The Capra World Slam.

[Spiral Horn]

A lot of great suggestions in this thread and can second many of the recommendations. It really depends on someone’s goals. How much someone values a particular species or hunting a specific region varies from person to person. If the Capra Slam is the ultimate goal there are many paths - just about all of them can be a lot of fun.

Europe, Eurasia and NZ have vastly different hunting styles/techniques and accommodation traditions than Asia - not to mention the elevation and physical exertion. Other considerations are reliability of travel, weapons import, use of horses or oxen, etc. Fitness, family, budget, depth of psychological commitment all play a role.

Not an exhaustive list, but a few I recommend:

Spain - a lot of wild, free-ranging game, and taylor-made for multi-species hunts. It also has deep hunting traditions and many solid outfitters. In addition to the great hunting there is also fantastic food, accommodations, and sight-seeing. Fantastic place to combine a hunt/vacation. I’ve hunted here multiple times and taken all of the Ibex and Chamois. Of the Ibex, the Gredos is my absolute favorite - most beautiful. As someone mentioned, don’t underestimate the Chamois hunting. It is higher elevation hunting and IMO generally more challenging than the Ibex. I now have outfitters there that are personal friends and many warm memories.

France - at least 3x species of Chamois here. I did the Alpine and had a blast. Very similar to Spanish Chamois Hunt. Day hunts in the mountains out of a B&B. The mountains are steep and it is physically no joke.

Eurasia - did Romania and Macedonia. Just did both of these recently. Took an absolute monster Balkan Chamois in Macedonia. It was a classic chamois hunt in every sense - on foot in the mountains, staying in a quaint lodge, and fed spectacular food. However, I really didn’t care for the hunting style in Romania. It was more of a forest hunt, requiring quick, off-hand shooting at a steep uphill angle.

Turkey - Bezoar Ibex. These are once again - day hunts in the mountains. However, much more challenging than Spanish Ibex - much glassing, followed by stalking. If planning on doing this hunt - suggest doing it soon as prices are skyrocketing.

NZ - everyone should do it at least once. Deer species are done from a lodge, but the Tahr and Chamois species are more of a true mountain hunt. Mine were done out of a wilderness cabin. Depending of who one hunts with game density and available trophy quality can vary quite a bit. This is usually a very high success hunt - folks usually work for it, but get it done.

Asia - if looking for a truly rugged, all-in, fully committed adventure - this is it. I’ve hunted Asian Sheep and when successful - you’ve earned it and oh so satisfying. Requires orders-of-magnitude greater preparation on every level. Also, be sure you can handle the altitude.

American Mountain Goat - right of initiation for a NA Hunter. Goats live in nasty, inaccessible country. Getting to them is usually the greatest challenge. Another true wilderness adventure.

One species I didn’t see mentioned was Sindh Ibex in Pakistan.

NOTE: If looking to complete the GSCO Capra Slam be careful about species pursued and where it is done. There are rules and not everything counts. Several mentioned in this thread would not count. If any doubts contact GSCO.

 

[Mojave]

No, it should be pretty close to that figure 20,000 out the door so

 

[Mojave]

If you don’t shoot one, you probably only pay $150 a day

 

[Spiral Horn]

I’m kind of at a loss for the focus on the Alpine Ibex. It isn’t at all high on my list. Very expensive for a representative or better trophy and to my eyes there are a number of Ibex species that are far more majestic and better value - Bezoar, Kri-Kri, any of the Asian Ibex, etc.

 

[Mojave]

Bezoar and Kri-Kri are similar not more expensive now.

I think an actual cost of around $20,000 is realistic if you book through a European agent.

In some cases you can book direct with the hunting area. Mostly on private hunting areas or the government.

The problem is when you book with a an agent that is adding 50-100% on like WTA is doing. I am a big fan of WTA, but there European hunts are a scam. I am honestly not 100% sure they know. Their Euro agent is a 30 year old American based in Austria.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Apparently they recently approved re-opening Switzerland to foreigners for Alpine Ibex

 

[Mojave]

https://www.capra-adventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/EZJ-SCHWEIZ-ALPENSTEINBOCK.pdf

You can contact Erik von Schultheiss, he is the only outfitter directly selling hunts in Switzerland.

Price will be $18-30,000.

 

[jacobfcollins1979]

European chamois hunts for mainland Europe are right around $4000 for a trophy and half that for a 1-3 year old buck.
This includes Pyrenees in France
Alpine in France, Austria and Slovenia
Romanian
Bulgarian
Croatia

France has four kinds of chamois 2 are expensive weird slams collector ones. Pyrenean and Alpine are the normal price ones. Chartreuse and another one I can't remember the name of.

Spanish pyraneian chamois are about $1000-2000 more, so are Spanish Cantabrian chamois.

Spanish ibex through an American outfitter are $10-15,000 each. Through a European agent they are $4000 base price and go up to about $15,000 for a super gold.

My outfitter has some deals on Beceite ibex, send me a PM and I'll forward you his contact information.

Alpine ibex are base price about $5000 for a 1-3 year old buck, and about $20-50,000 for an adult mature billy. Krygistan is a better deal, let me know if you want some information it. My guy does them too. They are about $8000-9000 for a nice billy.

Mouflon here in Europe end up about $3500 for a nice trophy, and they don't really have a top end. Maybe. $20,000 for a super gold. Most gold medal free range rams are in the $6500-8500 range if not cheaper.

Would love the information on the Beceite - that and a Southeastern are on my list.

Thanks,
Jake

 

[Short Track]

I have a Silver Gredos Ibex. Does that count
I took the biggest Ibex from the group, and it was a Silver. The guide told me he needed another 4" to be Gold, and certainly there were no Gold medal Ibex on the mountain.

 

[medvedyt]

france always come back for pyrenees chamois (isard there) and alpine one. you can find as well mouflon. i hunted both chamois species multiple time and if you do your homework it is less expensive than the price i have seen and with good guides.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Well I've got my first of 12 booked, Mountain Goat in BC.

Who did you book your MG with?

I’m in Chamonix, France right now. Was in Zermatt, Switzerland for a few days before this. We saw some chamois from the lift in zermatt. I honestly had not thought much about chamois hunting, but after seeing the alps in person and seeing the countryside from the train, I would love to come hunt these mountains. Interested in Austria as well

 

[Spiral Horn]

Yeah it does seem really cool.

So just trying to envision a plan here for the 12, I could do.

1. North American Mountain Goat (Canada)
2. Beceite ibex (Spain)
3. Gredos ibex (Spain)
4. Southeastern Ibex (Spain)
5. Ronda Ibex (Spain)
6. Cantabrian Chamois (Spain)
7. Pyrenees Chamois (Spain)
8. Himalayan/Alpine Tahr (Bulgaria)
9. NZ Himalayan Tahr (New Zealand)
10. NZ Chamois (New Zealand)
11. Bezoar Ibex (Turkey)
12. Mid-Asian Ibex (Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, or Kyrgyzstan).

I probably wouldn't hunt half the list in Spain so would likely swap out one or both of the chamois for Chamois or KriKri Ibex in Croatia or an Alpine Ibex in Austria. One of the Tur's could also be an option.

Of course a Markhor would be the pinnacle to any Capra hunt but that's out of my price range.

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A few points to consider -
1. As some have already pointed out - it pays to make certain the animal counts toward the Capra Slam (the 12) prior to booking the hunt. They all must be fully free-range, and some in Europe & Eurasia are estate hunts that do not count - like Tahr in Bulgaria, or Kri-Kri anywhere other than Greece. If any doubts contact GSCO - they welcome these kinds of inquiries and can be very helpful. If not a member, consider joining as there is a wealth of information available.
2. With some of the species on your list I’d recommend tackling those with limited availability first. Blights, disease, wars, legality of hunting certain species are always changing and often not for the better. For example, if Bezoar is on the list do it soonest. Legality has vacillated in recent years, everybody wants one and supply of tags is limited. My estimate is prices will increase faster than others on the list. To me, the Bezoar is the most majestic ibex.
3. Cheapest outfitters/hunts are not always the best. Made a few mistakes early in my hunting career - vastly overpaid for a few hunts (not knowing any better) and hired less-than-the-best on others. Nothing more expensive of disheartening than bad & unsuccessful hunts (those where it was obvious there is scant chance of success). Being a member of an SCI Chapter or GSCO, etc can help - nothing better than association with folks with depth of experience in the actual hunts I want to do.

Take your time and have a blast. My guess is you’ll discover a lot about your own preferences and the path will turn from the original plan. It certainly did in my case.

 

[dwhite0622]

This is a super interesting thread. I’ve been following from afar and dreaming up ideas for crazy adventures. In full transparency, the travel to some of these places intimidates me way more than the hunt itself. How has everyone’s experiences been in Dagestan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan(for those who have been when it was open)? Any of these seem like they would be real adventures. NZ and France/Spain seem less “out there”, but maybe I’m wrong. MTN TOUGH just released a cool video of an Ibex hunt. Interesting timing with this thread.

 

[Starbailey]

I think I mentioned I had a Pamir ibex hunt planned this last December. I was traveling with a client who was hunting several different animals & if time I could hunt an ibex for myself. The folks at the hotsprings camp do an amazing job conducting these hunts. Day 1 had both my client & I successful on ibex. He killed his first thing in the morning as ran into a group that held a male missed by a couple earlier hunters. A quick stalk & 500+ yard shot and he had very nice 11 year old billy.
We spent the rest of the day looking for a big MP but nothing big was spotted. Just before dark we came across a group of ibex that held a good mature male. We whited up & started the 1500 yard stalk up the hill. When I peeked over the hill his whole focus was on one of the 20 or so females in the group giving me time to get set up. Once he turned broadside I hit him with the 7mag at 409 & that was all it took to put the 9 year old down.
It was a cool experience hunting the pamir mountains. The drive in & out from Dushanbe was terrible but all part of the experience.

 

[medvedyt]

Who did you book your MG with?

I’m in Chamonix, France right now. Was in Zermatt, Switzerland for a few days before this. We saw some chamois from the lift in zermatt. I honestly had not thought much about chamois hunting, but after seeing the alps in person and seeing the countryside from the train, I would love to come hunt these mountains. Interested in Austria as well

you should ask the people locally and you will be shocked for how much they can offer you to hunt as a guest legally. and that will be with no cic points rate scale ...

 

[Northern Safari]

I think I mentioned I had a Pamir ibex hunt planned this last December. I was traveling with a client who was hunting several different animals & if time I could hunt an ibex for myself. The folks at the hotsprings camp do an amazing job conducting these hunts. Day 1 had both my client & I successful on ibex. He killed his first thing in the morning as ran into a group that held a male missed by a couple earlier hunters. A quick stalk & 500+ yard shot and he had very nice 11 year old billy.
We spent the rest of the day looking for a big MP but nothing big was spotted. Just before dark we came across a group of ibex that held a good mature male. We whited up & started the 1500 yard stalk up the hill. When I peeked over the hill his whole focus was on one of the 20 or so females in the group giving me time to get set up. Once he turned broadside I hit him with the 7mag at 409 & that was all it took to put the 9 year old down.View attachment 842610View attachment 842609
It was a cool experience hunting the pamir mountains. The drive in & out from Dushanbe was terrible but all part of the experience.

Great Ibex! How many hours was the drive into camp?

 

[aussiehunter]

This is a super interesting thread. I’ve been following from afar and dreaming up ideas for crazy adventures. In full transparency, the travel to some of these places intimidates me way more than the hunt itself. How has everyone’s experiences been in Dagestan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan(for those who have been when it was open)? Any of these seem like they would be real adventures. NZ and France/Spain seem less “out there”, but maybe I’m wrong. MTN TOUGH just released a cool video of an Ibex hunt. Interesting timing with this thread.

Have been to Kazakhstan and felt safer than in my own country Australia. Planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan. I can see how it can intimidate someone who does not understand the culture and language but you will be safer than in any state in america.

 

[dwhite0622]

Have been to Kazakhstan and felt safer than in my own country Australia. Planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan. I can see how it can intimidate someone who does not understand the culture and language but you will be safer than in any state in america.

Good to know. Sounds like a sweet adventure. These hunts are starting to spike my interest.

 

[Starbailey]

Great Ibex! How many hours was the drive into camp?

On the first hunt we overnighted in Khorugh breaking the drive in half going into camp. going back we were short on time & drove the 23 hours straight through.
The second trip there was way more snow & we were concerned having the hwy closed so drove both ways without stopping! 24 hours going into camp & 26 going back to Dushanbe, had to wait for 4 hours on the road while a truck reck was pulled out of the river.