This is just for knowledge sake at this point, but I'm interested in which species are importable to the US and from which countries. Thanks.

Brett

Brett,

This is a good list to look at, to start with.

What is importable is half the issue, getting the import permit is the other half! Example for 2012 USFW have told me that they will be issuing 50-60 permits for Marco Polo from Tajikistan and +/-40 permits for Tien Shan Marco Polo from Kyrghyzstan. If there are more applicants then permits then there will be a drawing. But even before you apply to USFW for your permit, you have to first book your hunt, so that the outfitter can get your name on the country's government list which is sent to USFW. If your name is not on that list then USFW will not issue you with a permit.

While on this subject here is another discussion, true marco polo (Ovis ammon polii) are from Tajikistan, however the Tien shan MP from Kyrghyzstan are imported into the states as MP by USFW, however OVIS do not treat them as MP for their records!

The other issue is the physical location of the sheep for example In OVIS's words:

[Common Name: Hume Argali
Scientific Name: Ovis ammon humei
Location: Kyrgyzstan
There has been a controversy for many years about this particular argali. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recognizes only two subspecies from Kyrgyzstan, the Tian Shan argali (found north of the Naryn River) and the Marco Polo (found south of the Naryn River). However, many knowledgeable hunters and scientists contend that there are three different subspecies of argalis in Kyrgyzstan. The GSC/Ovis trophy classification committee has recently decided (January 2003) to officially recognize the Hume argali. Of course, this argali is importable into the U.S. as a Marco Polo. Even though the boundaries may change in the future, we are now using the Naryn River as the northern boundary and the height of land of the Ferganskiy Mountains as the southern boundary. The majority of hunting in Kyrgyzstan is now done within the boundary we have established for the Hume argali. However, Kyrgyzstan hunt operators may begin offering hunts for the Marco Polo in the near future within the boundaries of the Marco Polo. ]


However the sheep have not read this script! As Renaud pointed out sheep interbreed and regularly criss cross the Naryn river, especially when it is frozen for months on end!

The MP from Kyrghyzstan is virtually identical to the MP from Tajikistan, the horns have more mass but are shorter in length. The plus points are that the hunt in Kyrghyzstan is more enjoyable as it is done at a lower altitude and it is also cheaper.

We offer hunts for both MP sheep for those who are interested.

Arjun Reddy
www.huntersnetworks.com
Tel: 914 310 4902
email: arjun@huntersnetworks.com

Arjun, great post

Thanks Arjun!

Brett

That's a long list of sheep. You need to start playing lotto, brett

Most sheep from Asia are importable.. the problem lays with USFG to get the permits for some of those species.. Altai argali, MP argali, etc.

A few that are NOT importable into the US are

Karagnda Argali
Gansu Argali
Severtzov Argali
Tibetian Argali
Sair Argali
Littledale Argali (some say that the Hume in Kyrgyz and this sheep are one and the same)

I'm sure there are a few others on the no-go list, but you get the idea. It's not that big when you see how many you CAN bring back (if you have the cash to hunt them all).

6 subspecies of Russian snow sheep

Aoudad from their native range (yea Africa, but it's close enough)

Altai, Hangay, Gobi argalis from Mongolia

MP and Tian Shan MP from Tajik and Kyrgyz

Chinese blue sheep (US allows these in, but China is CLOSED at this time)

Pure mouflon from Eastern Europe, Eurasia, etc..

Laristan mouflon, Armenian mouflon, Red sheep, Esfhan mouflon, Konya mouflon, all from Iran

Transcaspian urial from Iran and Turkmenistan can be imported

Afhhan urial, Blandflord urial, Punjab urial, Kerman urial, all from Pakistan can be imported into the US.

Kuban, Mid Caucusus and Dagestan tur from Russian and Azerbijan can all be imported with ease.

I'm sure there are a few others I left off, and maybe one or two on my list that have changed, but you get the idea.

Arjin!Very good job!

Regards
Igor

P.S.
Do you know why the hunting in Tadj is more expensive than in Kyrg?

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:


A few that are NOT importable into the US are
...
Sair Argali
.....

But importable into Argentina

How many of these sheep can be hunted in their natural range?

The Himalayan Blue Sheep of Nepal and Northern Pakistan.

I think Turkmenistan still has a closure on hunting Urials, but I could be wrong.

Excellent thread, you could fill up a few passports going after all these sheep.