Scottish Roe Deer, Finally! - Larry Weishuhn

When Scandinavian Prohunters’ Stefan Bengtsson told me Scotland would be the third leg of

the three-nations roe deer hunt they were donating to the DSC Foundation Gala’s auction and

they wanted me to host that hunt, I was thrilled beyond words and could hardly wait for our

adventure to begin. In the past I had been on several highly successful hunts with both Stefan

and Sofia Bengtsson in England, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, and Norway. I knew they

provided extremely high quality hunts including all things associated with hunts from long

before arriving to long after leaving.

During a previous trip to Scotland’s Highlands with Scandinavian Prohunter I hunted red stag.

After I had taken a really nice mountain stag, we looked for a roe buck. We found only does and

one very young buck. That experience whetted my desire to return to Scotland for roe deer.

Mark and Carol Little bought the 3-nations roe deer hunt at the 2025 DSC Foundation Gala

(www.dscf.org). Like me, they had been successful in taking really great roe bucks in Sweden

where Carol took a gold medal buck and Poland where Mark had taken a gold medal buck and a

second outstanding buck. My bucks’ antlers were not quite that big as Mark and Carol’s but

were still impressive.

After flying to Glasgow, Stefan, Mark, Carol and I drove to the small town of Dingwall near

Inverness. Camp, the Novar Arms Hotel, also served as the town’s restaurant and bar. We

arrived late in the afternoon. After a delicious meal we headed our rooms and readied for the

coming morning’s hunt.

It did not take long to spend the night in hunting camp. As it was breaking first light Mark, Carol

and Stefan headed in one direction, to hunt a huge property not far out of town. While I was

paired with George who had access to considerable hunting ground.

Before getting into his Rover, George handed me a Sako 85 chambered in 6.5x55 Swedish

Mauser, a round I really like. He too handed me four Hornady Custom 140-grain ETX rounds. I

loaded them in the magazine.

As we drove George, in his proper Scottish accent, talked about the bucks he had recently seen

on several different properties we planned to hunt. He explained the local roe bucks’ antlers

were likely not as large as those I had taken in Poland and that we would be looking for a

representative buck. Sounded perfect to me.

The terrain we drove through was “rolling”, complete with planted crops, native grasslands,

stands of forests, as well as an abundance of brilliantly yellow-colored flowered gorse. Gorse is

a beautiful shrub from a distance. Up close or “in it” gorse is extremely uncomfortable to walk

through because it is covered with millions of stickers or spines. I had been introduced to gorse

numerous years earlier on my first ever roe deer hunt south of London, England. Again during

several trips, I made to New Zealand. I learned the hard way to stay clear of it unless you really

had no other choice. Here in Scotland I intended to avoid getting near or into it.

The third place we stopped we spotted a doe feeding in a planted field adjoining a brushy creek

bottom. As we glassed her we spotted a nice, mature 3x3 buck feeding on the edge of the

creek. He fed toward the field, but then turned and walked behind a tall stand of gorse. We

debated stalking him. To do so we would have to cross 200-yards of open field. The doe would

see and spook and so would he. We decided to wait, hoping he would see him on a different

part of the field or creek bottom. When he did not we decided to back away and return later.

Said George as we pulled away, “There’s a gentle rolling ridge we can walk, and from there see

into the bogs next to the creek. I’ve seen several mature bucks there lately. Perhaps we can find

one there!” Sounded good to me.

A few minutes after checking another of George’s properties we pulled into a lane and stopped.

“We’ll walk from here!” We soon spotted six does and a small forked horn buck.

After thoroughly glassing them we continued our trek. As we topped a small rise we spotted a

doe. Just beyond her walked a small buck. We glassed it. As we did we spotted a third deer in

the creek bottom feeding toward the open bog.

It took one look, to make our decision. He was a mature three by three, decent mass. “We

should get closer. Follow me!” instructed George. We dropped behind the ridge and walked at

a fast pace. Two hundred pace later we eased toward the crest of the ridge, thinking we should

be within 150-yards of the buck. Peering over the crest, we spotted the buck facing us.

I lowered the rifle’s bipod legs while getting into a prone position. Then, settled in behind the

rifle. I waited a few moments for the buck to turn hoping he would do so quickly. My back was

telling me it did not like the position I was in. Thankfully the buck turned. I pushed the safety to

fire. Crosshairs settled firmly on the buck’s shoulder, I pulled the trigger.

At the shot the buck dropped in his tracks. Even so, I quickly cycled the bolt and chambered a

fresh round, got the crosshairs on the buck. Behind me I could hear George say,

“Congratulations, great shot!”. I stood up and received his congratulatory hand.

Even though I had not yet seen my buck close up, I knew he had bigger antlers than I had dared

hoped for. “You stay here and enjoy the moment, I’ll go down, drag him back here. We’ll get

some photos then I will go get the Rover and bring it back here to load him and take him back

to my place where I’ll continue taking care of him.”

When we got back to George’s place Stefan was waiting on us and helped take more photos.

After which we headed back to the Novar Arms Hotel where I told my story several times.

Stefan, Mark and Carol had seen mostly does, but also a couple of young bucks, and, numerous

sika deer. Originally from the Orient, they had been introduced to Scotland years ago.

After a quick meal we headed to an outdoor store, Jakt & Friluftsgarden, where I drooled over

guns with unbelievably beautiful wood stocks and talking with the owner about Hornady

ammunition he suggested for various European big game species.

Later that afternoon we took Carol to George’s to hopefully find a roe deer for her. Mark,

Stefan and I adjourned to a local pub to among other things plan future hunts, while also

enjoying a delicious meal and a couple of the locally brewed beers. Late afternoon we were

back at George’s where we learned he and Carol had seen six does, and a got brief look at a

decent buck.

Back at the Novar Arms we headed to our rooms to prepare for the next morning, which again

came really early. Unfortunately, Carol and Mark hunting with George did not see anything but

does that morning, save for one really nice buck at a great distance.

During the day we toured a local castle, as well as visited The Loch Ness Experience near the

banks of Loch Ness. One of the things that I truly enjoy about hunting with Scandinavian

Prohunters is there are always historic and unique places to visit when not hunting.

Late that afternoon we dropped Mark and Carol to make one more hunt with George. Stefan

and I drove around a bit then found a place where we could record a couple of episodes of my

weekly “DSC’s Campfires with Larry Weishuhn” podcast. As darkness approached we met up

with George, Mark and Carol. Unfortunately, the only roe deer they saw that afternoon were a

few does, no bucks. Even so both Mark and Carol had huge smiles on their faces. According to

them our 3-nations roe deer hunt had indeed been a huge success. That night they made plans

to return to hunt with Scandinavian Prohunters, next time for upland game birds, waterfowl

and big game.

Stefan and Sofia, Scandinavian Prohunters, offer many different hunting and fishing packages

throughout Europe and other parts of the world. They can also customize adventures for their

clients.

Me? I am definitely returning to hunt with Scandinavian Prohunters, possibly another 3-nation

roe deer hunt in countries I have not hunted, or maybe a two or three nation red stag hunt,

with the possibility of adding a roe deer, some waterfowl shooting and fishing.

Guess you could say I am hooked on hunting in Europe with Scandinavian Prohunters.