 16 years. It is an excellent swimmer, just like the dog and can weigh, as an adult, up to 50 kg, although specimens of over 70 kg have been intercepted..
Also note that it is a sedentary species, which is closely linked to the territory; precisely for this reason it rarely leaves its habitat and yet to get food during the hunt it can move away from its lair up to 50 km. It is surprising to know that the wolf can fast, for contingent needs, for up to a week, but when it finds its prey it is capable of ingesting up to 15 kg of meat that it ingests without the need to chew.
Five-star predator it feeds on goats, lambs, sheep and roe deer, wild boars, puppies, pigs, dogs, foals or donkeys, but in case of need it does not disdain mice, insects and even berries and fruit. He is deeply afraid of man and for this reason he rarely attacks him even if hungry, even though he is often convinced of the contrary.
To date, the hunt for this species is closed, having regard to the international conventions established for the protection of the wolf, yet the Romanian Ministry of the Environment, to level the periodic imbalances that are created between the population of deer, predators and ungulates, from time to time it issues special authorizations for wolf hunting. These they are nominal and allow the killing of a limited number of specimens exactly as happens for selection hunting.
Among the techniques allowed for wolf hunting are driven, hunting, calling and posting.
When we talk about wolves hunting, we are referring to a daytime hunt, practiced especially in winter, practiced in teams by beaters and post offices. The former follow in the footsteps left by the wolf and fade it in a circle, pushing the specimen towards the hunters in the post.
The hunt is also very demanding: the team of hunters must be made up of local experts, who know the paths, passages and ravines, move silently and try to catch the wolf by surprise. Obviously, the search takes place near the wolf's den or in the areas most frequented by the predator.
Not less practiced the hunt for the call. It is a technique used mainly in the early morning or in some cases in the evening, just before dusk. The figure of the screamer in this case is fundamental: every 15 minutes he will emit the wolf's cry with art, recalling it precisely. It is an ancient and truly suggestive hunt, which allows direct contact with nature.
Finally, we cannot forget the post, a hunting technique in which a carcass of dead animal is used, even better if of sheep. Practiced only during the nights of full moon, given the increased visibility, the hunter positions himself in huts or shelters called cabane or colibe to shoot from a standstill.
Two other particular techniques deserve at least a mention: let's talk about the running and stalking hunting. The first takes place between December, January and February and is usually combined with the wild boar one. It is particularly difficult and demanding and requires some physical preparation.
The ambush hunt instead takes place in stalking inside towers with heating systems, and closely resembles the post hunt.
Generally it is recommended to use a caliber of 6,4 - 7 millimeters for wolf hunting. During the night ambushes a special telescope with red dot or perhaps a light amplifier could be very useful.
Anyone who wanted organize a hunting trip to Romania or in general on the Carpathian mountains to engage in the fascinating wolf hunt, must take into account some elements.
First of all the wolf hunt takes place between September and March, secondly it is a must to rely on hunting associations that have observers and permits to control and select the native wolf populations.