Reports

One more time I came to hunt in Iran. The hunt took place in South Khorasan province, near the Birdjand city, not far from Afghanistan border. There are 80000 hectares of governmental lands with about 2000 listed sheeps in the area. Indeed, there are aa lot of animals. We have seen groups of sheeps almost in each valley.      At the first day, I took 7-year-old male with amazing thoracal  suspension. Thank to Israfil, Hasan and all the professional squad accompaining me at that trip. And to the new meetings on the hunt on the Armenian Mouflon. A short video report is available here. 

My friend Edward Bendersky told my about the opportunity to hunt for the Snow Sheep of the Yablonov ridge ( the modern name Stanovoy ridge). I put everything off and flied to Blagoveshchensk. Dmitry Medveded who arrived with his team from Irkutsk met me there. The helicopter brought us from Blagoveshchensk to the Stanovoy ridge (Habarovsky krai), the hunting area. Three days we were looking for the trophy and met just 18 animals including one young male. On the fourth day at 5.30 am Evgeny Haritonov met two trophy size males. They were feeding in 700m from us on the opposite slope. One of them light color turned to me with the right side. The distance was 652m, the angler 23 dergee. I used Hornary cartridges 338 kal ELD Match, 285gr.I took the positon and waited when the wind subsided then I shot. Two males ran fast and disappeared. In 20 seconds they appeared again and were so active that I decided that I missed the first attempt and shot once again. My goal was the dark one because its position was more comfortable for shooting. They ran away once again. In few seconds the light color ram appeared, it stayed looking back and waited for the dark one and then it came away. Its behavior showed me that I was successful. When we approached the place , we found two trophies! The 13 years old the light one and 14 years old –dark. I understood that there were three rams at first, two with light color and one with dark but I each moment I saw just two from them. Fortunately Dmitry had one more license and I became the owner of two rare and beautiful trophies.Thank you very much for Dmitry Medvedev and his team for the professional organization of such uncommon hunt. My appreciation to Evgeny Haritonov who helped me so much during this trip.

One more time I arrived to Konstantin Kallin to hunt the Snow Sheep. He and his crew, in my humble opinion, are the most professional organizers of the hunting on Kamchatka. I took the Sheep on the same place, where I was hunting 8 years ago. The elevation was hard, but the one receives significant advantage under the sheeps only if gets to the top. At first I found lonely male on the distance of 3 km. I found one more group comprising 4 males, when started to approach the first one. I took 10-year-old male with the first shot from the distance of 330 meters and the angle 25 degrees.

Dmitry Medvedev gave us the hand in organizing of this unique expedition. We thank him and his crew for this very much. Before the date he started to work through all the particular features of this rare hunt in Khabarovsky Kray. The difficulty was explained by the following: we were the first hunters, who got in to this wild area on the border with Amur District and Yakutia, not far from Tako lake. Dmitry got the required permits for the Snow Sheep, reindeer and a bear as well before time. Before the hunt began, he started to interact with regional Evenk society and it’s head Jury, who is the local guide within these virgin area. The population of the Sheep is stable enough. I was able to hunt on all the subspecies of the Snow Sheep, which are allowed for the hunt in Russia, and I can assert, that population of Yablonov Snow Sheep is in a very good condition.  The animal, which has never seen the human and a hunter even reacts differently. Sheeps inhabit almost all the heights and ridges. The mountains are relatively low, about 2000 m a.s.l., quite gentle, however, the elevations are steep and complicated by great amount of Siberian Dwarf Pine and bushes, where the one has to wade through. The elms and reindeers were met occasionally. The gnat drives the rams on the highest places at this time of the year, what makes the hunt even more difficult. But once elevated on the height, the movements become quite comfortable. I noticed my single male on the mountain crest. He was on the distance about 250 m and ran away to the distance 400 m while I was preparing for the shooting. A splendid trophy of a 8-year old ram was taken with the first shot. A specific coloration with white lateral spots and extremely robust antler basement are the specific characteristic of the local males.

This subspecies of Ibex, which inhabits Hangai mountains, is not studied enough and unwarrantedly forgotten. Not a single hunting club distinguish it as separated subspecies. At the same time, Argali, which inhabits Hangai mountains has specific features. The aim of this hunt, for which I invited Russian scientist Dmitry Medvedev and Mongolian biologist was to take additional data on the population of the Ibex

I managed to hunt on the East Caucasian tur in the North Ossetia-Alania while was having a rest in sanatoria of the Jeleznovodsk city. A permission on the “Sanitary shooting” was given. The hunt took place in Daryal gorge on the territory of the Verhniy Lars in the foothill hunting lands. The mountains met us with the drizzle and the fog. However, when we achieved the height of 2000 masl, the sun was shining on the blue sky. About 16:00 a large herd of males of the East Caucasian tur was found. We started an approach and reached the distance of 326 meters. Shot, and the tur ran for 20 meters and fell down. I was very happy to take the trophy, congratulated each other. Five people took part in the hunt. I have been hunting with my grandson. Started to go down to the cars, when the pictures were done. We went in the darkness at about 23:00 in the evening. In the morning we were in Pyatigorsk. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful hunting and amazing views of the Caucasus Mountains. I invite everyone to have a rest on the resorts of the “Caucasian Mineral Waters”.

After three day of search we walked to the car when met the herd of sheep. The shot to the biggest one gave me the trophy which took the second place in the SCI international rate.

I got the trophy of Sulaiman Markhor after three hours rising up and down.

I got the trophy of Markhor on the fifth day of hunting. The distance was  460m.

I got the trophy from the distance 400m. Unfortunately Markhor fell from the height 300 and the tips of both horns were broken.  But it took the fifth place in the SCI trophy list.

After three days of searching I harvested Bukharan Markhor from the distance 460m.

I shot the feral goat from the distance 80m.

I got the trophy from the distance 160m.

I got the trophy on the third day from the distance 400m.

I shot from the distance 670m.

I noticed the lonely Ibex on the mountain ridge after some hours climbing. The shot was done from the distance 719. I hit to the right place

I shot from the distance 700m and got two chamois.

I’ve got the offer to take part in the quantity control hunt in Karachayevo-Circassian Republic. After three hours climbing I saw Chamois on the distance 230m. I got it by the second shot.

I shot the Chamois from 80m.