A Return to Roe-ing in Sweden - Larry Weishuhn

It was during the waning moments of the 2026 DSC Outdoor Expo and Convention in Atlanta I

again stopped by Stefan and Sofia Bengtsson’s Scandinavian Prohunter’s booth this time to

confirm the June dates we, Mark and Carol Little and I, would be headed to Sweden to hunt roe

deer. I drooled over the photos Stefan showed me of bucks his hunters had harvested since I

had last hunted roe deer with him.

On my initial Swedish roe deer hunt, Stefan and I stalked a gold medal buck in an open field.

Before we could get close enough for a shot, the buck bedded in tall grass next to an electrical

transmission tower. We quickly cut the distance to 200-yards.

The tall grass prevented a clear shot. We started trying to get the buck to stand up. For ten

minutes we tried calling, mimicking both seductive and distress sounds. But the buck paid us no

attention. Finally, we decided Stefan would circle the buck in hopes he would stand up before

bolting away so I could get a shot.

Our plan almost worked. When the buck finally spotted Stefan he did stand up, but then

immediately bolted. I tracked him with my scoped .375 Ruger, then pulled the trigger on a

Hornady 300-grain DGX. Years of shooting running jackrabbits paid a handsome dividend. The

big bullet dropped the buck, carried forward only by his running movement.

Some will undoubtedly say the .375 Ruger is a “bit much gun” for roe deer, which usually weigh

less than 60-pounds intact. But, at the time it was the rifle I hunted with all the time, no matter

the place or the species. In Africa I had used it for everything from elephant to diminutive blue

duiker.

I could not have been happier with my first Swedish roe buck. The experience made me want to

return to Sweden to again hunt the iconic European deer. That opportunity occurred when

Scandinavian Prohunters (www.scandivavianprohunters.com) donated a 3-nation roe deer hunt

to the 2025 DSC Foundation Gala and Fundraiser (www.DSCF.org), which I agreed to host for

DSCF. Hunts would take place in Sweden, Poland and Scotland.

Mid-May 2026 I boarded a British Airways plane in Austin, Texas, flew to London, England and

then on to Copenhagen, Denmark where I was met by Stefan and Sofia, as well as Mark and

Carol Little who had bought the donated hunt. We drove to the very southernmost point of

Sweden where we checked into Smygehuis Hasbad, our hotel. That night we had most delicious

meal and planned the morrow’s hunt.

Stefan picked Mark, Carol and me up at our hotel at 4:00 am and we drove to the property we

would be hunting after enjoying fresh fruit and Sofia’s fabulous pastries. Shortly thereafter

Sofia and I drove to where we would leave her vehicle to hunt our way back toward their

apartment at the estate. Mark, Carol and Stefan walked from headquarter toward their hunting

area.

Sofia and I walked the edge of a meandering creek which a few years earlier had been a straight

channel. Thanks to the landowner, supported by the Swedish government, had turned the

creek into a wildlife haven complete with spawning areas for sea-run trout, as well as a great

variety of vegetation to provide food and cover for a wide variety of wildlife including roe deer,

hares, pheasants and many other species.

We walked slowly and stopped frequently to glass both the expansive grain fields on either side

of the creek and the creek bottom. We were nearing the end of our stalk, when we spotted a

heavily pregnant doe. No doubt she would soon be giving birth. Moments later a most

interesting buck walked out of the brushy creek bottom.

His main beams were long and his antler tips polished to a shiny ivory. He had short brow tines

and lacked secondary points. Typically, roe deer antlers have a main beam and two points per

side.

I was most interested in the buck for he was truly truly unique. He looked to be mature, at least

five years of age.

He walked toward us for several steps, but there was no way to take a shot. Beyond him was

the property’s headquarters. I never raised my rifle. Moments later the buck stepped into the

brushy creek bottom and was gone.

Sofia was smiling as she turned to look my way. “The tips of his beams are really polished! But

there was no shot!”

“Had the houses not been behind him I would have set up the Steady Sticks and taken a shot. I

like those ivory tips and his long beams, unique!”

Earlier we had heard a shot in the direction where Stefan, Carol and Mark were hunting. I had

hoped it was Carol.

As we finished our morning’s stalk Stefan, Mark and Carol arrived in an ATV. Carol was all

smiles, “Shot my first roe deer! I’m hooked!” On the back of the vehicle was a mature buck with

extremely massive 3x3 antlers. “Spotted him a long way off, but was able to stalk to within

about 200-yards. Had to shoot from there. No way to get closer without spooking him.” Mark

and Stefan were all smiles!

We unloaded her buck and took photos, additional to those Stefan had already taken. Carol’s

buck because of the mass and overall beauty, no doubt would be ranked Gold Medal.

Photos taken and back at headquarters, Stefan took care for the meat. Before Sofia drove us

back to the hotel he told us we would be enjoying Carol’s deer that evening before we went

hunting.

Throughout midday, secreted in my comfortable and dry hotel room, I watched it rain,

remembering camps I had “experienced” where I had no way of keeping dry or warm.

Rain or not, I intended to hunt that evening from an open “hochsitz”, what we in Texas called a

deer blind, near where we had seen the polished main-beam buck.

Sofia picked us up at three o’clock. In their apartment Stefan had laid out a feast: grilled roe

deer backstrap from Carol’s buck, a uniquely delicious combination of heart and liver, as well as

other side lip-smacking dishes.

Hunger satiated, it was time to hunt. Sofia dropped me near my evening “hochsitz”. I donned

my rain gear then crawled onto the open platform. I then loaded the 6.5 Creedmoor Blaser K95

single-shot rifle with a Hornady 143-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter. I dearly love hunting with

single-shots, and regularly hunt with various Ruger No. 1’s. The K95 Blaser was one I had long

wanted to hunt with, but previously had never had the opportunity.

The first 4-legged critter I saw beyond numerous pheasants several species of waterfowl were

European hares. They reminded me of Texas jackrabbits on steroids. Their antics kept me

entertained throughout the afternoon, until a pregnant roe deer walked into the field. She fed

for a while then bedded less than a hundred yards away.

Heavily overcast skies, brought oncoming darkness long before the afternoon should be over.

I glanced into the brush and scattered trees behind me. A deer! I raised my Stealth Vision 10X40

binoculars to confirm it was a buck. I was pretty sure I had seen antler tips that appeared

almost white in the fading light. One glance and I knew it was the buck I had seen that morning.

I grabbed my rifle and rested it upon the “hochsitz’s” corner. So doing I spotted Stefan

approaching in an ATV. I quickly found the buck in the scope, pushed the safety to fire, then

waited for the buck to give me a better shooting angle. Stefan stopped.

The buck turned. I squeezed the trigger, then watched him pitch forward. I quickly reloaded and

got back on target in case he moved. He did not. When I lowered my rifle, Stefan pulled up and

crawled into the “hochsitz” with me. I pointed to where my downed buck lay 150-yards away.

We marked the spot then drove a circuitous route to within seventy-five yards of where we

thought my buck lay. I loaded my rifle, then walked slowly toward where I suspected he lay

dead. I wanted to be ready in case he jumped up. He did not.

Moments later Stefan and I stood next to my Swedish roe buck. It indeed was the same buck I

had seen earlier that morning, long main beams with polished ivory tips and short brows. I

accepted Stefan’s congratulatory hand. I could have not been more pleased. The buck was all I

had hoped for with different antlers than other roe deer I had previously taken.

That night we raised high a wee dram in honor both Carol’s and my Swedish roe deer. Another

short night. Next day we passed lesser bucks. That evening we readied our gear for the next leg

of our 3-nation roe deer hunt.