As a result sharing electronic experiences over 6.5x57R K95s, training young tracking dogs and general roe hunting I found myself a guest on Montero's annual chamois hunt. (note - this service is now available through his business Camino Real)

The trip was to be in the Haute Alps in France in early November at the height of the rut. Montero had been to the same area 7 years in a row and knew all the guides.

The rifle to be used was my little Blaser K95 in 6.5x57R. With a 26" barrel, Swarovski 6x42 and all up weight of slightly under 7lbs, I was comfortable out to 300m and had shot roe out to 250m in the field. The load was a 120gr BT under VVN560 yielding 3,000fps.

I had done a fair bit of fitness training since June but had to stop a month prior due to weak knees.

On arrival the weather was bright sun and cold. No snow and little rutting activity. Hiking up the mountain in the forest revealed that I was fit enough which was a relief. Arriving out into the open chamois were immediately evident. My Swaro draw scope was excellent for watching them but for trophy identification the guides Swaro spotting scope on a tripod was essential if we were not to make a very costly mistake. I had discussed with him that I was willing to shoot a trophy up to 1000euro. At 300m it takes real skill to judge.

A few really big bucks were spotted and passed - luckily none of them presented an opportunity for a stalk as I felt my resolve slipping away!

Climbing ever up we spotted a group of does and bucks which looked promising. I expected a long and arduous crawl - not a bit we climbed up in full view! They were more interested in sex and food than us. Finaly at about 500m we dissapeared into a valley and worked closer. At the crest the scopes came out and the guide said both bucks are good but the one standing broadside is about 1,100Euro. Oh [censored] time for action. They looked calm but I was not so I made a deliberate effort to slow everything down. I zipped up my coat put me electronic ear plugs in, got my pack ready, loaded my rifle and got comfortable. They were still there but the buck was now on the skyline. A bit over 200m it looked to me, the guide thought so too. Is it safe to shoot him there? OUI came the answer. Show time. Comfortable, stable steady breathing cross hairs on the centre of his chest (my friend had explained that a bullet anywhere in the chest will kill a chamois and that a shoulder shot was more risky due to unknown wind deflection more easily causing a miss). Could I slow my heart could I hell... It became apparent to me that shooting an animal costing 3 weeks wages in front of an audience of 2 professionals was not the same as picking off a roe 10minutes drive from home. Gradualy everytime I put the cross hairs on his chest they wobbled to an extent I would have been happy with at home but not here, my heart would not slow. The guide was very good - no hurrying. Then the chamois' attitude changed. He stamped his foot - I knew he had winded us and was about to go. I forgot about wobble, took a breath and squeezed. At the shot the strike was clearly audible andthe animal reared off it's front legs, hung there for an age, fell down, got up and ran for 75m before collapsing 25m from the edge of the cliff. Congratulations all round. The guide confirmed the wind had indeed changed and that he would have been off in a second.

We walked over and completed the rituals of last bite, cleaning the buck and photos. The bullet had entered at the front of the shoulder breaking it and exited just behind the far shoulder. My friends advice was correct a little wind in the valley between us and the animal had moved the bullet 3". 2 days late I was able to laser the shot as being 250m. Bullet performance was perfect. The animal was loaded into the porters rucksac and we made our way down stopping for a beautiful sunlit lunch next to a stream. By 11am there was not a single chamois to be seen on the mountain - all resting.

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The next day was my turn at mouflon in a different area. Less harsh landscape but very impressive. The climbing was easy, the first ram we saw was perfect for my needs, a shuffle over the rocks to a rather uncomfortable rest and I saw my ram heading into a little re-entrant. The guide said he would appear on the skyline which he duly did. He looked down in our direction, the guide saying he was at 200m and I could shoot him front on if I wanted. I don't like this shot at home and I wasn't going to use it now especialy as my heart was hammering like crazy! I said to the guide that I was not steady enough, I waited what seemed like an age then he stamped his foot, I took all but the last ounces of trigger pressure and he turned broadside for an instant. The rifle went off and he was gone. I had seen no reaction to shot and heard no bullet strike and was worried! We heard nothing and then some stones fell down the rock chute to our front. The guide asked how I felt about the shot and I told him that it had felt good but I was worried about not seeing a reaction. Then Montero came up from 50m behind saying that he had clearly heard the bullet strike. We waited 10 minutes and then went forward to find the mouflon dead in the rock chute. The bullet had hit exactly where I had aimed. Lots of congratulations. This time I carried the 40kg animal back the 3km.

[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=235715&c=500&z=1"]

The trip was a fantastic intro to alpine hunting. I hope to return when my son is old enough to accompany me.

1984mk2,

Congratulations!

Sounds like you had a super hunt and your Blaser K-95 delivered the goods exactly as expected.

Cheers,

Gerry

Just helping out with the pics






Congratulations!

1894,

Reading your post brought back the memories of the days we spent afield in the Alps.

Traveling with such a keen sportsman was a pleasure and I am looking forward to sharing another hunting experience.

montero

Well, well. A resounding (double) Weidmannsheil for two super trophies! Both are really nice animals, and it sounds like you had a trip long to be remembered. Tough life hunting in the Alps
- mike

Great story.

That list of future holidays has just got longer!!!!

Well done on two superb beasts.

FB

1894

Congratulations - what lovely trophies and an enjoyable and well written account. Like FB - I have now got the idea that life is not complete until I have hunted Chamois in the alps!

1894 mk2, Montero

Congratulations, nice Chamois.
Every Year I use to hunt in the Alps, Hautes Alpes, especially GAP-CHAUDUN and SAUVAS, state owned territories.
Looking at your pics it’s seems you don’t hunt the same place.
Which territory did You hunt?

It was indeed a tremendous trip. My lab bitch is coming into season - all proceeds are going into an account labelled 'monster chamois 2006'!

JB - my memory for foreign place names is very bad but it may have been nearby.

COngratulation's! I love the Alps...

1894

Felicitaciones for the hunt , and please take seriously something for you memory , if you get lost in a foggy hunting day , you'll have a big problem to found the camp if not remember where it's or how it's the name .

Saludos

Daniel

1894...
Gongratulations !!
Exiting story and great throphies.
Magnificent landscape as well according to pics.

1894

Thanks for sharing your story and photographs.

It sounds like a very fun hunt and that you enjoyed it immensely. You make me want to head East to New Zealand to hunt chamois and tahr tommorrow! But have to practice on millions of stairs first.

Hey, 1894mk2
at first a question, are you new at the board or known as 1894 before after they switched to the new forum software?
Congratulations onto your hunt and to both of your trophies.
I realy could feel with you, especialy the part where you wrote "t became......costing 3 weeks wages in front of an audience of 2 professionals was not the same as picking off a roe 10minutes drive from home."
Last year i hunted in austria on marmot and chamois and i know about the pressure that are on someone when you have spectators. In my case th eguide wasn´t that calm, he pushed me to shoot and as result i failed on my first marmot.
Second time was better, because i took the time, t hat I needed!
By the way, how many CIC points your chamois get? About 100-105points or more? I know that the points doesn´t count ...but just of interest.
On my trip i hadn´t a chance for a chamois or better said i gave the chance to my friend, because he did all the connection work with the landowner.
And because i´m young, i hope to get a chance whith my next try.
Did you have extra costs for accomodation and guide or was it a all inclused offer?
,too
If u don´t want to write it in the forum, a personal message is welcome too

All the best and Weidmannsheil
Konstantin

Konst,

Tis I 1894 unable to re register as 1894 because my old e mail address is wrong....

The payment was for each component not a package. It was very good value.

The Chamois was 95-96CIC, the score papers also had the trophy fee which I have well hidden from my wife!