Spain
is a geographically diverse country located in Southwestern Europe; its
southern tip consists of the British Overseas territory of Gibraltar,
with the narrow Strait of Gibraltar separating the territory from the
Northern tip of Africa. Its position gives rise to a broad range of
wildlife and scenery which makes Spain a fantastic country to explore,
as well as an increasingly popular hunting destination.
Here is a brief guide to some of the most popular game animals found in the country.
Hunting in Spain
Gun laws in Spain
are much more restrictive than the US, as is the case for most European
countries, and organized hunting trips will often provide visitors with
a hunting rifle. Again, like most European countries there are less
restrictions on small caliber hunting weapons. If you are just visiting,
then you will probably want to rent equipment rather than purchasing
it. Note that prices also vary when compared to the US. In the US you
can find a 9mm for sale under 200, however guns of this type are not available for purchase in Spain.
Red Deer
The Iberian red deer
is smaller than its European counterpart, weighing in at somewhere
between 180-220 lbs on average. Its coat is not as thick as the European
variety and tends to be lighter in color. Its antlers are very fine and
can have upwards of 20 points, but are not as long or as heavy when
compared with European red deer. The national population is estimated to
be around 350,000 and it is probably the most popular game animal in
the country. The second half of September is peak hunting season for the
Iberian red deer.
Fallow Deer
The
fallow deer is a medium-sized deer, its shoulder height is around 36-43
inches and it weighs in at between 140-220 lbs on average. The color of
its coat varies more than with most other deer species. It is a diurnal
animal, meaning that it is usually active very early and very late
during the day. The fallow deer has excellent senses, its vision,
hearing, and sense of smell are exceptional, especially when compared to
other deer. It stands out among other deer as being one of the few that
barks when it is startled.
Mouflon
The
European mouflon is one of the smallest wild sheep in the world, it has
a shoulder height of around 30 inches and weighs in at under 100 lbs.
Its appearance is similar to that of domestic sheep in the Unites
States, the main difference being that its outer coat consists of hair
with the wool being concealed beneath.
Ronda Ibex
The
ibex is one of Spain’s most iconic animals and is a popular game
mammal. The Ronda ibex is the smallest variety of ibex found in the
country and also has the smallest horns. It is popular as a hunting
target owing to its small size and agility.
Spain is an excellent location to take a hunting vacation, it offers a variety of wildlife to hunt and scenery to hunt it in.
