29 September 2009, 13:17
AndersHunt report: Russia (Siberia) 14-25.09.2009
Country: Russia (Siberia)Area: Sayan Mountains (bordering Mongolia)
Dates: 14.09.2009 - 25.09.2009 (actually hunting days 17.09-23.09)
Booking agent/outfitter: Østbyes Jaktreiser, Norway
Species availble: siberian ibex, maral stag, siberian roe deer, siberian brown bear
Species shot: siberian ibex and maral stag
Rifle/load: Schultz & Larsen M97DL, .30-06 sprg., 165 Hornady Interbond
General information:
I booked this hunt with Ansten Østbye of Østbyes Jaktreiser in 2007 scheduled for a 2008 hunt. Due to a bad knee the hunt was postponed last year. This is a true wilderness hunt, with lots of walking and climbing involved. This is mainly an ibex hunt, but with the possibility of shooting maral stag, roe deer and brown bear with a bit of luck. We were a group of six norwegians, and everybody was very happy with the organization and hunting outcome. Ansten have been orginazing these hunts for 15 years, and really know how to deal with the Russian system. Everything went as smooth as possible.
The trip started from Oslo early monday morning with a 2,5 hour flight to Moscow. After some hours on the airport we flew another 5 hours to
Krasnoyarsk.
There we borded a minibus toward Abakan and the Jenisey river, which would take us toward the hunting area. We drove for over 9 hours on roads that had seen better days.
We arrived at the river tuesday afternoon and immediately started packing our gear on board a large boat. The plan was to make the 180 km boat ride before darkness would fall upon us. We were know quite close to Kyzyl, btw, which is the geographic middlepoint of Asia.
The water level in Jenisey was 40 meters higher than normal. This meant a lot of logs in the river that sometimes made problems, but we kept going at a steady progress.
On board everybody was quite happy. Binos were up and we started scouting. Here's three of the hunters, Yngve, Stian and Bjørn.
An hour later we discovered that logs wasn't our only possible problem. All of us were standing on deck when smoke suddenly started to erupt from the engine. Hm, not good... Not good at all.. The guys on board worked hard to fix the engine, but to no avail. We had two smaller boats attached to the main boat just in case. So the decision was made to use them the following morning.
These boats were smaller and faster, but also more sensitive to logs.
It all worked out well and in the middle of the next day we reached our destination. On the way we visited two small check points. Neighboring the hunting area there is a big national park and everybody
going through or to this area must pay the check points a short visit.
An hour later we met with our guides, that would accompony us for the next week. We was going to hunt 1:1 in different areas with Russian guides that could only speek a handful of English words. I had packed a small dictionary that proved to be very useful and it all worked fine even though there was some frustration involved.
After all six hunters had meet their guides we split up and started the last trip towards hunting. The guides had smaller boats that would
take us another hour along the Jenisey river. My guide was named Nicolai, and seemed like a pleasent guy.
Now all that parted me from hunting was some walking. Some walking might not be the best description. It took us almost 7 sweating hours
to get to the top. Bjørn and me was going to neighbouring areas and did some walking together.
My legs were really hurting the last couple of kilometers, but I made it without complaining and the view that met me was more than I had dared to ask for.
Right before darkness fell over us we got to the cabin that would be our home for the next couple of days. No luxury, but ok. We were there
to hunt anyway so I was more than happy. A fire outside was used for cooking and to keep us warm. The cabin was for sleeping only.
On this first evening a heard a sound that would follow me for the rest of the hunt. Bugling maral. What a sound! It gave me goose bombs..
The next day we tried for the maral stag. We could hear two or three different stags in the vally beneath the cabin. Tried calling them, but
without any respons. The following night was colder than normal, and with a storm that threatened to tear our cabin down. I regretted
bringing my light sleeping bag with me. It was lighter to carry, but harder to keep warm. The next couple of nights was 50-50 sleep and awake..
We also got some snow. Not more than 10-20 cm, but without a door and solid roof the cabin was covered with a small layer inside.
The landscape was even more stunning though.
We did find a couple of paths that seemed to be used regulary by maral, so we "moved camp" closer for a last try. This night the temp. dropped even more (-5-6 degrees celcius) and with snow falling and heavy wind it made the night quite unpleasant.
The weather made hunting difficult as well. So the next morning it was time to pack out for another area. We had to walk all the long way back to the Jenisey river. Then head to base camp to dry up.
After a hot meal and an hour of leg resting it was time to move again. Another hard climbing session was to be done before reaching the next camp. This camp consisted of a small tent, but since the weather had improved and the forecast looked good I was not the least worried.
One thing that worried me was the lack of ibex sightings. So far only a handful of ibex had been seen, and only females, youngsters and a small ram. In the new area the hopes were high. My guide explained he had seen 5 big ones one week earlier, and normally they should be around.
This afternoon we only spotted females, but the maral bugling was present, so we tried calling. No respons here either.
The next morning we decided to try some stalking. Slow stalking through the siberian larch forest towards bugling maral was quite an experience.
We heard one that sounded nice enough to try for. The wind was perfect and we started a slow progress. Trying to walk as quitely as possible was difficult due to branches. So we removed our boots and kept on going. Slowly, slowly we cut the distances. We couldn't be more than 100 meters from the maral, but because of dense undergrowth we couldn't see more than half that distance. The bugling stopped and the wind wasn't perfect anymore. Just as I started to think we didn't have a chance my guide caught a glimpse of him... I saw him too, and he wasn't more than 45 meters away. He was on half alert. I could see that he wasn't the monster maral I had been dreaming about, but I didn't care much. I shouldered my rifle and gave it a go. It was clear the maral was hit hard, but I didn't take any chances and give him another shot. He dropped and rolled 30 meters down a slope before coming to a rest.. Wow!
I was so eager to getting a closer look that I almost ran over to him. What a great looking animal and what a great hunt!
Here's Nicolai posing with my stag.
And here's yours truly in a very proud moment.
After skinning and trophy care we packed out some meat and headed back to the tent. Now, all I needed was a nice ibex! It was still three days of hunting left, but I couldn't avoid a sneaking feeling that this might not happen.
A quick meal and we were ready to hunt again. On a large boulder overlooking a big valley we set up for the afternoon.
No ibex here either, but another breathtaking view for sure..
After two days in this area we packed out again the next morning for a last try for ibex. We also needed to get the maral cape down for salting. Here's me ready to descend from the mountain, happy but with a bit of ibex frustration..
After repacking in base camp we moved quickly to another and final area. It was Tuesday afternoon, and our time frame was limited. By Wednesday evening we had to be back in base camp to start the long journey back to Norway.
We sat up a spike camp with a tent only 30 minutes from the river and went out to glass. We did see some females this evening, but still no rams. My hopes got smaller and smaller, but I was tired and slept quite well this night anyway. Before light the next morning we were up and ate breakfast. Just as light started to erupt we headed out.
We hadn't glassed for more than half an hour when Nicolai found a small ram. Too small, even for the last day.. Nicolai hadn't brought his own binos, so he used mine. We moved a bit and glassed again. Actually I wanted us to move higher, but I trusted my guide and kept calm. We sat on each side of a small boulder. Nicolai looking one direction with my Leica and me glassing with my scope in the other direction.
Suddenly he whispered. I carefully looking over to him, and he signalized with his hands that he saw three rams. I crawled over ever so gently. From his body laguage I understood that one was a shooter. I got into position right next to him. There they was! Three rams resting within rifle reach..
I got the Leica Geovid and ranged the distance. 238 meters.. Ok! "Distance, ok", I said.
I chambered a round and got into a steady position. I had zeroed my rifle at 100 meters and knewed that my bullet would drop around 23-24 cm at 250.
"When he stands up, rais that reticle some 20 cm and squeeze", I thought to myself.
Suddenly they all rose, and the big one started walking very slowly down toward a small valley. I aimed and fired.. I heard the bullet strike, but the ram started running. I fired another round that missed the animal completely. Then he was gone..
I had bad feeling. I knew I had hit the ram, but not exactly were. Did I remember to compensate enough? Then we saw the two small rams running up a distant hill, but the big one was not the be seen. maybe he was down? We went to were the animal had been standing, but couldn't find any blood. We walked slowly in the direction the animal had escaped. After 100 meters the ram suddenly jumped up and started running. At 100 meters and full speed I fired twice and apparently hit him once, but he kept going.
We found his tracks and some blood. Then more and more.. "Kaput", said Nicolai.. "Kaput".. It was like music to me ears to hear him say that. After another 200 meters of tracking we found him laying down. He managed to struggle to his feet, but I was on to him and gave him the final shot. He fell over, kicked twice and was finally dead.
I was very happy, even though a bit angry on myself for so bad shooting. Every animal deserves better, but every now and then a hunter make mistakes..
On the final day I got my ram, and it was a very special moment to sit down beside him..
Three of the five fired shots had hit the ram. The first shot had been very low, but breaking one of the front legs and cutting through the lowest parts of one lung. One of the shots fired at high speed had hit the poor animal right in the jaw, but the last shot was right on the shoulder..
With horns measuring 101,5 and 98,5 cm it was a great animal. In this area they don't grow much bigger.
We took photos, caped him and packed out all of the meat. We were tired, but happy when getting to Jenisey for the final trip to base camp.
Back at base camp I meet up with the other hunters for the first time of the hunt. They had all been succesful. We did use hours and hours to retell stories for each other.
Morten, Yngve and Yngves guide Anatolie in discussion.
The group of six shot 5 ibex, two maral stags, one roe buck and one brown bear.
Here's Yngve with his brown bear scull.
Dag with his beautiful roe buck.
We were a tired, but happy group that started the long way back to Norway the next morning!
)
You're absolutely right! I didn't experience any goose bombs! That would have been something special.. 
