Montería: Inside Spain's Traditional Driven Hunt
Driven hunting at its grandest: boar and deer moved by hound packs, a line of standing hunters, a field lunch, and centuries-old protocol.
Most experienced hunters have taken a red stag or an ibex. Very few outside Spain and Portugal have experienced a montería — and that is precisely what makes it one of the most memorable group hunts in Europe.
What is a montería?
A montería is a driven hunt on a private estate. Teams of houndsmen (rehalas) work the cover, pushing game toward a line of hunters posted at fixed positions called puestos. The quarry is primarily wild boar and red deer. It is a social, high-action format — perfect for a group of friends or a corporate party.
How the day unfolds
Hunters are assigned their puestos and transported into position. The rehalas release the hounds and work the cover for several hours (the mancha); game breaks cover and passes the line. A long, convivial field lunch is central to the tradition, and the day closes with the junta de carnes, honouring the game.
When is the season?
The driven-hunt season runs through autumn and winter, roughly October to February, varying by region. In Extremadura, big-game driven hunts typically run from mid-October to late February. The best estates and dates are contracted well in advance — often the previous summer.
Why it works as a group or corporate hunt
Because a montería books as a block of puestos on an estate, it is ideal for a group of hunting friends or a corporate incentive. Non-hunting companions can often join for the lunch and the atmosphere.
How to book
Tell us your group size, preferred dates and whether you want a mixed boar-and-deer estate or a boar-focused one, and we return confirmed availability and net pricing within 24 hours.