https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakist...it-for-record-271000


LINK HAS PHOTO.



American gets markhor hunting permit for record $271,000

Joe Whitton paid a whooping $271,000 to obtain permit for hunting markhor in Chitral

Updated On: Mon, 09 Dec 2024 11:50:01 PKT


CHITRAL (Dunya News) - An American hunter has hunted the first markhor of the season in Chitral, making history by bidding the highest amount ever in Pakistan’s hunting history.

According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department Divisional Forest Officer, American citizen Ronald Joe Whitton paid a record $271,000 to obtain the permit for hunting a markhor.

Whitton hunted the markhor on Sunday under the supervision of wildlife officials in the Thoshi Shasha Conservancy area of Chitral. The hunted markhor was 11 years old, with horns measuring 49.5 inches in length.

The wildlife department sold four permits for hunting the national animal for the Thoshi One and Thoshi Two conservancies being sold for a record $271,000 each.

THE ENDANGERED ‘SNAKE EATER’

The markhor is a large wild Capra (goat) species native to South Asia and Central Asia, mainly within Pakistan, the Karakoram range, parts of Afghanistan, and the Himalayas. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened since 2015.

In Pakistan, it is also known as the screw-horn or screw-horned goat. The word mārkhor, meaning "snake-eater", comes from both Pashto and classical Persian languages, referencing the ancient belief that it would actively kill and consume snakes.

This regional myth is believed to stem from the "snake-like" form of the male animal’s horns, twisting and curling like a snake, possibly leading ancient peoples to associate them with snakes.

On May 2, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly declared May 24 the International Day of the Markhor.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1877...r-markhor-for-271000


American national hunts Kashmir markhor for $271,000

Our Correspondent Published December 9, 2024 Updated about 14 hours ago

CHITRAL: An octogenarian American hunted an 11-year-old Kashmir Markhor with 49.5-inch horn size in Toshi-Shasha community-managed game reserve here on Sunday.

He had obtained the hunting permit from the wildlife department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a cost of 271,000 US dollars.

Divisional forest officer of Chitral wildlife division Farooq Nabi told Dawn that the American national, Ronald Joe Whitton emerged a consummate hunter, who successfully hunted down the trophy with his automatic rifle from a close range.


He said that due to the proximity of the conservancy to the road the hunter faced no difficulty in finding a markhor of the trophy size inside the conservancy with the help of the local community.

He said that it was the first trophy hunting of the season.

“Another trophy hunting will be carried out in the same conservancy at the same price, while the third will be carried out in the month of March next year, but at a lower price of 231,000 US dollars.”

Nabi said that 80 per cent of the fee of the hunting permit went to the local community, which was spent through the village conservation committee on people’s collective well-being in return for the role they played in conservation of the species.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2024

https://www.facebook.com/photo...pcb.1000980498733927


Link has numerous photos.

Damn these things are expensive.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Damn these things are expensive.

Yeah well look at all the hangers on. By the description it sounds as though the shooting is done almost from a vehicle with the only walking involved being a short stroll from the vehicle to the downed goat. Looking at the soft footwear worn by the hunter and crew I don't imagine much energy is expended climbing any real distance in the rough stuff. Automatic rifle !!!!!!!

Each to his own but in your 80's spending 271k to shoot a goat near enough from a vehicle with an automatic rifle, maybe an AK47

I suppose its the thought that counts

That’s past my willingness, but I’m glad that it’s available to those with the means.

It’s an acknowledgment that hunting conservation dollars remain important.

I don’t care too much about the difficulty or the methods of free range hunting. I’ve had game come hard and come easy.

If I win the powerball lottery maybe I’d think of mountain hunting.

For many, money is no object and that’s great
Good for them and it’s good for game management and as it should be

Good for him.

I hope the lion’s share of the money went back into habit conservation and local community support.

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Damn these things are expensive.

Yeah well look at all the hangers on. By the description it sounds as though the shooting is done almost from a vehicle with the only walking involved being a short stroll from the vehicle to the downed goat. Looking at the soft footwear worn by the hunter and crew I don't imagine much energy is expended climbing any real distance in the rough stuff. Automatic rifle !!!!!!!

Each to his own but in your 80's spending 271k to shoot a goat near enough from a vehicle with an automatic rifle, maybe an AK47

I suppose its the thought that counts

I know some people who have been on these hunts. I know a guy who has filmed several of these hunts. At least on these hunts, it was not easy at all. There was significant climbing . Can’t say about this recent hunt . The description of the past hunts made me wonder if I could do it .

Kudos to the hunter. Hope I'm still hunting like that in my 80's!