It is very difficult to hunt a truly trophy animal. In different regions of Kyrgyzstan, the size of the horns varies, as does their shape. The organizers of the hunt can always inform you about the sizes of trophy animals available in the hunting grounds during the hunting season. The fact is that animals migrate from year to year and are not found in the same place. Therefore, it is difficult to predict which animals will be in which location during the hunt. Weather has a significant impact; if the cold sets in early, the animals descend early as well. Additionally, the quality of the forage base in the summer affects this; if it is poor, the herds will move significantly in search of food.
In general, the sizes of potential trophies will be discussed with the hunting organizers, but the organizers will not specify the sizes of the horns in the contract, as too many factors influence this. This is a topic for a separate, equally substantial article.
The guides who will be with you will easily tell you about the trophy indicators of the animals just by observing them through binoculars. You will have the opportunity to determine for yourself whether this trophy suits you or not.
The ideal situation would be to clarify the realities before the hunt. If you are only focused on shooting the largest ibex in the world, you will likely struggle in your search and end up shooting a smaller one. Therefore, it is better to aim for something average, discussing this with the organizers. Naturally, if something larger crosses your path, the guides will not hide it from you.
It is very important to understand that hunting is not a trip to a butcher shop where you can choose any meat. Hunting in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan is a significant effort to find interesting specimens, followed by an approach to the animal and, accordingly, the shooting process. And, of course, there is the element of chance and luck. Despite the fact that herds of hoofed animals can be substantial, the search for good trophy indicators often requires covering considerable distances, often ranging from 15 to 35 km in a day.
There have been cases where a trophy was shot on the first day of the hunt, and the hunter said he didn't even understand what happened; he just went out and shot. What to do with the remaining time?
And there have been cases where, after trekking for 12 days in the mountains and covering more than 300 km, a hunter, completely exhausted in the last hour before returning to camp, managed to take a magnificent ibex.
Text: Administration of the Extreme Travel Company
