My first time hunting partridges in Macedonia
Published On: Febbraio 1, 2025

Hunting in Macedonia with a Pointing Dog: A Unique Experience in a Hunter’s Paradise

There is a place, just a few kilometers from Italy, that represents an absolute paradise for hunting with pointing dogs. A land where nature still retains its wild and unspoiled charm, offering a rich and diverse habitat for some of the most fascinating and challenging game birds.

Here, in the heart of Macedonia, the rolling hills, covered in golden grass and scattered with small shrubs, serve as the perfect home for native gray partridges, a species that thrives in this environment thanks to a combination of ideal agricultural practices, balanced ecosystems, and a climate that favors their reproduction.

Beyond the hills, the landscape transforms dramatically into towering mountain ranges, where the rock partridge reigns supreme. This stark contrast between the gentle lowlands and the rugged mountains creates a hunting ground of extraordinary variety and beauty, where a skilled pointing dog can demonstrate its full potential.

A Territory Perfectly Suited for Gray Partridges

What makes Makedonia so special for gray partridge hunting? The secret lies in the landscape, climate, and traditional farming practices, which together create an environment perfectly suited to this iconic game bird.

• Expansive rolling hills: Unlike many intensively cultivated areas in Europe, Makedonia has vast expanses of natural grasslands and meadows, interspersed with small farms and patches of uncultivated land. This provides an ideal mix of cover and feeding grounds for the gray partridges, which prefer open fields with scattered vegetation where they can nest and find food.
• Traditional and sustainable agriculture: In this region, agriculture has remained close to its roots, without excessive mechanization or the extensive use of chemicals. The result is a healthy ecosystem where partridges can find abundant food—grains, seeds, and insects—without the disturbances that modern industrial farming often creates.
• Mild climate and balanced seasons: The Makedonian climate is another key factor in the thriving gray partridge population. With cold but not extreme winters and long, warm summers, the conditions allow the birds to breed successfully and maintain a strong population year after year. The partridges’ ability to thrive here makes Macedonia one of the most sought-after destinations for hunters who appreciate the challenge of wild, naturally-reproduced game.

The combination of varied terrain, rich biodiversity, and traditional farming creates an environment where the partridge population remains healthy and abundant, offering an authentic and rewarding hunting experience for those who appreciate the deep connection between nature, habitat, and game.

A Dream for Hunters Who Love Pointing Dogs

For hunters passionate about hunting with pointing dogs, Macedonia is a dream destination. The variety of terrain allows for dynamic and engaging hunts, where dogs must use all their instincts, training, and intelligence to locate, point, and flush the game.

In the lowlands, the dogs work in open fields, using their keen sense of smell to track gray partridges hiding among the grass and shrubs. The birds here are fast, elusive, and highly alert, meaning that a well-trained dog must work meticulously to lock onto a solid point before the birds take off.
In the mountains, where the rock partridge roams among the cliffs and rocky slopes, hunting becomes even more challenging. The terrain is steep, the birds are even more wary, and the dogs must demonstrate endurance, agility, and strategic thinking to locate and hold the game.
This kind of hunting is not just about the pursuit of game—it is about the beauty of the relationship between the hunter and their dog, the admiration of a perfectly executed point, and the thrill of watching the dog work in harmony with the wild environment.

A Place You Return to Again and Again

Several years ago, Enrico had the chance to visit this incredible hunting ground for the first time. It was a revelation—the vast landscapes, the quality of the game, and the experience of watching his dog perform at its highest level in such a natural and wild setting.

Since then, he has never missed a season in Makedonia. Every trip is a new adventure, a new test of skill, and a new opportunity to deepen the bond with his dog. The combination of challenging game, breathtaking scenery, and the rich tradition of hunting in this region makes Macedonia an irresistible destination for anyone passionate about hunting with pointing dogs.

For those who seek the thrill of authentic, wild bird hunting, where nature dictates the rules and the partnership between hunter and dog is the key to success, Macedonia remains one of the finest hunting grounds in Europe.

Enrico’s first trip to Macedonia  for partridges hunting

“I lived magical moments, hunting partridges in the company of Sestri my English setter.

Since my first hunting license, I dreamed of hunting real, crafty, gray partridges but above all, I wanted to hunt with a dog handling properly the situation. It is true, that sacrifice and knowledge are needed, but when the puzzle comes together then it is an ecstasy of emotions.

A hill near Bitola had always teased me, I had never hunted in that place, I watched it from afar every morning when I accompanied clients to the hunting ground.

One day I decided it was time to go scouting. Every so often, in accompanying customers I do this: I look for hidden corners where to take them and where to make the experience magical moments.

While I load Sestri on the van, an autumn drizzle begins, it seems more like a woodcock climate than a partridge one. A stiff wind caresses the hills and I immediately think of the skids and climbs of Sestri, of the adventure that awaits us.

Getting out of the van, it was enough to catch Sestri’s gaze to understand us. He was pounding to get out of the van to immerse himself in those grounds. I turn on the satellite, put it on Sestri, and unplug it.

He starts like a cheetah up the hill, and disappears from my sight for 10 minutes.

Climbing up the ridge I enjoy the wind and the drops of water that hit my face: I can hardly keep my eyes open, but I try to understand where Sestri has ended up.

I go down the hill and see him at the bottom of the valley going up the other side, I crouch trying to avoid the gusts of wind, I look at him, his way of “working” the land and exploiting the wind.

My satisfaction is already at high levels, but it reaches its highest point when Sestri comes into effect and begins to skid.

A few meters are enough for him to fall into the statuary station and I hurry to get down to approach him.

The distance is about 300 meters but I have to circumvent an escarpment and cross a stream, it takes a few minutes before I manage to pass Sestri.

After reaching him, I stop to look at him: he is wet and trembling with tension, and I snap my fingers to guide him.

He begins to move with caution, while I think about the position of the dog.

His head is high, his gaze fixed, the stiff wind moves his fur and his gaze is turned towards a decline of the hill.

Accompanying that scene, which I will always carry in my heart, is only the sound of the wind.

The time has come: I get into position, close the rifle, and start moving forward slightly.

Sestri breaks the stop and goes up again 20 meters in front of me. The tall grass yellowed by time makes it almost disappear, so much so that I can only see his head starting to rotate towards me.

I understand that there are, closed a herd of partridges, now they are between me and him.

I take two steps to the right and by magic, a flight of 15 partridges fly off the ground, the sound of the flapping of wings almost frightens me, the singing of the brigade exalts me.

I turn around, hold the gun, and hit a male with the second shot. Sestri ready to retrieve, grants me his prey.

These are my emotions, this is the memory of that magical hunting season and of my first time in the hills of Bitola. It was just me, my dog and the beauty of the places we were in.

And here, admiring your dog’s work in searching for the wild animals par excellence in Macedonia, will make every day of your hunting unforgettable.”

If you would like to experience the same emotions like Enrico and Sestri, Makedonia is waiting for you!