If you were considering a Spanish Ibex hunt for either Gredos or Beceite, would yoiu bother to upgrade from a bronze to either silver or gold? It looks like gold is about double the cost. So, wondering if the increased size is equal in visual impact as the impact is to the wallet.

Two things to know about Spanish Ibex!

First book through a European agent, most of the American agents have a 30-50% upcharge on them. Either by the agent or by the outfitter.

Caracal on these boards is a German who has the best prices.

Second the upcharge on horn length really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Several friends have killed them at various lengths. It's nice to shoot a gold, but for the price of a gold you can generally complete a grand slam of all four species.

I used to live near the Ronda Ibex population in Cadiz, Spain.

Gold's are bigger, but not sure it matters enough.

Hi,
just like BWW said, I do offer all Ibex of Spain (and all major species of Europe).

You are right that the prices on Beceite and Gredos are raising quite heavily with size. It is a personal choice what everyone likes best, but I believe there is a sweetspot of price/size ratio in the high bronce/silver range.

If you email me at dennis@dr-safaris.com I can walk you through the scoring system and give you examples for all the sizes and medals. I think the best way to understand and decide about spanish Ibex size, is to see pictures of different animals on the ground.

I have posted some prices here: Link

All the Best,
Dennis

Thank you both for your responses. Very much appreciated.

I can only speak on the Gredos hunts on the reserve. It is literally a walk in the park. Unless you really really care about the score, I wouldn't pay the $$ for gold. I bought the permit direct and did it DIY. If I were to do it again, I'd just go for something in a lower-tier and just have fun looking at the giants along the way. It's a fun hunt but easily done in a day. You'll go with local wardens (required) and they know the animals very well. Tell them what you want and they will probably know the animal that fits the bill.

Some info on the categories and different permits

http://www.cabramontes.es/

quote:

Originally posted by bghntr416:
If you were considering a Spanish Ibex hunt for either Gredos or Beceite, would yoiu bother to upgrade from a bronze to either silver or gold? It looks like gold is about double the cost. So, wondering if the increased size is equal in visual impact as the impact is to the wallet.

Not a chance in tarnation!

I refuse to hunt any animal that has a graduated scale of trophy fee.

When I hunt, I take my chance of what I get.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by bghntr416:
If you were considering a Spanish Ibex hunt for either Gredos or Beceite, would yoiu bother to upgrade from a bronze to either silver or gold? It looks like gold is about double the cost. So, wondering if the increased size is equal in visual impact as the impact is to the wallet.

Not a chance in tarnation!

I refuse to hunt any animal that has a graduated scale of trophy fee.

When I hunt, I take my chance of what I get.

I know this is an older thread, but I agree with Saeed completely. Especially on a free range hunt, the guy that's willing to hike the hardest, highest and and farthest should have as much chance at a trophy as the guy with the larger wallet.

I might see differently with a game farm hunt, but not free range.

Ibex globally are a sellers market.

They are going to sell them for whatever they can get for them.

The difference between a gold and a representative is another 6-8 years worth of life.

The risk in allowing them to get to be gold medals is that they can be killed by each other, an avalanche, eagles, lynx, bears, or wolves or poached during that next 6-8 years.

I don't like the price increases either, but there is a reason they do it.

Gold represents another 6-8 years of managing that animal.

Some ibex in Spain are fenced and some are not.

quote:

Originally posted by bghntr416:
If you were considering a Spanish Ibex hunt for either Gredos or Beceite, would yoiu bother to upgrade from a bronze to either silver or gold? It looks like gold is about double the cost. So, wondering if the increased size is equal in visual impact as the impact is to the wallet.

In my opinion no and not for the price it costs to upgrade, its a wonderful trophy but an easy hunt

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

Not a chance in tarnation!

I refuse to hunt any animal that has a graduated scale of trophy fee.

When I hunt, I take my chance of what I get.

Absolutely!!!

I did the slam in Dec. 2019- this was one of the most memorable hunts I've ever had. Spain is just beautiful- the people, the places, the food. Just wonderful.

That being said, as in many hunting situations, unlike locals who see their respective animals on a daily basis, I couldn't tell the difference between an exceptional animal and a good one on my own and had to be shown.

My recomemndation is to ask for a good representative animal and shoot what you see.

So its more like a shopping tour not a hunt, pick the product pay and go home.

quote:

Originally posted by Nordic2:
So its more like a shopping tour not a hunt, pick the product pay and go home.

Sort of sounding that way. I'm going in November, hopefully I can make more out of it than that. Will stick with a representative one, screw the sliding scale.