Hunting in the European mountains: from Italy to Norway

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Written by:

Žygimantė Vakarė Jovaišaitė

Estimated read time: 7 min.

Riccardo Tamburini is an Italian hunter who spends quite a bit of time in the Alps. Andreas Frengstad grew up in the Norwegian mountains and, by now, can barely imagine hunting in the plains. Recently, we sat down with them to discuss the magic of hunting in the mountains and see how it differs across Europe.

The charm of the mountains

Upon meeting the hunters, I’m at first curious to find out which hunting surroundings they prefer more – the mountains or the plains. Andreas Frengstad, having spent his whole life on and around the Norwegian mountains, doesn’t need a second to think about it: “Definitely the mountains! I grew up on them and have never really hunted in any plains.”

For Riccardo Tamburini, things aren’t as straightforward. “I love both environments because I love hunting and I love to live close to nature. They are two different ways to live the same passion, although they have big differences between each other,” says the Italian hunter.

When I asked to elaborate, he had plenty of examples to share: “Hunting in the mountains offers you the possibility to admire wonderful panoramas and open spaces. But the mountain kills much more than the plain. Weather can change in a few minutes, all the situations that mountains offer you are tougher, and, often, you are hours away from roads or villages.”

Riccardo Tamburini

The difference between south and north

While any mountains will have certain similarities, the environments our hunters spend their days in seem to differ quite a bit. Andreas mostly hunts in Forollhogna and Knutshø areas: “The keyword is flat and easy to walk far in. You have big open plain-like areas on the tops in contrast to many other places where it goes up and down all the time.”

Riccardo, meanwhile, often goes to the Alps. While he also has the option to hunt in the Apennines, he prefers the former for their height and unique environment. “There are more exclusive species you find there. If you want to go hunting in the Italian Alps, you need to have a special hunting license in addition to the classic one.

However, although there are wonderful birds to hunt, like black grouse or white grouse (capercaillie is strictly protected in Italy), hunting in the mountains for me means hunting the chamois, the king of the pinnacles,” shares the hunter.

Photos by Riccardo Tamburini

And for Andreas, it’s the mountain reindeer he goes after: “It’s my 100% favorite species to hunt. Further down, where the mountains turn down, and we go into the border between the mountains and the forest, is where our red stag terrain begins. So, we also hunt these in the mountains. Just not in the open ones we are used to thinking about.”

But the differences between the Alps and the Norwegian mountains don’t stop at the flora and fauna. Cover is another aspect. “You don’t have the chance to take advantage of a cover (trees or plants) to approach animals.

So, the biggest difference for me is the shot distance: hunting in the Italian mountains means you also need to be a skilled long-range shooter because the possibility to shoot animals from 400-500 meters is real – and often a great angle can mean an uncomfortable position,” explains Riccardo.

With that being said, if you wound up in Northern Europe, you will find staying covert might be just a bit easier: “In the mountains, you will always have small height differences and rocks to hide behind, while plains may have some grass and channels every now and then,” says Andreas.

Photo by Andreas Frengstad

The long-term preparation

If you’re lucky enough to have grown up in the mountains, like Andreas, hunting there won’t be unlike any other hike: “I’ve always spent a lot of time in the mountains, so hunting makes it no different in many ways.”

However, unless you do hike regularly, you will need to work on your physical preparation. “Your body fitness has to be perfect, and you have to spend a lot of time training. I run 10 km 3 times per week and do other exercises, too. Slopes could be higher than the normal trails you walk during hunting on the hill, and, often, you have to walk for hours before you come to the hunting areas,” says Riccardo.

For Andreas, this year will also involve some extra training: “I realized I will need to train to carry a heavy pack. When you carry a bull, there is 55-65 kg on your back. Not something you are used to. I will, therefore, spend more time training to carry heavy loads all year around, making sure I don’t snap or injure my knees or legs during the hunting season.”

Choosing the right gear

Gear is important for any hunter, but if you’re going all the way up, you’ll really need to make sure it’s reliable. In fact, “All stuff has to be the highest quality possible,” advises Riccardo.

As for more specific details, aside from the equipment being as lightweight as possible, the Italian hunter takes “a standard 8×32 bino with rangefinder, a spotting scope with a light tripod, something to eat (I prefer energy bars), water (better in a camel bag in your backpack), an extra t-shirt, a knife, a light rain jacket, a bag for the carcass, your rifle with ammo, a stick for walking safety, a wind meter, and an emergency kit.”

Andreas also advises making sure your clothing and footwear are suitable for the environment – as should be any other equipment: “For the first couple of times, you can get away with saving some money and using what you have. But not all hunts will allow you to use whatever.”

He also loves taking “a good spotting scope. The Axion 2 XG35, with its small design and huge range, is very effective for mountain hunts. Anything else tends to get so big that you’d rather leave it than throw it in your backpack.”

Andreas Frengstad

If you’re in Italy, the local customs, especially regarding gear, can get very specific. “Hunting the chamois in the mountains is a very traditional style. The purists don’t even like camo wear and often avoid using the latest technology to improve and simplify their hunting. I stay in the middle because I fully understand their point of view, and I don’t want to seem too unfair, massively abusing thermal devices.

My loyal companion is the Axion 2 XG35 – the best compromise between performance, compact size, and small weight. The thermal device offers me the possibility to spot the animals quickly. Then, if the chamois are very far from me, with my standard bino or the spotting scope, I can judge if there is a right animal to shoot in the herd.”

Photo by Riccardo Tamburini

Safety first

Now, if you’re already planning a mountain hunt, there are some safety precautions to take. “You have to know all the risks you could deal with in the mountains just to prevent them or to manage a problem in the best way possible.

I always suggest exploring the future hunting areas before the hunting itself because it’s the best way to understand how animals live there. You should also have first-aid knowledge, and it’s imperative to study the weather forecast deeply, matching the results from various sources,” shares Riccardo.

Andreas advises bringing rain gear even if the forecast says it’s going to be clear: “The weather can be really unpredictable. You don’t want to get yourself and all the gear soaking wet.” Adding to the safety topic, the Norwegian also reminds any hunter to “tell people where you are heading and when you intend to be back.

The biggest mistake both hunters mention is underestimating nature. “It will take your life in a split second if you make the wrong move,” warns Andreas.

For some more practical tips, he adds “a GPS and some sort of communication channel. And never leave your pack to do the last part of the stalk without it. Suddenly, you have lost track of the spot you left it in. Happened to me before, not fun.”

With all the risks and threats considered, it’s worth remembering that, after all, hunting in the mountains is a truly extraordinary experience. Just follow Andreas’ advice: “Enjoy yourself. Don’t stress about cutting the tag. That’s not why you are there.”

I always suggest exploring the future hunting areas before the hunting itself because it’s the best way to understand how animals live there. You should also have first-aid knowledge, and it’s imperative to study the weather forecast.