HUNTING ROE DEER IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN

Challenges and equipment

Hunting roe deer in hilly and slightly mountainous terrain presents hunters with special challenges. Rough terrain, changing light conditions and the behavior of the game require a high level of experience and the right equipment. In such areas, it is particularly important to observe the game and react quickly. This is where high-quality optical devices come into play, providing the hunter with crucial support.

Skills of the hunter

In addition to a trained eye and a good feel for nature, precise observation and quick reactions are of central importance when hunting roe deer. Especially in hilly areas, where the terrain is constantly changing, it is important to keep an overview. In-depth local knowledge plays a decisive role here: the hunter must know exactly where the roe deer prefers to exit, which changes it uses, and which areas it seeks out to retreat to. This experience makes it possible to choose the right hide or stalking route and thus maximise the chances of success. Understanding the deer's behavior and adapting to the specific conditions on site is equally essential. These demanding conditions require not only hunting skills, but also reliable equipment in order to carry out the hunt safely and successfully.

Stalking roe deer

My favorite type of hunting is stalking roe deer - preferably in the early morning. All the hunter's senses are required here. Especially in the minutes when night turns into day, I use a thermal imaging handheld device, but I rely primarily on my senses and pay particular attention to the wind. Despite all the technical advances, I believe it is essential to train and utilize my own senses - if only to sharpen them further.

I prefer to stalk with a weapon, a target stick, binoculars and, for the first few minutes of dusk, a handheld thermal imaging device. My absolute favorite binoculars for stalking, but also for stand hunting, are the MINOX X-Range 8x42.

Sharp vision and precise distance

High-quality binoculars are an indispensable tool for hunting, especially in hilly or mountainous terrain where light and visibility conditions are constantly changing. With the MINOX X-Range 8x42, nothing stands in the way of an excellent observation experience: not only does it enable precise observation of the game, it also helps to recognize its behavior at an early stage. Especially when stalking, it is crucial to correctly estimate distances - particularly in changing terrain. Thanks to the integrated laser rangefinder, which enables precise measurements over distances of several hundred meters, the hunter can quickly and reliably determine the shooting distance. The binoculars also impress with their ergonomic design, which ensures a secure grip and a high level of comfort even when stalking for long periods.

Keeping the peace in the hunting ground

Basically, it must be said that there are areas in a hunting ground that you cannot reach in the morning without disturbing and scaring off the game. I therefore avoid certain areas during the morning stalk, because in my hunting practice, the tranquility of the game is paramount. Continuous scaring due to incorrect stalking drives the game further and further into the dark, which makes hunting increasingly difficult. However, this topic is very complex and offers potential for a separate article.

Interval hunting and practical everyday life

In everyday hunting it often happens that the game is already in the vicinity and uses its grazing area. Here it is important to remain calm and level-headed. Patience and quiet communication often make all the difference. Every detail counts when deciding whether the game is huntable: Is it a huntable piece or not? In the case of an unsuitable or unhuntable game, even a quiet clearing of the throat or a similar noise can be enough to gently persuade the game to move on without alarming it. A sudden jump would panic the entire surrounding area and jeopardize the hunt for the moment. In my experience, roe deer does not react immediately to the first disturbance, but repeated scaring by bad wind or loud stalking can unsettle the animals for a long time and change its behavior. It becomes particularly critical when the later or night-time departure for feeding has a direct influence on the hunting strategy and the fulfilment of the shooting plan.

I therefore stalk with extreme caution and only hunt roe deer at intervals. I have been practicing this interval hunting for around 15 years with great success. In Lower Austria, the shooting season for one-year-old roe deer begins on 16th April. We start hunting very intensively on this date, which usually lasts a maximum of two weeks until the shooting plan for one-year-old roe deer has been fulfilled. After that, the hunt is closed again. I discuss and publish the interval hunt for roe deer in detail in a separate chapter.

PRECISE TARGET OPTICS WITH RS-4 3-12x56 BDC

The MINOX RS-4 3-12x56 riflescope with Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) is a reliable choice for hunting at varying distances. With a magnification range of 3-12x and an objective lens diameter of 56 mm, it provides a good light yield, even in difficult lighting conditions. The parallax compensation from 10 m ensures a sharp image at various distances, while the adjustable illuminated dot makes it easier to aim at dusk or in poor visibility conditions. In addition, the riflescope has a Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC), which enables quick and precise adjustment to different shooting distances. This function makes it easy to correct the point of impact without having to make complicated calculations - an advantage when spontaneous shots are required at varying distances.

Precision at longer distances requires practice

In my region, it is often necessary to shoot at longer distances - a challenge that requires careful preparation and constant training. What sounds easy to write is not always easy to put into practice. Regular shooting training is therefore essential in order to make a safe and accurate shot under hunting conditions. If I am not absolutely certain of landing a fatal shot in a situation, I consistently refrain from taking the shot. Especially in spring, when there are often several animals on the grazing area, I wait some time after the shot before approaching the game. This gives the rest of the game population the opportunity to linger quietly or move in slowly without immediately associating the shot with a threat. Here too, as with stalking, patience and considered action are the key to hunting success.

Flexibility in changing situations

Game often moves away or approaches unexpectedly. At such moments, quick reactions are crucial. Especially during the rut, change is the only constant: a buck steps out to graze, a doe suddenly appears - and then it disappears again, making its tracks in the typical witch rings or driving the doe through the forest and meadow in wild chases. Which hunter has not experienced such a situation?

If you want to hunt successfully in such moments, you must act quickly and safely. Taking a clean shot is challenging enough - the equipment has to be absolutely reliable. The riflescope must be able to be adjusted precisely and without delay. In these situations, I also use it directly for aiming, because the right magnification, a good field of view and a clear image are the ideal combination for identifying the game quickly and unfailingly.

The perfect combination

Hunting roe deer in hilly and mountainous terrain is a demanding challenge that requires both experience and the right equipment. MINOX binoculars and riflescopes offer a perfect combination of precision, robustness and ease of use to help a hunter succeed even in difficult terrain. For me personally, the combination of the MINOX X-Range 8x42 binoculars and the MINOX RS-4 3-12x56 is the ideal equipment to operate safely and accurately even in the most demanding hunting areas.