Back from Kyrgyzstan

[sheephunterab]

Well, we finally made it home Thursday night after nearly 36 hours in airplanes and airports. What an awesome adventure. We ended up hunting a very remote valley in the Tien Shen Mountains that very few westerners have ever seen. It was far from a normal Marco Polo hunt. It took basically five days of travel to reach the hunting area by vehicle and then on horseback. Once in the area we moved camp daily pushing ever deeper into mountains over high snow-choked passes and through rivers running high with glacial melt. We saw a crazy amount of sheep and Ibex and I managed to take a great trophy of each species. The hunt was far more challenging than I ever imagined and the people we hunted with were some of the best horsemen and mountain men I've had the pleasure of sharing a hunt with. While patience is definitely a virtue on a hunt like this where plans constantly change and the is a lot of hurry up and wait, the experience was incredible.

I got to share the hunt with a couple of BC hunters that I'm sure will be adding their own thoughts and pictures. What a great couple guys that really helped make the trip.

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[Pioneerman]

Nice photo's thanks for sharing

[coach]

Wow! Very cool animals. Looks like a great adventure. Amazing scenery. Thanks for posting.

[kennyj]

Thanks for sharing your awesome photos. Sounds like the adventure of a lifetime.
kenny

[ydouask]

Thanks for the story and pictures. Those are a couple of dandy mountain species you have harvested... congrats.

[Bighorn hunter]

Great pics! What was the length on your ram?

Cheers
BH

[BigfishCanada]

Wow amazing story thanks,

[sheephunterab]

Great pics! What was the length on your ram?

Cheers
BH


He was broomed at 50" and was 9 1/2 years old.

[srupp]

Bloody amazing !!!!! WOW just WOW

Steven

[deer nut]

How did you handle the altitude? Hope we'll be seeing this hunt on your show next season?

[REMINGTON JIM]

Amazing ! - great ! great ! trophys !!!!!!!!!!!! - good for you ! I am so envious !

[sheephunterab]

How did you handle the altitude? Hope we'll be seeing this hunt on your show next season?

I was a little short of breath for the first couple days but adjusted fairly quickly. We really never got much above 12,500 feet so it wasn't too bad. Yes, I videoed the entire adventure.

[mark]

That must of been an experience of a lifetime! Love that Ibex pic!

[rusal]

I lived there in Kyrgyzstan 8 years at age 4 to 12 was many times in a mountains, still remember that feeling - gorgeous! Sheephunter I'm sure you'll remember it for the rest of your life: not only hunting adventures but also that completely different world

[sheephunterab]

I lived there in Kyrgyzstan 8 years at age 4 to 12 was many times in a mountains, still remember that feeling - gorgeous! Sheephunter I'm sure you'll remember it for the rest of your life: not only hunting adventures but also that completely different world

Absolutely Rusal. Pre and post hunt we got to see a fair bit of the country and spend considerable time with the locals and that too was a great experience.

[Tanya]

Cool! Thanks for sharing your adventure, great pics.

[blueboy]

Look,s like lot,s of fun . Thank,s for sharing your adventure

[Blainer]

Magnificient representation of each species!
Hunt of a Lifetime!

[rockdog]

that Ibex pic is fantastic! Thing looks bloody huge.

[ianwuzhere]

WOW, what more can i say!! Awesome pix- pretty kewl lookin animals there! once in a lifetime hunt for sure.. that ibex is a sure nice lookin animal..
congrats! and thanx for postin pix- im jelous ;)

[d6dan]

Super pics TJ. Pretty hard to beat that hunt. Congrats on some beautiful trophys!.:-D Thanks for sharing...

[Tank]

Pretty wild stuff. Great pics!

[BCrams]

Wow ... awsome hunt and scenery... I think I know the BC folks you were hunting with.

[boxhitch]

Wow, looks like a great trip. Is anyone doing a full size story ?
A hunt like that is certainly not just about the animals

[The Dude]

Great pics. What the hell do they EAT? I don't see a blade of grass, a lichen, anything in those pics. Looks like some rough country.
(Would it be imprudent to discuss cost? :D )

[bugler]

I'm sure they were filming for the TV show. Becomes part of the cost of production.

[Rattler]

Fantastic pics! Congrats on a couple of dandy trophies and thanks for sharing...

[Call of the Wild]

Wow thanks for sharing, I really love the scenery and both animals but that ibex photo is just awesome. I bet it was very different than your other North America mountain/sheep hunts. Keep it up!!!

[David Heitsman]

Been talking to Brian about this trip. That looks like fun. I have to ask though, how were the horses treated? Have heard reports that they are roughed up pretty good getting over the passes etc. Can you comment either here or PM?

[fireguy]

My #1 dream hunt right there.

[BiG Boar]

Awesome pictures I wish I was there. What a great trophy. There really isn't many trophies out there like it.

[375 ultramag]

WOW......Looks like an amazing hunt. Marco Polo and Ibex are definitely a dream hunt!! Congrats TJ

[sheephunterab]

Great pics. What the hell do they EAT? I don't see a blade of grass, a lichen, anything in those pics. Looks like some rough country.
(Would it be imprudent to discuss cost? :D )

Actually, there is a ton of grass on the lower slopes and in the valley bottoms.

Depending where you go and who you book with, costs run $20k-$30k.

[sheephunterab]

Been talking to Brian about this trip. That looks like fun. I have to ask though, how were the horses treated? Have heard reports that they are roughed up pretty good getting over the passes etc. Can you comment either here or PM?

They definitely take them places I never imagined horses could go but overall, the horses are treated pretty well. Horses are very valuable in Kyrgyzstan. They looked well nourished and were shod. They did work them very hard though.

[David Heitsman]

Are you able to bring your capes and horns back with you or do you have to have them expedited at a later date?

[sheephunterab]

We were able to bring capes and horns home with no issues at all.

[forest walker]

Great hunt!! That is a great looking Ibex. What was his length?

[sheephunterab]

Ibex is only 40". He is an old ibex and the second best that we saw. The area was awesome for Marco Polo but just didn't have the genetics for super long ibex but I was thrilled to take a great old specimen like him. In their better ibex areas they average in the 45-48" range but we were after Marco Polo with ibex as a secondary species. He's the biggest one on my block though ;)

[guest]

Great lookin critters TJ !

Congrats to you and the hard work to get them.

We love your show so far, no grandstanding, great down to earth CANADIANS YOU GUYS !

Looking forward to watching the hunts on TV

Thanks for sharing.

CT

[aliagha]

That's a dream come true right there!!
Congratz, excellent Marcopolo ram and Ibex!

[Deaddog]

what sheephunterab hasn't told you is that he made an absolutely fantastic shot on his ibex at 579 yards!! Was a great trip and my cousin and I were very lucky to have such a great hunting partner with us! truly was a trip of a lifetime.. DD

[scottwh]

Wow! I would take an ibex/sheep hunt over an African hunt any day! Beauty animals and congrats! Very jelous :)

[Johnnybear]

Story book stuff right there. WOW is right big time. Congratulations. Awesome adventure and animals. Very cool!

[yugo111]

O man thats my dream hunt lucky guy thats awesome unreal pics

[vortex hunter]

very nice pictures ...

[BCHunterTV]

great hunt TJ!

[muleychaser]

Congratulations on what looks like a great hunt. Marco Polo is on my hunting bucket list!

[Spy]

what sheephunterab hasn't told you is that he made an absolutely fantastic shot on his ibex at 579 yards!! Was a great trip and my cousin and I were very lucky to have such a great hunting partner with us! truly was a trip of a lifetime.. DD

Jeff's related to sheephunterab!:wink::wink::-D

[deer nut]

Awesome! I'll bet you were thankful for the horses at altitude! I've made it to 18000 ft (alas, not hunting) and have no desire to try it again. The 'high' afterwards was profound though - I kind of understand why mountaineers do it! Great animals. Thanks for the sneak preview!

[Red_Mist]

Terrific hunt! congrats

[boxhitch]

Saw the hunt on Outdoor Quest tonight
Just a good hunt, glossed over too quick
By the time editors cut it to shit to make room for commercials , it just seems too easy
Would like to see the long version once

[craigo]

Seen it last night on TV, that was awesome. Like boxhitch said would should like to hear the full story.
Not sure if I missed it somewhere in your post but did you try eating the meat? Ibex are apprantly a smelly animal.
How did you make out with the water situation?

Congrads on two great trophies TJ.

[TheProvider]

Good pics.....

[BiG Boar]

yeah just watched it myself. Too bad the videoing wasn't a little better, especially on a once in a lifetime hunt. Pretty cool none the less.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Saw the hunt on Outdoor Quest tonight
Just a good hunt, glossed over too quick
By the time editors cut it to shit to make room for commercials , it just seems too easy
Would like to see the long version once

Watched Outdoor Quest this am on the PVR from last night ..and it was a different episode? Might be the normal channel versus the HD version??
Which version of Wild TC was it on?

[sheephunterab]

Yes, I ate both. The Marco Polo tasted alot like Dall or Stone sheep to me. The ibex, while smelly on the outside are delicious on the inside...lol

We were high enough in the mountains that water really wasn't an issue. I just drank straight out of the creeks and rivers. I did take Dokoral before going so that may have helped. I was the only one in camp that didn't get a case of the runs but no one got it very badly.

[sheephunterab]

Ya, the video is what it is...to me it kind of added to the experience in a way. Too bad he couldn't have stayed on the Marco Polo better but he did good with the ibex. It truly was the first time he'd ever seen a video camera. Everything was a bit rough on the trip so no reason the video shouldn't have been too...lol

[91Jason91]

nice pictures man sounds like you guys had a blast

[sheephunterab]

Watched Outdoor Quest this am on the PVR from last night ..and it was a different episode? Might be the normal channel versus the HD version??
Which version of Wild TC was it on?

I saw it Wednesday night on the non HD channel on Bell. It should have been the same Thursday and Friday.

[Deaddog]

great work TJ, caught the last half of it yesterday morning,....was a fantastic way to start the day, good work on the editing..DD

[sheep.elk.moose fanatic]

congrats on a hunt of a life time and would to say i really enjoy reading you articles too

[Buck]

show is airing right now on the coast

[835]

So this must be a new season?
I have my pvr set for new episodes. I just set it that way after watching all the re runs!

[sheephunterab]

Yes, our new season started on Dec 26.

[Norcana]

TJ,

I assum you re-entered Canada in Toronto. Did you have to use a broker to declare your animals through Customs. In your post you said it was a piece of Cake, how long of a process was it for customs to check your Marco and Ibex?

Did you do this on your own ?

Should you use a broker
Thanks

[sheephunterab]

No, we just showed up at customs with our bags and showed them the paperework. They never even opened our bags. I wasn't there more than 15 minutes nor were the other two fellows. Make sure all your paperwork gets the proper signatures and stamps before leaving where you are hunting and there shouldn't be an issue. I'd suggest getting a temporary export permit for your rifle from Canada. http://www.international.gc.ca/controls-controles/firearms_armes_a_feu/permit-licence.aspx?view=d When registration goes away, this serves as proof that the rifle is yours and is technically required by Canadian law although most customs agents don't seem too worried about it. It's easy and it's free so I do it. I thought customs might try to charge us GST n our trophies as they do on trophies that are shipped at a later date but it was never brought up. It couldn't have been any simpler.

[huntcoop]

Very cool TJ, living the dream!

[sheephunterab]

My ibex made its way home this week and man does it look cool. Just thought I'd share a couple pictures.
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[anglo-saxon]

Man, that looks so much like Afghanistan!

Great pics!!

[markt308]

what a trippy lookin creature. I love it. killer mount

[REMINGTON JIM]

Excellent trophy -awesome mount ! Good for you ! :-D RJ

[Duidery]

I was watching the hunt from an episode I PVR'd when I came across the post. Very cool hunt and some great animals.

[traderphil]

Thanks for sharing with us! It looks like an AWESOME hunt!!! Congratulations!!!

[375 ultramag]

Your Ibex is an awesome mount...looks great!!!

[MOUNTAIN MAN - TOYOTA/ATV]

Two great animals. Nice hunt!

[870]

Great lookin hunt, just watched the whole thing on Wild TV.