Thanks Montero. That puts it in a better perspective for me.
Those are very nice trophies. I didnt realize a non medal ibex was still such an exceptional animal. The silver is absolutely outstanding. It is hard to judge when you have not hunted an animal before. I will have to add this to my list now.

Sorry for the delay, Gentlemen, but as I mentioned in my post, I have been away for the last days.

Our hunts are based on a daily fee of 450 euros per hunter and 200 euros per non-hunting companion.

That price is all inclusive from and to the pick-up airport, except for the trophy fees, alcoholic drinks, and the preparation and shipping of the trophies/capes.

Trophy fees are 4,000 euros for Gredos or Beceite Ibex, 1,950 euros for Red Deer, 1,650 euros for Fallow Deer, 1,500 for moufflon, 950 euros for wild boar.

Appart from Gredos and Beceite we hunt in different private states in the provinces of Ciudad Real, Caceres, Guadalajara and Teruel.

All trophies taken will be field measured according to CIC (Conseil International de la Chasse et de la Conservation) standards, and a medal fee charged accordingly to the size of the trophy.

I consider this form of payment to be the most convenient for the hunter, as he will always pay the real value of his trophy.

The stregth of the euro versus de USD does not make hunting in Spain precisely cheap these days, but hunting and staying in Spain will make it up to you and your family should you decide to bring them along.

Please let me know your thoughts and I will be happy to expand details at your request.

Yours sincerely,

Alvaro Mazon

Camino Real Hunting Consultants SL
Puerto de los Leones, 1, 2�-207
Majadahonda
28220 Madrid

+34 91 634 5878 office
+34 608 439 242 mobile
+34 91 639 2465 fax
alvaro.mazon@amsen04.com

Montero, Since your web site isnt up yet how about some info on the area hunted, daily rates and trophy fees.
Thanks, Mike

Yes, I second that request! I too am intrested. info and rates please!!

Just a few comments. Your hunts sound very interesting to me on a number of levels. My wife is Latin American, neither of us has been to Spain and have had it on our "hit" list for some time, and the Ibex is impressive.

The down-side for me is the Medal Fee. It is just a personal thing, but I never hunt anywhere that charges a fee based on the size of the trophy. Part of the fun of hunting is trying to do as well as you can, and being rewarded, sometimes, by an exceptional trophy (value) for your effort. Paying-by-the-size turns me off. South Texas whitetail hunting on some ranches, and high fence elk hunting in other places do the same as you suggest. The way it always sorts out in my mind is that the outfitter is not doing something for my convenience as you suggest, but trying to squeeze every dollar out of me.

We had a man in West Texas that was struggling with a new Bar-B-Que restaurant. His breakfast went from menu, to all-you-could-eat buffet, to finally weighing what you took from the buffet in order to determine what you were charged. I think that is where my problem started. (I helped him go out of business by never going back.)

I hope your business is a success. The range of game you mention is impressive, and the idea of hunting in Spain is very appealing.

Kensco,

Visit Spain if the chance ever arises. I am sure you and your wife will enjoy your stay.
It is a good country, friendly and hospitable, picturesque and colorful, with good weather and nice food.
And if yo can take advantage of your visit and do some hunting in Spain, then I am sure it will be a trip to remember.

A best-in-class, 12 to 14 year old ibex is an extremely valuable animal in itself, and they are not exceptional in the areas I hunt.

It is possible to arrange a hunt on a closed price basis but I could only do it in an area in which the chances of finding a really good trophy were scarce, as only in an area like that could I fix a closed price with the landowner.

I understand it may take away something from the mistycism of hunting, but I think that paying a trophy fee based on the quality of the trophy is fair for the hunter and for the landowner, and has nothing to do with squeezing anything out of anybody.

A good or exceptional trophy is always an added bonus for the stalker but, the way I see things is that the main reward comes from being there, standing on the same ground as the Ibex and making a good stalk.

As was the case with the Ibex you may see below, which is no medal trophy.


best regards,

montero

another try...

Like it or not, trophy fees on a sliding scale is the norm in Continental Europe. They are not a Spanish phenomenon. I agree that this system can 1) make the price of the hunt uncertain, and 2) depending on the species hunted and the trophy taken, it could blow your budget. Alas, this just happens to be a fact of life in European trophy hunting.

The system does have its good sides too, though. Since the hunt prices are usually combined of a (modest) daily fee and tropy fees for game actually taken, if you choose not to shoot anything (for whatever reason: animals seen were too small - or too big ), then you pay only your daily fees. That surely beats going on a multi-thousand dollar hunt, and coming home empty handed. Sheep hunts are good examples - at close to $20K a pop, whether you connect or not. Even elk hunting or upscale mule deer hunts can get pretty expensive these days. It is not difficult to spend $7-10K for a high class hunt. For that kind of money, there is room for a very decent Eurpoen trophy fee. All in all, I don't like the European system too much either, but it does have its advantages.

- mike

You may not like the system, but speaking from a landowners POV, where the game is a valuable asset, the charging of a fee based on size is a very fair system. The alternative, of course, is the US (and others) system, where you are usually charged on a hunt basis and the size of the kill, if any, is immaterial. In fact, this system encourages the harvest of smaller (less mature) animals since many of the hunters feel (and correctly so) that they have paid so much money they deserve something for it.

In fact, on the "per hunt" basis system, you often are overpaying for what you get, if anything.

Just to be clear, I don't commercially hunt my ranch, but I can certainly see the advantages of the Euro system TO BOTH PARTIES.

I've always enjoyed the gamble part of hunting. I can't control the weather. To a great extent I can't control the availability of game. Some times you get skunked. But, if I hunt my ass off and "stumble" into the trophy of a lifetime I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor. That's the satisfaction of hunting for me.

Want to ruin my hunt, tell me I just shot a 180 B&C whitetail deer and you want $12,500, whereas if it had been 179 it would have been $7,500. (Saskatchewan 2003) No thanks, I don't need those types of hassles. Life's too short and there are too many places that offer trophy hunting just the way I like it.

That is why I don't fish in those little catfish ponds where you pay according to the weight. Where is the thrill in that?

So just what type of medal scale are we talking? What I mean is how much for what? I assume that this is a fair chase hunt and we are not talking paying for a certain size animal guaranteed. I understand a landowner getting a higher price for a better animal even if I dont like it. It does however take some of the allure away from the hunt. The reason is I figure most landowners know exactly what they have on the property just like cattle ranchers. It is their stock in trade. Now is this any different from going to a totally open area where a guide knows a particular animal has been hanging out all year? Probably not. Either way you are going to pay for it. I guess it is just a mental thing with me as I can see it from both sides. I am however truly interested in what this scale is.