Let's talk Ibex hunting

[Green Chile]

Yours is a good example of what is possible with pre-scouting and local knowledge, especially with rifle. I think it would be interesting to have some drone footage of that area as the terrain is pretty amazing...all around is flat desert and then it gets nasty quickly! The scale is hard to understand in this photo...those cliffs are huge. One of the big questions in hunting this area is can you recover the goat after you shoot it? It would be devastating to lose the animal afterwards and it definitely happens every year.

 

[BOSSGobbler]

Yours is a good example of what is possible with pre-scouting and local knowledge, especially with rifle. I think it would be interesting to have some drone footage of that area as the terrain is pretty amazing...all around is flat desert and then it gets nasty quickly! The scale is hard to understand in this photo...those cliffs are huge.

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It pretty incredible to see the goat simply go straight up a rock face for sure. You are looking at them thinking "how in the world is that possible"....

 

[LivingTheDream]

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?

35 to 37 in Kyrgyzstan and 45 in Tajikistan

I think they are cheaper because of the "stan factor". But they have been in this price range for years, where NA sheep have gone up. I can't believe I am going to say this but I think they do a better job managing their sheep. They adjust permits pretty much every year and there is fewer sheep hunted in general.

Also, and just saying and anyone should be aware when hunting Argali, they have had issues getting them imported in the past, though I heard that is breaking free some. But something to keep in mind.

 

[LivingTheDream]

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.

In Tajikistan yes, in Kyrgyzstan no. Different hunting styles at different times of the year.

 

[Green Chile]

The sheep in Asia are doing MUCH better than say Dalls in Alaska. You will see hundreds of sheep a day in some parts of Asia. Argali (not ibex) require a CITES permit as well as other specialized paperwork. I would be sure your outfitter is well versed on the process with a good track record.

I've heard there are considerable differences in hunting Tajik vs Kyrgyz areas. A lot of the Tajik hunts are kind of a high volume operation. Also the elevation in Tajik can be quite a bit higher than Kyrgyz....4-5k higher.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Argali (not ibex) require a CITES permit as well as other specialized paperwork. I would be sure your outfitter is well versed on the process with a good track record.

The biggest hold up on this was USFW I believe. But you are correct to go with an experience outfitter.

Everything you said is spot on. The more I am hearing about NA sheep the more concerned I am.

 

[Green Chile]

The biggest hold up on this was USFW I believe. But you are correct to go with an experience outfitter.

Everything you said is spot on. The more I am hearing about NA sheep the more concerned I am.

My understanding from booking agents in the US is that the permits holdup has been with USFWS. The hunters I've talked with are told they will get their permits but one of the countries (can't remember which one) submitted a 500 page document that is being translated to English, which is part of the hold up on the US side.

 

[LivingTheDream]

My understanding from booking agents in the US is that the permits holdup has been with USFWS. The hunters I've talked with are told they will get their permits but one of the countries (can't remember which one) submitted a 500 page document that is being translated to English, which is part of the hold up on the US side.

That sounds like a convenient excuse. No translator, Google or ChatGPT. You gotta love the government.

 

[mark-hunter]

and the score above gold medal baseline cost him an additional 12K USD

Red leg, would you happen to know what was the final CIC score for this roe buck?

 

[Northern Shooter]

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%).

That aligns with what I’ve read. It sounds like Tajik has the larger sheep but Kyrgyzstan has the larger trophy ibex.

 

[Green Chile]

That aligns with what I’ve read. It sounds like Tajik has the larger sheep but Kyrgyzstan has the larger trophy ibex.

Boddington, in an ibex article, quoted one of his favorite guides who said all the big ibex are in Kyrgyzstan.

 

[major hunter]

In Tajikistan yes, in Kyrgyzstan no. Different hunting styles at different times of the year.

agree with this, they are different styles and present their own challenges. not for the faint of heart that's for-sure. The one common part is you need to be comfortable shooting at very long distances and know your rifle/optics accordingly.

 

[Green Chile]

To share some of my notes from researching the differences between ibex hunts in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia...again, these are ibex notes not sheep.

• Tajik - 16k elevation, run and gun, volume operation in and out, buy medical extraction insurance, good but not great experience, very commercialized
• Kyrygz, 12k elevation, mid 40’s size and larger, Kyrg is the better hunt experience than Tajik, horseback is extreme and will take you almost to the top, buy medical extraction insurance, 2 ibex for cost of 1 in Mongolia and they are bigger
• Mongolia - gentleman’s ibex hunt, better housing/food, lower elevation of 7-8k, mid 40’s is common, 40% more expensive than Tajik or Kyrgyz
  • Which ibex, Altai or Gobi? Altai are larger…mid 40’s and up…Gobis are under mid 40’s.
  • Horseback hunting here is much easier than Kyrg and jeeps are used a lot

 

[LivingTheDream]

To share some of my notes from researching the differences between ibex hunts in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia...again, these are ibex notes not sheep.

• Tajik - 16k elevation, run and gun, volume operation in and out, buy medical extraction insurance, good but not great experience, very commercialized
• Kyrygz, 12k elevation, mid 40’s size and larger, Kyrg is the better hunt experience than Tajik, horseback is extreme and will take you almost to the top, buy medical extraction insurance, 2 ibex for cost of 1 in Mongolia and they are bigger
• Mongolia - gentleman’s ibex hunt, better housing/food, lower elevation of 7-8k, mid 40’s is common, 40% more expensive than Tajik or Kyrgyz
  • Which ibex, Altai or Gobi? Altai are larger…mid 40’s and up…Gobis are under mid 40’s.
  • Horseback hunting here is much easier than Kyrg and jeeps are used a lot

I can speak to Mongolia, it was a pretty good experience.

 

[Green Chile]

In years past, I thought Mongolia ibex was a good deal but now it's the highest of the 3 by far...15-16k.

 

[LivingTheDream]

In years past, I thought Mongolia ibex was a good deal but now it's the highest of the 3 by far...15-16k.

So part of that is Mongolia is changing their permitting process where the regions are auctioning their permits now. The direct word was it is complicated and only something that makes sense to people working in the government.

I do believe they are still cheaper than 15k. You just have to look around.

 

[Northern Shooter]

To share some of my notes from researching the differences between ibex hunts in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia...again, these are ibex notes not sheep.

• Tajik - 16k elevation, run and gun, volume operation in and out, buy medical extraction insurance, good but not great experience, very commercialized
• Kyrygz, 12k elevation, mid 40’s size and larger, Kyrg is the better hunt experience than Tajik, horseback is extreme and will take you almost to the top, buy medical extraction insurance, 2 ibex for cost of 1 in Mongolia and they are bigger
• Mongolia - gentleman’s ibex hunt, better housing/food, lower elevation of 7-8k, mid 40’s is common, 40% more expensive than Tajik or Kyrgyz
  • Which ibex, Altai or Gobi? Altai are larger…mid 40’s and up…Gobis are under mid 40’s.
  • Horseback hunting here is much easier than Kyrg and jeeps are used a lot

I've listened to a bunch of podcasts now on the Tajik & Kyrg hunts and keep hearing of this 20h+ drive in to the hunting areas. That sounds exhausting after flying halfway around the world to get there. Maybe someone that has hunted either country could chime in on the process of getting from the airport to each respective hunting area.

Is the drive/ride into the hunting area in Kyrgyzstan a shorter trip than going to Tajikistan?

If you're flying from North America it looks like you first go to Istanbul Turkey which about 11h flight from the east coast.

From there you would fly to Bishkek if hunting in Kyrgyzstan (another 5h+).

If going to Tajikistan it looks like Istanbul to Dushanbe is the same 5h+ flight.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I've listened to a bunch of podcasts now on the Tajik & Kyrg hunts and keep hearing of this 20h+ drive in to the hunting areas. That sounds exhausting after flying halfway around the world to get there. Maybe someone that has hunted either country could chime in on the process of getting from the airport to each respective hunting area.

Is the drive/ride into the hunting area in Kyrgyzstan a shorter trip than going to Tajikistan?

If you're flying from North America it looks like you first go to Istanbul Turkey which about 11h flight from the east coast.

From there you would fly to Bishkek if hunting in Kyrgyzstan (another 5h+).

If going to Tajikistan it looks like Istanbul to Dushanbe is the same 5h+ flight.

If hunting Tajikistan in the Pamirs it is 20 hours on some shitty roads. I had a buddy do this trip last year and said it is by far the worst part of the trip. There is another range in Tajikistan which is Bucharan (check my spelling) but it is 6 to 7 hours, not as high elevation but steeper and has smaller ibex on average (you are talking like 2 inches)

Kyrgyzstan varies - heard 6 to 12 hours depending on the area. I have heard talk of premier areas but not sure how accurate it is.

Your flights are spot on. 10 hours to Istanbul (11 coming back) and 5 hours to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan...Mongolia is about 8.

 

[Northern Shooter]

If hunting Tajikistan in the Pamirs it is 20 hours on some shitty roads. I had a buddy do this trip last year and said it is by far the worst part of the trip. There is another range in Tajikistan which is Bucharan (check my spelling) but it is 6 to 7 hours, not as high elevation but steeper and has smaller ibex on average (you are talking like 2 inches)

Kyrgyzstan varies - heard 6 to 12 hours depending on the area. I have heard talk of premier areas but not sure how accurate it is.

Your flights are spot on. 10 hours to Istanbul (11 coming back) and 5 hours to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan...Mongolia is about 8.

The more I look into this, the more appealing Kyrgyzstan sounds.

I better book an Ibex hunt because they start to be priced like our Big Horns.

 

[Green Chile]

I'm researching ibex quite a bit and hope to book something for '26.