HUNTING DESTINATION
Eurasian Brown Bear Hunts
Europe offers a different spin on brown bear hunting with a higher success rate than most hunts in North America.
There are a total of around 17,000 Eurasian brown bears and distribution is scattered and disconnected with small populations in the Spanish/French Pyrenees, the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain, and the Alps in Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The population in the Balkans, mainly in Croatia and Slovenia, is relatively large but disconnected from the major population of Europe.
Hunting Eurasian Brown Bears:
- Eurasian brown bear hunts are very similar, and are about the same size to North American grizzly bears.
- Guides are very professional game managers and very knowledgeable hunters.
- Success rates over 90%, with 100% opportunity.
- A gold medal Eurasian brown bear is a realistic possibility.
- Easy transport of trophy. Croatia is recognized by CITES so exporting your trophy is not an issue.
- Spring and fall hunts are available. Spring hunts run March through April, and fall hunts are October through December.
- Lodging is in comfortable, rural homes. Food is simple, but excellent.
Hunting in Europe is typically is less expensive than North America with a higher success rate. When you’re ready to go, let us know.
EURASIAN BROWN BEAR HUNTS:
Croatia
Outfitter: AH3
Croatia has a growing population of Eurasian brown bears.
A beautiful Eurasian brown bear that is typical of the bears taken on this hunt.
Gold medal brown bears are a real possibility and this hunt has an unheard of success rate of 90%! The trophies earned in recent years prove the exceptional quality of these bears, with fur quality values often surpassing 350 CIC points.
- This is a baited brown bear hunt.
- You’ll typically be hunting from stands over the bait. Sometimes at night, which is legal in Croatia.
- A Gold Medal brown bear is a real possibility.
Croatia is also officially recognized by CITES, and for that reason exporting your trophy is no hassle.
Brown bear hunts in Croatia are done either during the spring or fall from tall, closed and comfortable “high seats” over bait. Bears regularly come to feed on carcasses, so the success of this hunt is almost guaranteed, of course, given the Goddess Diana smiles upon you.
Sometimes there are some spot and stalk opportunities, but we recommend hunting bait as it is more successful.
Croatia is EU member, and offers some great tourism on the coast and some excellent hunting combo possibilities.
Combo Opportunities:
- Fallow buck on Plavnik Island
- Dalmation wild sheep (SCI)
- Wild boar on Plavnik Island are FREE!
- Wild, native Mouflon sheep are open all year.
- Chamois are available September through January.
- Red stag are available September through January.
- Wolves are also available for a combo on your brown bear hunt.
In Europe, they use the CIC System which is a sliding trophy scale.
- Average bears square 6.5 to 8.5 feet (300-350 CIC) on this hunt.
- 400-500 CIC point bears are possible.
- Big boars will weigh over 640 pounds (300kg) and measure over nine feet (2.75 m) in length.
- The Croatian Record Eurasian brown bear scores 525.89 CIC points.
SAFE, VETTED OUTFITTERS
Let's start planning your hunt!
When you’re ready to start planning your hunt, just contact us or fill out the form on this page. Be sure to let us know exactly what you have in mind, and we’ll do our best to help you find the perfect outfitter and get it booked.
Unbelievable one day hunt. I thank Mat Cervantes for putting me on another awesome European hunt. I’ve been on two European hunting trips with Outdoor International and have harvested 2 Gold and 2 Silver Medal animals.
Within 15 minutes of me pulling the trigger word had got out and there were about 10 Croatian locals arrived at the hunt site to congratulate me and salute the hunt. The evening was filled with toasts and fun with people I had never met all taking part in the celebration. I’ve never seen anything like it, and was amazed at the spirit of the locals. My Eurasian brown bear was taken care of by my guide carefully and I left for my next hunt the next day.
This was a challenging free range hunt and not a canned fence hunt. Very exciting. The next morning we headed out for Balkan chamois. We glassed for a few hours high on a mountain and spotted a shooter with several females. We made a very difficult stalk for several km and got into position for a 330 yd shot.
