The European Roe Deer, also known as the Western Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, which has adapted well to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from the British Isles to the Caucasus.
In Hungary the finest populations live along the Tisza and Körös rivers, in Szolnok and Békés and Szabolcs-Szatmár County.
Roe deer are usually hunted from high stand, by stalking, or from horse carriage. Hunters can combine the roe buck hunting with wild duck shooting or wild boar hunting in the summer.
By tradition the best time to hunt roebuck in Hungary is in the second half of April or the beginning of May. Later on, when the crops are getting high, it is more difficult and requires a lot of patience from hunters. The rutting of roebucks at the end of July and the beginning of August attract many hunters, who can lure the buck out with a roe caller.
The average trophy weight is around 300 grams, but trophy weights over 600 grams are not rare either. The world record list has two Hungarian trophies among the first three.
The hunting season of the roe buck begins in mid April, when the antlers have already shed their velvet. The best time to take part in a hunt is between the 15th of April and the10th of May, and also from the end of July to the first week of August.
In Hungary, there are three hunting methods for roe bucks. Stalking and shooting from hide is typical in hilly areas. On the Great Hungarian Plain shooting from ATVs is usual due to the lack of covers; therefore, bucks are able to see the danger from big distances. This method is the best when a hunter would like to take more bucks on a hunting day.