06 November 2007, 10:09
KechuttiKyrgyzstan Ibex
Mid-Asian Ibex summaryDate of Hunt: October 18-26, 2007
Location: Alatau Mountains, Kyrgyzstan
Animals Harvested: Mid-Asian Ibex
Animals Seen But Not Hunted: Fox, Marco Polo Sheep and Gray Partridge
Outfitter: Russian Hunting Agency
Website: www.russianhunting.com
Guides: Talant
Wrangler: Nurlan
Interpreter: Ekaterina
Cook: Gulchatira
Fireman: Ulan
Camp Chief: Kadirbai
Hunt Cost: $5,950.00
Misc. Costs: $30, 7 days Single Entry Kyrgyzstan Visa
Commercial Flights To Bishkek: Turkish Airlines from Istambul, 857 Turkish Lyras, round trip.
I travel to Kyrgyzstan from Turkey, after a week touring in Istambul and Cappadoccia I’d take the flight to Manas International Airport in Bishkek. At arrival there was Benjamin (Russian Hunting Agency representative) Kadirbai and Ekaterina. Things go ease with their help and at 05:00 all three with baggage settle down in a four wheel Lada Jeep, took the road to the East to Issyk-Kul Lake. After 8 hours, two stops, one to breakfast and other for last minute paperwork, we took the gravel road in Barksoon and finally arrived in main camp for dinner.
Next day I wake up at 05:00, took a very good breakfast, and after 4 hours of horse riding, with Talant and Nurlan were looking for Ibex at 12,200 fosl, that first morning we found only 3 Ibex, one of them of about 40 inches so we decide to stalk and after 3 hours, we were at about 300 yards; the Ibex notice our approach and wake up and run. Talant was yelling shoot, shoot so I risk a running shoot and missed. After a cup of Tea we decide to go back to camp.
Later that night, the camp chief told me that because the horses were tired the next day will stay in camp. I’d take the notice with calm, I needed a rest too. Next day I’d take a bath but my surprise was great, they offer me a “Hot Room†a kind of Russian Sauna that softened my tiredness.
The next day I was warned about to ride to another direction and try to find the Ibex but could be necessary to stay in a fly camp. They minimized the warning; the reality was that after a drive on gravel of 45 min, it was necessary to horse ride for about 5 hours until a mountain chain that have two very impressive Glaciers. In route, we saw a lot of Marco Polo Sheep at the distance, maybe in that high plateau could be around 350-450 sheep; ewes, lambs, young males and two or three groups of adult males. We do not stop to evaluate the Marco Polo, only enjoy the sight and continue our travel.
That was a particular morning, the temperature was about -15 °C with dark clouds and gust of changing wind, snowing at times but the guides was very optimistic, they pointed ahead with their right hand and repeatedly said Ibex, Ibex.
At about 09:00, Talant unseat the horse, walk ahead about 30 yards and seat down to watch through the binoculars; a few minutes later He ask for my spotting scope and show me a bunch of Ibex. Two of them looked big enough to try a stalk, so we take the horses and go down the hill, cross an iced river and come up above and behind the hill where the Ibex were lay down. All these approach take us about 4 hours, the last 300 yard on foot with a cold that reached the bones.
At that altitude my heart was pounding, with signs language I ask to Talant to go very slowly, suddenly he stopped, saw though the laser and write in the snow 166. I walk to her right side and saw the biggest Ibex; Talant whispered “shootâ€, so I shoot, with the sound, all the Ibex run over a ridge and my guide, with signals call me to run; only 30 yards ahead I lay down over a big rock, from there I saw the ibex running 400 yards ahead, then Talant show me another big Ibex and told me shoot, shoot, I’d take a few seconds to calm and shoot. All the Ibex disappear. We take a few minutes to observe but none Ibex could be seen, a few minutes later Nurlan arrived and pointing with his hand repeatedly said Kaput, Kaput. There were two very good Mid-Asian Ibex laying dead 450 yards apart.
The ride back to camp take us a lot of time, under a snow storm we travel around 40 miles but finally arrived at camp at 02:00, next day. We celebrated with Vodka and Tea.
On the next two days, the hides were salted and the skulls boiled I’d departed from Bishkek two days earlier only to found that Air France was on strike so my flight back to Paris was canceled and lost my connection flight and if not enough my rifle was lost on transit.
Four days later I arrived at home and two days later I pick up my rifle.
Equipment
I’d take my Blaser R93 with the 6.5x68 barrel and 40 hand loads with Barnes 120 grs TSX BT behind 66.7 grains of RL 22, Federal 215 M primers, 6-18 Swarovski riflescope w/ TDS reticle.
Meindl Alaskan Hunter boots
Sitka Gear
Swarovski Spotting scope, Gitzo GT-530 tripod and Bogen/Manfrotto 322RC2 quick action ball head.
15x56 Swaro Binos
LL Bean Hunter Gore-Tex soft shell pants
North Face Apex Jacket
Under Armour Cold Gear Under wear, face mask, glove liner, etc.
All performed extraordinary well. If I go back to a high altitude hunting trip I will seriously consider suspenders and one size larger Under Armour gear, in general will avoid anything that restrict my breathing.
I really enjoy the hunt. This is a extreme hunt, high altitude and very cold place, so if you decide to go take the best and lighter gear, water and wind proof, be physical and emotional prepared, learn a few words in Russian Ah¡¡¡ and take with you almost new bank notes for tips and other expenses because in Kyrgyzstan the “used†currency is 12% less value and even could be refused to exchange.
To Sergei Shushunov and all the camp crew, Spasibo¡¡¡
