hunting report (9596) article about Pakistan.

21 April 2014, 12:55

Pir_Danish

And Finally: Developing Opportunities in Pakistan

By Justin Jones, Editorial Assistant

Back in our September 2011 issue (see Article 2701) we reported that hunting interest in Pakistan had cooled, at least for American hunters, largely due to continued security concerns including a Travel Warning issued by the US State Department in 2009. That said, Pakistan has continued to attract international hunters, and now some intrepid Americans are returning. On page 13 of our February issue, for example, we featured a report (9528) from Mike Borel, who had a fabulous hunt—until his trip home, when he found himself pinned down in his guarded hotel by sectarian violence while trying to catch a flight from Gilgit to Islamabad.

Since then we have received two positive reports on an outfitter and guide named Pir Danish Ali, who is conducting hunts throughout Pakistan. Subscriber Brian Mortz filed a report (9596) on a multi-species hunt he and his son took with Ali from late December to mid-January. He booked this hunt through Safari Outfitters (307-587-5596). We followed up with a phone call to Mortz to get more details on this hunt.

Mortz hunted in several regions of Pakistan for Sindh ibex, nilgai, Punjab urial, Blanford urial, blackbuck, Chinkara gazelle, Kennion gazelle, hog deer, Asiatic fox and golden jackal. He flew into Karachi, where he stayed one night before traveling by road to the different regions they hunted. He says that Ali family is very well-connected politically and has the infrastructure in place to hunt very effectively.

“Everywhere we went Danish already had scouts looking for game. So we were able to spend, at most, two days hunting in each area. In some areas we were able to hunt more than one species. For example, the Blanford urial and Sindh ibex were both taken in the Sindh Province. Kennion gazelle and blackbuck were both in the Indus plains to the south, and we hunted jungle species including hog deer and wild boar near the Indus River, three hours from where the nilgai were. The hunting in these areas is phenomenal. All of the game was absolutely free-range, in native habitat.”

Mortz says that he does not score his trophies, but that he found prime representatives of each animal, with particularly excellent Sindh ibex and Punjab urial. The Chinkara gazelle, which he hunted in the north near the Salt Mountain Range, has only recently been reopened to hunting after a nine-year ban. “This species was not too different from the Kennion gazelle, except in habitat. I was apparently one of the first hunters to go in for this animal; quotas are strictly limited.”

Mortz says that he saw abundant game in every region, and that Danish was a very capable guide. “I have been on over 200 hunts and Danish is just about the best guide I've ever had. He knows where everything is, and is an excellent guy. I've never been to a place where the people know the game better, and everyone went out of their way to make this trip a success.”

Neither Mortz nor his son experienced any of the problems or discomforts which are sometimes associated with hunting in Asia. “The whole hunt was as smooth as glass. We stayed in very comfortable village hotels. I will also add that we felt very safe the whole time. I wouldn't have taken my son on this trip if Safari Outfitters had not had absolute confidence that there would be no problems. On our arrival we were met by Danish and two additional armed escort vehicles, and the outfitter had everything set up perfectly. This was a very friendly country with amazing scenery, and the game is phenomenal.” Mortz said that the trip cost $120,000, for both he and his son.

We spoke to Clark Jeffs at Safari Outfitters to find out more about their bookings in Pakistan. He says that most clients choose combination hunts in a specific area, especially for Blanford urial and Sindh ibex. Bharal (blue sheep) is also a popular booking. This “get in and get out” approach works well for many American hunters.

As for Pir Danish Ali, Jeffs tells says he is a relative newcomer but has wide political connections through his father and can handle the complicated logistics in Pakistan. He is particularly strong operating around Karachi, as well as in the Karakorum region.