Hunters attending the London Summer Olympic Games in England may be interested in hunting opportunities available there around that same period. Correspondent Mike Bodenchuk reports: With the London Summer Olympic Games opening on July 27 and continuing through August 12, I contacted two hunting operators in England for their last-minute suggestions. Yes, it's still possible to book a hunt in England around the Olympics, if you hurry. Bryan Nelson of Sportingagent (011-44-01790-753-746 from the US) organized my successful 2010 roe deer hunt (see Articles 2574 and 2690 in our online database). He highly recommends roe deer hunting near Norfolk. The Olympic Games coincide with the rut, and Nelson says they have been taking exceptional heads so far this year. Muntjac are also in season, but still largely in velvet during the summer. A roe-only hunt, including three days of roe stalking, four nights in a B&B and visitor's permit is £870 ($1,347 at this writing). Gun rental is an additional £40 ($62) per day and trophy fees range from £125 ($193) for a small four-point, £500 ($774) for bronze medal, up to £800 ($1,237) for gold medal heads. Bryan has also created what he calls "the MacNelson," as England's version of the Scottish MacNab. This package includes one night B&B, one full day of stalking (roe or muntjac), fly fishing for a brace of trout and wood pigeon shooting for 15 pigeons. Firearm use is included for £750 ($1,160). Mike McCrave of Mike McCrave Hunting, Ltd. (011-44-1573-470-771) is well represented in our database with 13 positive reports dating back to 1999, the most recent from 2011. McCrave also offers roe hunting in Norfolk, Suffolk, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Again, roe would be the primary opportunity around the time of the Olympics, though he notes a chance that some older muntjac could be clean of velvet at the beginning of August (the games end August 12). Outings begin at $750 per day with trophy fees and accommodations extra. If you are staying after the games end, McCrave also has a reduced-price Scottish red stag hunt for the week of September 9-16 (originally $8,900 per couple-reduced 15 percent).........(
continued)
