IBEX Hunt- What to expect

[Redfishga1]

Im going on a roe buck hunt in April but now have added a beceite ibex. I’m just looking for a representative sample ibex. What should i expect as far as physicality, I am a sea level flat lander but have been doing a little training to get ready. Seems the roe buck hunting is about 1.5 hour outside of Barcelona and the ibex a bit farther from the outfitters home camp. I have friends hunting other species (in New Zealand) that had a hard time finding something that wasn’t a silver or gold. Last question has anyone taken a rifle to Spain and is it worth it. Flight goes through jfk and cdg. Thanks

 

[375Fox]

Obviously depends on the area, but it’s a relatively easy hunt. The ibex come down into the same fields as the roe deer. You’ll use the vehicle to drive to vantage points and glass for both. The fall hunt is supposed to be more of a mountain hunt. I really enjoyed my hunt in April 2022. Just be aware and discuss with your outfitter It’s easier to find a big trophy than representative size. Edit: I see you noted that in your post. My ibex was 2 points over representative and 11 years old.

 

[375Fox]

Also whether you rent a rifle or take your own the paperwork is the same. You get your license from Spanish consulate before you leave then have it inspected by police on arrival. If you are going just to hunt take your rifle. If you are doing any touring I’d rent a rifle.

 

[Redfishga1]

I’m a little worried about going through Paris with a gun. I have only traveled straight to other countries with a gun. I’m not even sure if I would go through immigration and grab bags again?

 

[375Fox]

I’m a little worried about going through Paris with a gun. I have only traveled straight to other countries with a gun. I’m not even sure if I would go through immigration and grab bags again?

You’d have to speak with travel agent, but flying through Paris on Air France to Cameroon everything is checked through. I can’t say I like the airport but I had no issues with guns there. Just had to have Air France declaration form and declare firearm to each Air France gate agent. There are a number of direct flights to Madrid from US as well. I’ve flown American and United there.

 

[Philip Glass]

Im going on a roe buck hunt in April but now have added a beceite ibex. I’m just looking for a representative sample ibex. What should i expect as far as physicality, I am a sea level flat lander but have been doing a little training to get ready. Seems the roe buck hunting is about 1.5 hour outside of Barcelona and the ibex a bit farther from the outfitters home camp. I have friends hunting other species (in New Zealand) that had a hard time finding something that wasn’t a silver or gold. Last question has anyone taken a rifle to Spain and is it worth it. Flight goes through jfk and cdg. Thanks

That is hard to answer. Many seem to report a very easy ibex hunt in Spain. Mine was a contrast to most of the reports I've read and heard of. Parts of my ibex slam hunt were quite extreme and made me wish I had brought along trekking poles. You may as well take your own rifle since you have to do a pre approval from the Spanish consulate and go through the whole process whether it's your gun or his. Literally it was the difference between which box to check on the form! That said most outfitters have great guns in Spain.
I'll be going back in late October to hunt the Ronda to finish the slam.

 

[HuntingGold]

My Southeastern was in mountainous, not terrible terrain but incredibly brushy.
My Ronda was in very steep and rugged mountains. I was actually shocked as all the research I had done had had me believing this hunt would be in much gentler country. I was fortunate as I had over prepared for this hunt, losing over 25 pounds and regularly hit the treadmill and would climb nearby mountains to get ready.
I'd send an email to your outfitter and ask about the terrain in the specific area you will be hunting

 

[Nyati]

Beceite is hills, not mountain, but still over 1.000m high.

Not too hard.

 

[375Fox]

That is hard to answer. Many seem to report a very easy ibex hunt in Spain. Mine was a contrast to most of the reports I've read and heard of. Parts of my ibex slam hunt were quite extreme and made me wish I had brought along trekking poles. You may as well take your own rifle since you have to do a pre approval from the Spanish consulate and go through the whole process whether it's your gun or his. Literally it was the difference between which box to check on the form! That said most outfitters have great guns in Spain.
I'll be going back in late October to hunt the Ronda to finish the slam.

What ibex species and time of year? The spring beceite hunts are generally not physically difficult. I took my gredos in December quite high on mountain but not bad climbing. It’s my understanding the Rhonda and Southern are the subspecies that typically have most difficult terrain.

 

[UKHunter]

I wouldn’t call Beceite ibex a physically challenging hunt in my experience.

I wanted to make it as physically challenging as possible and that meant getting involved in the extraction

 

[Red Leg]

A Beceiti Ibex hunt in April will be little more physically difficult than your roe deer hunt. At that time of year, they are coming down to feed in the newly emerging grain fields and to browse on brush. However, be prepared for the possibility of a longer shot than some species in Europe. Those wide open fields on the slopes and at the base of the mountains can offer little cover for a stalk.

That is an April beceite in my avator that was taken at an honest three hundred yards. We simply ran out of cover.

 

[DJStang]

My wife got her Beceite ibex in early April 2023. As others have stated, they come down lower that time of year to feed in the fields. We hunted 2 hours SW of Barcelona, and flew direct on Delta from Atlanta to Barcelona. No issues at all with bringing your own rifle, just need to do the paperwork in advance from Spanish consulate. Shot was at 263 yards using a 6.5 creedmoor. Down right there.

 

[Philip Glass]

What ibex species and time of year? The spring beceite hunts are generally not physically difficult. I took my gredos in December quite high on mountain but not bad climbing. It’s my understanding the Rhonda and Southern are the subspecies that typically have most difficult terrain.

I was there in December. Rut was present everywhere but Ronda in the south. That was a big part of the reason for the lack of success there and the reason I'm going back the last week of October this year.

 

[Hutch01]

In April of 2023 I went over for Ronda and SE Nevada species. We were successful on both and made a deal on a tag and had time to get up North and kill a Beceite. The herd is suffering from scabies and my cape wasn’t worth saving. So my outfitter was able to secure another cape fortunately. In Oct of 2024 I went back for the Gredos and was completely rained out. Now I’m scheduled to fly back April 28th for another try. Hopefully I’ll get it done. Check your cape for scabies. They said the Beceite herd wont last much longer. There is no cure? Best of luck. Hutch

 

[Redfishga1]

Anything I must see or do in that region? My (11) son is going to tag along and go for a boar.

 

[Justbryan]

Im going on a roe buck hunt in April but now have added a beceite ibex. I’m just looking for a representative sample ibex. What should i expect as far as physicality, I am a sea level flat lander but have been doing a little training to get ready. Seems the roe buck hunting is about 1.5 hour outside of Barcelona and the ibex a bit farther from the outfitters home camp. I have friends hunting other species (in New Zealand) that had a hard time finding something that wasn’t a silver or gold. Last question has anyone taken a rifle to Spain and is it worth it. Flight goes through jfk and cdg. Thanks

I am going to the same area for the same hunt, April 4-19. I am hunting on April 8-12. I will be in Valencia April 5-7, Barcelona April 12-14, and Madrid April 16-19.

If we overlap maybe we could do lunch or dinner one day.

 

[Hunt anything]

I’ve never really thought about hunting an ibex, but I have always wanted to hunt roe deer.I was under the impression that all ibex hunting was in rugged mountains and my old catchers knees and back won’t allow much climbing. This thread has the squirrels turning in my head. My wife has always wanted to go to Spain, if I could work in a good hunt and make her happy it would be a win-win situation!

This site is full of enablers and I truly thank y’all for it!

 

[Arañuel]

Everything depend the area you hunts. Here Beceite area is very different, some areas are small open hills with some little canyons and fields, in these areas is very easy hunt them in spring, very similar like hunting roe deer, but these areas used to be in north Castellón and Teruel nowdays are very affected by scabies and is very difficult to get a big trophy.
The other Beceite area is south Castellón and South Teruel, these two areas are very different with the first two, in these areas there are a lot of trees and bush , big canyons and difficult mountains, still having big trophies because scabies is not there yet...
For Ronda ibex and South east ibex is same, each area is very different, some of them are very easy others have tough terrain.
But compare with asian ibexes the hunt in Spain is very easy.

 

[Arañuel]

I am going to the same area for the same hunt, April 4-19. I am hunting on April 8-12. I will be in Valencia April 5-7, Barcelona April 12-14, and Madrid April 16-19.

If we overlap maybe we could do lunch or dinner one day.

If you have free time, I live in Valencia, if I'm not hunting and you want take a beer or dinner it will be a pleasure.

 

[Arañuel]

I can only recommend that if somebody want a big Beceite ibex, not wait to many years, because I'm pretty sure in some years all the big trophies will be down due to the scabies and also price will be much higher.