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February 2026. Niassa is a pristine ecosystem where the tradition of classic safari hunting thrives. Real lion hunting.

Imagine a sensation that defines a threshold moment. The wind moves past you. Mountains stop being terrain and become something closer to a presence. You realize you’re no longer just in  the Altai—you’re being absorbed  by it. Up where air tastes of stone and sky, the hunt takes on a strange clarity. For a moment, you’re not a hunter, not a visitor, not even a man with a rifle—you’re a spirit scouting its own destiny. When you finally see him — an old ram standing on a skyline carved by time — he doesn’t look like an animal. He looks like a symbol. A guardian. A creature that has stepped out of the Bronze Age and into your crosshairs just long enough signal the rarity of the moment. When the shot breaks, it feels less like pulling a trigger and more like snapping back into your own skin. You feel the enormity of what you’ve just done. And as you walk toward the fallen ram, the out‑of‑body sensation doesn’t vanish — it settles into you like a secret. A private myth. A moment when the boundary between man and mountain blurred, and you stepped briefly into a realm where time moves differently. This is the mythic profile of the Argali — reverent, elemental, and shaped for a canon that outlives any single hunt. The Argali is not a quarry. He’s a mountain deity. Origin in the World Before Memory Long before riders crossed the steppes and long before the first blade was hammered into shape, the Altai already knew the Argali. He was there when the mountains were still cooling. The shamans of the early clans believed the Argali was not an animal at all, but a messenger between realms — a creature whose horns held the spiral of creation and whose hooves touched both earth and the sky. To hunt him was not an act of taking. It was an act of entering the mythic order. The Argali’s horns are not merely trophies. They are glyphs — spirals that echo the turning of seasons, the coiling of storms, the looping of time itself. To the old clans, a great ram’s horns were a map of the heavens, a record of winters surviving, a symbol of rightful kingship, and a test of a man’s spiritual weight. Even today, when a hunter first sees a mature Argali standing on a skyline, the moment feels staged by something older than chance. His stance suggests he has been waiting for centuries. Even the way he turns his head feels ceremonial, as if acknowledging your arrival in his realm. Hunters who have taken great rams often describe the shot as the instant they “fell back into themselves.” The Place of the Argali in the Pantheon Among the great game of Asia, the Argali stands alone. All four Argali species (High Altai, Northen, Hangai and Gobi) are the high priests of the world’s mountains. Nothing soft survives in their vertical kingdom. The Argali is not approached. He is earned . The State of the Now and Call to Action Here is the actual, on‑the‑ground state of Argali hunting in Mongolia today, distilled into a Pantheon Hunters‑grade field brief—clear, unsentimental, and grounded in the most recent available information. Population & Conservation Status Data quality is inconsistent. The Argali remains a species whose management is governed more by tradition, bureaucracy, and political inertia than by modern wildlife science. Argali hunting is still possible, still prestigious, and still tightly controlled—but the biological foundation beneath the quota system is softer than it should be. The Argali is managed from the capital, not the mountain. The people who live with the sheep have little stake in their survival. Field Conditions for Hunters Today Operationally, the hunt is still authentic: altitude, distance, wind, and the mountain’s indifference remain unchanged. Modern Argali hunts remain logistically demanding but are well‑supported by experienced outfitters. Camps are typically gers — sturdy, traditional Mongolian structures Hunts occur across Altai, Hangai, and Gobi ranges, each with distinct subspecies and terrain. o   High, broken shale ridges in the Altai o   Rolling steppe‑mountain transitions in Hangai o   Desert‑mountain interfaces in the Gobi Hunters still rely heavily on local spotters and guides; language barriers remain common. Pantheon Hunters’ Verdict Argali hunting in Mongolia endures — but it endures on the strength of tradition, prestige, and the resilience of the mountains themselves, not on the strength of modern wildlife science. The future of hunting has to be considered uncertain. As with everything in life, not all things are created equally. This applies to the hunting world in spades. Whether it be Mongolia, British Columbia, Zimbabwe, or Kansas, hunting areas differ in population density and trophy potential. This likely seems an obvious and trite thing to say, but it carries weight today – and is more hyper-relevant than ever before. Western Mongolia is recovering from back-to-back severe winters within the last 5 years. This High Altai and Northern Altai territory suffered material die-offs, especially older rams. The upshot is that there are positive signs of recovery. But many of the out-sized trophy pictures appearing on Instagram and Facebook in 2025-2026 have been taken well before the winters took their toll. This sets an unrealistic expectation. For those who define success in inches, a 60-inch High Altai ram is an outlier today, a gift from the heavens. 55-58 inches is more realistic. I will note editorially here that horn length and mass are not the only criteria of trophy quality. A ram of 55-58 inches can be a very compelling, imposing trophy. I’ll save this discussion for another post. And, granted, there are a few outstanding trophies that have been taken recently, but few  is the operative word. And the overall average size is less in length and mass than what defined a trophy in the past. The same can be said for Gobi Argali. Harsh winters and the expansion of mining in the desert have disturbed their timeless patterns. The Way Forward The discretionary finances and goals of elite hunters have created enormous competition and pressure on the system. Market demand is exceedingly high. Expectations are elevated. Consequently, due diligence thresholds in the hunt selection process must be much higher in order to protect money, time, and emotion. A hunter must find someone with behind-the-scenes knowledge and operational capabilities to trust for advice and the ability to conduct their hunt precisely aligned to properly set expectations. A general model of the Mongolian hunting industry is to classify Argali hunting areas into standard and premium areas. Permit prices paid at government auctions (and therefore total hunt prices) correlate to historic production and present-day potential of these two classes of hunting area. So , a hunter’s trophy class objective in the pre-booking process is very important for determining which permits the outfitter will attempt to win at auction. Secondly, the outfitter will offer guidance on defining trophy objectives, which as stated above, has a bearing on the permits to be bid on at auction. So, how do you go about defining your trophy size objectives ahead of the auction? We developed a simple tool called 10 Rams . As the name implies, we provide pictures of 10 High Altai rams and ask the hunter to pick 2-4 of the rams that they like and would be happy to take. In a follow-up discussion, we reveal the actual measurements of the rams chosen. Invariably there are some major surprises. In many cases, they pick rams far less than their go-in desire of 60 inches because of so many other positive characteristics that can project a ram as big and beautiful. This has been a good way to help hunters define what success looks like, which in turn is instructive to the outfitter for what to bid on at auction, both of which yield the hunt cost to consider. The real work begins after winning the bid. Elite outfitters will not only scout the territory continuously like hell in the run-up to the hunt, but they will also have been scouting year-round with monthly scouting reports issued to them by the locals. Also, the structure of pricing programs for premium areas could provide both an extra incentive for the locals to find out-sized trophies and partial refunds to the hunter if they don’t succeed. We have innovated such a program for the High Altai and Northern Altai hunts. It's a win-win for hunters and locals. Overall, Mongolian Argali hunting should not be considered a commodity reflecting abundance in any sense of the word. These noble sheep deserve rarity status that should be underpinned with a sense of urgency. If you have the financial means, prioritize Mongolian Argali. The bottom line is that the big ones are still out there if one knows where to find them and how best to optimize a complex array of factors affecting success. This is our job. We live for surgical precision in hunt strategies. We know where to hunt you because we are constantly monitoring leading indicators of change – looking at data, leveraging high-trust relationships in Mongolia, and scouting with our own eyes and boots on the ground. The truth is not complicated. We welcome calls or emails for more insights.

The human brain is a behavior change engine subject to the influence of various stimuli. As marketing images and messaging are internalized by the brain, a subject matter becomes familiar. Familiarity can evolve into preference and belief that become actionable in the buying window when exposed to a high frequency of relevant and sensational images and messaging. Preference and belief that something is good is not always reasoned with facts because marketing science implants and nurtures perceptions desired by marketers. A wide-angle assessment of the hunting industry reveals the tactics used to drive market attraction. Marketing plans of hunting companies rely on glorious photos of out-sized trophies shared in advertising and social media campaigns. Along with proclamations of greatness, the hype kicks into a higher gear during hunting conventions. It's a highly competitive world for a niche audience. Hunting companies can be rightfully proud of what their areas and teams produce each season. And showcasing their area’s potential and operational capabilities with exceptional trophies serve as proof points to what they produce. It's a legitimate practice and all of us do that in order not to be an outlier. Success sells. But collectively, this can be perceived as hype. It can be over-bearing and lead to distrust. Too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing. Hunters feel challenged to filter through the marketing clutter and hopefully find the truths that enable safe choice of precisely with whom, where, and when to go hunting. This state of things was predictable. As the internet was emerging in the mid-90s, the “Cluetrain Manifesto” warned companies that the collective insights of online communities would become more trustable and powerful than their hyped one-way messages. One example of this dynamic shift is alive today in hunting forums. But just like all the forms of marketing hype (advertising, social media, conventions, journalism, podcasts, etc.), whether company-generated, influencer-generated, or community-generated, the substance of claims and opinions are usually veneer-thin. As a hunter wades through the eye candy of trophy pictures and bold assertions of being “the best”, the implied and unspoken questions are: 1.       Will success be repeatable for me? 2.       What do recommenders factually know and how deeply do they know it? 3. Will recommenders be accountable for what they advocate? 4.       Do the recommendations align 1:1 with what I have in mind? 5.       What expectations should I have? 6.       Who will explain everything so I can make the most informed choice that protects my money and time? 7. Will I be able to go in total confidence? If the marketing that you experience is hyper-relevant, create a short list of companies to contact to find out more. Find a hunting industry professionals whose M.O. is to provide personalized and factual consultation – someone who will take the time to know you and then recommend hunts that “fit” and back them with factual rationale. Companies will use marketing to initially attract you, but marketing and selling should dead-stop there. If you feel pressured, back away and keep searching for a professional who functions as an advisor. The truth is not complicated. Once such an advisor is found, engage in deep exploratory conversations about your goals and the details behind any hunt recommendations. Look for an advisor who doesn’t subscribe to the “less is more” philosophy. Find one who lives by “more is more”. Although it might seem counter-intuitive, you will need to ask fewer questions and feel confident quicker when hunting conditions and the rationale for recommendations are explained more thoroughly by a “more-is-more” professional. This is your best way forward through a maze of tantalizing trophy pictures and hype. Think of hunting industry marketing as a simple call to action – “Let’s have a conversation”.

The Asian continent covers almost 1/3 of the Earth’s land mass. It is a wildlife kingdom encompassing vast game-rich regions – much of it still pristine and unspoiled by human encroachment and industrial development. This is the magical theatre of high-voltage hunts for the family of golden-horned Argali sheep, giant coastal brown bears, the biggest moose in the world, multiple species of snow sheep, the iconic markhors, numerous ibex, tur, blue sheep, and Maral stags. And more. Just as game-rich is the continent’s cultural diversity. What once was the Soviet Union, and before dividing up into the Commonwealth of Independent States and later "the stans", encompassed over 175 distinct nationalities. Many Mongolians in the west trace their roots to Kazakhstan. Some guides in Tajikistan are of Iranian decent. The great, great grandfathers of many Kyrgyz guides are of Chinese descent. Examples of cultural fusion like these could fill a book. So, in many ways, Asia is the original “melting pot.” Its cultural evolution traces back to pre-Old World when nomadic tribes wandered wide and deep across invisible borders, settled in enclaves, and created their ethnic identities. What’s common among the people of Asia is genuineness and warmth. They are welcoming, hospitable, and diligent. The best hunting professionals perform in the field as though they were ambassadors for their country. Countries often thought of as Third World have some of the best guiding talent in the hunting world. Even the average skill level is of a higher standard than what one might expect because guiding and stewarding the areas they hunt is all that they do year-round.   Tiger hunting in India and Chinese hunts for multiple species of Argali and Bharal are gone. Gone also is Afghanistan and for all intents and purposes, Turkmenistan does not offer a structured option. So, when we speak of Asia, the focus narrows to Russia and most notably, “the stans” of Centra Asia – Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Focusing in on “the stans”, I am often asked, “is it safe to hunt there”? The hard truth sadly is that a hunter will be safer in any of “the stans” than they would be venturing across a major US city for dinner with the family. Here’s why. Think of an Asian hunt as a closed loop system with the hunter in the complete chain of custody of the outfitting company. A hunter is considered a valued guest and remains shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the outfitting team from arrival, all through the hunt, up to the point of assisting with check-in for the homebound flight. A hunter enters the custodial care of the outfitter the minute they exit Immigration at the receiving airport. Everything is highly organized. Logistics in these faraway places work better than they often do in North America. Reputable outfitting companies have ground teams that provide VIP reception at each country airport to assist with gun clearance at Customs. Then, depending on the flight plan, a member of the ground team will take hunters to good hotel and pick them up for the journey to camp the next day, or start the trip to camp immediately upon exiting the airport. Upmarket vehicles like Toyota Land Cruisers stop along the journey to camp for traditional lunches – all with an eye on making sure hunters are comfortable. It’s white glove treatment – only in the wild and among some of the world’s most elite mountain game. Hunting is also an integral program of government-sponsored tourism managed under the auspices of multi-departmental oversight. Hunting is considered a valuable game management tool financed by important revenues from hunting permits. It provides employment and foreign currency. To the guiding teams and camp staff in the field, a hunter is life. Just imagine an entire remote Pakistani village in the Himalayas, young and old, coming out to greet you, all the while singing and dancing in happiness as you come down from the mountain from your blue sheep hunt. Hunters are always amazed at the modernization of the “stans” – modern buildings are going up everywhere in the arrival cities. Hunters will find sophisticated dining, shopping areas, and traffic – just like home. A trip to any of the “stans” will be an eye-opening experience that debunks old beliefs with an awakening that they have had no basis in fact. True, people in the remotest rural areas of these countries still live a considerably basic life with few to zero amenities. They’re still living off the land, but they are no less skilled or welcoming than those wearing suits to work in the major cities. These are the people who might look different, but who are just like the rest of us. They realize professionalism and work ethic are keys to providing a decent life for their families. And these are the people who can lift their head up from a spotting scope and tell you whether you are looking at a 55” or 58” Marco Polo ram at 800 yards. And above all else, any outfitting company with integrity would never advise a hunter go to any one of the “stans” unless it was just as safe as any other destination around the world. I sometimes like to think of international hunt safety in the same way that we typically book a flight with a major airline. 99.9% of us don’t examine the safety record of the airline. We focus on schedules and cost. Safety is assumed or the airline would not be authorized to fly. Likewise, a solid outfitting operation will properly advise and only recommend hunts that they know will provide a safe experience equivalent to any other around the world. Can hunting involve adventure in the “stans”? Yes, hunting is adventure. If it were not, we wouldn’t be so possessed to do it every chance we could get to be thrilled by the sense of accomplishment and fulfilled by the emotion few other endeavors provide. These are the reasons to experience new and different hunting. We breath rare air when we hunt. And the air in the “stans” or anywhere else in Asia will be the freshest and most exhilarating you will ever breathe. And with the cost of many North American hunts increasing annually, Asia is moving onto many hunters’ radars. The cost of many Asian hunts is in reach for many of us. Whatever is said here about "the stans' of Central Asia applies to Russia . Yes, Russia. Every media headline about an American being detained could have been avoided with an ounce of common sense. Almost any county in the world does not permit visitors to bring illicit drugs across their border or tolerate those who beak their laws. So , don't fear and don't wait. You will meet people just like you and you will be sorry to say goodbye to them.

There was a moment on the ivory trail — brief, brilliant, and almost forgotten — when the great bulls of Ethiopia’s rain forests gave us a final glimpse into the golden age of East Africa’s elephant hunting. This post remembers Ethiopia’s big bulls — not as trophies, but as archetypes — giants that defined the country as a time zone for outsized ivory. Kenya was moving toward closure. Tanzania was tightening. The old ivory grounds were fading. But in Ethiopia, the forests still breathed. Hunters came because they heard whispers: “The big ones are still there.” We are speaking of 80- to 120-pounders. These were not the wide‑spreading savanna tusks of Tsavo or Amboseli. They were deep‑forest spears, grown long, thick, and straight from browsing in dense cover. In Kaffa and Illubabor, bulls moved like shadows through coffee plantations, their tusks long and pale as moonlight. In Bale and Arsi, elephants drifted between highland valleys and bamboo thickets, untouched by the pressures that had reshaped the rest of East Africa. And picking up their tracks were two PHs who never authored books, never sought fame, and never stood in the spotlight — but who knew the forest and its kings better than anyone alive. Thomas Mattanovich  was born in Yugoslavia. He knew the country at its roots and cared for it. He was a quiet forester who could track an elephant through rain‑washed mud as if the animal had left a trail of fire. His skills were diverse and proved adaptive for all species. Overall, he led 19 Weatherby Award winners to their achievements – in the forests, the Omo, the Dankil, and the Arrusi for Mountain Nyala. Colonel Negussie Eshete  was an Ethiopian authority whose discipline and knowledge opened doors no foreigner could walk through alone. His military and security experience intersected with wildlife administration, which was common among others with similar backgrounds. A story of him dropping an elephant before the client shot came with the side note, “somebody would have been killed if he hadn’t.” Though they worked in different regions and with unique styles, they represent the last generation of PHs guiding untouched elephant country. They were legends of the field, not headliners. Most elephant safaris occurred between 1980 and 1996 This was before the digital age; Kodak Moments still ruled. On the rare occasion, a picture of a trophy bull would appear in a DSC or SCI magazine. A hunter might share the story of his Ethiopian safari at a monthly meeting using a 35mm carousel projector. And that was the extent of image capture and sharing. No smartphones, no social media. No hunting videos. There are no trophy photos circulating like we’re overwhelmed with today. THE BULLS and KEY MOVEMENT ZONES Those who knew, knew. Elephant migration corridors in Ethiopia historically ran through forested zones like Kaffa, Illubabor, and Bale — and intersected directly with expanding coffee plantations, especially in the 1960s and 70s. These corridors were disrupted by agricultural expansion, but during the Mattanovich–Negussie era, they were still active and huntable. Western Forest Belt (Zone I) : Elephants moved seasonally between Gambella , Illubabor , and Kaffa , following water and forage. These routes passed through: ·       Coffee shade forests (semi‑wild, low‑impact farms) ·       Riverine corridors (Baro, Gilo, and Didessa rivers) ·       Old elephant trails used for generations   Highland Corridors (Zone II) : In Bale  and Arsi , elephants moved between: ·       Montane bamboo thickets ·       Highland coffee zones (especially in Sidamo and Arsi) ·       Seasonal farmland edges, where bulls raided crops ·       Coffee Plantation Intersections ·       Traditional coffee farms in Ethiopia were often forest-integrated, meaning:   Elephants could move through them without total habitat loss. Bulls were known to raid coffee berries and shade crops. Farmers tolerated elephant presence until large-scale agriculture arrived. Conflict zones  emerged later when: ·       Commercial coffee and sugar plantations expanded ·       Elephant corridors were blocked or fragmented ·       Human–elephant conflict increased, especially post-1974   The coffee plantations factored into hunting strategies in a big way. The bulls came not in herds, but in silence — bulls moving through coffee forests older than memory. The growers would report an addictive big tusker raiding the plantation, and hunters scoured a plantation’s seam and followed the tracks in whichever direction they led. Almost always the tracks led inside the dark, canopied forest. Behind them came the hunters — not the showmen — but the men who knew the forest. It was intense. Mattanovich was said to be able to read a broken twig like a map. Negussie was known for guiding with discipline and reverence. Together, they traced the last great elephant highways of East Africa — not on paper, but in the mud of the forest floor. Ethiopia’s elephants were never numerous and never well understood outside of this duo and a few others working during its modern elephant safari window. Yet in the deep forests of Tepi and Sheko, along the plantation edges of Bebeka, and in the riverine grasslands of Gambella, a handful of bulls emerged whose ivory, presence, and stories became the quiet legends of a lost era. THE TEPI TITANS The Tepi region produced the heaviest ivory Ethiopia ever saw. These were bulls shaped by dense forest, mineral‑rich soils, and the ancient migration corridors that once connected the Baro–Akobo watershed to the southern highlands. The Tepi 100‑Pounder The most famous of Ethiopia’s modern bulls — a massive, thick‑based tusker whose ivory pushed the 100‑pound threshold. His photograph circulated quietly among DSC members in the late 1980s: a hunter in khaki, the tusks crossed before him, the forest pressing close behind. He was the last Ethiopian bull whose ivory could stand beside the giants of Kenya’s golden age. The Red Clay Bull Taken near the Tepi–Sheko boundary, this bull carried the unmistakable stain of the region’s iron‑rich soil. His tusks were not the longest, but their density and basal girth made him one of the great forest bulls of the era. His image appeared in a small‑run outfitter brochure — one of the few Ethiopian elephant photos ever used commercially. The Tepi River Bull Longer, more symmetrical, and more elegant than the forest heavies, this bull represented the transitional type — a blend of forest mass and savanna sweep. His photograph, widely admired among PHs, never reached the internet age. But his ivory became a benchmark for what Ethiopia could still produce in the 1990s. THE SHEKO FOREST BULLS Marked by dark timber, steep ridges, and the densest ivory in the country, Sheko’s elephants lived in a world of shadow and steep terrain. Their ivory tended to be shorter, heavier, and more deeply rooted — the classic forest phenotype. The Tree‑Prop Bull One of the most iconic Ethiopian elephant images: tusks propped against a tree, the hunter and PH standing in the filtered green light of the Sheko canopy. Estimated at over 90 pounds, this bull embodied the raw, compact power of the deep‑forest type. His photo appeared in an SCI chapter newsletter, then vanished into private collections. The Sheko–Mizan Transitional Bull A bull taken along the corridor between Sheko and Mizan Teferi, where forest gives way to rolling farmland. His ivory was thick and deeply curved, weighing in the high 70s. He represents the last generation of bulls that still moved freely between Ethiopia’s forest blocks before fragmentation sealed their fate. THE BEBEKA PLANTATION BULLS Where coffee meets elephant, and the ivory grows long,   Bebeka’s elephants lived on the edges — plantation margins, open corridors, and the mosaic of forest and cultivation. Their ivory tended toward length and symmetry rather than sheer mass. The Plantation Bull Photographed on red clay soil with the coffee rows behind him, this bull carried sweeping ivory in the mid‑80‑pound class. His image was used in a 1990s outfitter brochure and became, for many, the defining visual of Ethiopian elephant hunting. The Twin‑Sweep Bull A perfectly matched pair of tusks — identical curvature, identical taper — taken along the Bebeka–Kaffa corridor. Though lighter than the Tepi giants, his symmetry made him one of the most admired bulls of the era among PHs. THE GAMBELLA RIVERINE BULLS Gambella’s elephants were different — riverine, mobile, and shaped by the floodplains of the Baro and Akobo. Their ivory was long, elegant, and lighter than the forest bulls to the east. The Gambella Long‑Ivory Bull A DSC member photographed this bull in the early 1990s: tusks laid on grass, the hunter standing behind them. At 60–65 pounds, he was not massive, but his length and sweep made him one of the most visually striking bulls taken in Ethiopia’s final decade. The Baro River Bull One of the last legal elephants taken in Ethiopia before the hunt closed. His ivory was slender and graceful — the classic riverine phenotype. His story marks the end of an era. The Kaffa Highland Bull A rarity from the high country,   Elephants in the Kaffa highlands were few, scattered, and genetically distinct. Their ivory tended to be shorter and denser — a mountain adaptation. The Highland Bull A 65–70‑pounder with thick, compact ivory. His photograph circulated only among PHs. He stands as a reminder that Ethiopia’s elephant story was never just forest and river — it was also altitude, isolation, and resilience. THEN the FORESTS FELL SILENT The bulls were gone. The men scattered. The stories remained only in memory and personal photobooks sitting on the coffee tables of hunters who seized the opportunity before it vanished. But in small part, this post restores these PHs and elephants — not as heroes and trophies — but as archetypes . These were men and bulls considered giants among their respective kind. TROPHY ELEPHANT HUNTING TODAY It’s not over over. It's very different. For trophy bulls it’s a question of either opting for a hit-or-miss area that can produce a big tusker on occasion or a surer thing. To be sure, big tuskers are not everywhere. But there are strong, laser-defined pockets of territory where the average ivory can be handsomely exceeded. Look to Botswana and Tanzania to produce today. Contact Pantheon Hunters® to find out more.

Free-Range Aoudad Sheep "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, but also 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 the 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!

Taxidermy Move-in Day The title suggests there is a prescriptive and simple step-by-step process for ensuring your trophies arrive home in a reasonable time. Of course, there is a process, but it's not easy or straightforward. If you are a hunter running it or constantly trying to determine progress, you are likely to be consumed and possibly overwhelmed by it. And, depending on what expectations about delivery timing were set up front, you are also likely to be disappointed and frustrated to the point of exasperation. Timely trophy delivery stands out as a universal dissatisfier among hunters. Many hunters have come to us because they have been disappointed about the time and effort it has taken to get their trophies delivered from international destinations into the hands of their taxidermist. Many have waited for years and are still waiting. Some got their trophies home, but the horns were switched and skins were too spoiled for mounting. The most common root cause of each crisis is that whomever the hunter was dealing with, outfitter and/or agent, did not consider trophy management as important as the hunt itself. It was not considered to be an integral component of the hunt they advised or conducted, or what they paid for in totality. In fairness, there are many uncontrollables involved in getting trophies home -- meaning that an outfitter or agent does not have direct control over every aspect of export readiness and import efficiency. Again, in fairness to agents and outfitters, the process is complex, costly, and time consuming. Exporting and importing depends on getting trophies from camp to a place where they can be processed by a mix of governmental agencies and multiple service providers. Many outfitters and safari operators do not transport trophies from camp until the end of the season. Then, a whole web of service providers comprised of in-country shippers, local taxidermists, veterinarians, export documentation processors, packers, and shippers must be engaged – all involving a system of cost quotations and payments. The process requires intensive stewardship to advance forward efficiently, and the value-added component is communications so that the hunter is kept informed. It would be helpful to hear this up front , “here’s what’s involved and what you can expect.” It would be helpful to hear this continuously during the process, “here’s where we are.” If you are relying on yourself to run this process or if your outfitter or booking agent is not , you are likely to be understandably anxious. Exporting/importing trophies works best when your hunt organizer takes ownership of trophy management as part of the hunt . In fact, the hunt is not over until the trophies are delivered in a reasonable time frame and in good order. This should be a capability and principle agreed before any hunt booking, most especially for international hunts. For 26 years, we have viewed every hunt as an end-to-end system that begins with defining a hunter’s goals and preferences, proposes and conducts hunts that match them precisely, and ends with getting the trophies home. We manage everything at no extra cost and feel accountable. Any outfitter or service provider we work with also feels this way. One example of our difference can be explained in a brief story. A group of us hunted brown bear on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Our hunters were able to take their personal rifles and enjoy outstanding success. We departed camp in mid-May and two of the bears were life-size mounted in January, less than 9 months later. Not every country or specie or regulatory agency will allow this level of efficiency. But this example is useful for highlighting the difference between an agent or outfitter who is in business making hunt bookings and conducting hunts and a hunting consultant who is a personal advisor intent on building relationships for life and provides exhaustively comprehensive services. If you have shot yourself in the foot, just don’t reload. Work with people who feel genuinely responsible for trophy delivery as an integral part of their offerings. Contact Pantheon Hunters® at info@pantheonhunters.com , or by phone or WhatsApp, at +1 (585) 267-0724 to learn more.

Willis & Geiger is one of those revered brands that sits at the crossroads of expedition history, safari culture, and classic American outfitting. They were the premier American expedition outfitter from 1902 to 1999, supplying explorers, aviators, and safari hunters with some of the finest gear ever made. Regrettably, they are now defunct. The value of remembering the brand here is to keep the flame alive. The history of its downfall will surely serve as lessons learned for some entrepreneur bold and perhaps crazy enough to pick up the torch and craft products with as much soul as cloth. Many of you are too young to have ever set eyes on a piece of their kit or even heard of this fine adventure outfitter. But if you owned a shirt, jacket, or any of their leather goods you would say, “it’s the real thing.” Step aside Coca Cola. Founded in 1902 by Arctic explorer Ben Willis, he later partnered with marketer Howard W. Geiger in 1928 to form the legendary company. Willis & Geiger wasn’t a safari company in the African sense — they were an expedition outfitter, and arguably the most important one America ever produced. They outfitted some of the most famous explorers and adventurers of the 20th century, including: ·        Roald Amundsen ·        Charles Lindbergh ·        Amelia Earhart ·        Sir Edmund Hillary ·        Jim Fowler ·        The Flying Tigers ·        Ernest Hemingway, who even designed his own bush jacket for them in 1936 This puts them squarely in the same cultural universe as Abercrombie & Fitch, Filson, and later, Hunting World — but with deeper roots. They specialized in making: ·        expedition clothing ·        safari jackets ·        bush shirts ·        flight jackets ·        cold‑weather gear ·        military contract garments, such as G‑1 flight jackets under U.S. Navy contract in the 1930s and WWII, and one of the first electrically heated flying suits. Their gear was used on polar expeditions, Himalayan climbs, African safaris, and early aviation feats. They supplied clothing to Teddy Roosevelt for his African safari (via Abercrombie & Fitch) and became the default clothing supplier for American hunters traveling to Africa in the mid‑20th century. If you were an American heading to Kenya or Tanganyika in the 1950s–60s, odds were good you were wearing their bush jacket, safari shirt, and one of their expedition vests. They crafted the uniform of safari’s golden age. Their corporate history is a roller coaster: ·        1977 — Abercrombie & Fitch goes bankrupt; Willis & Geiger, its largest unpaid creditor, collapses with it ·        Late 1970s — revived by Burt Avedon ·        1986 — sold to VF Corporation ·        1987 — sold to Laura Ashley ·        1990s — sold to Japanese company D’URBAN ·        1994 — sold to Lands’ End ·        1999 — Lands’ End shuts the brand down By the end, the brand had been bought and sold so many times that its identity was diluted — but the heritage remained legendary. Lands’ End and Willis & Geiger were almost philosophical opposites , and anyone who lived through the era could see the mismatch coming a mile away. In the years watching Willis & Geiger operate in their rarefied space — the people who bought their gear weren’t casual catalog shoppers. They were pilots, hunters, travelers, photographers, field biologists, and the kind of folks who knew exactly why a bush poplin shirt needed triple‑stitched seams. That clientele was discerning because the gear earned  it. Lands’ End, on the other hand, was built around: mass‑market catalog retail suburban casual wear price‑driven volume a very different customer psychology They were never going to understand why a Willis & Geiger Hemingway jacket cost what it did, or why the brand needed small‑batch fabrics, specialized hardware, and obsessive pattern work. They saw a “heritage outdoor brand” they could scale — but Willis & Geiger was never meant to scale. It was a boutique outfitter masquerading as a clothing company. And once Lands’ End tried to fold it into their machine, the soul leaked out: the fabrics changed the cuts softened the technical details disappeared the catalog positioning became confused the old clientele drifted away It wasn’t malice — just a fundamental misunderstanding of what they had acquired. Willis & Geiger needed a steward who understood expedition culture, safari history, and the romance of field gear. Instead, they got a corporate parent who thought they’d bought “a rugged line of jackets.” Burt Avedon’s revival of Willis & Geiger in the late 1970s and 1980s was visionary, authentic, and beautifully executed… and yet it was almost guaranteed to fail because of forces completely outside his control. He wasn’t a corporate guy. He was: ·        a WWII fighter pilot ·        a test pilot ·        a mountaineer ·        a world traveler ·        a man who actually used  expedition gear   He understood Willis & Geiger at a level no boardroom ever could. He resurrected the brand with total authenticity. Avedon didn’t modernize W&G — he restored it. He brought back: ·        the original patterns ·        the original fabrics ·        the original hardware ·        the original ethos   He even tracked down old employees and pattern makers. It was a resurrection, not a rebranding. He made gear for the people who actually needed it. Avedon’s W&G wasn’t fashion; it was: ·        expedition clothing ·        safari clothing ·        aviation clothing ·        field gear built to last decades   He was making the kind of stuff that Filson and Barbour wish  they could claim lineage to. He revived the Hemingway, Lindbergh, and Roosevelt mystique. Avedon understood that Willis & Geiger wasn’t just clothing — it was heritage. He leaned into: ·        the Hemingway bush jacket ·        the Roosevelt safari coat ·        the Lindbergh flight gear ·        the Flying Tigers lineage He made the brand feel like stepping into a golden age. The gear was exceptional . Collectors still hunt for: ·        the Hemingway jacket ·        the bush poplin shirts ·        the safari cloth trousers ·        the G‑1 flight jackets ·        the expedition parkas   Avedon’s W&G was the last gasp of true expedition outfitting in America. Why It Was Doomed Here’s the tragedy: Avedon built a boutique outfitter in a world that was shifting toward mass‑market retail, catalog sales, and corporate consolidation. He was a craftsman in an era of spreadsheets. The economics didn’t work. Willis & Geiger gear was: ·        expensive to make ·        slow to produce ·        dependent on small‑batch fabrics ·        reliant on skilled labor ·        not scalable You can’t mass‑produce a safari jacket built like a piece of equipment. The customer base was too niche. Corporate owners didn’t understand the brand.   Every one of the companies that a quired W&G thought it was “a rugged outdoor line we can scale.” But Willis & Geiger was never meant to scale. It was a heritage outfitter, not a mall brand. Lands’ End was the final mismatch. They wanted: ·        predictable margins ·        simplified SKUs ·        mass‑market fabrics ·        catalog‑friendly pricing  Conversely, W&G required: ·        expensive materials ·        complex patterns ·        niche customers ·        slow, careful production   It was oil and water. Avedon fought them tooth and nail — and lost. The brand died because the world changed. By the late 1990s: ·        Abercrombie & Fitch had become a teen brand ·        Filson was still tiny ·        Orvis was pivoting to lifestyle ·        Technical outdoor gear (North Face, Patagonia) dominated ·        Safari travel was declining ·        Expedition culture was shrinking   I tip my hat to Burt Avedon for his noble effort, but there was no ecosystem left for a true outfitter. What we're left with is modern-day stuff lacks the character, soul, and feel that W&G delivered. Maybe there’s hope for another resurrection because we need it. As I look around, Westley Richards "gets it". They may just be the rightful heir of W&G's reputation for old-world quality.

Among the craggy textures and extensive scope of Asia’s mountain ranges live some of the world’s greatest and most premier big game animals. Multiple species of Argali, Markhor, Urial, Ibex, and other premier Ovis  and Capra “exotica” call out to adventurous hunters and collectors alike. Asia is the final frontier for purists impassioned by raw, free-range big game hunting. Having what it takes mentally and physically to successfully hunt Asia’s mountain game involves a unique type of victory over self. Hunting up high  always feels worth it. And for any   hunter who really wants to hunt , Asia delivers. WHAT DOES ASIAN HUNTING COST? Remote mountain hunting will never escape the inherently significant costs and operational complexities of high-quality outfitting, the effect of hunters driving up demand for permits, limited quotas, and inflationary economies. But certain Asian hunts represent very high value when compared to other hunts worldwide. For example, as grand as North America’s wild sheep are, some of Asia’s hunting values really sink in. Not to dimmish the grandeur or desirability of any non-Asian game species, and comparison made here simply provide eye-opening context for the value and adventure that some Asian hunts offer. IBEX Ibex are widely regarded as Asia’s most cost-effective mountain game species.  The backward-sweeping and deeply ridged horns of these mountain dwellers can be found in Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and Mongolia. Ibex hunts across these territories will cost less than high-quality hunts for Rocky Mountain Goat, Alaska-Yukon Moose, many private land Elk hunts, and certainly almost any of the North American sheep. And there will be plenty of change left over for taxidermy, too. We’ll cover Bezoar Ibex separately as it technically found in Eurasia, better known as Turkey, a game-rich country that bridges Europe and Asia. MARCO POLO Once a hunter recognizes that nothing else is a Marco Polo, it becomes a “bucket list” trophy. They are among the most sought-after Ovis species and considered by many to be one of the Top 10 game animals in the world. A Marco Polo hunt in Kyrgyzstan is arguably one of the world’s greatest sheep hunting bargains. Averaging only 3-6” less in length than the average Tajikistan Marco Polo is worth saving $15,000-$20,000. If the aura of hunting Tajikistan overtakes financial logic, a hunter will not be disappointed. Tajik rams are simply bigger and easily worth the difference in difference in price to many. And regardless, a Marco Polo hunted in either country compares favorably to the cost of North American sheep hunts, and it will make an outsized impact in a trophy room. TUR SLAM & CAUCASIAN CHAMOIS Dedicated sheep hunters have always been drawn to hunt Tur, even though it is a species of goat. With Azerbaijan presently closed and no substantive hint about it ever re-opening, the Dagestan Republic of Russia, has emerged at the go-to destination for Eastern Tur, the largest of three Tur species. It is the same Tur that is found in Azerbaijan, living in the Caucasus Mountain range that forms the border between Azerbaijan and Dagestan, Russia. Only Russia offers two other species of Tur – the Mid-Caucasian, and Western Tur. Hunting any of the three Tur will cost less than a quality hunt for Rocky Mountain Goat, Mule Deer, Elk, and Caribou hunts while providing a unique adventure. And the challenging Caucasian Chamois is a Tur hunt option that ticks another Capra Slam box. SNOW SHEEP Russia’s snow sheep cost far less cost than expected while delivering full-voltage mountain hunting adventure. With costs roughly ranging between $24,000 to $40,000 depending on the species, Russia is a big draw for both Ovis collectors and hunters simply wanting to continue hunting sheep more affordably. As its name implies, the Kamchatka snow sheep is found in the mountains on the eastern side of the peninsula and further north in the Palana region. A healthy population and limited quota translate to high success. Further north of the Kamchatka Peninsula is the Koryak snow sheep. And further into the Far East mainland are the Chukotka, Kolyma, Okhotsk, Yakutia, and Kharaulakh snow sheep. Combo hunts are possible to leverage time and travel investment. Every snow sheep hunt symbolizes pure adventure in an unspoiled land. Our Russian sheep guides know their craft! COASTAL BROWN BEAR While speaking of Russia and not typically labelled as “mountain game”, the Kamchatka Peninsula and Magadan regions hold the largest populations of Coastal Brown Bear. These are the most productive hunts for trophy Brown Bear in the world. Full stop. These hunts will force a hunter to re-think previously held assumptions about hunting them! These areas will produce 10-feet square bears with much higher predictability and lower cost than hunts in Alaska. Everyone takes a good bear, let alone 2 per hunter, which is the 25-year average. Imagine what it would be like to see 10-15 legitimate trophy-class shooters per day . The hunt is easy by necessity. Spring snows are so deep that snow machines are the only way to penetrate the areas and locate bears. MARAL STAG Big Maral stags, Asian Wapiti (Elk), are found high in the forested mountains of Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Mid-Eastern Red Deer (Anatolian stags) is Turkey’s premier antlered species. Hunts for either during the “roar” are especially productive and compare with the cost of quality hunts for many antlered big game species in North America or good Red Stag hunts in Argentina and New Zealand. QUICK SUM-UP Reimagine remote hunting. Covering over 30% of Earth’s land mass, much of it un-spoiled and game-rich, Asia is a priority destination with affordable options. A hunter with just one taste of Asia always regards it as a priceless and irreplaceable experience. With trustworthy advice, early planning, disciplined savings, and making a few trade-offs now and then, Asian hunting is within reach. Together with Caprinae Safaris , we specialize in Asian outfitting. Our teams process uncommon skills and operational capabilities to outperform the expectations of the world’s most demanding hunters. Contact Pantheon Hunters for the latest insights and recommendations by email at info@pantheonhunters.com or by phone/WhatsApp at +1 (585) 267-9724.

A "take down" version of a Sako Mannlicher Hunting is adventure. Beyond the challenges and exhilaration of the ups and suffering through the downs are lessons learned, surprises, pure fun, and mishaps. Almost no one escapes these eventualities. Many of you know that the founding of Pantheon Hunters® is the direct result of a learning experience that occurred ages ago. Fresh out of college in 1974, employed and with a few paychecks under my belt, I booked myself on a combo hunt in British Columbia through a well-known agent. It was a disaster. I did not know what I did not know, and neither did the outfitter. Fast forwarding to the end, I came home empty handed. When asked what I shot, I said “nothing.” And the quippy question that flew back at me was, “What do you mean, you got nothing”? Then and there, I vowed never to let that happen again. I became a student of hunting worldwide and applied data and business skills to plan all my future hunts. Fast forwarding again, the personal hunting success that ensued and the knowledge and skills that I gained positioned me to help others avoid risk and do the right thing the wright way. In the maturation process, you learn that a mistake is never a loss. It's either a redirection, protection, or a realization. Learning and vigilance is a way of life in this industry if it is to be done well, meaning with predictably positive results. But that hunt in B.C. was more than an epiphany for me and the genesis for starting an international hunting consultancy. It was as calamitous and funny as much as it was a disaster. I arrived in camp thinking that the hunt would be conducted on a 1 guide to 1 hunter basis. Wrong; it was 2:1. OK, I rolled with it. The hunter I got paired up with, John, was a total hoot, a real beauty. He owned a carpet store in Los Angeles but should have been a card-carrying comedian. We shared a very small tent. On the first night, John placed his loaded .300 Weatherby on the ground between our sleeping bags. The muzzle was pointing at my foot. When I politely asked why he wanted a loaded gun in the tent he told me he was concerned about grizzly bears attacking in the middle of the night. Meanwhile the horses had cowbells around their necks to ward off bears, and the ringing was irritatingly constant. I eventually convinced him that he did not have anything to worry about. He reluctantly obliged and unloaded his rifle. We left camp late the first morning because the horses had wandered off to high heaven during the night. After just a few steps out of camp, John leaned over in his saddle and said, “Listen, if we see a grizzly, just shoot it.” Stunned by what he said, I explained that I did not have a license for grizzly, to which he said, “Doesn’t matter. When that thing is on my wall, nobody will know the difference.” That was John. Funny and crazy but serious. The horses sluggishly led us further into the hunting area, but we saw nothing. We reversed course after a long day in the saddle and headed back in the dark. The horses pranced as usual, sensing they would be able to dump us off before too long. As we approached the camp, we could see that it looked strangely different. Among the evidence of a disturbance that gradually appeared under starlight, the tent that John and I had slept in had been flattened and shredded by a grizzly. John had a field day with “I told you.” So, from that night forward, John’s Weatherby laid loaded between us – magazine full, and none in the chamber, thankfully. The brewing nightmare was unfolding more on Day 2. My horse had a set of lungs and gut muscles that defied any attempt at cinching the saddle down tight. Boots on the ribs and yanking on the straps only worked for a half-hour periods. The number of times I had to de-horse and yank tighter caused a slow-down. I sensed that the guide wanted to shoot it. About an hour’s ride out of camp, we spotted the back end of a moose feeding about 400 yards away on the edge of a lake. The head was partially submerged as it fed on grasses poking up from under the surface. The guide said, “Let’s go,” declaring that it was a cow. I kept my binoculars trained on it and told him I thought it was a bull. Well, his initial doubts turned out to be wrong when a slight turn of the head revealed it was a good bull, still dripping with a bit of velvet. We were not in the best position to get closer. While deliberating on what to do to get closer, out from the scabbard came John’s Weatherby. He got into a sitting position and said, “I can take him.” The guide obliged him. Boom! Pause. Boom! Pause. Boom! Reload. The moose was still standing with no apparent evidence that it was hit. John looked over at me and yelled, “Shoot.” I was trying to process his request, barely believing my ears, and grasping the reality of this emerging circus. He yelled for me to shoot twice more and much more sternly. He wanted that moose no matter what. Hell, thinking it might be wounded, I picked up my 30.06 and let one rip. The bull dropped in the water. To this day I don’t know if I hit it because two different bullet holes indicated that John had to have hit it at least once if not both times. It didn’t matter. John was happy as a meadowlark. The moose carcass partially submerged in the water was no fun at all and we spent the day butchering it and packing it out. The remains of the carcass would hopefully attract a grizzly, and we checked the carcass several times before the hunt was over. A few more days into the hunt, and thus far personally skunked on moose, caribou, and goat, my horse started acting up again and as we quietly rode along the water’s edge checking to see if a bear was feeding on the carcass. I could feel the saddle slipping and dismounted to cinch it up several times. But that horse was pure evil. Shortly after re-mounting the nth time, I could feel the saddle slip hard and fast. It rolled with me on it until I fell off completely. That saddle continued rolling until it was completely under the horse. It goosed the horse, which did a High-Ho Silver and took off. As we watched the horse disappear into the forest, all the while dragging the saddle with it, I remember seeing my Sako Mannlicher in the scabbard bounce along with the saddle which was still under the horse. Then there was total silence. The horse was in another postal code. Simply stunned, we all looked at each other in disbelief. We took up the trail. We started to find chunks of my gun as we followed the tracks. It was almost unfathomable, but the beast had sheared the bolt out of the action. The stock fractionalized into bits; it was toast as was the Leupold scope and sling. What power. John asked if I now wanted to borrow his Weatherby! The guide was concerned that he would have to pay for the gun. I told him not to worry about it; accidents happen. Plus, I had gun insurance purchased from the NRA! But we started to wonder if a loss from an accident like that would be covered. That night at camp, we started crafting the language that would hopefully work with the insurer. John had me role playing the phone call with the insurance company, all the while giving me advice about how to explain what happened. We hunted for mountain goat the next day and spotted some billies on the face of a gray granite mountain across the river. The water was horsehead deep and so viciously fast that we could not cross where we wanted. And the guide disappointingly said he knew of no other crossing point. The hunt was over. Immediately after returning home, I filed an insurance claim and finessed the “the story” of what happened. A few days passed and the phone rang. An authoritative voice responded to my "Hello" with “This is Lloyds of London, insurer for the National Rifle Association. We received your claim and have a number of questions.” I froze as I internalized the serious tone. But before I could say anything, I heard raucous laughter on the other end. It was John. He could not contain himself. Many years later, I still miss the guy. I would thank him for an experience that shaped my future. That hunt set me on a path to build knowledge, discernment, and diligence. Thank you, John. I bumped into the guide at the SCI Convention the next year. I asked whatever happened to my horse, and he responded by saying that he sold it to a rodeo. Little did I know that I helped that beast start a new career.

Good Niassa Lion LION You'll know from the principles laid down the Dangerous Game section of the site that we advocate remote, free-range lion hunting. Opportunities to hunt lion in safari blocks holding a strong population of mature specimens is limited. And the ability to hunt them using classic methods AND be able to import them compounds the difficulty. A major exception that we favor is the Niassa Reserve. Our block inside of this pristine, awe-inspiring wildlife kingdom is still the Old Africa. We have known, hunted and worked with the PH since 1990. Gold standard. Besides lions, a host of other species is available including Cape buffalo, Roosevelt's Sable (likely the best in Africa), Livingstone's Eland, Niassa Wildebeest, and more. This is an exceptional opportunity. Strategically speaking, never wait when it comes to this type of lion hunting. Good Botswana Bull BULL ELEPHANT You'll also recall we advocate elephant safaris that both historically and predictably produce bulls of 60 pounds on average and even bigger. We focus strictly on Tanzania and Botswana. For 2026, we have an exceptional opening for importable bull elephant in Botswana. All elephant safaris provide a unique experience. Tracking, playing the wind, and getting in close to make a precise shot with a big bore takes safari to another level altogether. All elephants are trophies when looked at it this way. But when the tusks are made to appear bigger than they really are in photos, and when they don't make a profound statement in a trophy room, a good number of hunters will quietly suffer some level of buyer's remorse. We know this through countless discussions with both hunters and PHs. So, this is why we believe and consequently advocate a surer thing for Tembo. Admittedly, Zim and Namibia can produce a big tusker, but we see it as more of a hit or miss. We are biased toward probability not possibility. We do not want to risk any disappointment or our reputation. So, this is why we take a firm position on not only the country as a destination, but discreet sections of it that will produce. Contact Mark for a deeper explanation and rationale of these lion and elephant safaris.

The iconic Markhor stands apart from its Capra cousins. Once you ascend to hunt them on their terms, the rarity of the hunting experience sinks in. In the Capra world, G.O.A.T. is a fitting label for the various Markhor species, whether in Pakistan, Tajikistan, or Uzbekistan. I had previously been in Uzbekistan in 2024 on a special trophy hunt for Mid-Asian Ibex. We took a tremendous specimen that taped a little over 51 inches. So, it was great to be back in Uzbekistan in December of 2025 to hunt Kugitang Markhor and reunite with our local partner. I was hunting with global hunter, Al Schimpf, who has been dividing his time between Africa and Asia over the last few years. We had hunted brown bear on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the spring of 2024, and Al took two bears that crossed over the 11-foot square mark. We joined up again in Mongolia in September of that year and Al took a beautiful High Altai Argali. In November of 2025, he also took a fine Bukhara Markhor in Tajikistan. Just 6 weeks prior to our arrival in Uzbekistan, Riza Gozluk, one of my Caprinae Safaris partners, accompanied another acclaimed global hunter, Renee Snider, on her hunt for Kugitang Markhor. You will find her trophy pictured in the overview of Central Asia under the Worldwide Hunting Adventures section of the website. Kugitang Markhor inhabit a large but isolated piece of geography in the southern part of the county just a few clicks north of the border with Afghanistan. After landing in Tashkent, we spent a short overnight at the new T City Hotel and then flew to Termez the next morning. From there it was a 2.5-hour drive to the fine hunting lodge owned by our outfitting partner that we used as base camp. It was a multi-building complex so well-appointed and comfortable that it felt more like a remote country hotel. The terrain was steep and, in some places, absolutely sheer making it impossible to make a direct climb up. However, our expert guiding team took us on a long gradual hike up a long valley that revealed several more mountain faces as we went. We stopped and glassed continuously at 45° angles and greater from various vantage points well below the peaks. The Markhors were there! We spotted several trophy-class specimens during the hunt, especially later in the day when they mystically appeared from the shadows and tree cover where they had been bedded. Al is a very disciplined long-distance marksman, and he made a great shot at a very severe angle upward at just over 700 yards with a 7PRC. He dropped his Markhor decisively. It was an amazing moment that stood out among many others over my 50 years in the field. Uzbekistan is the most under-hunted country in Central Asia and a wonderful country to experience. It has become a favorite destination of ours. We will be returning in 2026 to hunt a different region for Severtzov Argali and Bukhara Urial. Contact Mark for deep dive into the country's major species, hunt strategies, its rich culture, and 2026-2027 openings.