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The Bezoar Ibex, the most striking of the Ibex species. In the second week of June (2026), Turkish wildlife authorities issued the minimum auction prices for hunting permits. All species are affected, and the increases range from 14% to almost 100%. Somehow, they think this is a good move for conservation and the broader hunting industry. They believe that the market will is elastic enough to flex with their policy. Like all challenges we collectively face as international hunters, it is what it is. By the time the hunting convention season rolls around in early 2027 we will be dealing with higher permit and hunt prices while trying ever so hard to keep operational outfitting cost in check without compromises. The intelligent play is to hunt in 2026 while the older prices are in effect. We will honor them. A word of caution Don't be misled by promises of bigger trophies when the price looks too attractive. The price implied in a promotion or a quotation could be for an area that produces smaller trophies on average. You won't know. In contrast, you'll get straight talk from us to help you understand the correlation of trophy size potential for 3 classes of area and the price for each. The truth is not complicated when you live and operate by it. If you ever wanted to hunt the noble Bezoar, Coastal Bezoar, Hybrid Bezoar, Anatolian Chamois, Konya Mouflon, or the majestic Mid-Eastern Red Deer, get in touch to discuss openings for 2026.

The Bayaka Pygmies—called Baka in Cameroon, Aka in CAR, and collectively known in Congo as the Forest People—are one of the oldest continuous human cultures on earth. Their ancestry predates the Bantu migrations, the Sahelian kingdoms, and the colonial frontiers. They can track ghosts. They can sense parts per billion of scent. Each track is a living organism speaking to them. They don't follow "around" an obstacle on the track; they go under or through it. You follow or you will be listless trying to catch a hit of their movement or sound ahead. They will innocently gap you quickly if you are not on withing eyeshot at all times. Their dogs move symbiotically in lock step until the final moment before the strike. In Pantheon terms, they are a First People, a lineage whose identity is fused to a biome rather than a border. Their homeland is the Ndoki–Sangha rainforest, a cathedral of buttress‑root giants, raffia swamps, and elephant‑cut corridors where human presence is measured in footfall, song, and smoke, not fences. To the Bayaka, the forest is not a resource. It is a living, sentient elder, a being with moods, warnings, and blessings. The Forest as a Conscious Entity Bayaka cosmology is built around Jengi, the great forest spirit. Jengi is not a deity in the Western sense; he is the embodied will of the forest, the intelligence that binds animals, weather, and human fate. Core cosmological pillars Jengi — guardian, judge, and mediator between humans and the forest Luma — the night‑dance where the veil thins and the forest “speaks” Molimo‑like rituals — awakening the forest after misfortune Honey rites — offerings to the spirits of the canopy In Pantheon terms, Jengi is a Biome Sovereign—a spirit‑entity whose domain is ecological balance, not moral purity. The Bayaka are not “primitive.” They are specialists—masters of a tactical environment that defeats most outsiders. Operational competencies Acoustic navigation — reading echoes, bird alarms, and canopy movement Silent tracking — following duiker, sitatunga, and forest hog through scent and spoor invisible to others Honey extraction — climbing 30–40 m trees with vine harnesses Net‑hunting — coordinated group drives requiring perfect timing Ethnobotany — a pharmacopoeia of hundreds of medicinal plants Seasonal mobility — shifting camps with rainfall, fruiting cycles, and elephant movement Their knowledge is non‑written, non‑linear, and situational—a living map carried in memory, song, and ritual. The Camp as a Moving World Bayaka society is built around small, mobile camps of 20–40 people. Leadership is fluid. Authority is earned through skill, generosity, and spiritual insight, not lineage. Social principles Egalitarianism — no formal chiefs; influence flows from competence Reciprocity — meat, honey, and medicine circulate freely Song as governance — disputes resolved through ritualized singing Initiation — boys and girls undergo forest‑based rites of passage Their social system is optimized for mobility, resilience, and low‑impact living—a design that has endured for millennia. Protein is precious and they waste nothing. They are the Bayaka, the people who walk without disturbing the leaf‑litter, who speak to the forest in chords and echoes, who climb into the canopy to steal honey from the sky. For those who finally hunt the forests of West Africa - for Bongo, Forest Elephant, Forest Sitatunga, Dwarf Forest Buffalo, Red River Hog, Giant Forest Hog, and a host of Duikers - they will realize that "safari" has taken on an entirely new and truer meaning. The Baka do not conquer the forest. They complete it.

Highlights from Kamchatka for the 2026 Spring Season There's zero value in the hype and performative boasting that runs rampant in the hunting industry. What hunters are hunting for most is the truth and to have expectations set correctly, to be well-prepared with details that are planned meticulously, and no surprises. When pictures of exceptional trophies grace the pages of magazines and social media, the issue is whether or not success will be predictable and repeatable for you. A salesman will act like a human website and sell. An advisor will learn about you before making a tailored recommendation. The contrast is stark. And when a recommendation is made it will be backed up with facts, insights, and rationale and so a choice of where and when to hunt can be made with confidence. When it comes to the big bears, the most consistently successful trophy brown bear hunts in the world are found in Russia. The bears pictured in this post were just taken from one of our camps in Kamchatka. And we can speak of these hunts with clarity and responsible bullishness - not hype - an invite you to learn more without any obligation or high pressure. Russia welcomes you. It's safe. The bears are there in numbers that won't sink in until you see it for yourself. The guides are professional and hard-working. We get you and your rifle there and back. And we get your trophy home.

No one has ever attempted to create a global, cross‑era, cross‑species ranking of the greatest big game trophies. That’s understandable because any list could be debated ad infinitum. Subjectivity and personal preference could understandably skew what makes the list and what doesn’t. But that’s OK for the purposes of this post because the Top 12 list that follows was developed with the specific input of several hundred global hunters gathered over 3 decades of hunt consulting. First, Some Background Way back in the pre-internet era, Petersen’s Hunting Magazine ran a long‑form feature article that listed “The World’s 10 Greatest Hunts”. Hunters who remember it (and I’ve determined that there aren’t many who do) recall that the list included: Marco Polo Argali Cape Buffalo Alaskan Brown Bear Elephant Kudu Bongo Polar Bear Stone Sheep Lord Derby Eland Dall Sheep The editor determined the exact order, but the core idea was that what put an animal on the list was a blend of danger, prestige, difficulty, and romance. The absence of the High Altai Argali and Markhors on this list seems glaringly obvious in 2026. But many Western hunters (and the media) were just beginning to understand the hunting opportunities in Mongolia and Pakistan at that time. If there are no absolutes, what is the value of such a list anyway? Good question. With the hunting world in a constant state of flux (e.g., regulations, geopolitical tension, quota changes, upward price trajectories, etc.), up-and-coming hunters are trying to prioritize. They start out with their personal list of hunts but always use other frames of reference to influence, validate, or make changes to their own. All lists are living organisms that morph and get more surgical with time. The input collected from responders drew from their personal hunting experiences and broader knowledge of hunting filtered through these main criteria: the “magnitude” of the trophy – indicative of its physical attributes, relative rarity, and the degree of difficulty expended to hunt it in fair chase across its natural range · cultural hunting community prestige across continents and eras Over this time period, the list I have compiled has not changed much. What has changed is simply an increase in the volume of responders from consultative conversations (pre- and post-hunt) and periodic surveys. So, this list of the Top 12 Big‑Game Hunting Trophies in the World is global, cross‑species, and cross‑continent that has been dutifully comprised with input from hunters from all walks of life, legendary elite hunters, modern-era PHs, old‑school PHs, longstanding outfitters, and a few hunting historians. 1. Bull Elephant 2. Polar Bear 3. Marco Polo Argali 4. High Altai Argali 5. All Markhors 6. Bongo 7. Lord Derby Eland 8. Mountain Nyala 9. Coastal Brown Bear 10. Cape Buffalo 11. Blue Sheep 12. Kudu The list does not imply ranking. That would involve much more research. But it can be useful to see what others regard as important. In the end, each list is personal and relevant to goals and desires. For example, personally speaking, I think a case could be made to include the Rocky Mountain Bighorn. Regardless, it’s amazing how many times the concept of a “Top X” list enters into a discussion of planning hunts and in what order.

Another successful season. Shown are but a few of the bears taken on the Magadan coastal area. These are the same bears that inhabit the Kamchatka Peninsula. Very up-market camp. English-speaking outfitter. Highly professional. We also use this camp as a base for hunting Okhotsk snow sheep. Snow machines are used to cover ground -- spotting tracks and bears on the move. These are the most successful trophy brown bear hunts in the world. Russia is safe. Why? It's about the economy. Government leaders bicker and create tension at their level. But on the ground, life goes on at a very human level with hunting as a form of tourism that generates income for friendly and hard-working everyday Russian outfitters, PHs, and camp staffs. We will get you and your guns there and back and get your trophies home.

While Pakistan's Markhor receive well-deserved recognition as an unparalleled conservation success story, Turkey has been quietly replenishing its herd of the distinctive Konya Mouflon. Early conservation efforts began with a starter herd nurtured in a large fenced enclosure located in the sheep's home range in the western part of the country. Many sheep are being released into the wild with each passing year. Today, hunting takes place in both free-range areas and fenced, game ranch-type areas. And GSCO now recognizes the Konya taken in fenced areas. The rarity of the species still commands high permit prices. But their beauty is undeniable.

2026 marks the 40th 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 evolved. 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.

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 distinguish 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