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Packing out in the Dzungarian Alatau The name Alatau originates from Kazakhstani and means “colorful mountains.” The Alatau range of Eastern Kazakhstan is a pristine hunter’s paradise about 250 miles long (≈400 km), up to 50 miles wide (≈80 km). The valleys below are sparsely wooded, but the higher elevations present an amazing view of the snow-covered summits of mountains inside China. Even today, the Alatau is inhabited by only a few farmers and nomads. These mountains are documented to contain the densest population of Mid-Asian Ibex and the largest Maral stags in the world. Both species grow to trophy class status due to genetics and protections provided by exclusive hunting rights. The Maral is similar in appearance and behavior to the American Elk. With a live weight of up to 850 pounds (≈ 400 kg) and a shoulder height of 5 feet (≈155 cm), he is a noble monarch. Even the weight of the antlers re-sets expectation boundaries. Specimens of 30-35 pounds (≈14-16 kg) upwards to 45 pounds (≈20 kg) have been documented. The structure of the antlers is somewhat different to that of the European Red Stag. A Maral’s main beam can reach lengths of more than 5 feet (≈1.50 meters). Generally, the antlers are also not as dark as those from other top class deer countries such as Romania, Belarus, or Hungary. The beading is quite faint. Above the brow and bez tines, towers the powerful main beam (examples of which have been measured up to 20 inches (≈50 cm). The Maral does not develop a crown in the classical sense, but the size of the individual tines and endings are amazing. In autumn and winter, the coat is light grey to brown in color, and shows cinnamon-colored markings on the head, neck, stomach, and legs. The rut falls in the month of September and is the high point of the year for the hunter in Kazakhstan. Siberian Roe Deer and Wild Boar exist in good numbers. They are considered opportunity animals on the combination hunt, and they can be taken on a trophy fee basis, if desired. Hunters arrive in Almaty, Kazakhstan via Istanbul, Turkey and clear Immigration and firearms at Customs led by our ground team. The drive to camp will utilize a comfortable SUV, and hunters will stop along the way for lunch before reaching the main camp. The main camp is equipped with showers, a sauna, and comfortable log cabins. Meals are prepared by a cook in the main camp. Power is supplied by generators. Hunters will depart the main camp on horseback for their tented camp that guides will have erected based on pre-scouting before the hunt. Our guides have spent their lives in the hunting area, and they have perfected their skills over a 25-year period. They are trophy hunters who desire to guide a hunter to a mega trophy as a matter of professional and national pride. Both Maral and Ibex are hearty animals. Shots will average 250-300 yards, and a flat-shooting magnum is prudent. 7mm, .300, and .338 magnums with premium controlled expansion bullets have proved most effective. I will be hunting this very area from September 5-16, 2027, and have reserved the entire camp for 3 other hunters to join me. One spot remains and welcome inquiries about joining us. Contact Mark at (585) 267-0724 or via email at mark@pantheonhunters.com .

Bongo - Forest Sitatunga - Forest Dwarf Buffalo - Red River Hog - Multiple Duikers Two 2026 cancellations have resulted in a $15,000 discount in the total daily rate per hunter. 13-day safari. Flexible dates in prime season: First half of June, second half of June, and sometime within the first 3 weeks of September. If these dates don't work, please contact us to see what we might be able to arrange. High density of Bongo. Multiple species. Professional outfitting. Track with Baka Pygmies who know how to hunt them. Comfortable camp. Contact Mark at (585) 267-0724 or mark@pantheonhunters.com for more details.

Success in the Himalayas A solid joint effort by our Caprinae Safaris and Markhor Safaris teams helped two hard-working hunters achieve their objective on Blue Sheep and Himalayan Ibex in March 2026. These are hunts that not only qualify for high achievement in the mountain hunting world, they distinuish themselves as adventures that feel more like expeditions. This is not the first time that we have advocated hunting in the beautiful, game-rich, and welcoming cultural atmosphere of Pakistan. But, these highlights are presented aagain as testimony to the the purity and saftey of the hunting of the experience at time when media headlines are causing many hunters to hold back from hunting Asia. A hunter wrapped in our chain of custody onlyhunts where it is safe and they are protected in our care from beginning to end. In life, we learn that waiting is not a strategy, and it certainly isn't a strategy when it comes to hunting the world's elite game species. The Trek Begins . . . Vehicles. Yaks. Feet. Another Great Trophy A True Mountain Hunting Icon Among the Rocks. Pakistan is all about majestic scenery, hospitable culture, professional outfitting, and elite big game trophies. And we are hunting it from North to South. Over 400 hunts conducted over the years. All the Markhors, Urials, Ibex and Blue Sheep. Call (585) 267-0724 or email mark@pantheonhunters.com for a no-obligation exploration of the options and best timing.

At the Pantheon Hunters Booth - Eastern Chapter of WSF Expo with Craig Kauffman and my partners Riza Gozluk and Mehmet Alkan of Caprinae Safaris. Hunting conventions and fundraisers never disappoint. The passionate emerge from behind websites, emails, social media, and advertising to engage in a dialog. Having genuine conversations with hunters and reunions with friends who serve the hunting community in the real value - be they philanthropists, luminaries, outfitters, guides, or companies that offer the art, equipment, and services that contribute to our success and enjoyment. Craig Kauffman, former President of SCI, needs no introduction. But as a worldly hunter-conservationist, the type that leads and who has pursued over 200 species, he enlightens with the stories he tells. I just finished both of his books and recommend them. Having the opportunity to engage him in a discussion at ECWSF about why and how he came to lay down his words and artwork, felt surreal. Looking through my voluminous hunting library, I realized how few books were written by active practitioners who are very much still at it and have the depth of experience to open minds with real-life accounts closer to what they themselves might encounter today. Get "Echoes of the Wilderness"  and "An unexpected Journey"  at www.craiglkauffman.com .

The opportunity to hunt sheep at relatively affordable prices in the sheep hunting world can be found throughout the Russian Far East. Combinations are possible. Inter-area transfers to hunt multiple sheep are usually conducted by charter helicopter. Outfitting capabilities and guiding talent rank with the best anywhere in Asia. Species Reference Chart with Physical Degree of Difficulty Index

4D fortress thinking is both a process and a state of mind for how we advise a hunter. We don’t advise based on what the playing field looks like today—we advise based on what it will look like over time. We’re not just helping hunters choose and plan a hunt. We’re planning a sequence. Most people in our industry don’t even realize is possible. We’re not just thinking about hunts; we’re thinking about systems, time, ethics, foresight, and inevitability . That’s rare air. 1. Pantheon Hunters shifts the framework from “What do you want to hunt?” to “Where are you in the timeline?” Most agents and outfitters ask clients about species, dates, and budgets. Those are important considerations, but as 4D fortress advisors we also take the dialog to a different level. For example: We ask where you are in your hunting arc? We tell you what species are entering a golden window We tell you what species are about to tighten We explain what regions are stable now but are expected to be volatile later We advise what hunts should be done early vs. late in life 2. We advise based on timing , not just opportunity Applying 4D thinking to the hunt consulting model means that we are strategists of inevitability. For example: Marco Polo:  “Do it in the next 1–2 years before rapidly increasing demand significantly drives up permit costs and hunt prices.” Altai Argali:  “Hunt now but only in the pockets still holding better than average trophies. And be aware that regulatory tightening is coming.” Spanish Ibex:  “Stable now; no urgency. Save this for later.” We are not “selling” hunts. We are advising on correct timing  so that you feel protected, not pitched. 3. We read leading indicators  and advise before the shift happens 4D fortress thinking means we’re watching: Age structure and trophy quality drifts up and down Permit issuance delays NGO pressure cycles Airline policy tremors Outfitter solvency signals Weather anomalies Cultural sentiment shifts Ministry leadership changes We translate these vectors of change into: “Do this now.” “Wait one year.” “Avoid this destination.” “Shift to this region.” “Prepare for new documentation.” “This species is entering a decline curve.” “Get ahead of the cost increase trajectory.” Our vigilance sees the storm before it forms. 4. We build buffers  into every recommendation In 3D hunt consulting, buffers are logistical. In 4D, buffers are temporal : Extra days for weather Extra months for permits Extra years before quotas tighten Extra operators in reserve Extra options if conditions shift We’re not just protecting the hunt. We are protecting the future of a hunting arc . 5. We just don’t think in terms of hunts; we think in terms of portfolios A 4D fortress advisor builds a multi‑year hunt strategy : 2026: Mongolia Ibex (stable, low risk) 2027: Tajikistan Marco Polo (prime window) 2028: Niassa buffalo (before concession consolidation) 2029: Spain Gredos (no urgency, cultural depth) 2030: Pakistan Markhor (long‑arc planning) Transactions are part of consulting and arranging a well-advised hunt that “fits”. But we are not human websites. We are portfolio managers of actionable insights, experiences, risks, and timing . 6. We protect hunters from future regulatory shocks 4D fortress thinking means we anticipate: CITES proposals Country import sentiments USFWS scrutiny cycles Airline and governmental firearm restrictions Export documentation tightening We’re not reacting. We’re pre‑positioning . 7. We are a hunter’s long‑arc strategist, not just their trip planner Rely on us for: Timing Risk interpretation Regulatory foresight Operator stability analysis Wildlife trend forecasting Cultural and geopolitical reading We are advising on the future . The Pantheon Hunters Advantage 4D fortress thinking means our advice is: Earlier than others Clearer than others More accurate  than others More principled  than others More durable  than others It’s the difference between: “Here’s a hunt you might like”  and “Here’s the next move in your long‑arc hunting strategy—and here’s why the timing matters.” That’s the level only Pantheon Hunters operates.

2026 marks the 40 th  anniversary of personal hunting, operating, and cultural immersion in Mongolia. I’ll be in the Altai and Gobi again this September with the same desire and excitement as my first trip in 1986 but with more perspective, due diligence, and operational know-how than I possessed as a young hunter. Change is so dynamic in the country that the success formula has changed. The wisdom that created experience is valuable, but conditions signal the need for actionable insights in real-time. WHY WRITE THIS AND WHY NOW? Over what is nearly half a century since the inaugural trip to Mongolia via Moscow and Irkutsk, I have witnessed dramatic transformation in this awe-inspiring country. More importantly, the pace of change is accelerating, and it seems timely to explain what has changed and what has stayed the same so that hunters are more factually informed. Also, there is too much hype and hope in the hunting world. Promotional hype from outfitters and booking agents. And hunters rolling the dice based on a few fuzzy soundbites and trophy pictures sensationalized in social media with hope that their dreams come true. As a principle, we want to explain things better than anyone in the hunting industry. By going deeper into today’s operational realities, hunters will have proper expectations and understand key trends, conditions, and implied urgencies that could affect future hunting plans. The cost of Argali hunting now begins at almost six figures. For those with the financial means to hunt any of the four Argali species, consider prioritizing them. The upshot is that the two Ibex species and Maral remain affordable and will give hunters the same sense of mountain hunting adventure as Argali hunting. But the changes affecting Argali hunting are starting to flow through to these species and you’ll be wise to get them on your radar sooner rather than later. Everything changes and not always for the better. By examining hunting in the context of history, the forces of change self-identify, and the trajectory and speed of those forces usually project the future and the timeliness for action. The mystical steppe As you read about the changes and challenges and implications for hunters, know this. Africa's Dangerous 7, Lord Derby Eland, Bongo, and the Grand Slam of North American Sheep notwithstanding, I still can’t think of a better place that I’d rather hunt and for hunters to experience than Mongolia. FIRST, WHAT MAKES MONGOLIA SIGNIFICANT IN THE GLOBAL HUNTING CANON? Hunting runs in the blood of Mongolians. Well before Genghis Kahn was a conqueror, he and generations before him were the subsistence hunters of the steppe. Hunting techniques morphed into military strategy and the Mongol military evolved to be the world’s most disciplined hunting party, scaled into an empire. Genghis Khan institutionalized the Nerge, a massive, months‑long hunt involving tens of thousands of riders. It served multiple purposes including military training, game population control, discipline and hierarchy, and distribution of meat to the poor. The ancient craft practiced by Kazakh eagle hunters is still alive in the Altai today. When you hunt with Kazakh or Mongol guides, their horsemanship, reading of terrain, and instinctive understanding of wind and distance all descend from the same cultural operating system that allowed the Mongols to conquer half the known world. Hunting in Mongolia is not romanticism — it is continuity. Modern hunters in Mongolia are operating in the same physical and psychological environment that forged the Khan’s worldview. But to hunt in Mongolia is not to reenact Kahn’s history. It is to step into a world where history never left. In the more modern context of trophy hunting, Mongolia is the home of the largest wild sheep on Earth. The country’s blend of remoteness and the authenticity of fair chase make it one of the last places where a hunt still feels like an expedition. A timeless nomadic culture is intertwined with each hunt. And hunters sense a mythic, unmatched frontier‑world atmosphere. ANALYZING CHANGE AND ITS BEARING ON THE FUTURE OF MONGOLIAN HUNTING As a curator of fair chase hunting experiences, the main enabling pillars are logistics, culture, and trophy potential, all of which are set in a blended social, economic, and environmental context. Let’s examine each pillar – the way it is today and the way it was 40 years ago. The comparisons should help your draw actionable conclusions that likely will shape your personal hunting plans. City Logistics The capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the operational staging platform for all hunts conducted in the country. Forty years ago, Ulaanbaatar was a tightly planned, orderly Soviet-style city with abundant parks, functioning infrastructure, and a population under 500,000 inhabitants. The small sprawl of the city at that time was dominated by Soviet‑era architecture evident in prefabricated apartment blocks, government ministries, and cultural palaces. Buildings were maintained and surrounded by lots of communal green space. Public art (mosaics, murals) reflected socialist aesthetics. The city was mostly populated by state workers, students, and families tied to socialist institutions. Migration was controlled; rural nomads could not freely move into the city. Social services were universal and centrally managed. Hotel luxury in the 80s Mongolia. Decent! Back then, the only Western-appealing accommodations in town were found at the Ulaanbaatar Hotel. It was Mongolia’s equivalent of the Norfolk Hotel in Kenya during the golden age of safari. It was the hub for hunters beginning and ending their hunt. A large communal dining room offered a place meet other hunters and share stories of the hunt. You could automatically spot another hunter and start up a conversation, either to learn about their hunt or for them to learn about yours. A room on the top floor of the hotel held the dried skins and horns of trophies that were being pre-staged for export. The visit inside was a jaw-dropper. Massive sheep horns and the arcs of big Ibex horns lay tagged in neat order as if on showroom display. That room was a microcosm of the nature of hunting of the era, and you would not forget being there ever. Seeing the horns on this High Altai ram stored in the Ulaanbaatar Hotel is what accelerated the obsession for Mongolia's Argali Fast forwarding to the present day, Ulaanbaatar is a sprawling, traffic‑choked, rapidly urbanizing capital of 1.6 million, ringed by massive ger districts and struggling with pollution, congestion, and unregulated development. Ulaanbaatar has shifted from a controlled socialist population to a booming, stressed megacity absorbing rural collapse. A once‑efficient and controlled system is now overburdened by unplanned growth at scale. It’s growth on steroids. As many of the old Soviet buildings are deteriorating, the city’s skyline is transforming with glass towers, office blocks, and apartments. Luxury hotels have proliferated in every section of the city and deliver service to a high standard. Restaurants, malls and nightlife are as progressive as most found in the West. Most hunters are surprised by the back-home feel of modernization. Experiencing Ulaanbaatar’s traffic will set a new standard for angst. But it’s a small price to pay for the hunting the country offers. Hunt Logistics The hunting season for Argali usually runs from July 1 through September 30, and the Ibex season runs from July 15 through to October 15. Every itinerary is season‑anchored and game patterned. Weather and scouting are not details. They are governing forces of hunt planning. Distances to, from, and between camps can be vast. In the past, reaching a hunting destination was mainly by road. But a precious few prop planes could take you to one or two dirt runways in the Altai and Gobi. The airline reservation systems left much to be desired, however. Passengers who didn't board a prior flight due to over-booking would scramble like hell to make sure they edged their way to the front of the line as they awaited the next arriving flight. You could have a legitimate ticket in hand but could not get seat. It was a circus. Some passengers live so far away from the "terminal" that they had to camp there under the stars until the next plan arrived. Naturally, the reservation and ticketing system works quite well today, and more remote locations are serviced by jet aircraft. But flights to the western provinces to hunt Altai Ibex, High Altai Argali, Northern Argali and Maral Stag are still weather‑dependent. Once hunters land in the airport closest to the chosen hunting area, the drive of 2-8 hours begins, usually in Toyota Land Cruisers. Virtually all roads into camps remain unpaved dirt tracks with new lanes being formed to avoid the big dips and grooves carved out by traffic when the roads were wet. In the past, those grueling trips would be made in Russia’s attempt at mimicking the Jeep – a spartan and uncomfortable beast. But they were rugged. Rough and tumble rides but worth every jolt and snap of the neck. Although a few hunting "lodges" are in operation today, traditional gers still serve as primary accommodations for hunters. They are as comfortable and civilized as one could expect in the middle of proverbial nowhere. These spacious, circular one-room set-ups are usually decorated with meaningful cultural art, and equipped with beds, a dining table and chairs. Each contains a centrally located furnace that burns biomass (i.e. cow dung). Then Dietary flexibility and health preparedness will improve the ger experience. Cuisine is meat‑heavy (mutton, beef, dairy). Vegetables are available but limited. Water is filtered or bottled. Your camp hosts will make coffee for you, but they are tea drinkers. And now. Noticeably more junk food, though. Ger etiquette (entering, sitting, receiving food) matters. Hospitality norms are strong, and declining offerings can be impolite. Thankfully I have figured out a diplomatic way to turn down kind offers of sheep brains. For the most part, they don’t offer a bowl of mare’s milk to sip unless you look brave and thirsty. Connectivity with the outside world is patchy away from cities, and you can expect mostly digital silence in camp. Satellites do pass over periodically allowing your Iridium sat phone and Garmin inReach to work. Forty years ago, you simply said, “Goodbye, wish me luck. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks”. Outer Mongolia wasn’t into communications and hunters and families simply accepted that. Hunts rely on local herders and villagers for pre-hunt scouting and some assistance with guiding. Provincial wildlife officials, translators, drivers, camp staff, and professional guides make up the rest of the team. Success depends on mobility, stamina, and the team’s collective ability to pattern game and get into position. Where once the guides were herders who had never left their valleys, now they are men who carry smartphones and check weather apps before saddling their horses. But make no mistake, the hunting guides are generally of a very high skill. They have evolved from a meat-hunting culture to a trophy-hunting culture. They work hard and diligently as a matter of personal and national pride. They’ve learned that effort and results result in precious foreign currency tips. There is nothing wrong with a merit-based system of recognition and reward for delivering out-of-body hunting experiences and solid trophies, and these hardworking guides and camp staff are not piggish about tips. A hunter's US Dollars will go a long way to change a rural existence for the better. Guides live vicariously through the success they enable for hunters. Nothing has changed but hunting has become a bigger part of rural identity for a select few of the most skilled - and a matter of personal and national pride. The better outfitters will get monthly reports about game activity observed. This implies year-round monitoring of game populations including numbers, ageing, and patterns of movement. In one sense, they are “taking inventory” and pre-formulating hunt strategy before the season begins. In the run-up to a specific hunt, the scouting intensifies to pinpoint exactly where the guides should go to find mature rams. Nature can make its own decisions in a flash, however. So, there always is a Plan B and Plan C built into the hunt plan. In some cases, there are back-up areas that will be utilized. Regardless, we all know why hunters are there and commit to success with good planning and a depth of field knowledge and options to leverage as needed. CULTURE Mongolia’s nomadic culture is one of the oldest continuous pastoral systems on earth. But the last four decades have reshaped it more dramatically than the previous four centuries. In 1986, nomadism was stable, regulated, and highly mobile — today it is hybrid, market-driven, technologically connected, and environmentally pressured. But it’s culturally more self-aware and symbolically more powerful than ever. The nomad’s world simply changed. The Soviet system collapsed. Collectives dissolved. The herders became entrepreneurs overnight. The goats multiplied to capitalize on the cashmere market. And pastures thinned. In the 80s there was a clear boundary between city and countryside. Nomadic culture existed outside the capital. But due to a massive influx of rural nomads suffering economic hardship, dzud (winter die‑offs) and the collapse of state herding systems, the population of Ulaanbaatar has tripled to ~1.6 million inhabitants. Enormous ger districts lacking water, sewage, and heating infrastructure have grown up on the city’s outskirts. Urbanization has pulled nomadic culture into the capital’s orbit. And many families live a hybrid life with children attending city schools and parents herding seasonally. The cultural atmosphere of the 80s was influenced strongly by Soviet culture, education, and public life. Social life centered on state institutions, theaters, and parks. Today, Ulaanbaatar is a hybrid of global capitalism, revived Mongol identity and post‑Soviet nostalgia. Ulaanbaatar is now the meeting point — and collision point — of Mongolia’s two identities. In the hunting camps, the locals still perform like traditional hunters, only with more ambition, method, and tools. So, a hunter will experience something unmistakingly ethnic and effective. The few words spoken in English will be uttered genuinely but poorly. The interpreter will carry the water when it comes to dialog. And for many of the Argali hunts, hunting consultants and hunt organizers also attend the hunt to make sure the hunter understands everything and is properly served, guided, and advised – especially when judging and selecting a trophy to shoot. Teaming a High Altai Argali hunt. Second from the right is my friend, the late great sheep guide, Shane Pallister. A 1986 team. Thankfully, a Carlsberg beer can had bounced out of one of the vehicles on the way into our Gobi camp. After the hunt, we got lost trying to find the airstrip. The chap in the middle stood up on his vehicle with his binoculars to see if he could spot the track. He pointed and pronounced, "there". The sun's glare on that can was a dead giveaway to where the old track was. A local passed by on a motorcycle and took the can as a souvenir. TROPHY POTENTIAL Mongolia’s hunting system is a hybrid of national quotas, provincial permit allocations, and community‑based wildlife management. It’s fragile and fraught with process issues, politics, extreme competition, secret agreements, and favors. There often are bad actors at the table driving up prices. In the infinite wisdom of the government, some of the allowed bidders have had nothing to do with the hunting industry. They were there as a commercial enterprise hoping to buy permits and re-sell to outfitters who need them in desperation. The permit auctions are always volatile and unpredictable, and the bidding has a direct bearing on hunt costs. In 1986, the cost of a Gobi Argali hunt was $7,500 and a High Altai cost $12,000. Today, those hunts cost around $95,000 and $155,000 respectively for standard trophy area permits and up to 40-50% more for premium area permits that could produce an out-sized trophy. It's a mess. But we work to make sense of it all and do the right thing for hunters. Ironically, the demand for permits by hunters is the principal driver of hunting costs. With demand increasing year over year and quotas either remaining flat or declining, it’s obvious that the upward cost trajectory will not reverse itself. Another factor of trophy potential is weather. A succession of severe winters has taken a toll, especially on older and generally grand Altai rams. And with domestic goat populations producing the primary ecological pressure, pasture degradation reduces horn growth potential resulting in lower average trophy size across all regions. Fewer animals are reaching full maturity. Fragmentation also affects trophy potential. Roads, mining, and settlement expansion break up habitat resulting in reduced gene flow, smaller and more isolated populations, and more variability between hunting concessions. Forty years ago, the Altai and the Gobi were still operating in an ancient time zone. The rams grew old because the world moved slowly. The ibex grew heavy because the mountains were quiet. The Maral carried crowns shaped by deep forests and deeper winters. An old bruiser Altai ram taken out the front door of the master guide's yurt. Back then, a 58‑inch Altai ram was not a miracle — it was a realistic possibility. Today a 60‑inch ram is a survivor. More Altai rams fall in the 50–55" class, with 57–60"+ possible but less frequent. A 50‑inch Altai Ibex was not a legend back then — it was a reward for climbing one more ridge. And a heavy 12‑ or 14-point Maral was not a rarity. Today, all of these species still stand like kings, but they are kings ruling smaller kingdoms. We have to locate and hunt specific “pockets” now. The trophies are still magnificent — but magnificence now requires more luck, more patience, more respect for the fragility of the system that produces them. A 2030 FORECAST OF MONGOLIAN TROPHY QUALITY This is not speculation for its own sake — it’s a synthesis of ecological pressure, demographic trends, climate trajectories, and the operational realities. By 2030, Mongolia will still produce trophies sheep and ibex worthy of legend — but fewer giants and more variability across a landscape that will demand stewardship as much as skill. The mountains will still produce rams worthy of legend, but the margin for greatness will narrow. The hunt will remain mythic — but the biology will demand stewardship, not nostalgia. ALTAI REGION - Altai Argali • Altai Ibex Current (2026) – Argali: 50–55" typical; 57–60"+ possible in premium areas and with intensive scouting, often costing more. Ibex: 40–44" typical; 46–48"+ more difficult but possible for the hunter who commits more selective trophy hunting time. Forecast (2030+) – Typical Argali: 50–52". Average top‑end Argali: 55–58". True 60"+ rams increasingly rare requiring higher cost to find them and with the hope that populations recover well from several severe winters. Ibex: 38–42" typical; 44–46" more difficult but possible for the hunter who commits more selective trophy hunting time.   GOBI REGION (the most vulnerable) - Gobi Argali • Gobi Ibex Current (2026) – Argali: 44–49" typical; 51–53" isolated to specially managed Gobi concessions away from mining and with low take off and "Hangai seam areas." Ibex: 36–40" typical; 42–44" will be considered great trophies. Forecast (2030+) – Typical Gobi Argali: 42–46". Top‑end: 48-50". Ibex: 34–38" typical; 40–42" excellent. HANGAI REGION - Hangai Argali Current (2026) – 53 to 56”. A Hangai of this size is an imposing trophy and a "bargain" for the cost delta with the Altai rams. Forecast (2030+) – 48 to 52”. Still solid and less impacted by conditions. COMMENTARY ON THE MEASURE OF HORNS There is a truth every mountain hunter eventually learns: trophy quality is not just biology — it is biography. It is the experience of a landscape, a people, a climate, and a century pressing its thumb into the hide of an animal. And nowhere is that story more visible than in Mongolia. This is why the modern Mongolian hunt still belongs in the Pantheon. The hunt is still true to mountain hunting adventure — and even deeper as an exploration compared to other hunts worldwide. So, the value of a trophy is not measured in inches — it is measured in context of taking the best that hunting conditions allow. Most importantly, there is such a thing as a beautiful ram. Irrespective of measurement. Look at this bruiser of a contemporary Altai ram. What is his length? 58? 59? 60? He's 53 . . . a prime example of how overall beauty debunks length. KEY TAKEAWAYS While Mongolia remains one of the world’s great trophy destinations the consistency, solitude, and biological abundance of 40 years ago have given way to a more pressured, more fragmented, and more commercially influenced landscape. Today , Mongolia is still wild, vast and capable of humbling a hunter with a single gust of wind. But it is a different wildness. The rams are still magnificent — the largest wild sheep on earth — but they are no longer the unobserved giants of a forgotten frontier. They are creatures navigating a landscape shaped by mining roads, mobile nomads, and the long shadow of the cashmere economy. Setting expectations correctly and the reliability to keep all commitments depends heavily on the hunt organizer and outfitter. Because Mongolia is a relationship‑based country, experience and local networks are everything. The outfitter determines the hunt’s success more than any other factor. The hunt is still an expedition, but it is no longer an expedition into the unknown. It is an expedition into a land negotiating its future. Where once the hunt was shaped by the state, now it is shaped by the market — by demand, by access, by the delicate balance between conservation and opportunity. What has changed is not the soul of the hunt. What has changed is the world around it. Hunts demand awareness — not just of terrain and distance, but of context. For those who come with respect, patience, and the willingness to persist with enjoyment — Mongolia still offers something no other place can. The country rewards hunters who value authenticity over convenience. 40 years ago, there were   fewer hunters, more solitude, and a purer, more “frontier” feel. Today, there are more outfitters, more competition, more variability, but better gear, better logistics, and better safety. It’s still wild. 40 years ago, trophy quality averaged higher. Populations were stronger due to less pressure and more ore pristine habitat. But nothing else is a Mongolian Argali. By 2030, the gap between well‑run concessions and poorly managed ones will be wider than the gap between regions.It should be remembered that trophy size averages have a lot to do with the choice a hunter makes. Many hunters just want to "get one". When they have traveled so far, invested so much, and when they all look bigger than North American specimens, may opt to take a good representative head. This practice may not be indicative of true area potential. The big ones are still out there. More limited. More isolated. But possible. We will help you experience the best Argali hunting experience and take the best possible trophy. It's our job to know where to find them and find them. That's the role of a hunting industry professional - to know how to navigate and optimize change. It is time to act if you can afford it. Because waiting is not a strategy.

Abercrombie & Fitch, founded in 1892, evolved to be   the social center of American sporting and safari gun culture. “I’m going to Tanganyika for lion, buffalo, and plains game.” “You’ll need a .30‑06, a .375 H&H, and a .470 double. Let’s begin.” A&F was importing sporting guns and rifles from Holland & Holland, Westley Richards, Rigby, Purdey, Boss, Francotte, Krieghoff, and Merkel among others. But A&F didn’t just sell safari rifles — they booked hunts, arranged travel, and outfitted expeditions. It famously outfitted Teddy Roosevelt’s landmark safari, the Smithsonian Expedition, between 1909 and 1910. A&F’S GAME CHANGING STRATEGY – THE PURCHASE OF GRIFFIN & HOWE In 1930, Abercrombie & Fitch purchased Griffin & Howe, which became the gunroom inside America’s most famous outfitter for the next 45 years. The Abercrombie & Fitch–Era of 1930–1976 was the period when G&H becomes the  gunroom for America’s elite. Griffin & Howe was the American expression of the London Best ethos, and A&F was the stage on which that ethos was displayed. The acquisition was a very strategic move. A&F's Flagship Store in New York City. Griffin & Howe was the gunroom. This era marked one of the richest chapters in American sporting history, and it sits inside a much larger ecosystem of elite retailers who were importing, commissioning, and selling the finest firearms in the world. This was the golden age of the American sporting emporium — a time when a gentleman could walk into a Manhattan or Chicago showroom and order a Rigby .275, a Westley Richards .318, a G&H Springfield, a Fox HE Super, and a full safari kit in one afternoon. Griffin & Howe blended old‑world craftsmanship with American innovation. Presidents, generals, writers, and the great safari hunters of the 20th century carried their rifles. Origins (1910–1922): Seymour Griffin, the Cabinetmaker Who Started It All ·        1910: Seymour Griffin, a New York City cabinetmaker, reads Theodore Roosevelt’s African Game Trails  and becomes fascinated with the Springfield rifle Roosevelt used on safari. ·        Dissatisfied with the military stock on his own M1903 Springfield, he buys a $5 French walnut blank from Von Lengerke & Detmold and restocks the rifle himself. ·        The result is so good that a friend buys it immediately — and Griffin begins building custom Springfield sporters in his spare time. ·        His distinctive stocks (Schnabel fore-ends, hand checkering, and a unique angled cut near the bolt port) have become well known among affluent hunters.   The Partnership (1921–1923): Griffin Meets James V. Howe ·        Col. Townsend Whelen, then commanding Frankford Arsenal and a major figure in American rifle making, hears of Griffin’s work. ·        Whelen introduces Griffin to James Virgil Howe, the foreman of the Frankford Arsenal machine shop and a master metalworker. ·        Howe had just collaborated with Whelen on the creation of the .35 Whelen cartridge. ·        The three men meet with financiers in April 1923 and secure backing for a new custom gun making firm. ·        June 1, 1923: Griffin & Howe officially opens in New York City. ·        Howe leaves later that year for Hoffman Arms, but his name remains on the marque.   1920s–1930s: Innovation and Expansion ·        .350 G&H Magnum — a proprietary cartridge developed by the firm. Long forgotten but one of the best medium-bore cartridges ever made. ·        1927 G&H Side Mount — a detachable side‑lever scope mount allowing removal and replacement without loss of zero. This becomes one of the most influential American scope mounts ever designed.   Business Growth Griffin assembles a team of American and European master gunsmiths. The company becomes known for: o   Custom Springfield sporters o   Custom Mauser sporters o   High‑grade bolt rifles and shotguns o   Outfitting services (optics, tents, clothing)   The Great Depression ·        Sales collapse in 1929, but the firm survives by seeking new financial backing. ·        Financial stability accelerates when G&H is acquired by A&F in 1930.   Mid‑Century Prestige Jack O’Connor famously called G&H “the Holland & Holland of the United States.” Griffin & Howe becomes the premier American custom rifle shop, building rifles for: ·       Ernest Hemingway ·       Robert Ruark ·       Dwight D. Eisenhower ·       Norman Schwarzkopf ·       Clark Gable ·       Gary Cooper The most collectible Griffin & Howe rifles were early Springfield sporters (1923–1930, Pre–A&F Acquisition). These are the crown jewels because they were built when Seymour Griffin himself was shaping stocks by hand, James V. Howe’s metalwork influence was still visible. And extremely low production numbers. Overall, they defined pure “American Classic” lines before the Abercrombie & Fitch era standardized the style. The single most collectible G&H rifle, in terms of pure collector gravity was Hemingway’s Griffin & Howe Springfield. It is the American equivalent of a Rigby .275 owned by Bell or a .318 owned by Selous — a rifle tied to a mythic figure who shaped the safari narrative. When A&F purchased Griffin & Howe in 1930, they didn’t just buy a gunmaker — they bought prestige, craftsmanship, and a ready-made clientele of wealthy sportsmen. A&F was already the premier outfitter for expeditions, safaris, and big‑game travel. G&H became the crown jewel of their gunroom. What defined the A&F–G&H Era is the company was fully integrated outfitter. It was a one-stop safari concierge. OTHER HIGH-END RETAILERS OF THE ERA To understand G&H’s place, you must see the full landscape of great importers, gunrooms, and outfitters of the 1920s–1960s. These major players formed the pillars of American high‑grade gun culture . ·        Von Lengerke & Detmold (New York) was t he most important competitor to A&F before the merger , they imported Mauser, Sauer, Merkel, Greifelt, and other German makers. They sold high-grade doubles and drillings. A&F acquired VL&D in 1929, absorbing their inventory and clientele ·        Von Lengerke & Antoine (Chicago) was a sister company to VL&D. They, too, were a major importer of German and Belgian guns. Their Chicago gunroom was the Midwest’s premier sporting shop. A&F acquired them as well. ·        Stoeger Arms (New York) was not as elite as A&F, but hugely influential. They produced t he catalog that defined American gun importing. They p ublished the famous “Shooter’s Bible.” ·        Sloan’s Sporting Goods (Ridgefield, CT & NYC) was t he East Coast boutique importer  of high-grade English and Continental guns. They sold custom rifles and shotguns. They were known for personal service and elite clientele and where serious collectors shopped quietly. ·        Pachmayr Gun Works (Los Angeles) was the West Coast powerhouse in the gun business. If A&F was the East Coast temple, Pachmayr was the West Coast cathedral. They became a cultural hub for Hollywood hunters. They built custom rifles and shotguns and were capable of high-end gunsmithing. They were also importing European sporting arms. ·        Holland & Holland (New York Agency) maintained a U.S. presence and sold Royal doubles, best bolt rifles, and bespoke shotguns. They were the only British maker with a consistent American foothold. ·        A.H. Fox, Parker, and Winchester Custom Shop (Domestic Elite), while not retailers in the same sense, their custom shops competed directly with G&H for wealthy American sportsmen. These were the American “best guns” of the era - the Fox HE Super Fox, Parker A1 Special, Winchester Model 21 Custom Shop, and Winchester Model 70 Super Grade. A&F's End and a New Beginning for G&H The Abercrombie & Fitch era of Griffin & Howe hadn't been just business arrangement — it was the moment when American gun making, British best-gun tradition, and the safari culture of the 20th century fused into a single ecosystem. No other American retailer ever matched that level of integrated expertise. But the original A&F collapsed financially in the mid‑1970s due to a long, grinding decline. Its assets—name, mailing list, and residual goodwill—were then sold off in bankruptcy. By the 1960s–70s, middle‑class outdoor retailers (REI, L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer) undercut A&F with cheaper catalog distribution and lower overhead. A&F’s elite, high‑inventory model no longer made economic sense. The Madison Avenue flagship became a financial anchor. The 12‑story flagship—with shooting range, fly‑casting pools, trophy rooms, and the gunroom—was incredibly expensive to operate. As sales softened, the building’s overhead became unsustainable. Americans shifted toward suburban shopping, mass‑market sporting goods, discount retail, and simpler, fashion‑driven outdoor wear while A&F stayed committed to its old identity—elite, clubby, expensive—while the market moved on. The 1970s recession finished the job. High inflation reduced discretionary spending, and a shrinking luxury‑outdoors market pushed A&F into insolvency. They filed for Chapter 11 in 1976, and the Madison Avenue store closed in 1977. After bankruptcy, Oshman’s Sporting Goods bought the A&F name, the mailing list, and residual brand assets. Griffin & Howe and Abercrombie & Fitch formally disconnected when A&F went bankrupt. The bankruptcy legally dissolved the relationship. In 1977, Griffin & Howe was sold off as an independent entity. After that point, G&H was no longer part of the A&F corporate structure, gunroom, or brand identity. Looking back and comparing present day outfitting culture and options, the A&F flagship store was a place like no other. It was a world in itself that defined outfitting a time when safari hunting was glamorized and attracting industrialists and professionals who wanted to be equipped with the right stuff. Image the Griffin & Howe gunroom as the nerve center. Yes, you can visit a British gun maker or have a safari rifle built by one of our skilled American Custom Gunmakers Guild members. But totally integrated outfitting is behind us. The pure romantic theater of gun buying and outfitting still exists on a micro scale at Griffin & Howe. Having celebrated its 100th birthday in 2023, Griffin & Howe lives on today under good managerial leadership that refuses to let its heritage wane. It still retains the exclusivity of the golden age of the sporting life in America. And the guns still retain the lines that Seymour Griffin codified as "classic". And should you visit a mall and see today’s A&F store, don’t look too hard and keep walking. The contrast with the origins of this iconic brand stands as a painful example of how a valued brand can be repurposed and its equity built over years can be shattered.

In the Forward of Ricardo Medem’s book,  Argali,  Camillo José Cella captured the soulful spirit of mountain hunting. “Mountain hunting has its rights and rules, its pleasures and tributes, its delights and prices. Mountain hunting guides itself by the stars of custom – the iron strength of custom – more than by the written word, written as often as not with disappearing ink, that tries to run the sport to the greatest delight of the few and healthiest benefits of all. Really, in the conduct of the hunt what counts more is the spirit that imbues the art than the letters or numbers or statistics that describe its result.” Not much more needs to be said. A hunter must be physical and be able to shoot. Once savored, the mountains will call a hunter until the body can no longer master the climb. What’s left are memories of the rarest adventures that distinguish a hunting career. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

Superb trophy taken among the rocks and sky. The Sindh Ibex ( Capra aegagrus blythi ) is one of Pakistan’s signature mountain trophies—compact, spectacularly horned, and hunted in some of the most dramatic desert‑mountain terrain in Central Asia. It’s a prestige species with a long conservation legacy and a tightly regulated permit system that ensures their prosperity. Sindh Ibex hunts are virtually 100% successful as are the hunts for Blanford Urial which cohabitate in the same range and are huntable from the same base hunting lodge. They both range among the arid cliffs, broken escarpments, sun‑blasted plateaus, and rocky crags just a 2- to 3-hour drive from Karachi. Our team at Caprinae Safaris are veterans of the hunt in Pakistan, having arranged hundreds of hunts from north to south. And Pakistan is the most misunderstood of all the Central Asian countries. As a "brand", Pakistan may suffer a bit geopolitically. But these perceptions are proven wrong by every hunter who experiences it. Warm and welcoming hosts, highly professional hunting teams, precise organization of the hunt, and amazing hunting. A superb Blanford Urial - found in strong numbers. Contact Mark at (585) 267-0724 or mark@pantheonhunters.com for updates and factual insights on when and how to hunt them.

The Regal Alpine Ibex - Arguably Europe's Most Noble Mountain Game Trophy The Alpine ibex ( Capra ibex ) is a muscular, sure-footed, and crowned with ridged, arching horns symbolizing ledgers of age and dominance—each ridge a chapter in a life of vertical mastery. Weighing up to 250 pounds but as fleet footed as an antelope, the brown coats of billies gradually thicken in late summer to take on the brutal winters of the high Alps. Nearly extinct by the 17th century across Europe, they were saved by King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia in Italy’s Gran Paradiso. As his recovery group rebounded, they were later reintroduced across the Alps, including Austria. Today we are benefitting from a conservation success story. Permits are strictly limited —each tag is considered more of a privilege and not a commodity. Many hunters will be surprised by the cost to hunt them simply because they resemble the far less costly Mid-Asian Ibex. But its stateliness, sweeping thick horns, and home are unmistakable—nothing else is an Alpine Ibex. They embody the Alps themselves—ancient, unyielding, carved by wind and time. Historically considered mystical, with locals believing its bones and blood had healing powers. Classic free-range mountain hunting set in glorious landscapes. Tradition They live above the tree line, often between 6,000 and 10,000 feet and venture down to wherever they find grass. We only hunt Gold Medal, Class 1, animals (10 years of age or older) on a spot and stalk basis in totally free-range areas. But Austria also offers estate-type hunts, the best of which are conducted in very large areas usually bigger than better estates in New Zealand, game ranches in South Africa, and Spain. Alpine Ibex are diurnal, grazing on alpine grasses and herbs, resting on rocky ledges with panoramic views of their dominion. We hunt them beginning in August - a very productive time. In the rutting season (late November to December), males clash in thunderous horn duels, echoing across the valleys like ancestral rites. There will be many that self-identify among the herds of ewes that they want to dominate. Pre-rut action between two smaller males. Hunters can be met at a number of airports including Munich, Innsbruck, Graz, Vienna or Budapest and driven to accommodations which can range from a simple mountain hut, guest house, or of the very best quality 4 - 5-star hotels. No shortage of style and comfort make hunts in the Austrian Alps suitable for non-hunters and family members A mix of classic hunting heritage and the power of mountains Gold Medal Bonus: Alpine Chamois The Alpine chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ) is a smaller, more agile mountain game species than the ibex—fast, alert, and capable of disappearing into terrain where even goats hesitate. They are harder to spot, harder to stalk, and far more reactive than ibex. They can weigh up to about 110 pounds. Their short, black, hook-shaped “hooks” curve backward. They have a rusty brown coat in summers, dark chocolate to black in winter. They are extremely alert and can move quickly. They feed on grassy benches at dawn and dusk. Their relatively diminutive size belies their stature as a mountain game trophy. Surplus populations of chamois add provide another objective for Capra collectors or those that simply like hunting the mountains of the world. August Gold Medal waiting in the rocks. Call Mark at Pantheon Hunters (585) 267-0724 or email at mark@pantheonhunters.com for more insight and answers to questions.

Vast open flats of deep snow. The only option during the Spring brown bear season is to ride over the top of it. This will most likely also be the case during prime-time November hunts for moose. Workhorse of the Russian Far East - the Big Mi8. Transports hunters, equipment, supplies, and trophies. 5 minutes from the window of an Mi8 . . . flying over Brown Bear and Chukotaka Moose territory.