Deer hunting: In the presence of the mountains of the Piedmontese Apennines, with the sun filtering through the trees, the scent of earth and moss in the air, among the woods and clearings, the fallow deer moves with elegance, challenging the expert eyes of the hunters.
In Grondona, in the province of Alessandria, there is the reserve of Cascina Emanuele, an uncontaminated territory that extends for 2,200 hectares. Characterized by dense forests, large meadows and valleys rich in water, the reserve area is home to an intense variety of flora and fauna, including a significant number of fallow deer.
Very widespread throughout the world, the deer is a strong and cunning wild animal that lives in more or less numerous groups, depending on the territory it chooses as its home. During the year it changes two coats: an autumn/winter one of a typically brownish-grey color, a type of color that makes it less visible, and a spring/summer one with a reddish-brown coat with a median dorsal black stripe from the neck to the tail and white spots on your back and hips.
The male, characterized by large antlers, appears larger and more massive than the female and is distinguished based on age: fusone (1-2 years), balestrone (2-4 years) and palanchone (from 4 years onwards).
Particularly fond of olive tree and vineyard leaves, it loves to graze at dawn and dusk and, given its aversion to too harsh a climate, it usually does not go beyond a thousand metres. We mainly find it in mixed forests of tall broad-leaved trees, alternating with clearings. It prefers places with little slope and good woody cover such as Mediterranean scrub, hilly oak groves and hilly pine forests.
Thanks to its intermediate size compared to those of the other two cervids (roe deer and red deer), the fallow deer is a particularly sought-after species by hunters.
In the Cascina Emanuele reserve, in addition to quality hunting, you can enjoy hospitality that only Italians can offer. The hunting lodge, which has now become an inn, is one of the most historic houses in Grondona: the Daino inn. A place where tradition meets modernity and elements typical of a hunting lodge are combined with a refined and careful design that gives evocative and wild suggestions.
Here you can experiment with healthy and natural cuisine with almost entirely wild raw materials, resulting from careful research in the area that maintains the concept of sustainability as much as possible. Not only a kitchen with convivial and private environments, where you can have lunch, dinner and a snack, but also some exclusive rooms where you can stay overnight. La Locanda del Daino is a magical place in which to share moments of stories, stories and unforgettable experiences.
As regards the more technical aspect, a good caliber for deer hunting ranges from 6 to 7.62 mm. The extremes that should not be exceeded are the “small” .243 Win and the .300 Win. Mag. A very important element for hunting deer in appearance is precisely the choice of optics. Given the habits of the cervid, the telescope must be bright, of medium magnification and with a well-marked reticle.
Hunting this specimen is a mixture of charm and emotion, an experience that goes beyond the simple search for a trophy: book and leave for a weekend of fallow deer hunting in Cascina Emanuele!
