Quail hunting in Macedonia has always been seen by hunters as the beginning of the new hunting year after the spring break.
One of the favorite destinations for this type of hunting is certainly Macedonia.
Here’s what Angelo tells us about Macedonia, a country where he has now found a second home, spending much of his time there and knowing it inside out in terms of hunting!
“According to the hunting calendar, quail hunting in Macedonia starts on August 1st. Bitola, the town where the hunting areas are located, will serve as the starting and ending point for the hunts.
Here, hunters find a comfortable hotel with friendly staff. The facility has kennels with beds filled with river sand to ensure dogs have a comfortable rest after the hunt.
The journey to Macedonia is typically done with private vehicles, where hunters drive to the port that is most convenient for them, such as Igoumenitsa in Greece. After disembarking, it’s about a 3-hour drive to the Greek-Macedonian border, where a representative will assist with the bureaucratic procedures for firearms before accompanying you to the hotel.
Alternatively, if you decide to travel by plane and want to travel light, you can easily rent the firearms we provide locally and entrust the transport of your faithful friends directly to Montefeltro. They will be transported with authorized personnel and vehicles for their journey to Macedonia. Upon arrival, the dogs will be accommodated in special kennels, and our local staff will take care of all their needs until your arrival.
The hunting days start with a wake-up call at 04:30, followed by breakfast and departure. Typically, the morning hunt runs from 05:30 to 09:30, after which you return to the hotel. The dogs are taken care of, you can take a shower, have lunch, and then at 16:30, after a well-deserved rest, you head out for the afternoon hunt, staying in the area until around 19:30.
This small migratory bird always gives us inexplicable emotions, and its presence in the Bitola area is noticeable from early August!
The vast expanses, where until the first days of July there was wheat, are now enormous stubbles where the quail, at sunset and in the early hours of the day – when dawn begins to lighten the sky – loves to stop to feed on the grains left on the ground, and then rest in the hottest hours in fallow fields or sown areas, where water is certainly not lacking.
I remember a few years ago, it was the end of August and the sweltering heat, which here in Macedonia lasts throughout the season until the end of September, offered no respite. We were hunting on the plateau of Bitola, at about 700m above sea level, the fields were cultivated with peppers and other vegetables. It was the second day of hunting when, due to the dogs’ needs, we had to move near one of these crops where a farmer was watering the fields.
Contrary to what common belief may bring to mind about Eastern European countries, often seen as reluctant and shy destinations for foreigners, the farmer kindly let us water and refresh the dogs.
Volo, one of the two pointers, was getting wet and suddenly took about ten steps with a suspicious look and stopped in point: shortly thereafter, a pair of quails took flight. Not even during a moment of rest did he lose focus on what he had come to do in Macedonia. Promptly, I shot at one of the two, which fell to the ground, and the young pointer made a good retrieve. Pleased, I continued hunting in that field, realizing it was the perfect area to keep working my faithful helper in the days to come.
The hunting area was just right to continue searching for quails; there, they had found everything they needed to satisfy all their needs: remnants of the harvest and plenty of water. With the intense heat and drought, it was the most suitable place!
Quail hunting offers hunters an excellent opportunity to train young dogs for the upcoming hunting season.
When people ask me which breed is best for this game bird, my answer is always the same: “If the breed you choose for your assistant gives you great satisfaction, then it’s the right one!”
As I have said many times to various people, hunters choose quail hunting in Macedonia for the ease of organizing the trip, both for themselves and their assistants, and because they can put young dogs, practically puppies, in contact with real and native game. This will ensure that the young dog is prepared for the hunting season.
What can I say? I look forward to seeing you in Macedonia!
Find out more about this journey beyond the Mediterranean Sea and hunt quails in North Macedonia! Contact us here!
