HUNT #AMO2
Mid-Asian Ibex Hunting in Kyrgyzstan
Ibex hunting in Kyrgyzstan is very good as there is a healthy population of them. Ibex hunting here is generally very successful with great trophy quality.
Ibex hunting is is a mountain hunt in every sense of the word. Hunts in Kyrgyzstan are very physically demanding and you should have some mountain hunting experience.
Trophy Ibex Hunts
The trophy area hunts are more remote and will be very physical, but the average Ibex taken in this area is 45” with a high chance of even larger trophies. For hunters wanting really big ibex (over 45”), then spiking-out in backpack style tents is necessary.
The less remote area hunts still offer excellent hunting opportunities on average trophies, and fewer hours spent in a vehicle travelling to/from the area and Bishkek.
- Vehicles are used on many of the hunts, but because of the terrain, horses and walking will get hunters to the larger animals.
- If hunting with horses, you’ll find these people to be remarkable horsemen, and in some cases, they can get the hunter right to
the animal. - Spot & stalk hunting is the preferred method of hunting as it allows us to judge the animals with spotting scopes before making the final stalk. Shooting 300‐550 yards is often necessary. We don’t promote chasing/ driving animals.
- Hunters typically see many animals on Ibex hunts. Game densities are generally quite high and vary from area to area.
- Most of our Ibex hunts in Kyrgyzstan are limited to 2-3 hunters for maximum efficiency, while maintaining a personalized hunt.
- Can be a combo with Marco Polo sheep.
Elevations vary, depending on location.
Hunting is typically between 9,000‐14,000 ft. Most people don’t get altitude sickness, but a medication called Diamox can be taken to alleviate most symptoms. Arriving in good physical condition will also help.
On the first day or two of your hunt, we try to take it easy so that you can rest up and adapt to sleeping and hiking at these higher elevations and conditions.
Common side-effects of high altitude hunts include: shortness of breath, elevated pulse and blood pressure, headaches and a tired feeling. After a few days, most people adjust to the altitude and see noticeable performance improvements.
Includes
- Travel and permit arrangements
- Firearm Permit
- All hunting licenses and tags
- Permits – Kyrgyz CITES & Vet Cert.
- Area Fees & Taxes
- Pickup and transportation from airport
- English Speaking Interpreter
- Local Guide and assistant per hunter
- Cabin or tent accommodations
- Lodging & meals while in Camp
- Trophy skinning and preparation
- Transportation – Jeeps and/or horses
*Prices subject to change without notice, so lock your price in with a deposit asap.
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Optional or Additional Hunt Costs
- Commercial Flight from US to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan ($1,400‐2,100 USD) via Istanbul from US or Canada.
- 2‐3 nights lodging in Bishkek. Apartments are cheaper than hotels for longer stays but hotels are recommended.
- Extra baggage fee for hunting gear and trophy.
- Brokerage service at airport in US – scheduling with USFWS, clearing and shipping to final destination/taxidermist. If hunters clear their own trophy and ship or deliver to their tannery or taxidermist, then this fee is not applicable.
- Optional VIP Transfers through Bishkek Airport. (Highly recommended)
- Non‐hunter/observer
- Emergency, shopping or fun money for trip; Extended or special side trips: per request
- Trip Insurance
- Emergency Medical Insurance (recommended) – Global Rescue, Ripcord
- Tips and Gratuities – for Guides, drivers, interpreters, camp staff and management $800—1,200 for Ibex only hunts.
Hunt Reports and Outfitter Reviews
Have you been on a trip with us or one of our outfitters? We’d love to hear how it went. Please fill out a trip report.
Lodging and Accommodations
Accommodations vary depending on where you’re hunting.
Some will have well-equipped base camp(s), complete with permanent buildings, Yurts, outhouses, a generator, furniture, stock corrals and trophy care facilities.
Some camps are more of a spike camp, and will consist of Yurts, portable trailers and/or lightweight Hilleberg tents and portable gas stoves. Heat is by coal or dung burning stoves.
Spike camps will consist of Hilleberg tents and portable gas stoves.
Spike camps may have no stove. The food is basic: meats, rice, pasta, salami, bread, nuts, vegetables, fruit, and soups, but is quite good and filling. If you like special snack foods like candy bars, juice/energy drink mix and jerky, we recommend that you bring some with you and if you plan on spiking out (recommended), you’ll also need to bring some freeze dried meals and energy bars, as they are typically not available in this part of the world.
Bottled water is generally available when staying in base camp, but if you are worried about drinking water, bring a water filter, Steri-Pen or purification tablets, especially for the spike out camps. Tea is served with every meal, so if you prefer coffee, you’ll need to let us know or just bring instant coffee. Sodas, fruit juice, beer and vodka are also provided.
Guides
We work with local outfitters who provide local guides, assistants, cooks, vehicles, horses, camps, food, lodging and interpreter (one per camp). They acquire the local licenses/tags/permits for the hunters, and they are politically well connected.
There will generally be an English speaking, Kyrgyz manager in the hunting camp to make sure your needs and questions are being met; they can help guide if needed.
We can also arrange to have an American/Canadian guide (all have been involved with many successful hunts) accompany you in addition to the local staff. This is an additional cost. This optional service we are providing is unique for this type of hunt. Most other operations just set up the hunt with the local outfitters, but don’t actually have an English-speaking person to accompany you during the hunt. This service is quite helpful if you wish to harvest a very large animal, need help with trophy judging or the shooting process or if it is your first time in Asia, as most of the local guides do not speak English.
A Kyrgyzstan Ibex hunt is typically on an 11-day schedule.
Day 1: Arrive early am. Stay in Bishkek 1 day, go ½ distance to hunting area (about 4-6 hrs) or some hunters drive the entire way
Day 2: Drive the rest of way to hunting area (5-10 hrs, depending on camp and weather). Or the entire way, depending on what is decided.
Day 3-9: Hunt or leave early if finished.
Day 10: Drive to Bishkek.
Day 11: Fly Home.
*Note: If hunt requires an extra 1-2 days, due to weather, delays or difficult hunting, hunt can be extended at no charge. There are daily flights to Bishkek from Istanbul (arriving early am), so rescheduling flights is generally not difficult if extra days are needed or if hunt finishes early.
Travel Information
Travel is a bit of an adventure in itself.
Visas are not required in Kyrgyzstan any longer. The outfitter’s office manager and travel agent will help with all of your documentation preparation for your hunting trip. Including helping you arrange the commercial flight to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, typically through Istanbul, Turkey and Turkish Air.
- Your departing flight from the US will likely be JFK, Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, San Fran, Houston or LAX in USA and Toronto or Vancouver from Canada.
- The next leg of the trip will be a stop is Istanbul, Turkey or sometimes Frankfurt, Germany. Total flight times vary from 16-20 hours, depending on your location.
- You’ll be met by an interpreter and management at the Bishkek Airport. We recommend paying the extra cost of a VIP transfer as there are less hassles and the service is much better/faster.
You’ll travel several hundred miles to the hunting area, using Russian 4×4 Jeeps.
- Depending on the camp location, most drives to base camps take 8-14 hours, depending on the camp location. If hunting late in the year (November), there is always a chance that a big snow can close roads for several days.
- Depending on when you arrive in Kyrgyzstan and how you feel, you’ll leave for camp mid-morning the day you arrive or early the next morning. We have had 1-2 day delays in town, waiting for permits or weather breaks.
- During the trip to base camp, there are several military/government and/or border checkpoints we travel through. Bribery money has not been necessary, but we can’t guarantee it will never happen.
- Helicopters are generally not available, but it could be an option if a group was interested and was willing to pay this additional cost.
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GEAR LIST
Asian Mountain Hunting Equipment List
Clothing
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Socks (1 pair/set for every 2-4 days) – Bridgedale, Darn Tough or Kenetrek (wool/nylon blend)
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Underwear (synthetic or wool) type brief or boxer briefs (1 for every 2-4 days)
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Undershirt/long underwear top – zip neck style (1 Merion Wool and 1 synthetic); Kuiu, Icebreaker
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Long Underwear Bottoms – Synthetic or Wool type – like Icebreaker, Kuiu (1 or 2)
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Pants – Soft shell or fleece (windbloc) – Mtn Hardware, Beyond Clothing, Kuiu, Sitka (2 pair)
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Shirts – Wool or synthetic: Zip-T pullover or button up. (2 long sleeve)
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Gloves/mittens – 2 fleece, leather or windbloc & 1 or 2 very warm shell type w/removable liner
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Hat (1 light – ball cap type and 1 warm – w/earflaps or stocking cap type)
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Facemask/balaclava – preferably windproof, like from Outdoor Research (OR)
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Wind/waterproof Shell – pants and jacket w/hood – 3 Ply Gore-Tex type with pit zips and leg zips.
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Jacket – Wool or Fleece (windbloc)
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Insulated Jacket – (Brooks Range Synthetic Jacket by Barney’s or Feathered Friend’s Icefall or Front Point Down Parka); for extreme cold, get a synthetic fill pant from same manufacturer.
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Whites top & bottom (light wt & tough – wear over clothes) – Northern Outfitters makes best
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Gaiters (OR Crocs, Kenetrek, Sitka or Kuiu)
Optional:
- Heavy all in one Parka (like Raven Wear, Cabela’s style) instead of layers.
- Handkerchiefs – for sweat, bandana, nose, lens wipe (2-3)
- Travel clothes (1 set – wear to and from camp/airport); camp shoes (for in town).
*Note – the key is to layer the clothes for hiking, sitting, horseback riding, etc. Dress for cold/wind
Footwear
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Boots (1 or 2): Kenetrek Guide or Mtn Extreme (400 gram: Sept. & early Oct); Kenetrek Mtn Extreme (1000 gr. for late Oct. thru mid-Dec) &/or 1 Kenetrek Northern or La Sportiva Spantik
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Arctic Shield or similar overboot for added warm – for sitting and glass or riding (optional).
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Blister kit (Moleskin, Blister Bandaids & athletic tape-mandatory); Sportshield lubricant (optional)
Sleeping
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Sleeping bag (mummy style) – (-15 degree F or colder rating) – 700- 900 Fill Down is best
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Thermarest Full Length pad or Exped Downmat 7 or 9 in stuff sac and with repair kit.
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Travel Pillow – Thermarest/Cascade designs or Pillow slip (put jacket inside of it for sleeping)
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Stocking cap or headband for sleeping
Miscellaneous
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Camera – Digital (10 + Mega-pixel) with extra battery and extra memory card
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2 headlamps (Petzl, Princeton Tech, Mammut or similar LED) w/extra batteries
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1 liter size Lexan/plastic water bottle (Nalgene or Gatorade type)
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2 liter Platypus or 3 liter Nalgene Water Bladders (optional – backpacking and for water storage)
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Matches and a butane lighter
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Sunglasses w/head strap (Rudy Project, Oakley type) – bring an extra set (inexpensive type)
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All hunters need to bring a Garmin Inreach and/or an Iridium or Inmarsat Satellite phone and Western (AK/BC/MT) style hunting equipment.
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Mobile Phone – make sure to buy roaming minutes and make sure it can be used internationally
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Video Camera w/extra battery and extra tapes or SD Card storage (optional)
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Electrical outlet adapter for Russian/European style outlets; 3 way splitter.
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Goal0 battery pack (Sherpa 120) with inverter and solar panel (optional)
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Garmin GPS (E-Trex Vista or larger one with big map capability) w/extra batteries or charger
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Suunto Brand Altimeter/compass watch
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Arcteryz Kneecaps – good for archery hunter and for doing stalks
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MSR XGK Multi-fuel or Primus Optimus Stove & New fuel bottles (2, 22 oz), cookpot, cup, spoon (only for backpack hunts – ask)
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Leki or Black Diamond Telescopic Carbon fiber or alum. Trekking pole
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Air activated type heat packs – hand, foot (self-adhesive) and pocket sizes (Grabber My Coal)
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Food – Jerky (commercial brands), Energy bars (Wilderness Athlete, Lara Bar, Nature Valley – 2-3/day), Wilderness Athlete drink mixes (both kinds) – 2/day; Green Drink (Wilderness Athlete), Meal Replacement/protein powder, Mountain House dinners (6-10); Flavored tea, Coffee Singles
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Water filter (compact type) – Katadyn or MSR brand or Steri-Pen (uses UV light).
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Ziploc Bags (4 or 5, each, 1 gallon size & quart sized)
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Garbage Bags (2 or 3, heavy duty kitchen or larger type – compactor or leaf bags best)
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Pillow cases or Alaska Game bags (2-3 for taking home capes & dirty clothes). They work well for carrying things on saddles/horse; Nylon cord or lt. wt rope – for tying bags to horses.
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Labels for all bags and Tyvek labels for caps, skulls (zip tie or wire to attach them)
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Skull/horn preparation: 2 screwdrivers (flat), duct tape, Clear plastic, meat tenderizer (optional)
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Extra, Heavy Duty Duffel for taking home capes/horns/skulls.
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Small Nylon Ditty bags for organizing gear – Kifaru or Integral Designs
Personal
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Tooth Brush, Tooth Paste, Q-Tips & Dental Floss, Disposable shaving razor
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Small (1-2 oz.) liquid soap or shampoo.
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Toilet Paper (1 roll) & Kleenex pocket pack in a Ziploc; Baby wipes (travel pack size, 15 count min)
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Lip balm w/SPF 10 minimum (2)
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Small towel and wash cloth; Scent Shield Bath Towels (optional)
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Deodorant (baking soda, lavalin or no-scent type)
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Prescription medication for individual health issues (if required)
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Glasses or contacts (if required)
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Advil and aspirin and high power anti-inflammatory (Prednisone (best), Celebrex or Mobic)
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First Aid supplies: bandages, compress, blood clotter, sutures, butterfly Band-Aid, super glue, medical tape, blister protection, antibiotic cream, Sport Shield (prevent baboon butt), Athletes Foot/Jock Itch crm.
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Nail Clippers and tweezers
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Sunblock (SPF 25 + in a small tube). Important in snow. Dermatone is a good brand
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Iodine or Tablets – for Water purification (Aqua Pure) – for emergency use; use filter for big jobs.
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Imodium AD tablets, Pepto-Bismol, anti-acid, cough drops, decongestant, anti-histamine,
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Specialty Medication – Diamox (high altitude), Antibiotics (Cipro, doxycycline, Flagil, Keflex), Pain (Vicodin, Percocet or Oxycodone), muscle relaxer, eye infection drops.
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Wilderness Athlete High Altitude Advantage (1 bottle) and Vitamins/supplements
Hunting Equipment
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Internal or External frame pack with extra hip/waist buckle (backpack hunts only – ask first)
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Day pack – High Quality, 2000-3500 cubic inches (used for carry-on)
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Binoculars – (minimum of 8 power and 42mm objective) – Leica or Zeiss with rangefinder is best
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Spotting Scope w/case/carry strap; Variable (min. 40 power) – the local guides will not have them
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Tripod w/carry strap; 3-4 lbs w/video style head, 2 plates (Gizto or Bogen/Manfrotto Carbon Fiber)
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Range Finder (Leica, Swarovksi or Nikon 1200+yard w/NEW battery) – best if in Binocular.
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Lens cleaner drops/cloth and lens pen
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1 hunting knife (sharp) & compact knife sharpener or Havel’s Scalpel. Take knives for guides
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Leatherman type tool and misc tools for taking apart firearm if necessary, etc.
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Hard weapon case with 2 locks (combination type). Aluminum or high quality plastic.
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Pelican 1200 or lt. wt. plastic handgun case for ammo w/locks. Pack ammo separately from firearm.
Rifle Hunters
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Gun & Scope (Bolt action, .25 cal. min; Accurate to 500-600 yards) with Ballistic Reticle or Turret
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Extra Scope (mounted and sighted in on Piccatiny or Talley type rings/mounts) – optional
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Acu-Site w/extra batteries or Leupold Bore sight
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Scope cover (Scope Coat or Leupold Neoprene or Butler Creek flip-up type)
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Sling for carrying rifle: www.sloganoutdoors.com makes a split sling or take Tactical case w/straps
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2 boxes of shells (Premium factory or reloads); nylon shell holder (Uncle Mikes Folding, 8-10 rds)
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Cleaning rod and/or Otis Cable rod w/brush, patch end piece; cleaning jag, cotton patches (2 dz)
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Boar Solvent – Montana Extreme, Butch’s Bore shine or Shooter’s Choice in 1 oz plastic container
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Electrical tape for barrel – Scotch/3M Super 33 (sticks in cold weather)
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Gun Oil (teflon type – non-freezing like Sport’s Care Ultralube); clean/degrease gun before leaving
Bow Hunters
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Compound Bow; proficient to 70-100 yards (record brace height, knocking point, axle-axle, etc.)
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Extra string and/or cables (shot in); string wax & silencers
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Extra rest and sight pins
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2 releases (mechanical)
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Bowsling, armguard
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Arrows (1-2 dz); Broadheads (sharp and accurate) – 1 dozen; Bludgeon and Judo points (2-3 each)
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Tools Allen wrenches, Compact/portable bow press (optional)
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Small Broadhead target (there are none in camp)
Muzzleloader Hunters
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Gun (.50 cal) for long range shooting and muzzleloader scope (ballistic reticle or one with turrets)
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20 – 250 – 300 Gr. Sabot type slugs or larger (Barnes, Nosler, Hornady or Swift work well)
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Pyrodex or Triple 7 pellets or loose (100 gr. Minimum/load); Magnum caps, Quick loaders (2-3)
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Breech tool, Allen wrench, Breech plug grease/lube
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Cleaning rod and jag, Bullet puller
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Cleaning patches, Old toothbrush, Cleaning solvent
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Electrical tape, Kifaru Gun Sleeve (to keep snow/water out of action and barrel)
*Note: Best way to travel with Muzzleloader components is to put them together in shotgun shells.
PACKING TIPS
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For the commercial flight to the area, pack your unloaded rifle or bow in a lockable, hard plastic or metal case. Ammunition is to be packed separate in lockable case. The ICC 36”x14or16”x4.5” aluminum case and Cabela’s Guide duffel combination work well. Tuff Pack makes another good case. TSA Locks on everything. Take extra locks as sometimes they get broken off at foreign airports.
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For the commercial flight, pack all of your other gear into one or two checked, large duffels (40-50 lbs. each) and one carry-on/daypack – 2,000-3,500 cubic inches (around 15lbs, containing essentials – 1 pair hunting boots (or wear them), 1 lighter, camera, spare batteries, binocular/rangefinder, phone, paperwork, ID, Jacket, hat/gloves, clean socks/underwear, toiletries, etc.) You might want to bring 1 or 2 small, lightweight duffels for organizing things in camp. You’ll use the extra duffel for taking home trophy(s). The total weight of all equipment should be 80-110 pounds. If you’ll be bringing an internal framed backpack, put it inside one of the large duffels for extra protection. Lock everything with TSA locks.
