Marco Polo Hunt

[robertq]

To me the one that is flat shooting and does not weight a lot....
On a other note Good luck be safe and happy hunting.....

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Bill,

I remember a few years back watching a hunting show on TV about a lady hunting Marco Polo. She used a Weatherby CFP, one of those strange looking pistols made from a bolt action rifle. I believe it was 7mm-08. The shot she had was not that difficult or very long. Right after she put the sheep down, she uttered something like "get me the hell off of this mountain." Hunting at 13-15,000 ft has got to be tough. I would carry the lightest rifle you have that you are accurate out to 300-400 yards. I bought a used titanium Remington 700 in 270 Winchester which weighs about 5-1/2 pounds. This is the gun I plan to carry on my Dall sheep hunt next year in the Yukon (at much lower altitude).

Looking forward to reading about this adventure. All the best to you.

Dave

 

[enysse]

I'm looking forward to the hunt report. In some way I would bring the 300 Win Mag, just because it seems I can hold a heavy rifle steady when all that adrenaline is rushing through you. And a steady rifle, drops more game

 

[Diamondhitch]

Good luck to you, Im sure you will have a great hunt. I used my .257 Wby with TTSXs and killed everything with 1 shot from 225-535 yds. Put a premium bullet in the right place and any thing you take will be sufficient to kill cleanly. I wouldn't stress too much about it.

If you have Ulan as a guide be sure to tell him (in hand signals of course) that you want one the same size as the wolf kill they are bound to show you . He was getting a bit frustrated when we found it and I kept telling him I wanted one even bigger He kept insisting that only wolves killed them that big . I finally let him off the hook and told him I was kidding, It is 1cm short of the Kyrgyz record.

 

[flatwater bill]

Diamond H..........I will tell him.........FW Bill

 

[BRICKBURN]

Now that is the proper way to judge a trophy. "Wolf Kill" size please or a little bigger.

 

[Diamondhitch]

Well I wasn't going to be a stickler about length or mass, as long as he was bigger than the current record it would be good enough for me.

 

[Philip Glass]

Take the .300. You will likely have long shots and wind to deal with. The sheep you can likely get to but the ibex you must be in top physical condition. I learned that the hard way. 12,000-13,000 feet and there is no air! Lots of horseback riding. The air is very dry so take lots of Chapstick, sunscreen, and Vaseline. I am sure you know what to expect but these are not the big Tajikastan Marco Polo. The Tien Shan argali don't have as big horns as the others. They are so impressive to just see running up the mountains! Just the size of their skull is impressive. Absolutely beautiful. It will be quite an experience.
Regards,
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

Environ............no Ibex this time. Did not want to get too tired to hunt, divide my time too much. Talked to references............one man so exhausted after the Ibex he could not go after the MP. Also, wanted guide to know what his goal is........keep it well defined. Shot nice Ibex last time in Kyrygzstan, but still believe they are one of the best values in hunting.....as far as adventure factor goes...................the AF/$ ratio may be at its max for an Ibex. This year Mid Asian Ibex require CITES permit, so no incidental kills either. Would love to have an MP on the ground early, and have extra time. Last few hunts have gone down to the wire...............Lastly, just back from the range. No matter how heavy the rifle.........a 300 Win still kicks. Don't know how my buddy shoots a 6# Christiansen Arms 300 RUM. My 10# Sako 75 stainless 300 WM lets me know it has gone off. You Big bore fans..........shooting and enjoying the Gibbs and .577 have certainly lost some brain cells..............47 shots with a 300 Win is all I have needed today.........and then some..............FWB

I just bought a Proof Research .300 RUM and with the brake on it has virtually no recoil! I was totally shocked. A brilliant mountain gun that is lightweight from the carbon fiber barrel. Slick action too. My first custom gun.
Philip

 

[flatwater bill]

Thanks for the advice Phil................It is too late for me to consider another rifle........................have chosen the 300 Win. It is in a beefy Sako 75 topped with a Leupold Premier 2.5X10 and I have had it for about 15 years. I actually found I could not see as well thru the two Vari X III Leupolds on my 270 and 7mm. The joys of aging. I have heard of light rifles that were recoil-less with their muzzle brakes...............and I have no experience with them directly.....................but indirectly, being near one that is fired is very unpleasant with the noise and blow back..................and I dont even like the way they look......................but maybe its time to get past that. I have now shot many 5 shot groups at 200 yards into about 2 inches, but they have grown to 4 inches at 300 yards.

Yes, I would have went to Tajikistan instead, but it cost twice as much. And the adventure factor is no different. Besides, I dont have many expectations...............60" will do nicely, thanks...................Spent 6 hours on a horse yesterday, 2 hours in the gym. Have pushed this old body nearly to the limit last 3 months. It is what it is at this point. Leaving 3 weeks from today............................thanks for the good wishes.

Bill

 

[gillettehunter]

Best of luck on this adventure. The .300 is a good choice. You likely will have 2 guides. Let them pack the rifle when walking. That high elevation takes it out of you. Use the sunscreen on the underside of your nose liberally. Sun reflects back there. End of my last trip I was sore there.... Leaving .300 WM shells is a great tip. They cost about $100/box there so they are happy to have them. Common caliber there. Bruce

 

[johnnyblues]

5................................5 weeks from today, I leave for Bishkek Kyrgyzstan to meet Kariat, and to hunt Marco Polo sheep on this hunt. Although I spend all my free time exercising.........or so it seems, I am definitely feeling too fat and too old. I have worked up loads for 3 possible rifles, and need to decide which one...and soon, to get numbers to Turkish Air. .270 Win, 7mm Rem and 300 Win. Any thoughts on calibers from other sheep hunters appreciated.........................FW Bill

Ive taken dall, mtn goat and big horn with my 270. No issues at all.

 

[Philip Glass]

Ive taken dall, mtn goat and big horn with my 270. No issues at all.

Respectfully, of course, none of those animals compare to MP or Mid Asian Ibex. Add to that 13,000 ft and guides who don't speak English, long shots and complete exhaustion and you will want a powerful gun that shoots far and flat. It's just real tough hunting there and you can't leave much to chance.
Now all I can think about is going to Kyrgyzstan again or Tajikastan!!! You guys get me fired up.

Regards
Philip

 

[johnnyblues]

Respectfully, of course, none of those animals compare to MP or Mid Asian Ibex. Add to that 13,000 ft and guides who don't speak English, long shots and complete exhaustion and you will want a powerful gun that shoots far and flat. It's just real tough hunting there and you can't leave much to chance.
Now all I can think about is going to Kyrgyzstan again or Tajikastan!!! You guys get me fired up.

Regards
Philip

Agreed...I was only adressing the 270 issue. If it were me I would be using my 300 wsm. Also bear in mind the late and great hunter Jack O Connor killed grizzly bear with a 270. But your argument on long shots is understandable. Have a great hunt! Look forward to your report.

 

[flatwater bill]

Johnny...................agree with you on the 270. In fact I would have taken it if it had as a good a scope on it. Maybe its not too late to change, because I am not shooting good with anything. Shot two 5 shot groups at 400 yds with 300 yesterday, 7.7 and 8.3 inches. Solid rest. I may have to confine my shots to 350 yards or so, and a 270 is still pretty strong at that range. Appreciate advice................................FW Bill

 

[johnnyblues]

Yes sir it is. Without a doubt you'll need to group well even at 350-400. You should have no problem with today's modern bullets. Specially if your using Barnes TSX. It will drop him dead as dead can be.

 

[gillettehunter]

Maybe time to look at a new scope...... As your eyes age newer/better magnification can be helpful. Perhaps a different load may tighten up that group too. Still time to get a little better. Trigger time is a good thing to do. Bruce

 

[Diamondhitch]

Take the .300. You will likely have long shots and wind to deal with. The sheep you can likely get to but the ibex you must be in top physical condition. I learned that the hard way. 12,000-13,000 feet and there is no air! Lots of horseback riding. The air is very dry so take lots of Chapstick, sunscreen, and Vaseline. I am sure you know what to expect but these are not the big Tajikastan Marco Polo. The Tien Shan argali don't have as big horns as the others. They are so impressive to just see running up the mountains! Just the size of their skull is impressive. Absolutely beautiful. It will be quite an experience.
Regards,
Philip

Not that it makes much difference but the area he will be hunting does not contain Tien Shan Argali but rather Hume Argali, semantics really. At any rate they average shorter but heavier than true (Tajik) Marco Polo.

I didn't find that anything there took any more killing than a whitetail or Bighorn though. I would say Mt Goats are still tougher than any of them.

 

[ROCKET]

I am wondering how this hunt went........it will be good to have some news from you Bill......I hope a great hunting story.......!!!!

 

[gillettehunter]

Was wondering how this hunt went. Report? Pics? Bruce