HOW TO HUNT LIKE A KING
Author: Fadieieva Olena
Hunting has always been one of the essential
things in the history of humanity. First humans
greatly relied on hunting as one of
the tools of survival. In Medieval times, it changed
its status to being one of the major Royal activities
and was primarily used both for entertainment and
setting governmental issues apart. In 2020, hunting
exists strictly as a hobby.
Since not all people know how and where to hunt
these days, they need a mentor or a guide. Aleksandr
is one of the best hunting guides in Europe;
he works at Euro Hunt that arranges hunting tours
for more than a decade and is happy to share his
own experience about being a hunter.
Hunting is one of the rarest hobbies nowadays. How
did you decide to connect your life with it?
I started hunting more than ten years ago. My good
friends were eager hunters but I had no interest in
it at fi rst. No one in my family has ever hunted, so
I am the fi rst one in many generations. Once I started
to interest myself in it, I turned my hobby into
a business.
TSo Euro Hunt has launched about ten years
ago as well?
Yes. Firstly we were called Historical Hunting
as we focus mostly on Royal hunting in historical
places. The name Euro Hunt was discovered
later – to show we focus on hunting in
Eastern Europe – but we never forget about
its roots.
Euro for Europe. Does your agency focus on
hunting in all European countries?
In Eastern Europe, to be precise. The history
of hunting in the Czech Republic, Hungary,
Poland, and their neighboring countries
is one of the most interesting as for me. For
example, Czechia kept most of its castles and
cities in pristine condition. Territories that
belong to Štiřín and Konopiště castles offer
hunting like it was 300 years ago. They use
tantaras to open the hunting day and each
type of hunting has its own melody as well
as hymns. These traditional elements attract
people from all around the world.
Centuries ago hunting was used to make allies,
announcing of dynastic marriage, declaring
war. Once, the whole city was founded
here, in Czechia.
Which one?
Karlovy Vary. Its history began when Charles
IV and his retinue were hunting a deer in forests
surrounding modern-day Karlovy Vary.
By one of the legends, a deer he was hunting
for ran away and fell into a spring. When the
king came to take his bag he saw the deer –
not weak and bleeding but healthy and full
of energy. By another version, it was has a
hound that was supposedly wounded but recovered
after falling into a lake. Having seen
such a miracle with his own eyes, Charles IV
commanded to test the water – this is how its
healing abilities were discovered and Karlovy
Vary was founded.
That was interesting to learn! So you organize
tours to Karlovy Vary?
Not only to Karlovy Vary, though it is one of
the most popular destinations. We arrange
our hunting, sightseeing, and wellness tours
throughout the entire country plus Hungary,
Slovakia, Serbia, and Poland.
How does the tour organization usually look
like? Is it equally easy for people from the EU
and other countries to come for hunting?
Coming to the Czech Republic for hunting is
not a diffi cult process either for EU citizens
or third-country nationals. All you need to
have is a) passport b) a hunting permit c) a
fi rearms license. Euro Hunt takes care of the
rest; we translate all the documents, obtain a
hunting license – single or yearly pass – and
make health insurance. Simultaneously, we
are looking for an appropriate area based on
the client’s preferences. To make our life easier,
guests indicate what wildlife they would
like to hunt for plus its weight, trophy value,
age.
Where do you settle your guests? Remembering
that you focus on Royal tours, it must be
possible to rent one of the castles?
Absolutely. As our tours focus on Royal and
VIP hunting, we offer two types of accommodation:
5* hotels or castles. Most guests
prefer castles for sure; it helps to feel the
atmosphere of the past. We often settle
our guests in Štiřín Сastle – a luxurious
17th-century building made in baroque style.
The side wing or the whole building can
be rented out for a night.
Konopiště Castle is one of the most popular
locations to visit. Many interesting stories
are connected with this renaissance-gothic
building. In the early 20th century, Franz
Ferdinand often visited his demesne for
hunting: it was his passion. His personal record
is 300.000 bags he gained during his
life. He also popularized hunting among
locals and even paid for it. As for now, you
cannot stay in this castle but we organize
sightseeing tours. Many celebrities and
even Royals have visited this place during
the last decade – for example, one of the
Monaco princesses and Juan Carlos I, Spain’s
former king. Majority prefer to stay incognito
for obvious reasons. Also, the castle
owns the biggest pheasant yard in Eastern
Europe with more than 150.000 birds living
there.
Although you arrange hunting tours in several
countries, it is clear from your words that the
Czech Republic stands out. Why do people like
it so much?
Mainly, Euro Hunt clients choose the country
depending on the species they would like
to hunt for. In Czechia its pheasant – their
population is the most numerous here and
they are relatively easy to catch. We offer several
types of hunting: battue, dog hunting,
falconry. The latter is the most exclusive and
only 5% of hunters can afford it. Previously,
we used to go for cheetah hunting – there
were only two organizations offering it in
the whole country – but now it is in the past.
In general, every species can be found in
Czechia, even Sika or Japanese deer. So, everyone
can fi nd his cup of tea here
In Hungary, the most popular hunting on
goose and ducking is in high demand. This
country is known for a big population of these
species. Even Czechs go to this country
for goose hunt! Cooking in a hunting yard
is another story.
Is it special?
Very special. It is 100% natural, you will never
fi nd such a good fl avor in supermarkets.
However, this is not the main star turn. Hunters
enjoy cooking like no one else and they
are really good at it. You have to be a professional
to handle wild meat.
What do you like to cook at a hunting camp?
My favorite dish is baked Siko limb. As I
have already explained, there are many species
in Czechia. Initially, they lived in Japan
only, but have been later bred here and in
Ireland.
During hunting tours, we cook simpler
meals to save time and energy. Sausages or
marinated meat is the best option – all you
need is to lay a fi re and wait for your lunch
to be cooked. When the hunt is over, the dinner
is the next level. Usually, we go to a local
tavern to try goulash and cook fresh meat.
They both taste so delicious with slivovitz! I
also like the Serbian cooking style at a hunt or
after it. They put chicken or goose in clay and
leave it in the fi re. The result is magnifi cent!
Hunting is usually considered as men’s hobby,
do you agree with it? As a woman, I am curious
to know whether women buy your tours or they
are rare guests.
Of course, ladies are welcome to join Euro
Hunt tours. Although they join us not as
frequently as men, there are always 2-3% of
women coming every year. Ladies from Germany
and the Czech Republic enjoy hunting
the most among Europeans. However, the
most popular practice is buying tours for their
boyfriends and husbands. In my opinion,
we sell 30% of all tours as gift packages. It is
quite a high number and I understand why it
is popular. Giving a hunting tour as a present
is exclusive and exotic. Most of the gentlemen
who come to us with gift packages then stay as
our permanent clients.
Many ladies come with their husbands to the
Czech Republic, but do not want to join them
on the hunt. In this case, we organize wellness
or sightseeing tours in Karlovy Vary or
other touristic cities. Also, hunters often come
with entire families. In this case, we organize
walking tours in castles, hunting yards, show
them animals in wildlife. Everyone has something
to enjoy here.
What hunters’ individual records do you remember
from Euro Hunt tours?
As many gifted hunters come to visit us, there
have been numerous records to this point. I
can remember the group of six hunters from
Konopiště who shot 1900 pheasants. How
bruised their shoulders were because of the
rifl es! Another memorable achievement took
place several years ago when another group
hunted more than 100 wild boars in a day.
One gentleman shot a fowl from 300 m, another
one – a boar from 700 m. However, it is
only possible if you are well-experienced in
shooting.
Do you host any competitions among your
guests? If yes, are they rewarded with special
prizes?
The spirit of competition is one of the key
emotions hunters aim to get when they order
a tour. We choose the King and Prince of
Hunting after each event. The winners have
to be not only the best gunslingers but professionals
in all senses. They have to be nice to
their companions and animals, handle a weapon
professionally, and be good role models
for the others..
The main competition takes place in spring
when the main season is over. The annual
trophy show attracts hunters from all corners
of the world who come to demonstrate
their achievements. They bring everything
they have hunted during the year – from local
pheasants to African rhinos. Obviously, the
most successful hunters are rewarded.
2020 is a diffi cult year for all of us. Did you
manage to organize hunting tours during the
pandemic?
It is diffi cult to tell right now as the main hunting
season starts in autumn. Obviously, there
are fewer tourists than last year, but people
are still coming – mostly from EU countries.
Recently, we hosted tourists from Germany,
Monaco. Many locals also become interested
in hunting even if they have not tried it before.
When there are no tours, we try to organize
friendly or corporate competitions. Besides
this, we always have to control the species
population, put feed racks, look for animals.
There is always work to do, and it helps to
stay optimistic about the future.
