Let's talk Ibex hunting

[Northern Shooter]

I'm pretty sure he is very much alive. But his businesses had a rough go of it. I will leave it at that.

Ah now I see. Looks like his name is well known in the outfitter world and he scammed some people out of big money for some of his asian hunts. Also seeing poaching convinctions in Canada.

Lots of drama.

 

[Green Chile]

Honestly, if you are concerned about price creep, I would book a North America mountain goat hunt immediately. They seem to be sky rocketing in price.

Mtn goats are a whole subject as you say...I drew the Kodiak tag after 3 years and couldn't go!

 

[LivingTheDream]

Mtn goats are a whole subject as you say...I drew the Kodiak tag after 3 years and couldn't go!

Oh man!!! That is heart breaking!

 

[Green Chile]

Oh man!!! That is heart breaking!

The rest of that story is I ended up on a cancellation leopard hunt…didn’t get the cat but got a 50# ele, 42” eland, 6” duiker, old kudu, zebra and a dozen impala for bait.

 

[LivingTheDream]

The rest of that story is I ended up on a cancellation leopard hunt…didn’t get the cat but got a 50# ele, 42” eland, 6” duiker, old kudu, zebra and a dozen impala for bait.

Thats a pretty consolation prize, lol.

 

[Capehunter1]

I’ve done Tajikistan twice. Amazing adventure hunts. The scenery from Dushanbe to the hunt area in the Pamirs is worth the price of admission (and you will see the Taliban on the other side of the river). It’s really hard to put into words how amazing that part of the world is unless you’ve been there.

 

[Altitude sickness]

To your point. Sheep prices have gone crazy. Ibex are still very reasonable.

To help justify your cost. The 2024 Colorado and New Mexico governors Bighorn sheep tags auction at $600k each.

Has anyone drawn and hunted the New Mexico Ibex

 

[Northern Shooter]

Looks like sheep hunting really is a rich man's game. Sheep hunts costs what I used to believe elephant hunts costs (before joining this site).

I think I'll stick to the goat and capra species.

 

[Philip Glass]

I might have to come hangout one weekend at your ranch, probably an easier job of selling that one to my wife than Sudan or Chad, lol.

 

[Green Chile]

To your point. Sheep prices have gone crazy. Ibex are still very reasonable.

To help justify your cost. The 2024 Colorado and New Mexico governors Bighorn sheep tags auction at $600k each.

Has anyone drawn and hunted the New Mexico Ibex

That Florida mountain ibex tag is tough odds...around .1% for rifle any sex permit, which is once in a lifetime. Archery odds are about 2% and good luck on that hunt, you'll need it! By all accounts, it's a tougher hunt than in Turkey. I've been in those Florida mountains. They are no joke. These are Bezoar ibex of course in NM. I believe the annual success rate on 200 tags issued is around 3%. Many are self-guided, which is kind of nuts. Some of the better guides have success rates around 50%.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Looks like sheep hunting really is a rich man's game. Sheep hunts costs what I used to believe elephant hunts costs (before joining this site).

I think I'll stick to the goat and capra species.

I've heard the saying several times that a sheep hunt costs about the same as a new 1/2 ton pick-up truck. Seems to still be on par with that today.

Hunt cost inflation is a real thing, especially in North America

 

[Green Chile]

I've heard the saying several times that a sheep hunt costs about the same as a new 1/2 ton pick-up truck. Seems to still be on par with that today.

Hunt cost inflation is a real thing, especially in North America

The Atchesons always said that phrase about trucks and sheep costs.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I’d love to hunt a sheep one day but with how the prices of even the cheapest NA Dall Sheep are going I think I’ll have to settle for a Marco Polo.

 

[Green Chile]

I’d love to hunt a sheep one day but with how the prices of even the cheapest NA Dall Sheep are going I think I’ll have to settle for a Marco Polo.

I was having dinner this week with a friend who is saving and researching for a sheep hunt. I told him I would have a hard time spending that much on a Dall when you can get an argali for that $. Everyone has their own goals of course, and he is going for his Super 10 list, but for Dall sheep $ you can get into massive Gobi argali.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I was having dinner this week with a friend who is saving and researching for a sheep hunt. I told him I would have a hard time spending that much on a Dall when you can get an argali for that $. Everyone has their own goals of course, and he is going for his Super 10 list, but for Dall sheep $ you can get into massive Gobi argali.

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Exactly. I’d like to complete the Super 10 as well meaning a domestic sheep is required…but when comparing these two specimens side by side it’s not even close.

Any reason why the Marco Polos are far more affordable than the other Argali’s?

 

[Green Chile]

I've wondered the same thing and just sent a booking agent friend that question. He hunts sheep and sells sheep hunts and should have some ideas on it. I have seen Marco Polo sheep hunts around 35k lately. What are you seeing?

 

[Green Chile]

Any reason why the Marco Polos are far more affordable than the other Argali’s?

My booking agent friend replied the main pricing difference is due to many more permits being available and more areas to hunt them in. Basic supply and demand. Interesting that a Marco Polo hunt is priced at about the same as a leopard hunt. Just an observation.

 

[Northern Shooter]

From all accounts I’ve heard the Marco Polo (and Mid-Asian Ibex) are very plentiful and you can expect to see 2000+ animals over a 10 day hunt.

 

[Green Chile]

Little more detail...it does make a difference if you are hunting in Tajikistan vs Kyrgyzstan. Tajik trophy quality averages high 50's...Kyrgyz trophies averages low to mid 50's. Kyrgyz hunts are 35k and Tajik prices are 48+. Still it seems like prices have fallen a bit. I thought all Marco Polo hunts were priced at 55+. That Kyrgyz price looks interesting and a considerable discount versus Tajik pricing where the sheep might be 5 more inches (10%).

 

[BOSSGobbler]

That Florida mountain ibex tag is tough odds...around .1% for rifle any sex permit, which is once in a lifetime. Archery odds are about 2% and good luck on that hunt, you'll need it! By all accounts, it's a tougher hunt than in Turkey. I've been in those Florida mountains. They are no joke. These are Bezoar ibex of course in NM. I believe the annual success rate on 200 tags issued is around 3%. Many are self-guided, which is kind of nuts. Some of the better guides have success rates around 50%.

I drew a nanny rifle tag about 15 yrs ago in NM. I did it in October, it was HOT and dry. I met up with some resident hunters and we collaborated. I had already been out and found a group of nannies. That evening while glassing we also saw a group of very nice billies. They were impressive. I got a nannie, one of the other guys shot one, and the third missed. In those days I believe the odds were better to get a 50 inch billy but now NMFG has taken out quite a few animals and the population is much lower. I am confident I could have taken a billy that year on my own but it it rough country.