Ibex Hunting In Spain
Monday morning at 0730 I get up to a snow covered landscape. Two inches of snow has fallen during the night. After a quick shower I go down for breakfast. Unbelievable! Three different kinds of freshly squeezed juice, homemade yogurt, croissants and several other delicacies I can't believe. I eat heartily, because I do not know when I will return to the hotel.
We meet up with two local guides from the reserve, by law compulsory in Spain, who have to guide us on the hunt.
The trip takes us up and down along narrow gravel roads, and the car is rocking back and forth. I am quietly hoping my breakfast stays down. Arriving at a turn-a-round down in the valley we dismount, and it is time to suit up. I have bought a GoPro camera to film the day's adventure.
Off we go along narrow rocky trails. Approximately 500 yards from the car we make contact with the first Ibex, huge rams, but not at all within my budget. They range between $20,000 and $ 30,000. Man, I would love to shoot one of these monster trophy rams. Ah well, maybe next time.
We move on, and find a herd with trophies more suited to my bank account, no more than 90 yards away, which I find strange. Normally game would have run off, so in a quiet voice I ask how come the animals haven't fled. The answer is: Low hunting pressure. Only one Ibex has been shot here this year, measuring 282 CIC points. Cost $ 40,000 and shot by an American hunter with bow and arrow.
The animals get restless and start moving down towards the river. We follow, not crouching, but walking normally. Incredible, but true. We make contact again 100 yards further down, and I get in position. I place the knapsack on a boulder and put the rifle on top and get ready to shoot. The animals start passing in front of us 90 yards out, but 'mine' is not among them. They have separated! The herd in front of us head towards the mountains on the right, and the rest have gone down to the riverbed. Quickly I put all my gear on again and get ready for a stalk.
We are walking along the edge of the mountain facing the riverbed, and see where the animals have turned down toward the river, and they are now only 25 yards below us. While the guides are discussing a plan of action, the animals emerge some 50 yards in front of us, but 'mine' is not among them either. These are all rams 'on the other side of gold' and not what I have in mind.
We wonder where the ram has disappeared to, when a herd of animals appear on the far side of the river. The guides look for a suitable ram, and I must say they know their stuff. They can judge an animal at 100 yards to within + or - 5 points. The problem though, is these are either all too big or too small.
We meet up with two local guides from the reserve, by law compulsory in Spain, who have to guide us on the hunt.
The trip takes us up and down along narrow gravel roads, and the car is rocking back and forth. I am quietly hoping my breakfast stays down. Arriving at a turn-a-round down in the valley we dismount, and it is time to suit up. I have bought a GoPro camera to film the day's adventure.
Off we go along narrow rocky trails. Approximately 500 yards from the car we make contact with the first Ibex, huge rams, but not at all within my budget. They range between $20,000 and $ 30,000. Man, I would love to shoot one of these monster trophy rams. Ah well, maybe next time.
We move on, and find a herd with trophies more suited to my bank account, no more than 90 yards away, which I find strange. Normally game would have run off, so in a quiet voice I ask how come the animals haven't fled. The answer is: Low hunting pressure. Only one Ibex has been shot here this year, measuring 282 CIC points. Cost $ 40,000 and shot by an American hunter with bow and arrow.
The animals get restless and start moving down towards the river. We follow, not crouching, but walking normally. Incredible, but true. We make contact again 100 yards further down, and I get in position. I place the knapsack on a boulder and put the rifle on top and get ready to shoot. The animals start passing in front of us 90 yards out, but 'mine' is not among them. They have separated! The herd in front of us head towards the mountains on the right, and the rest have gone down to the riverbed. Quickly I put all my gear on again and get ready for a stalk.
We are walking along the edge of the mountain facing the riverbed, and see where the animals have turned down toward the river, and they are now only 25 yards below us. While the guides are discussing a plan of action, the animals emerge some 50 yards in front of us, but 'mine' is not among them either. These are all rams 'on the other side of gold' and not what I have in mind.
We wonder where the ram has disappeared to, when a herd of animals appear on the far side of the river. The guides look for a suitable ram, and I must say they know their stuff. They can judge an animal at 100 yards to within + or - 5 points. The problem though, is these are either all too big or too small.
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