The discovery of new countries and the remote parts of our planet is the real gift for people who love to travel. Thanks to my job I can visit such places where I could hardly be. To accompany the trophy hunter is the special level when you can improve your professional skills by immersing yourself in the features and nuances of exciting trophy hunting.
Pakistan is the place where each mountain hunters has to visit. There are people still fear to fly there, the reasons of such attitude are the past when we treated to Indians like brothers while the citizens of Pakistan were our enemy. It’s nothing more but just a myth but some people still believe it.
In fact, there is no reason to worry at all. Pakistan is a very hospitable country, opened for tourists from all over the world. People arrive there to climb Himalayan peaks and to know the ancient history of mankind. It's also very attractive for trophy hunters because of its variety of trophy animals. Hunting industry is on a very high level there and trophy features can satisfy the most demanding hunter.
The hunters who collect the domestic and international awards and slams cannot avoid traveling to Pakistan. The most of trophies, habited there you can get in Pakistan only.
The Himalayan ibex, Karakurum blue sheep, Sindhi mountain goat, Blandford's urial, Punjabi urial, Afghan urial, Nilgau, Astor markhor, Kashmir Markhor, Sulaiman Markhor are hunted here.
It's not possible to get all trophy species, habituated there, during one trip. It depends on season, the hunting terms and logistics. Pakistan ranks 34th by area among other countries and animals’ habitats are located in different parts of the country.
If you want to get maximum, you’d have to be ready to spend plenty of time there, be patient and change your plans in the direction of increasing.
The average number of trophies which you can get in a one expedition is 2-3 species. The hunters return to Pakistan several times until the trophy plan is 100% completed.
The most popular combination for the first time is Sindhi mountain goat and Blandford urial. The outfitter gives three days for each but according my experience it's possible to get these animals faster. It happened that the goal was achieved in one day!
Sindhi mountain goat and Blandford urial habitat in the South-East of the country. The hunters arrive to Karachi – a giant metropolis with an international airport.
The number of hunting days per one species must not mislead you because some hunters think that it's easy. Hunting is organized on the open areas. The density of animal’s population is very high what is a plus and height are not critical. The average altitudes where we hunt are from 700 to 1200 masl. There are no rocks, scree or steep slopes. The disadvantages are the long marches across the sun-scorched Thar desert. The march through these lands killed more than one phalanx of the army of Alexander the Great in the past.
The best variant for a first visit is the combination of the species, we mentioned above and a Punjab urial. But I need to mention, that mountains in the area where the sheep habitat, are steeper than in the south, the ascents and descents are more tedious. The slopes are covered by dense thickets of shrubs and stunted trees
It is necessary to take into account the specifics of local logistics when planning the expedition. It's very important to decide if you are going to use your own gun or will rent on the place. If the hunter wants to hunt a Sindhi mountain goat and a Blandford urial with the rented rifle, he can fly directly to Karachi. But if he can't image his hunt without the favorite gun, he should travel through Islamabad. You can officially import hunting weapons into the country only there. After all necessary procedures in Islamabad the hunter has to fly to Karachi by the domestic airlines and then fly back to Islamabad after hunting on the South of the country. I've suggested to add the trophy of the Punjab Urial because it habitats on the north of the country and hunting logistic for that species starts from Islamabad.
The next combination - a Blue sheep and a Himalayan ibex has other features. Hunting for these species is organized on the North. The starting point is the city of Gilgit. You can get there by the domestic airlines from Islamabad. But Himalayan weather is very changeable and often adds the corrections. I know about the situations when all flights have been cancelled and the only way in such case is to drive by car there. It takes 14-17 hours in one way.
It's a tradition or a feature of local mentality but the hunter there is always accompanied not only by guides but by group of staff more than a dozen of people. Once when we were hunting for a Blandford Urial and a Sindhi ibex, I accounted 12 guides and the representatives of local authorities per a hunter. The number of Sherpas in the hunting trip for Himalayan ungulates can reach 20 persons, plus guides, the representatives of the local community and state organizations.
Hunting for a Afghan Urial is organized in the South-West of Pakistan. The expeditions start from the city Kwett. Also you can hunt for a Sulaiman Markhor there.
Markhors belonged to the auction species. You need to take part in the action to book a hunting trip. A Sulaiman markhor isn’t the only one what habitat there, you can try your hunting luck to get trophies of Astor and Kashmir markhors. If you choose hunting for a Astor markhor you need to arrive to Gilgit. Kashmir markhors dwell in Chitral.
You need to take the decision about hunting in that country beforehand, it's very important for hunters who can’t imagine the adventure without their own weapon. The paperwork in the Pakistan government agencies takes about 3-4 months
Nowadays it’ s became easier to get visa. The traditional way is to submit documents to the consular department of the embassy in Moscow, but you can send them online and get the electronical visa now.
I hope the given information was useful for you. Don’t hesitate and get ready for a trip if you want to visit this beautiful country. Pakistan wont’ disappoint you!
