Rock was falling, lots of it, the rams were gone. Beeishen was pointing and had a big grin, the rams were coming and they were coming fast. The bigger of the two rams was angling towards us and the other had taken a lower route. I didn’t know yet if the ram would past to the right or left of us but did know he was coming fast. His down hill run was at cheetah speed and the approach was faster than I had ever experienced, his horns were obvious and clearly trophy quality. Beeishen flashed me a big smile knowing he had delivered the ram into shooting range.

At 300 yards the ram disappeared beneath the bottom of the slide with me not knowing if he would go left, right, or climb straight into us. I was already excited but having the ram disappear fueled my anxiety. Beeishen pointed to the right, I frantically searched but couldn’t see him. He pointed again and the trotting ram was only 200 yards away, climbing, and moving towards the steep face behind us. My excitement level was at maximum, I lost control, the ram was already past the point where I had hoped to shoot using a flat rock for a rest. Already sitting I flung my first shot at him, then a second. Neither shot was good nor were my elbows on my knees and most likely released with a trigger jerk. My head was spinning, I couldn’t take my eyes off the ram, and he was making good his escape.

The action was short stroked for the third round and the sick feeling of the empty crushing against the front of the receiver was felt through the bolt handle. I didn’t care or dare to take my eyes off the ram and doubt I could have, I was transfixed. The jam was a good thing, it caused me to stop, think, and deliberately cycle the bolt, hard, and my elbows went to my knees. The trigger squeeze was deliberate but the puff of dust on the rock behind the ram informed me my shot was high, I had missed yet again.

The next .284 round chambered smoothly and I knew this was my last chance. All the rest of my ammo was at the horses. I knew the ram was less than 300 yards away and continuing to climb but was now in refrigerator sized rocks, making excellent progress, but I knew he was going to stop for at least a moment to negotiate the rocks. I took the time to place the forearm against a rock and tracked the ram’s progress. He hesitated prior to jumping between rocks, my left eye captured the unforgettable results. Bullet placement was exactly where targeted, behind the left shoulder and exciting out the base of the neck. He collapsed at the impact dropping into a crevice between the two boulders. The rocks suspended him by his tremendous horns.


We drug him lower to a point we could reach with the horses. The grin is evidence of my happiness.

Thanks for the pictures and story -- looks like you had a very memorable hunt.

Nice animal! Pulling the trigger on an empty does really feel like getting stomped in the guts...
How many inches will he go? How difficult would you rate the hunt overall?

Boise,
Great story and great animal!!!
Congrats!!
Thanks for sharing
L

Nice story, Boise

nicely narrated ... seems it was a nice hunt

Boise,
story well told.We have been there.Honesty prevails.
Hearty congrats for your success and thanks for sharing

I really enjoyed your story, I could almost feel your excitement. Great ram.

Boise--job well done--who did you hunt with and where abouts--any probs getting there and back and what about trophy shipment back???..chris

Chris, thanks, I hunted with Felis, they are listed on the web.

No problems getting there but I did have a problem at the airport hauling back all the trophies. I brought my trophies back as checked luggage. I thought the addition $100 USD for the extra bag and weight was fair. About 10 minutes of hassle by the US Customs for the trophies and then smooth sailing home. My taxidermist said my capes are already on their way back to him. I expect shoulder mounts at my home by Christmas.

what kind of mount are you doing??

My mounts will be straight looking shoulder mounts, nothing fancy. I don't recall the form supplier's name. The mounts will be observable when one comes up my walk to the front door. Probably more effective than a "Home protected by" security sign.

yea that should get some attn!!!

I'm guessing you had to have vet waiver from Kyrgyzstan to get your trophies home--anything else??? cites permits--did you only go for ibex?? sorry for so many questions....chris

A CITES permit is not required for Ibex. I did have a vetinarian certificate stating the types of animals being imported, it was written in Russian. I showed the vet form when I unbagged the trophies. One may obtain a USDA permit at aphs.usda.gov/PPQ/permits

I shot a young wolf on my first day of the hunt. Three of them were running together and I shot the closest one. It had a $600 trophy fee so I only shot one. They were yearlings and offered a second shot but one was enough for me.

thanks again--when you get the mounts can you post the pics--I'd love to see them--chris

quote:

One may obtain a USDA permit at aphs.usda.gov/PPQ/permits

I cannot connect the above link,may be temporary

BOise could you possible walk me thru the recommended procedure for asian imports?

I presume you have a russian Vet in Mongolia sign off in russian and present that paper to the USDA.They will accept the russian paper without translation?

thanks

My process is a bit controversial. I first carried trophies in from Namibia. My PH claimed he always sent trophies back with his German hunters. Here is his process:

Skull and horns are completed as European mounts. Boiled and whitened, horns removed.
Hides are salted and dried, absolutely all meat is removed.
Trophies are placed in a duffle bag and sealed closed
A list of the trophies is provided by a vet. to the hunter - in English
No CITES, swine, or baboons

I didn’t obtain a USDA permit but it was suggested I obtain one to make my future trips go easier during importing.

So far we have followed this process with three African trips and the one Kyrgyzstan trip. I did have my trophies grabbed in Denver by the customs officer; I had to fly them overnight to a taxidermist who charged me a couple of hundred bucks for the vet form. This was my fault for not having an “official†looking vet form when I entered the country and I suspect the USDA form will also address this issue.

The USDA pulled up my 2003 incident report when I stopped this September. They decided it was acceptable for me to import the Ibexs and wolf. They didn't comment on the vet form being completed in Russian. I didn't see the vet form until we were at the airport; I would have requested one in English if we had the time.

I hate the idea of counting on some foreign national to ship my trophies. I hear far too many horror stories of individuals loosing their trophies and the fees they charge are outrageous.

awesome info--chris

Boise, congratulation, your description of the hunt brought back many memories. I wish I could have been on the next mountain hunting Ibex with you. Well done you got an excellent trophy.

Regards
Aziz

Aziz, I think it would have been more fun to have been sitting shoulder to shoulder on the same mountain. I would have been more than happy with just one of the trophies. My hunt would have lasted longer also.

Thanks for the kind comments.