2nd Chance IBEX

[jlw]

After a disastrous hunt for Ibex in Kyrgyzstan last year in which I had a near death accident where a horse fell on me pinning me under the horse at the edge of an artic mountain stream in the middle of the night, my rifle shattered, and a case of frostbite and other assorted injuries, and no Ibex to show for the effort, I went back this November to Kyrgyzstan to try again for my Ibex.
My 300 Ultra was rebuilt by MG Arms, a new scope mounted, warmer hunting clothes purchased, and a new outfitter was found. New loads worked up for the Ultra Mag using the Barnes LRX 175 gr long range x bullet, and lots of practice to regain the feel for the almost 85% new parts on the Ultra-light. Another year of climbing the mountains here in Phoenix to prepare for the hunt was part of the physical training.
The flights from Phoenix to Houston to Istanbul Turkey, to Bishkek Kyrgyzstan took 21 hours plus layovers. I and 2 other hunters from the states were met, loaded up and a drive by SUV for over 11 hours found us at base camp for the night. Camp was very comfortable and clean, located at 9200 feet, it had a sauna, and was very well equipped.


The following morning we went to the location at the trail head to pick up the horses, the other 2 hunters went in different directions, and then myself and two guides went on a full day on horseback to the first spike camp was made at dark. The following morning we broke camp and went another 7- 8 hours by horse back further into the mountains. After some pre scouting by one of my guides, we left the horses and started to climb. After looking over some Ibex, more climbing found us at 12780 feet overlooking a heard of Ibex slightly below and about 200 yards away.

 

[jlw]

Sizing it up. Before we left on the hunt while in base camp, I was asked what size Ibex did I expect, I replied that I would be happy with an Ibex that was 1 meter (39 ") or larger. As this was my second trip to travel over 11000 miles to hunt Ibex, and being considerably older than most who attempt such a hunt, I wanted to be realistic in my desires, but honestly I don't care for records books, and as a hunter I do not carry a tape measure, the experience is the thing with me, and I was having a blast.
A the end of the heard was a group of 5 males all appeared to be good size, my guide asked me if I wanted to shoot, after looking them over and getting his advice as to which one was the biggest I decided to take the largest one, at the shot I lost the view in the scope but heard the bullet hit with the satisfying "swack" sound. As I racked another round in, the guide said kaput! No more shoot! We started down the ridge toward where I thought the Ibex was, my guide pointed down, there in a rock slide about 500 yards further down was the Ibex.


Here is where it got very difficult, and I made a discovery, the boots I had on were all wrong for this type of descent. As it was cold where we left base camp, I left my mountain boots and wore a warmer pair of Cabela's Mendle hunting boots. The mountain was very, very steep, and with all the loose rock I could not get any purchase on the rocks and kept slipping and falling. The only way I could precede was by sitting on the loose rock on my butt and try to do a controlled avalanche slide down. As we got close to the Ibex, it would slide another few hundred feet down the mountain. This process continued all the way down the mountain, and I was totally exhausted at the bottom, it was dark, Ibex was skinned and we made camp for the night. A quick measurement by the guide shown my Ibex was 41", indeed a fine trophy.

 

[jlw]

The other hunters – during the next few days the other hunters connected with their Ibex, one hunter was unsatisfied with his first Ibex and opted to hunt a second. He succeeded on the last day with a monster 49" Ibex. Final results was mine at 41", one hunter got one at 46", the hunter with 2 had one at 35" or so, and the monster 49" one. Needless to say, it was a wonderful experience for all of us.
All of the hunters agreed it was the hunt of a lifetime and the hardest hunt any of us had been on, (2 of the hunters had taken mountain goat and sheep previously) but the most satisfying.

 

[gillettehunter]

Congrats on a great hunt. Good looking trophies. Who was your outfitter? What kind of ranges were the other hunters shots? The fellow that took a second because the first was not as good as he hoped. Did the guides "pressure" him to shoot or indicate it should meet his standards? Nice pics. Kyrg is a great place to hunt. Bruce

 

[snookntarpon]

Very Nice. Congrats on a great hunt!

 

[4bycamper]

Congrats. Awesome hunt.

You have the best hunting horror story that I have ever heard.

 

[jlw]

Congrats on a great hunt. Good looking trophies. Who was your outfitter? What kind of ranges were the other hunters shots? The fellow that took a second because the first was not as good as he hoped. Did the guides "pressure" him to shoot or indicate it should meet his standards? Nice pics. Kyrg is a great place to hunt. Bruce

Bruce, the outfitter for this hunt was Central Asia Safari Club. As to the hunter that took the second Ibex, I don't know if he felt pressured on the first one, there may have been some of that, but I know for sure that I experienced none of that, my guide was a little older than most and very experienced, he knew I had been there before and did nothing to pressure me in any way to shoot. I do know that the hunter that took 2 had missed an Ibex at 400 yards before the shot the smaller one. The second really big one was at 600 yards. He took that the last possible hunting day. The other hunter took his 46" Ibex at 250 yards.

 

[jlw]

Congrats. Awesome hunt.

You have the best hunting horror story that I have ever heard.

thanks I am so glad I was able to go back and get the job done this time.

 

[lilharcher]

Congrats on redemption and completing your goal. Beautiful IBEX.

 

[Pdvdh]

Very nice. Enjoyed your story and pictures. Congratulations.

 

[sambo3006]

Congratulations on a fine trophy and an incredible adventure!