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Hunter and Videographer - Joe Bartlett Having a major hunt filmed by a professional videographer offers a range of benefits that elevate the experience, preserve memories, and enhance the impact of the event. On a purely functional level, there is a major difference in production quality between a compilation of casually captured scenes and a story well told by someone who knows hunting and film capture: A professional videographer uses advanced equipment (e.g., high-resolution cameras, drones, stabilizers) and techniques to capture stunning visuals, from sweeping landscapes to close-up shots of critical moments. This ensures the hunt is documented in a visually compelling way that amateur footage can’t match. Skilled editing transforms raw footage into a cohesive, engaging story with smooth transitions, color grading, and pacing that keeps viewers captivated. This includes incorporating slow-motion, time-lapses, or dynamic angles to highlight key moments. Professionals use high-quality microphones and sound design to capture clear audio, including natural sounds (e.g., wildlife, footsteps, wind) and narration, enhancing the immersive experience. Introducing Joe Bartlett – Blue Creek Outdoors After some exciting hunting experiences that we shared in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, I heartily recommend Joe Bartlett. Joe is well equipped at the functional level outlined above. But his many distinguishing attributes makes him a standout. Joe is a hunter and professional hunting guide. Knowing intimately what’s involved emotionally and physically in fair chase hunting, and knowing animal behavior, positions him to capture the meaningful moments of the experience. He weaves in elements like the preparation, the emotional stakes, the challenges faced, and the triumph or lessons learned, making the film resonate with viewers. He illustrates the emotional connection. By focusing on the human element—whether it’s the hunter’s personal journey, their connection to nature, or the cultural significance of the hunt—a storyteller creates a video that evokes emotion and leaves a lasting impact. He creates universal appeal by tailoring the story to appeal to both hunting enthusiasts and broader audiences, emphasizing themes like adventure, perseverance, or conservation. Joe is skilled in blending into the environment, minimizing distractions during the hunt. He knows how to position himself to capture key moments without interfering with the experience. He works with hunters beforehand to understand the goals, terrain, and logistics, ensuring they’re prepared to capture the action without disrupting the hunt’s flow. He can produce various versions of the video, such as a short highlight reel for social media, a longer documentary-style film, or even a series of clips for different purposes (e.g., personal keepsake, promotional material). Joe Bartlett is more than a videographer of worldwide hunts. He is a participant in each hunt. His knowledge of hunting and guiding stimulates him to add value beyond the camera. I have seen him help judge trophy quality, tend to horses, help get hunters into shooting position, help skin and pack out trophies, and much more. He is a most pleasurable and conversant hunting companion who adds a unique dimension to a hunt. Joe’s rates are competitive while bringing immeasurable added value to the hunting experience. Contact us for more information. Contact Joe directly at (307) 851-4883 or by email at: jbartlett@bluecreek-outdoors.com Watch the video for insights directly from Joe.

We are often asked for guidance on tipping because there are no absolute rules. It’s a topic that should be considered when planning the total cost of a hunt. Restaurant tipping utilizes some established norms (10 – 15 – 20%) that have been assumed by society. Restaurant industry tips are often shared with people we don’t see or may not utilize such as kitchen staff, bartenders, other servers, etc. Conversely, hunting and especially international hunting, usually involves a team that we interact with on a personal basis daily. This necessity creates logical questions about who should get what.  Also, often there is both a main and assistant guide or PH conducting a hunt. And a further complicating factor is that some outfitters and safari operators compensate their employees with base pay that assumes a certain level of tipping that fills in to make their total wage satisfactory. As hunters, we won’t know who gets paid what, and not knowing this places additional burden on us to ensure that we reward appropriately. To all of us hunters, tipping can be a mine field. We don’t want to under-tip  because we don’t want to devalue the experience or the knowledge and effort that benefitted us. And we don’t want to over-tip  and set an expectation that can’t always be fulfilled by others and create ongoing expectation and disappointment. Here are tipping principles  to consider that will hopefully begin to demystify tipping:  Tipping is discretionary. You will feel obligated but you are in control to pay for the value that was delivered to you. Merit should be the determining factor in deciding whether a tip is given and the total amount of the tip. Always take the latest issue and freshest $100 bills. There is so much counterfeiting of US Dollars around the world, that locals are distrusting of it. Fresh bills solve the problem. Keeping in mind that there are no hard and fast rules, there are some norms . Here are some tipping guidelines  to consider: AFRICAN SAFARIS  - For safari pricing structured with a daily rate plus trophy fees, with a few exceptions the tip for the PH or guide is based on the daily rate (not the trophy fees). A PH would typically get around 10% of the daily rate per day as a decent baseline for plains game safaris and a baseline of up to 20% of the daily rate per day for remote complex or special safaris (e.g., lion, elephant, Lord Derby eland, bongo, mountain nyala). The camp staff would split an additional 10-20% which can average out to 100-$150/day to be split among them. ASIAN SAFARIS  – The daily rate plus trophy fee model is not used very much for Asian hunts. Tips are based on total hunt cost, and that total will typically be split among the entire team assisting the hunt, including the guide(s). Here are some examples: The total baseline tip for combination Marco Polo/ Ibex hunt in Kyrgyzstan costing $47,000 and $65,000 in Tajikistan will be $4,700 and $6,000, respectively. US Dollars go a long way for a hunting team in Mongolia. For example, the outfitter for a High Altai argali hunt that cost $155,000 suggested a total guide and camp staff tip of $7,000. The cost of a premium High Altai argali hunt can escalate to between $180,000 to $220,000 and so does the level of tip. Total tips for premium or VIP argali hunts can escalate to $10,000 or $20,000 depending on your guide, pre-scouting resources not bundled into the hunt price, etc. $7,500-$15,000 would be a good baseline range for a Markhor / Himalayan Ibex  combo hunt in Pakistan.  10-15% is a good baseline for other Asian hunts. REST OF WORLD SAFARIS  – 10-15% of the total hunt cost is a good baseline. Merit and Exceptional Effort Merit is in itself highly subjective because of wide ranging definitions that stem from different ways of interpreting all the factors that enable success and enjoyment. But you’ll know when you have had a good experience and enjoyed a good relationship with your PH, guide, and team. You’ll know when together you overcame circumstances to make a tough hunt come good, or they helped you take a remarkable trophy, or simply had a positive out-of-body experience. That’s when you want to consider tipping beyond the baseline levels. Here are a few perspectives and questions that will help you determine the extent of both merit and exceptional effort. Helping you judge and hunt selectively.  A PH or guide who says “let’s pass this one up because I think we can do better” is giving a clear indication that he wants the best for you and has a sense of personal pride. If he was willing to hunt harder for a better trophy rather than just get the hunt over with and you ended up getting an above average trophy because of his discernment, consider rewarding him above the baseline.  Attentiveness.  You will sense when someone is a conversationalist and trying to do something out of the ordinary for you. Behaviors like politeness, courtesy, encouragement, and generally working hard to get the best out of you could easily deserve an uplift on the baseline tip.  The ability to handle adversity.  Bad weather, animals not where they were to be, or any number of uncontrollable things that can go wrong will challenge the normal conduct of hunting. Did he make the right decisions in light of weather or conditions that would likely impede the hunt or potentially prevent you from being successful? Did he calmly position you to take the shot, or did you hurry the shot because he himself was not composed? In the case of a missed shot, did he stabilize your high emotions, offer encouragement, and happily push harder to get you another chance? In the case of a wounded animal, how effective was the follow-up process? The attributes and list of questions above is not exhaustive, but they represent some of the filters for determining merit. When there are positive responses to questions like these, you know you were hunting with a knowledgeable and caring professional.  Distributing Tips Tip your guide or PH directly and privately.  Regardless of your pre-hunt tip plan, seek advice from your PH, Guide, or outfitter on tipping team members. They have a sense of what each person/function contributes to the hunt and they can assist with apportioning tips according to the importance of their individual roles. Distributing tips to the team involves ceremony. You are all celebrating the hunt and you are celebrating them. It’s always better if you personally can issue the cash to each individual contributor. Take some envelopes. Write their name on it. Present it with a handshake, sincere thanks, and a smile.  Sometimes the PH, camp manager, or safari operator will have reasons for holding cash disbursements until “payday”. They have their reasons. Usually, it’s to protect against theft or to prevent squandering. The workaround for the hunter in this situation is that each contributor gets a paper IOU for the specific amount they are to get. As with the cash, it’s best if you can hand out the IOU slip to each contributor along with your thanks. A journal entry is made for each amount by the PH or safari operator for each team member, and at the end of the safari season or when one of the team gets leave to visit their family, the PH or safari operator will distribute their earnings. For Pantheon Hunters, those who have outfitted and guided our personal hunts have always out-performed. So, we have always tipped more. We truly understand how precious and fragile international hunting has become, how much goes into each hunt, and how much the hunting team depends on tips. So, sharing more has always been rewarding for us. Again, with no hard and fast rules to make tipping easy, hopefully you are more grounding in the tipping ritual. From here, you will most likely develop your own tipping strategy.  Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

While hunting Kamchatka brown bear in the Spring of 2024, Pantheon Hunters’ founder was surprised by a birthday celebration and a special gift that has many meanings.  Members of our Russian team presented a watch modeled after one that then-President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, presented to President Ronald Reagan. It promised opportunity for the future between the two countries but did so from the unique position of starting from scratch, at the zero position. No matter what had taken place in the past, the watch symbolized a genuine new beginning full of hope. This is also how Pantheon Hunters feel about the resumption of hunting in Russia. People of the hunting world are committed to each other and depend on each other, and the Russian people were welcoming and hard-working. The many hard-working outfitters and guides that we work with deserve our support irrespective of what governments do or say. And it is safe to hunt there. News of Americans being stranded had broken laws in each instance. President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev & President Ronald Reagan Impassioned destination hunters intellectually assess realities and rise above geopolitics to be human.  We will be going back to hunt Russia in 2026 and beyond with the confidence of having more great hunting experiences. When it comes to hunting the Russian Federation, contact Pantheon Hunters for factual insights about the full array of opportunities in this game-rich land. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan The accounts of hunters who ventured into Afghanistan during the 1960s and 70s to hunt Marco Polo left a lasting impression on destination hunters of the era. They shared intriguing stories in home-made films using voiceovers paired with rough footage from their wobbly over-the-shoulder cameras. The sight of giant rams climbing effortlessly in procession over high snow-covered ridges conveyed the size and agility described by the earliest hunter-explorers Demidoff, Littledale and Morden. A modern era international sheep hunting cult was born. Hunters began foraying into Afghanistan without any expectation of creature comforts, precision, timeliness, or assurance of success. They would simply hunt with high hopes, and endure whatever hunting on the rooftop of the world presented to them. This wasn’t third world. It was the “middle of nowhere” in the fourth world. Home of these big sheep is the Old Silk Road where the mystique of explorer Marco Polo and Genghis Khan still lives on. Throughout history, Afghanistan has been a mess. A succession of new wars after the early British debacle squelched hunting in the famous Wakhan Corridor. This narrow sliver of Afghanistan jutting eastward and bordering both Tajikistan to the north and Pakistan to the south was “Grand Central Station” for the early Marco Polo hunts. Present day 2025 geopolitics and Taliban rule will likely prevent hunting ever resuming there again. But, as with many good things that are lost and lamented during a lifetime, an excellent Marco Polo hunting alternative emerged – Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.  Tajikistan (ovis ammon polii) Some of the very best Marco Polo territory imaginable sits just north of the Wakhan Corridor in Tajikistan and further east. Marco Polo is thriving. The hunting camps are well established and guides are very professional. Season We hunt them beginning in September. The rams are scattered. The weather is decent, snow is unlikely. And spike camps are part of the hunt strategy. The rut typically begins in November and lasts into mid-late December. It’s not uncommon to see hundreds of rams a day during this time. During this 6-7 week period through to the end of the season, hunters will be hosted in permanent camps usually between 12,000-13,000 feet in elevation. All of them are comfortable but some newly built lodges stand out with more modern conveniences and exceptional creature comforts. The season extends to mid-February, but most camps end their operations at the end of January. What’s important is that hunting the periods that flank the front and back end of the rut are as successful as hunting the rut. Virtually all Marco Polo guides are very tenured and adept at knowing sheep behavior regardless of hunt timing. Getting There Hunters connect to Dushanbe through the main airport hub for Central Asia hunts – Istanbul. Flights arrive in the early hours of the morning. Our representatives meet you and assist with clearing guns with Customs.  The journey by road from Dushanbe into the hunting concessions typically begins immediately unless a hunter chooses to have a rest-up day in Dushanbe. The road trip to camp will require an overnight stay in Khorog. If you can just “go with the flow”, you’ll be hunting one of the world’s greatest game animals within just 2 to 3 days from almost anywhere in the world. About the Hunt Once in camp, hunts rely on specially equipped vehicles ranging from Russia’s version of the Jeep to various makes of SUV. Toyota Land Cruisers rule most.   Seeing a huge herd of rams and getting onto them for a shot is another matter altogether. Shots of 500-600 yards are not out of the question, and, in fact, should be considered typical for preparation. So, Marco Polo hunting is a rightful application for a ballistically-informed, long-range rifle in a medium magnum caliber. The new 6.5s will kill, but the shot you might get on one of these 400-pound animals is often not ideal. After analyzing many hits and misses over the years, the 7mm and .300 magnums will offer better effectiveness with improved wind-bucking ability and penetration. Most Marco Polo are taken between 13,000-16,000 feet. Their mountain companion, the Pamir ibex, will stretch the high-side average elevation from 15,500 to 16,500. Pamir Ibex average a bit smaller than Mid-Asian Ibex found in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.  We advise hunters to seek their doctor’s advice on preventing and offsetting altitude sickness should it occur. Doctors usually prescribe acetazolamide (Diamox®) to both prevent and combat the effects of high altitude. Hunters will set out daily with their team and vehicle and stop at likely locations to glass. 10X binoculars with range finding / ballistics compensating capability is a solid choice, but 12X are even better. Always take a variable spotting scope and tripod. Just a few feet of separation between you and your guide and the ability to glass 360° may make the difference in spotting rams. The spotting scope implies more bulk in your luggage or carry-on but you will not be backpacking. The vehicle does most of the work. Hunters walk from the vehicle to the glassing locations and make approaches either from the glassing location or the vehicle to get in position for a shot. Most rams are taken between Day 2 and 4. A realistic average for Tajikistan is 53-57 inches. Of course they can exceed 60 inches. But all Marco Polo look “big” and may times it’s the hunter that sees beauty in a ram and decides to take the shot. So, be it. They are  beautiful. And this is one of the absolute greatest hunting adventures available today – a real hunt for those under the spell of the grandeur of one of the greatest mountain sheep. Kyrgyzstan (ovis ammon humei) Kyrgyzstan’s sheep are Marco Polo according to most of the world’s taxonomists and government wildlife agencies. GSCO has declared some differences and refers to sheep found south of the Naryn River as Hume argali. GSCO refers to the sheep found north of the Naryn River as Tian Shan Argali.  Suggestions: Unless you are a species collector, don’t over-think the classifications. You will be hunting Marco Polo in Kyrgyzstan. What we believe will be helpful is understanding some of the differences between the Marco Polo hunting between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.  Season Hunts begin in September and last through early December. The timing of the rut is similar to Marco Polo in Tajikistan. It begins in November. But hunting the Marco Polo rut is over-sensationalized in both countries. Yes, hunters will typically see more sheep, but that does not directly correlate to trophy size harvested. These are naturally nervous sheep and the rut adds numerous pairs of eyes to alert others of danger. Many times, the big rams are found in the periphery of the big herds or simply prefer more isolation. That’s why hunting them before the rut is a good choice. Getting There Again, using Istanbul as a connecting hub, the destination is now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a modern city that has experienced significant growth in the past 10 years. Once you land and are assisted with VIP firearm clearance, you will head by SUV toward Naryn. You will typically arrive at camp that same day and set out hunting the next day. So, the difference between wheels-up time in your home country and boots-on-the-ground hunting is about 1 day shorter if you are hunting in Kyrgyzstan. About the Hunt Camps vary between rustic permanent structures and tented or yurt camps. Some of the best areas utilize tented camps. Instead of hunts being vehicle-assisted in Tajikistan, you will hunt by horseback from either type of camp in Kyrgyzstan.  The Kyrgyz guides are exceptional hunters and horsemen. The horses are exceptional – stable and sure-footed. They will take you places you would otherwise think are impossible to traverse. Just trust your horse. The problem with all averages applied to anything is that they are averages. There are exceptions to them experienced on one hunt or another. But they are very helpful. In this case, the altitude at which most sheep are taken in Kyrgyzstan is less than Tajikistan. Figure between 10,000 and 13,000 feet is where most are taken in Kyrgyzstan. In regard to trophy size, the average Marco Polo in Kyrgyzstan will average between 49 to 53 inches. They can exceed well into the high 50s, and can often exceed those taken in Tajikistan. But generally, a ram in the low 50s is a wonderfully respectable and proud specimen in Kyrgyzstan. The difference of 3 to 4 inches in length that Kyrgyzstan averages comes at a price that averages $15,000 to $20,000 LESS, too. And for many hunters, that savings is especially meaningful when 95% of the world would not be able to define its length or even care. Those golden horns will be awe-inspiring regardless. Shot distances will be similar to those taken in Tajikistan. Prepare to shoot at 600 even though your guide will try to get you closer. The optics and calibers applicable for hunting Marco Polo in Tajikistan also work in Kyrgyzstan. The ibex are classified as Mid-Asian, the biggest of all the ibex, and Kyrgyzstan is home to some of the biggest. 45 inches into the low 50s make an impressive mount. Most hunters hunt them in combination because they come at such low cost, making the trip efficient for taking 2 of the most iconic species of Asia. Importing Marco Polo The US Fish & Wildlife Department is finally approving imports of argali sheep. Each import application must be accompanied by an enhancement report. Our outfitters will assist in making sure the paperwork is completed properly. Where and When to Go Answering these questions with the objective first learning about you and then making a “best fit” recommendation is what we do. This foregoing insight offers just a framework for understanding the options. The next step is to experience a dialog about Marco Polo hunting without any obligation. Talk to a Pantheon Hunters advisor for deeper insight and the latest developments. When we say GO NOW, we say it for one reason. The hunting world faces regulations and forces making it fragile. The prior ban on Marco Polo imports is just one recent example of why none of us can bet on hunting always being there when we are ready.  Start a discussion with us. We analyze trends and will help you objectively prioritize where and when to go hunting based on these forces that will affect the future. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

Prolific destination hunters know the ins-and-outs of global hunting travel . But there was a time when they were even pondering a first safari to Asia with questions about travel logistics, the quality of trophy hunting, and personal security in foreign countries.  So, this insight is dedicated to helping first-timers and even those planning to advance their Asian hunting careers into more countries. It will explain our approach to the integrated aspects of logistics planning, hunt planning, and personal security as part of the professional outfitting process. Logistics Planning, Hunt Planning, Personal Security, and Communications are the Foundational Operational Pillars of the Pantheon Hunters Experience A Pantheon Hunters experience is defined as a totality comprising of the following: An in-depth discovery process with personalized and consultative discussions with each hunter that identifies their objectives and preferences Making recommendations that match them precisely Conducting the hunt in game-rich territory with faultless precision Getting trophies home  These components are flanked by planning the logistics for international and in-country travel all the way through to airport check-in for the home-bound departure. The whole is wrapped by a process of comprehensive and continuous communications with our hunters. What You Need to Know: First and foremost, the people in hunting destinations worldwide are just like Americans. They desire freedom, opportunities to provide for their families, and to live a good life. Hunting is their way of life and they appreciate the livelihoods that international hunters enable for them. So, they commit themselves full-bore to create remarkable experiences and opportunities for hunting success. We know all this intimately because we have hunted all the territory ourselves and we know our host and guides like brothers. We know the people who provide services at airports, hotels, and restaurants to be welcoming and hospitable. The more that hunters understand and experience international hunting, the more they want to go back to experience other parts of the hunting world. Pantheon Hunters - Global Hunting Travel Each hunting program has undergone a rigorous security assessment as part of ensuring a positive experience. All hunts in our portfolio are vetted as fundamentally safe or it would not be included in the portfolio.  Think of each hunt as a customized ecosystem controlled by a dedicated team to the highest degree possible. Our in-country representatives meet hunters upon arrival and assist with firearms clearance with Customs. From that point hunters are accompanied by a member of our team for the duration of the hunt. If a hunter has to spend time in a hotel as part of the plan, we select clean and safe hotels, and take hunters there and pick them up for the next planned leg of the trip.  Summarily, the best way to think of our in-country support system is this: we are with you from touch down until departure. Our people. Our vehicles. Our camps. Our plan. And we plan and manage every aspect of the trip.  Pantheon Hunters - Global Hunting Travel Safe and hassle-fee firearm travel and firearm permitting in the hunt destination country begins with photographing a correct and legible image of US Customs Form 4457. This downloadable form is recognized as a firearm “permit or license” by authorities in the destination country. It also supports hassle-free re-entry into USA. It essentially declares to Customs that the firearm was in possession before  leaving USA and is not being “imported”. We provide tips for filling out and producing images of the 4457 form. Good scans or photographs applies to the main passport page, also. It’s the companion piece to the 4457, and we instruct on how to photograph it properly. We inspect both the 4457 and main passport page before we proceed. This is one very important step in the process contributing to success of the hunt.  Pantheon Hunters utilizes gun travel specialists who select firearm-friendly airlines and routes that reliably get hunters and their gear and guns there and back. We step in at the beginning of the process to coordinate development of the flight plan with the travel agency to make sure they know when the hunter is scheduled to arrive and depart after the hunt. We ensure that the hunter’s firearm details are part of the flight plan record so there are no issues during check-in or transfers between flights. Lastly, we validate that the flight plan aligns perfectly with the hunting plan before the hunter buys the ticket. So, all the hunter needs to do is declare the class of travel desired, provide passport and firearm details, and pay for the ticket. Pantheon Hunter - Global Hunting Travel Pantheon Hunters ensures that the flight plan, passport, and firearm details are received by our in-country representatives and outfitting partners, and then we approve the Meet & Greet Plan they develop for the hunter’s arrival at the destination airport. Travel monitoring is an integral part of logistics planning. We open a chat on WhatsApp about a week before the hunt and we load it with all travel documents (e.g., passports, flight plans, US Customs Form 4457s, etc.) for easy access in case they are needed. The chat is monitored by our team members in the USA and abroad and we check in with the hunter continuously. For example, a hunter can report that a flight is delayed and we can proactively adjust the pick-up plan for arrival accordingly. We check progress on every leg of the journey -- coming and going. Everyone in the trip ecosystem knows the exact status of each part of the hunter’s journey. Pantheon Hunters - Global Hunting Travel We produce comprehensive packing lists for each type of hunt to help ensure hunter safety as much as personal comfort and to support the functional needs of the hunt. We set up a call to review each item on the list, answer questions, and give specific item and brand recommendations proven to work consistently. The items are selected for probable weather conditions and the nature of the hunt (e.g., base camp, tented camp, backpacking, horseback, etc.). We reference important preventative and treatment medications and advise what to speak to doctors about (e.g., altitude sickness, stomach upset, etc.). Pantheon Hunters - Global Hunting Travel The Big 2. Physical conditioning and shooting ability Global Hunting Travel are the real force multipliers of hunting success. So, part of the hunt planning process includes a discussion about the physical demands of the hunt. Our team members intimately know the terrain and hunting methods for each area and can advise how to train and what to include in their packs. In addition to pre-checks for physical conditioning, we enquire about potential medical conditions and dietary preferences or restrictions, and then inform the host camp accordingly. We also advise on average shot distances so that hunters can prepare for making crucial shots under field conditions. Hunters need to prepare for setting up for the shot and making long-range shots in vast mountainous terrain. We are often paired up with our guides and positioned next to the hunter judging the animal, ranging distance, and calling wind. But each hunter should prepare to be self-sufficient regardless. Pantheon Hunters - Global Hunting Travel Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

Zambia Hunting Trip We made it back from Zambia a bit later than planned, but un-chewed and successful on over-sized specimens of the animals sought. This safari was blessed by the skills and companionship of two veteran PHs and long-time friends Derick Van Staden and Mark DeWet. We are a helluva good local hunting team with 3 hard-working trackers, skinner and an AK-equipped government Game Scout. Derick’s lovely wife, Sylvia, a safari veteran in her own right, helped pull everything together so we could focus on hunting . . . logistics, camp staff organization and attentiveness, meals, chalets, laundry, and whatnot! It was a lovely camp and camp staff on the west bank of the Luangwa River.  The charter into the Luangwa camp airstrip from Lusaka was where we would hunt hippo, croc, hyena, and Chobe bushbuck. We would then move to the Lochinvar Flats to hunt the Kafue lechwe. This was the third trip to Zambia. As expected, the Zambian game and its wonderful people are like no other, and I enjoyed one of the very best hunting experiences ever.  There are several privately-owned safari concessions interspersed among the GMAs, and we hunted a vast concession privately owned by a wealthy Zambian family. No fences, totally wild, and comprising millions of acres. They have implemented several of their own anti-poaching camps and patrols, and are protecting the game much, much better than the government does inside the GMAs.  Privately-Owned Safari Concessions Poachers are active in the GMAs considering the vacuum created by the departure of the safari companies when the government had stopped hunting a few years prior due to wide-scale corruption and favoritism discovered between certain safari operators and wildlife ministry officials. “Alternate economies” like that are typically active in not only several African countries, but also in almost every international hunting destination. One has to navigate around the shady practices and people who think that’s the way of doing things. Sadly, we have the same government corruption in the USA, through political donations and lobbyists influencing policy for their gain, and it affects hunting and lawful gun ownership negatively. In the safari battery was a custom Oberndorf Mauser in .404 Jeffery made by Martini Gunmakers of B.C., Canada. Ralf Martini is now working with Hartmann & Weiss in Zambia Hippo Germany.  It was used on hippo (side brain shot) with a solid and also on bushbuck which was necessary to plow through the heavy bush on a now-or-never shot.  Zambia Crocodile Hunting A custom Bill Harvey FN Mauser in .300 Win. Mag. was used to break the neck of a croc. It worked decisively. The .300 was also effective on the big lechwe and an absolute mother of big hyena.   Zambia Lechwe We waded deep into the Lochinvar swamp for the lechwe, and the gun was partially submerged in the mud when I fired. I was full-bore submerged in the deep end of it, and am still scrubbing the mud and crap out of various personal orifices and in the engraving on the .300. The lechwe is pictured on the only patch of dry ground we could find.  Zambia Lechwe These are exceptional, remote safari areas, full of leopards and lions, buffalo, roan, and sable among many other species.  Zambia is a great choice for these and other species such as sitatunga, black lechwe, and Defassa waterbuck. It’s one of the destinations favored for classic safaris hunting. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

Cameroon Rain Forest Bongo Hunting is a multi-faceted journey of discovery. We experience unique species, human cultures, terrain and local hunting methods. We even discover ourselves as we adapt to the challenges we face. To hunt is to be learning all the time. Hunting bongo in the rain forest of Cameroon is a test and a learning experience. For many it will redefine safari because conditions and hunting tactics are so diverse from safaris in southern and east Africa. The rain forest is radically different from the typical African bushveld. Visibility is limited to 5-20 yards. The vegetation and undergrowth is thick and seemingly impenetrable to the point where the average shot taken is 10 yards and rarely as much as 20. You do not need binoculars when hunting the forest! If you decide to scope your rifle, you’ll need just a 1X. A red dot sight or irons might even be better. Pygmy trackers cut a path in and out with their machetes – all the while tracking and alert for any noise ahead. During the early phase of a stalk, they vigorously hack the bush, but as a track gets hotter, they quietly slice and snip through the vegetation with knives and scissors.  Hunting Bongo in Cameroon Rain Forest Tracking in the forest can be tedious. A hunter will be stepping over logs and brush, crawling or at least walking in a crouched position for hours on end. It’s simply amazing to see how an animal as big as a bongo or a dwarf forest buffalo will go under  a thick bush rather than go around it. The team will follow right on top of the track; if the track goes under, you go under on all fours. The heat and humidity can be staggering on its own, but it is especially severe when coupled with all the physical exertion required. We averaged about 100F with near 100% humidity daily. It was the rainy season, which is prime time, and this is to be expected. In fact, rain helps a safari. It may rain out on a day of hunting because tracks get washed away. But, there is renewed hope for morning when it’s likely that every track you find is fresh and easier to judge.  One must also be cognizant of ant columns, both the red and black varieties. Considering how the forest floor is shaded by the bush and trees high above it, it’s easy not to see them until it’s too late. Then, it’s a matter of getting them off as they dine happily on you. It’s not fun at all. Cameroon Rain Forest Still, the forest is where you find the magnificent bongo and other prized species. Many believe that the limited visibility and keen senses of the dwarf forest buffalo and forest sitatunga make them among the toughest African game to hunt. Of course, the giant forest hog and red river hog also inhabit the forest. But conditions make them opportunity animals in the extreme. Unless you are lucky, you will just get a glimpse of one. Bates Pygmy Antelope If you are a duiker aficionado, there are the Blue, Bay and Peters duikers to hunt. Not all hunting blocks are open to Yellow back duiker, but Bates Pygmy Antelope is a prize for the persistent collector. Each tracking team has a Pygmy who is skilled at duiker calling. The hunter will sit behind a shallow makeshift curtain with a 12-bore shotgun while he calls. Buckshot is what’s used for these smaller species. Hunting in Cameroon Rain Forest One of the greatest prizes in hunting is the Forest Elephant. You won’t see many in even the largest trophy rooms around the world. A client of ours hunted them rather dedicatedly over a 7-day period while we were there, and he gained a new-found respect for them over larger elephants in the eastern and southern parts of the continent. The hunting team found fresh tracks every morning, but the herd which contained a big bull gaped at them each time they were pursued.  That’s why they are so prized as a hunting trophy. Alongside the Pygmies while tracking bongo, buffalo and sitatunga are their dogs. The dogs are a service to conservation. They put the PH and hunter in a position to avoid shooting females and young bulls. Cameroon Rain Forest Buffalo The dogs do not roam far from them, and are usually quite close. They are indispensable, however, and signal the presence of these species just at the last minute and hopefully enough for the PH and hunter to advance forward, judge quickly, and shoot. After trying to be as silent as possible on the stalk, all hell breaks loose when you hear one of the dogs bark. Then it’s a matter of running in the direction of the noise which gets even louder as the other dogs join together and attempt to bay the animal long enough for the hunter to shoot.  Hunting in Cameroon Rain Forest It is said that a hunter does not “take” from the forest. Rather, the forest decides if it will “give up” something to the hunter. This is a very good way to think about hunting the forest, aligning your expectations and preparing yourself for it. All things considered forest hunting is real safari hunting. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

We all have our heroes of hunting, but those who captivated many of us were Africa’s old-world ivory hunters. These were real men, and they defined elephant hunting according to one principle belief . . . that a hunter kills an elephant with his feet, and that he will walk a mile for every pound of tusk. That adage still has the ring of truth to it for today’s elephant hunter, but it leaves one wondering if there is a similar adage for hunting the world’s mountain game?  One simple truth fits. A game animal that a hunter must climb for is worth it, and the hunter’s emotional highs from the endeavor are proportional to altitude where the game is hunted. Just ask a goat, sheep, ibex, or markhor hunter. Sheep keep us dreaming, but we thankfully have various species of ibex. One can spend a lifetime hunting them without bank loans and never feel that mountain hunting opportunities are lacking. Those afflicted with a big-time ibex addiction will argue that ibex provides more thrills and emotion-packed hunting adventure pound for pound than many of the world’s sheep. They garner respect the moment you immerse in their world. Bezoar Ibex Hunting Perhaps none of the world’s ibex are more beautiful and alluring than the Bezoar Ibex of Turkey.  30 years ago, a copy of Hunting in Turkey  by Ali H. Üstay opened up our eyes to Turkey as an important hunting destination and its signature trophy, the bezoar ibex. Bezoar is a game management success story in Turkey. Having long realized the potential for hunting as a form of tourism and foreign capital generation, Turkish wildlife authorities have ensured that today’s Bezoar hunter will experience excellent hunting. Hunting Bezoar Ibex in Turkey Populations are tightly managed through permit auctions. There are three trophy class tiers and price levels for each. Premium areas will produce trophies measuring 45-50 inches or better.  Hunting Bezoar Ibex in Turkey A swept back set of horns coupled with its profound coloration makes the Bezoar a truly awe inspiring trophy. They are trophies regardless of size and are suitably emblematic of Turkey’s long and storied hunting tradition. The Bezoar prefers up and down areas of mixed timber and rocky outcroppings. They can be found from very low altitude up to 9,000 feet. Spot and stalk is the primary method of hunting, so good binoculars and boots are important tools of the hunt.  Turkish hunting teams are adept at adapting the hunt to accommodate hunters of various ages and levels of physical condition. Regardless, you will help yourself greatly by bringing a good set of legs and lungs and the ability to reliably hit a 6-inch kill zone at 300-450. Hunting Bezoar Ibex A visiting hunter to Turkey will be enchanted by the culture and professional outfitting. Pantheon Hunters has access to both regular and special hunting areas, each populated with healthy concentrations of appropriate bezoar. Their hunting teams will be welcoming, attentive and hard-working, and you’ll feel sad to bid their friendly smiles farewell.  Accommodations will vary from Hunting Bezoar Ibex country hotels to cabins and tented camps primarily because bezoar extend across several mountain ranges. Some bezoar territory also offers excellent hunts for other species, such as the hybrid ibex, and Anatolian chamois, roe deer, Anatolia stag, and wild boar (the world’s largest).  Hunts for bezoar generally take place from September 1 through March 31. “Prime time” would be from late November through late December. The hunter can often find snow at the higher elevations this late in the year, but a great system of forest roads through the mountains makes covering lots of territory and penetrating deep into higher country much more possible. There are many flights daily from major cities to Istanbul through numerous carriers, and accessing good hunting territory usually means just one connecting flight and a reasonable drive into camp.  At the end of that trail is some of the world’s best hunting and one of the world’s most handsome trophies. It’s worth it. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

Alaskan Costal Brown Bear Trophy rooms fulfill many purposes, and perhaps none is more proper than to glorify the power and grandeur animals hunted in fair chase. While it’s gratifying to experience the awe felt by gazing visitors to a trophy room, it’s particularly interesting to see what attracts the most attention. The sight of a big life-size coastal brown bear seems most imposing, if not terrifying, as they reflect on the command that a monster bear has over its remote and totally wild domain. It could be argued that a brown bear hunt along Alaska’s coast or the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia qualifies as one of the Top 10 hunts worldwide. In listening to hunters’ stories of their brown bear hunts, it’s apparent that they had truly hunted, that they gained a huge measure of respect for big bears, and that they had a hunter’s version of an out-of-body experience.  Alaskan Costal Brown Bear Hunting Big bears don’t come easy. In fact, seeing one and getting close enough to one for a shot are two different things altogether. Sometimes you get all the closeness you never wanted! A client recently experienced what that’s like. He hit his bear badly and the bear went into a thicket and found a hole. Crawling behind his guide on hands and knees, the bear’s head popped out of the hole as they approached. One shot straight into the nostrils with a .458 at point blank range thankfully ended their drama. If it’s true that one kills an elephant with his feet, that also applies to taking a brown bear. But what happens beforehand — locating the animal — is the difference. Bear hunting requires a lot of time dedicated to glassing big country. Plan to sit, look hard and long, and look again. Prepare for the worst where the weather is concerned. Relentless 20-50 mile per hour gusts of wind coupled with driving rain can take the joy out of just about anything. And prepare to come back the next day and start the process all over again.  Regardless, hope springs eternal when hunting brown bears. Where there was nothing just moments ago may now be a small dark speck at 3,000 yards that is moving. It could end up being the holy grail — a 10-footer. But, what lies between the guide and hunter and the bear is likely hell on earth. Dozens of streams to cross. Alder jungles to fight. Rocks. Mud. Slippery slopes. Meanwhile, the bear is likely to be moving at a speed that amazes. It’s typical that the bear will move in and out of sight during the stalk, and the hunter’s heart will rise and sink many times along the way. One of our own hunts on the Alaska Peninsula begins with the airline delivering our guns in Anchorage but off-loading the rest of our gear in Salt Lake City. We had planned to overnight in Anchorage anyway, but were now desperate to buy new gear during our short overnight layover. We certainly did not want to head out from Anchorage gear-less, or worse, miss the daily flight down to Sand Point for the sake of waiting for the gear to arrive the next day.  So, that evening we scoured the phone directory for sporting goods stores just hoping that one would open early enough to buy the basic gear needed in time to catch the flight down to the Peninsula.  We had exactly one hour between a store opening and our flight departing. We commandeered a wild cab driver who happened to be a sportsman. When we told him how the airline put our hunt in jeopardy, she tore off at the speed of a New York City cab. He was a real character. When we got to the store, it was still closed, but there was a clerk dressing a manikin in the window with a hunting coat exactly like the one sitting in my luggage in Utah. Recognizing the hurried look on our faces, the clerk came to the door and I asked “what size is that coat on the manikin?” “Large”, he replied. “Good, we’ll take two, and we’re in a bloody hurry and need your help”.  Alaskans are great people, and this guy could not have been more helpful. He rounded up 3 boxes of .375 ammo, socks and liners, shirts, pants, hat, and gloves. Luckily, we had the sense to wear our hunting boots on the plane, so we were tricked out as far as footwear was concerned.  In our peripheral vision we could see the cab driver admiring a pair of hip waders. So, we asked him if he needed a pair. “Yeah man”, he excitedly replied! “Well, you can thank Delta Airlines because they are buying you that pair of waders. Now, let’s get to the airport”. Our knuckles went white as we held on and made the flight with no time to spare. We were met in Sand Point by our guide, an ace pilot who ended up scaring the hell out of us several times in his re-built (many times) Super Cub. He could take off and set it down without any semblance of a runway.  We were confident that we had landed in big bear country. After a quick change of clothes and paring down our backpacks to the bare essentials, we were airborne again and headed out to spike camp. We landed on a sandbar of an inlet well below the cabin which was set into the face of a hill far above. It was purposely camouflaged so that the crews of ships staged for porting in Alaska’s harbors would not find it while waiting their turn to dock. It was a plywood structure with just enough room for 3 people to lay side-by-side; guide, packer and me. At one end of the small structure was the door and the other was a Coleman stove. It was a pretty comfortable alternative to the backpacking tents we used in other parts of the area.  A mink had found the cabin equally comfortable. The guide reached over to light the Coleman when the tubing ignited. A mink had bitten the tube in multiple locations and the perforations leaked gas that flamed instantly. That blaze got us up faster than any alarm clock could have done. Days are very long during Alaska’s spring, and it was not uncommon for us to get up at noon, and hunt until midnight. Our morning routine involved walking the ridges high above the beach and glassing for bears in all the depressions and canyons as we moved. We would walk the beach late in the evenings hoping to catch a bear coming down to nourish on kelp or a beached carcass. Alaskan Costal Brown Bear We started to see bears right away. But what amused us more were the fresh brown bear tracks circling the cabin. While we were out hunting every day, a bear would chew on the cabin walls and lick the glue that fused the layers of the plywood walls.  Uncharacteristically for the Peninsula, the sun appeared and the weather turned stellar for the entire hunt. Could this actually be the big, bad, inclement Alaska Peninsula that we were hunting? One must accept everything and anything that a brown bear hunt dishes out, and in this case, it was some unexpected great weather. We were up high above the beach one day and saw two moving specks well out in front of us. We quickly set up the spotting scope and could see that it was a boar and sow. He was trying to mate with her, but she was resisting. His advances kept them occupied with each other and stationary. After a 2-hour stalk we were able to close the gap to 50 yards. As we peered around a rocky ledge, the bears were laying down, nose to nose, apparently exhausted from their struggle.  Alaskan Costal Brown Bear Hunting When the boar was alerted to us, he started to climb a ridge and was now 100 yards away. A .375 on the point of his shoulder and another into his chest as he reacted to the first shot. He rolled downward and disappeared into a gully. As we cautiously approached from above, the sow surprised us coming our direction not more than 10 yards on our flank. She appeared happy to be getting away from him. There he was. Most of his massive body was lying in a creek, so we had to skin him there. We could see that the wind currents down on the beach below were too stiff to plan on a Super Cub coming in safely to collect us. While we skinned the bear and contemplated what to do we heard the outfitter’s plane approaching. He had come over from base camp to check on us and happened to spot us below. He, too, noticed the white caps hitting the beach. So, he landed on a small clearing 800 yards directly above us and came down to help us finish skinning the bear. A wet hide on a bear that big would easily weigh 200 pounds, and we felt every bit of hit as we took turns packing it up to the plane. Once we reached the plane, we cleared some rocks and made a short runway. A couple of shuttle trips got us and the trophy back to camp. Alaskan Costal Brown Bear Hunting The skin measured 10 feet and 4 inches square, and surpassed hopes and dreams. With all the interesting animals available to hunt worldwide, a brown bear hunt is one of the select few hunts that we would do again.  That’s why we hunt them on the Kamchatka Peninsula , too. Look for that story. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

An Unexpected Bongo Rifle .404 Jeffery Mauser Ralf Martini Custom Highman & Laubsher .505 Gibbs London Ridby .375 H&H Griffin & Howe .350 Magnum Bentley & Playfair 450/400 3 1/4" London .450 Rigby Rimless Magnum 350 Remington Magnum 673 Guide Gun Perfect for bongo in the Cameroon rain forest Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

Tien Shan Mountains What is it about remote mountain hunting that makes it so enchanting if not magical? After all, most remote high country hunts will test a hunter’s resolve and every facet of physicality to the point where sanity can be questioned. Is being cold, wet, breathless, and with every muscle aching, a vacation? To think that we actually pay for physical abuse to be heaped onto ourselves isn’t logical. But, could the source of this magic come from the emotional sense of accomplishment we feel from successful hunts up high? We think so. But the by-product of accomplishment is an uncontrollable addiction to it. We keep doing it. We were tested like never before hunting Mid-Asian ibex in Kyrgyzstan. “Remote” was a relative term to be redefined by a virgin stretch of the Tien Shan Mountains reaching into the far northeast corner of the country. It was here, just 5 kilometers away from the Chinese border, where a friend had spiked out on an experimental hunt up to 12,000 feet for Mid-Asian ibex. He was essentially the first to hunt it and among the first to be there since a guardian group of the Soviet Army vacated it. 56" ibex The picture of his ibex, 56 inches around the curve, was proof there were many old ibex inhabiting this untamed land. If a hunter could just survive the 2-day drive and 3-day ride on horseback through the mountains, and could climb well beyond where the horses had to stop, he might get a shot at one of these royal mountain monsters. Now, many years later, we were a group who wanted a similar raw adventure outside the normal context of outfitting. We were explorer-hunters in current times. The launch of the Queen Mary was no more spectacular than the six of us laden down with all of our gear at the airline counter.  Turkish Airlines took us from New York’s JFK to Istanbul and then onto Bishkek. We piled our gear into a caravan of 4-wheel drive vehicles and set out for the town of Karakol. There we would stay overnight at the home of one of our Game Rangers who had worked for 26 years with the Hunting Department, a quasi-commercial entity of the Ministry of Ecology.  After 5 hours of riding over a rough but very picturesque mountain track, we reached the end of the road – literally. This was the homestead of our guiding family who would lead us into the far reaches of the high country. We slept on the floor of a crowded room only to be awakened midway through the night to attend a “goat roast” prepared in our honor. We had not realized that the “dinner” we thought we ate before bed was actually an appetizer and part of the welcoming course of tea, fruit, nuts, bread, and hearty stew. So, we got up at 03:00 out of politeness and ate some boiled goat, and then went back to bed. Dawn in the Tien Shan Mountains Dawn broke quickly, and after a spot of tea we were put through a very beneficial long-range shooting practice. After each of us tested the zero of our rifles at 100 meters, a small metal plate was placed high on a ridge at 400 meters. A hit was unmistakable and very satisfying, but the most impressive hits came from a .338 Excalibur. It drilled neat holes through the 1/2-inch thick plate at that distance! It certainly wasn’t a backpacking rifle, but very flat shooting and with great wind bucking ability. Before the hunt was over, that gun would really prove its intended purpose by dropping a 49-inch ibex like thunder had hit it at 540 yards. With renewed confidence in our shooting ability under field conditions, we began paring our gear down to the bare essentials. Everything had to be loaded on the horses, and it did not make sense to take any more that what we would eventually have to carry on our backs later on.  We spent the next three days marveling at the abilities of our horses as we penetrated far into the mountains. The Kyrgyz are exemplary horsemen and their hunting skills, endurance and penchant for hospitality were exemplary. Setting up spike camp after each day’s grueling ride was exhausting in itself but once we reached the final staging camp, we split up into three groups of two hunters, each with our ibex hunting personal guide. We had not seen any ibex on our way in, so we all expected to see game once we climbed over the last ridge in front of us. We are not disappointed. ibex hunting Tien Shan Mountains The ibex were very difficult to spot at first. But, once we began to school ourselves in “looking small”, a wildlife kingdom gradually appeared through our binoculars. They were there. Several small groups of ibex occupied many of the ridges and gullies in front of us. Even at 1 or 2 miles away, the big ones among them all looked big. We had reached our Shangri-La, and just hoped for the chance to tell others about it after a safe and successful return home. The biggest of the ibex have a black tint in their coats. Our spotting scopes confirmed that we were looking at some dark ones in the 45-50 inch class, and approaches were strategized for each group of ibex that contained larger trophies.  We nourished ourselves with hot black tea, Mountain House freeze-dried meals, sardines, homemade salami and bread. The Kyrgyz believe that garlic aides breathing, so we also popped garlic cloves like candy. Water was drinkable right from the streams, but we had to re-fill and pack our water bottles for each climb. Also on our backs were two-man tents, sleeping bags, and one change of underwear and socks. That was it. As the days wore on, the path of the three groups converged. Eventually, we met in the same valley and camped together. Everyone had taken an ibex with a sense of accomplishment. We had taken one of Asia’s iconic mountain species in strict fair chase and most definitely on terms the ibex determined. ibex hunting Tien Shan Mountains Kyrgyzstan remains one of the most productive countries for hunting Mid-Asian ibex and we have multiple new options that are producing ibex in the 45-51 inch range consistently. It’s still one of the most affordable mountain hunts in the world.  Pantheon Hunters also hunt Mid-Asian ibex in other countries. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are outstanding options, and we offer various methods of hunting –  horseback from both tented camps and permanent base camps and high mountain helicopter insertion. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!

Free-Range Aoudad Sheep Perhaps the Best Sheep Hunting Bargain in the World Sheep can be a very haunting word in a hunter’s vocabulary. In any form and hunted in the rarified air anywhere that they live around the world, sheep hunting has likely produced more defining moments in hunting careers than other species. It’s a game animal that must be earned. The puristic nature of sheep hunting challenges us to establish our ambitions and abilities realistically as we commit ourselves to it.  Whether you want to get started in sheep hunting or need more species to complete your World Slam, put a free-range aoudad sheep on your radar. Hunted the right way in the mountains, the aoudad is not only a legitimate game animal, it’s the equal of any mountain game.  Many know the aoudad more so as the Barbary sheep originating in North Africa. Thankfully, they have been transplanted in various locations around the world, and although they may still be classified as “exotics” by game departments, they are just as at home in their transplanted territories as they ever were in Africa. Living, breeding, thriving, and huntable.  In the early 1940s, a few bands of sheep were transplanted across various states in the USA. Many ended up on exotic game ranches, but others were released in mountainous terrain and climatic conditions identical to their native African habitat. Today, the very best free-range aoudad hunting takes place in the Chinati and Davis Mountains of southwest Texas. They excel there more so than in their native habitat and to the point of now being considered indigenous in most of their transplanted range. Rams that reach 30 inches around the curl are considered trophy class animals, but exceeding that length is not unrealistic for a selective hunter. The biggest of the rams tend to come from a few select outfitters who specialize in these hunts and who exclusively control the hunting in the desolate hills and canyons of vast privately held ranches. The better outfitters self-impose a very limited take-off of 1-2 rams per ranch so that trophy quality remains consistently high.  A big ram will be as impressive and satisfyingly earned as any sheep that walks. Their wide, heavy and arching horns are first to draw the eye, but interest soon shifts to the strands of long golden chaps flowing down from the neck onto the legs. Unlike mountain goats which will “hair out” when the weather gets colder, the beauty of chaps is a function of genetics, not weather. Most mature rams will have chaps that are as long and full during the hot summers as in winter. Their bodies are tough, deceptively blocky and front-loaded. A weight of 300 pounds is not out of the question. One master outfitter specializing in Aoudad for 35 years estimates that the majority are taken between 200 to 300 yards. A 6.5, .270. or any of the mid-magnums of 7mm and .300 caliber with homogeneous copper or bonded core bullets work well.  The official hunting season runs year-round in Texas, but some months are simply too hot to hunt. The most practical time to hunt is from the beginning of October through the end of March. The rut begins in early October, and the rams are much easier to spot because they gather in large groups of females and competing rams. Their tan color matches the rocky terrain and dry brush of the southwest. So good optics are a must for lengthy glassing sessions. 10X is a good minimum for binoculars, but 12X to 15X mounted on a tripod makes a big difference in finding and judging big trophies. Especially during the post-rut when the rams are isolated or accompanied by a few companion rams, methodically “looking small” section by section with tripod-mounted binos pays for whatever weight this equipment adds to a daypack. The good news is the cost of the hunt will not break the bank like most sheep hunts do. A premium 4-day hunt conducted on a 1:1 basis will cost $7,500-$9500. The special 5-day license, which is date-specific, costs only $50.  Although physical conditioning is an important factor of success for any hunt, a hunter does not have to be an athlete to successfully hunt aoudad sheep. Certainly, these are real sheep that live among the rocks and canyons, but the terrain is navigable for most. The highest peak of the Chinati Mountains is 7,700 feet, and most aoudad will be taken between 1,500 and 4,000 feet on average.  Weather-wise, hunters will most often experience sunshine and a swing of 40-50 degrees daily between early morning lows and afternoon highs. The climate is dry, but snow can fly and the wind can blow especially during January and February. If it snows, it won’t last long. Temperatures are generally mild enough to melt snowfall the same day.  Each ranch offers basic accommodations in rustic houses located on ranch property. However, motels can also be used depending on the ranch to be hunted. In one case, we hunted a client from a mid-mountain spike camp. We awakened to frost covering our tents one day in March. Coffee helped offset the cold while breakfast was being cooked over an open fire. We set out with the intent of peering down into promising canyons just as the clouds gave way to the warming sun. We stopped and glassed methodically, but did not locate any rams until well past noon. As we were judging them, the wind shifted and gave the rams our scent. They were off and running instantly and we followed as fast as we could while hoping they would stop for a breather and allow us to get another look at them. They didn’t stop. Light was falling fast, so we allowed the rams to bed down instead of making a stalk. We were far enough from our spike camp that heading back and returning early the next morning didn’t make sense. So, we backed our way down the ridge about 1000 yards from where the rams were bedded and built a fire. That was a very cold and long night. There was no place level or soft to lay down, so we sat around the fire dozing in and out of sleep all night long. As a hint of the morning sun emerged, we climbed back up the ridge and found the rams feeding around their beds just as we had thought they would. It was an easy shot of 150 yards, and the whole ordeal made us feel as though we had earned that ram.  On another of our hunts we used a ranch house for accommodations and set off by vehicle each morning. We spotted a heavy-based ram with two younger rams and made the stalk to within 190 yards. The big ram had backed his body into a crevasse for an afternoon nap. Annoyed by a mesquite sapling that was in his way, he stood up, wrapped his horn around it and yanked it out of the ground with a twist of his powerful neck. It was an awesome demonstration of the aoudad’s physicality and sheer power. Before he could lay back down, one slug from a .264 Win. Mag. folded him instantly. That ram was officially scored (but not entered) as a new SCI #11. On that same hunt, a companion hunter took the new #10 off the same ranch. It didn’t matter what they scored then and they probably have been bested since. But, the quality of those rams was a testimony that some outfitting operations are managing them for the long term. If you want a real sheep hunting experience on terms that are very acceptable, we enthusiastically recommend that you consider a mountain hunt for these impressive aoudad. Hunt them properly in the mountains, and you will have achieved one of sheep hunting’s greatest honors at a bargain price. Contact us today to start planning your next expedition!