I think is my first topic and please, remember that i am not english native. I would like to share with Tradgang this short article that i have write for one german blog.
Bowhunting in Europe is growing and it is not uncommon to see photos of European archers with their trophies. Animals such as red deers, roes, fallow deers, wild boars and even the most difficult and emblematic species such as chamois or ibex are routinely hunted by bowhunters of the old continent. While the vast majority use compound bows, the number of hunters who choose traditional bows, is growing and the traditional bowhunting community is stronger each day.
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In Spain we are fortunate to be able to practice this ancient form of hunting in many places and among those who know , my favorite is the land managed by Juancho and Pablo, my friends running a place called Sierra de la Madera. Their two properties, one around 1,700 has and the other more than 5,000 has, are near the city of Cuenca, close to Madrid. Recently, in company of my brother Alberto and my friend, Aitor, we have been enjoying a few days bowhunting with our recurves in the way that we like , with our backpacks and sleeping in the field , in our tents. The truth is that the sensations experienced when hunting in this way are very uniques and to the romance of sleeping in the field joins the advantage to wake up and hunt as soon as you like as the animals are within walking distance, reducing travels, noises and car movement. For our memory will be the thunderstorm at night with its thunders and rays illuminating the interior of our tents and with a heavy rain that made it impossible to sleep thinking that all would fly at any time. The camp place was in the highest peak, more than 1.700 meters.
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The land, large mid-mountain forests with greater height around 1700 meters, is home to red deers, very large males, fallow deers,(great densities and big males), wild boars and even some spanish Ibex. Locating the animals is not easy because the terrain is very large and provides much protection. Anyway, to see dozens of animals in a day is not uncommon, but approach within shooting distance is not easy as these are wild animals. Anyway, we had a real chance of shooting and personally, I missed a doe less than 30 meters in a difficult shot, kneeling and from a small mound.
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Anyway, an amazing experience to remember, which we will repeat, as hunting in these areas, with our backpacks and sleeping in tents, feeling a total freedom, is something that to this day, in Europe, is a privilege.
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One last pic, a group of traditional bowhunters were hunting with us the last weekend. Some guys were coming from the Uk or Finland
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Great story thanks for sharing! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That is AWESOME!! Great pictures and wonderful story !
:wavey: :thumbsup: :archer:
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Spectacular! I love to hear of hunts in far away places, and really enjoyed your story.
Good looking group of bowhunters too, and I love the tekels!
Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Thank you for sharing your hunt with me. It is great to see that there are groups in Europe that trad hunt as well.
Being out there, under the sky and the stars on your own terms is what makes it wonderful.
ChuckC
Thank you!! Being my first topic is a little bit special for me!!
Very cool story, that looks like a very unique place to be able to hunt.
Thanks for sharing. Glad you get to bow hunt there...
Bravo!!!! Looks like a beautiful place to experience the hunt! :clapper:
Neat story and very neat pictures! Looks like a good bunch of bowhunters.
Great story Jorge!
For those that don't know jorges blog the adventurous bow hunter is jam packed with so much amazing info. I highly recommend checking it out. You will love it!
Jason. . . how do I do that ? I am (more than)a bit computer illiterate.
ChuckC
Thanks so much for sharing. Love the pictures!
Good stuff, thanks for sharing. You have a good sized group of hunters there in your picture.
Jorge,
I have been to Spain and I loved it. It is very beautiful and hope I can come back some day. I wondered if bow hunting was allowed. Your post answered my question! Thank you for posting and good luck with your season. Please post more if you can.
QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
Jason. . . how do I do that ? I am (more than)a bit computer illiterate.
ChuckC
I don't think I can post a direct link because of the rules (not sure but don't want to get in trouble).
But if you Google "adventurous bow hunter blog" it will be right there at the top of the search.
Amazing info and stories. Jorge and his friends did a great job with their blog.
Thank you Jorge for sharing your splendid paradise.
Awesome, thanks Jason.
Sometimes a push in the right direction is all it takes.
ChuckC
thank you for sharing your hunt.
Enjoyed it very much. Well done.
Wow, thank you. Looks like great country to hunt. My wife and I dream of one day going to Spain to walk "The Camino De Santiago".
Very cool, I sure do love hearing of bow hunters from other countries in far away places. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Beautifully rugged country!
thanks for sharing....
><>>
Glenn
Great story, thanks for sharing.
Keep the stories coming! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thank you !!
Hunting at 1700 meters (5.500 feets?)can be funny...last May during the roe deer season
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Another thing of hunting in europe, you can hunt close to real castles.The pic is from my brother, Alberto. If you look, you will see one roe deer.
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Hola Jorge! Nice to see more Spanish trad bow hunters on this forum! I live in Marbella and have been an avid trad bow hunter for some time, I feel the compound bow hunters over here far outweigh the traditional, but it is nice to see an increase in bow hunters nonetheless. I am a member of cazandoconarco.es and have been wanting to do a hunt in the Las Navillas Coto soon, if you and your brother would be interested it would be nice to go together as I think the comraderie is a big part of these hunts, let me know and good luck on your future outings!
Beautiful! How do I sign up for a hunt like that? Great photos.
Loved the story and photos Jorge. Beautiful country. We are lucky to have the right to hunt in the states. Glen
Entertaining and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your story and photos.
Very exciting to know others from far away are getting to enjoy what we have. A lot of our freedoms are taken granted from a lot of people. It thrills me that more of you can now hunt more. Congrats and thanks so much for sharing.
Awesome story and photos!!! thoroughly enjoyed this post! would love to someday hunt in Europe.
thanks
Thanks for sharing. I love your country, spent six days there running with the bulls in Pamplona and can't wait to go back. Your hunting provides added incentive.
Best thing is bowhunt during the rut, red deer and fallow, as is exciting and very active hunt. I think could be similar to your elk hunting when the males are calling all day and night. Is around september/octuber and the área is home of very big deers. Usually the big males only are seeing during this time of the year. I have been hunting in the states and i think is very usual in your country too.
Is a nice place to hunt, walk, watch wildlife or to sleep under the stars.
That's great! Good job and thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing Jorge, great job and keep it up!
Thanks for posting, Jorge. I would love to bowhunt in Spain someday.
Its so great to "meet" fellow trad hunters from so far away. That looks like just about the most picturesque hunting there could be. And with so many different types of exotic game I am sure the action is great as well! Thanks for sharing and good luck in the future!
Thank you!!
Flying from the states to Spain is easy and as this place is close to Madrid the logistics are easy. Bowhunt here is not free but deer hunt during the rut is an incredible experience. As always, females hunting is the cheapest way to hunt there.
I think that hunt in other places or countries is one of the best things to do for a bowhunter.
Thanks for sharing! :clapper:
Thanks for taking us along. Great pics and story! Looking forward to see some of your kills.