- Marco Polo Hunting in Kyrgyzstan
- Marco Polo Hunting in Tajikistan
Marco Polo hunting is very physically demanding and hunters need to be experienced mountain hunters. All hunters need to bring an Iridium Satellite phone and Western (AK/BC/MT) style hunting equipment. We have some of our own vehicles (Toyota Land Cruisers) and Western hunting equipment on most hunts. Our partners are reliable and experienced local outfitters who provide local guides, assistants, cooks, vehicles, horses, camps, food, lodging and interpreter (one per camp). They acquire the local licenses/tags/permits and Russian CITES, where applicable, for the hunters, and they are politically well connected. We can also arrange to have an English speaking, US or Canadian, experienced guide (all have been involved with many successful sheep hunts in NA or abroad) to accompany you in additional to the local guides. In the past, we recommended this service to most of our hunters, but after many years of taking hunters to this country and with our full time English speaking partner, this service is not a requirement, but this service we are providing is unique for this type of hunt. Most other operations just set up the hunt with the local outfitters and stay in camp, but don’t actually accompany you and almost never help guide. This is especially helpful if you wish to harvest a very large animal, want help with the trophy judging and shooting process, especially if is your first time to Asia, as most of the local guides do not speak English.
Elevations vary, depending on location. Base camps are between 10,000?12,000 feet with hunting up to 13,500’. Most people do not get altitude sickness, but a medication called Diamox can be taken to alleviate most symptoms. We also recommend that our clients take Wilderness Athlete’s High Altitude Advantage. Arriving in good physical condition will help also. On the first day or two of your hunt, we try and take it easy so that you can rest up and adapt to sleeping and hiking at these higher elevations and conditions. Common effects of this elevation include: shortness of breath, elevated pulse and blood pressure, headaches and a tired feeling. After a few days, most people adjust to the altitude and see noticeable performance improvements.
The hunting season starts August 15th and lasts thru November 30th in fall season. Winter season starts in early January and lasts thru end of February. Most of our hunts take place in late October, November and January due to rutting periods and better sheep concentrations. The hunt is conducted in mountainous areas of Issyk-Kul or Naryn regions. It takes about 8 to 16 hours drive to camp depending on time of the year, weather, etc. Good physical condition is mandatory. Base camps are between 10–12,000’ feet and the hunting takes place from camp elevation up to 13,500’. The air is dry; however the biggest challenge is to stay warm. You will need a good mat and sleeping bag to keep warm and dry, as sometimes you will stay at fly/spike camp for a couple of days. We provide Hilleberg tents and compact stoves for these excursions. Most of the Kyrgyzstan Marco Polo Rams (Hume Argali) taken, range between 44”-52”. Rams of over 53” are rare, but some areas will produce them. Rams over 55” have been taken, but are exceptional and should not be expected on any hunt. Some areas have bigger rams than others and some areas have more animals than others. For hunters that seek really big rams, greater than the low?mid 50” range, they should consider hunting in Tajikistan as the rams there are of the true Marco Polo Variety and are larger. Tajikistan hunts cost about $10,000 more though. Kyrgyzstan hunts are typically more enjoyable than Tajikistan hunts (horses and lower elevation & shorter drives), but Tajikistan produces larger rams. Kyrgyzstan also produces better/more Ibex on average. Most Ibex shot during a Marco Polo hunt will be In the low to mid?40” range, although 50” Ibex have been taken. The biggest Ibex are taken in our remote, Ibex only areas. Most hunts involve lots of horseback riding and hiking. Later hunts will have snow. You’ll find these people to be exceptional horsemen, and in some cases, they can get the hunter right to the animal, with horses. Vehicles are used on some of the hunts, but because of the terrain, horses and walking will get hunters to the larger animals.
Generally, especially on the cold, late season hunts, we’ll often come back to the base camp at night, but spiking out is an option for the more prepared, adventurous and ambitious hunters looking for big rams. Spot and stalk hunting is the preferred method of hunting as it allows us to judge the animals with spotting scopes, before making the final stalk. Hunters typically see many animals on Marco Polo hunts, including Ibex. On a typical day, hunters could see several hundred Ibex and Marco Polo, but in some areas, hunters might only see 10 animals in 1 day. Game densities and ram size can and will vary with location. We will put hunters in the areas to best meet their hunting goals and physical abilities. Due to the difficulty and longer distances (250-550 yards) of the rifle shots required, many hunters miss game. We highly recommend taking a professional shooting course so that you have the skills necessary to use a rifle and scope with custom reticule and/or turret and so you don’t miss.
