Отчеты

An excellent hunt—challenging and full of adventures.

Охота проходила в лесной зоне Восточных саян. Ежедневное тропление кабарги в активном поиске, короткого зимнего дня явно не хватало. Только натаска собаки по свежей запаховой метки кабаржиной струи позволила вытолкнуть животное на утес. Адреналин охоты позволил не обращать внимание на мороз и сильный ветер на склонах сопок.

I had long wished to go hunting in these remote areas, far from the European part of Russia. In the end, it turned out to be a very emotionally charged and eventful expedition. The flight from St. Petersburg to Yakutsk, as expected, was just a small part of the journey towards the long-awaited dream. Ferry crossings, the muddy Kolyma highway, the onset of frost in the hunting area, and significant snow in the mountains—each of these elements proved to be a fascinating and educational addition to the hunt itself. The hunt itself lasted two days. On the first day, we found some good sheep, but the goal was achieved on the second day. A good sheep with average trophy qualities was taken, but it was a very thrilling hunt. The snow in the mountains made it impossible to take a shot from a stable position. As a result, I had to shoot from my knee at a distance of 380 metres, bracing one hand on a larch tree. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in this hunt with me.

After hunting the Gobi argali, we immediately set off for the area where the Hangai argali live. Time was limited, so we drove through the night, taking turns at the wheel: first the gamekeepers, then me, and later my videographer. Finally, at around 1 PM, we reached the hunting area, had a quick lunch, and immediately set off in search of a trophy. On the first day, we spotted several groups of argali and approached them to within 300–350 metres. I was ready to shoot, but the gamekeepers persuaded me to wait, as they wanted me to harvest a larger argali. Sadly, I later regretted this decision. On the second and third days, we couldn't find any males, and our second attempt in the evening failed—the wind or the animals' keen instincts allowed the argali to spot us, and they fled. It was only on the evening of the third day that we spotted another group. Closing to 204 metres, I was able to take the shot. This particular specimen was well worth the wait: a large, mature male with excellent trophy qualities. The hunt was expertly organised by Nimrod Hunting Tours.

I harvested a lynx during an ibex hunt. The shooting distance was 292 metres.

It was one of the most unforgettable hunts of my life! Of course, there was a miss, but let me start from the beginning... Upon arrival at the base camp on the first day of the hunt for the Kolyma snow sheep in the Magadan Region, the hunt organiser, Fyodor Chernyshov (as he had anticipated before heading to the hunting grounds...), found the sheep in a "saddle" between two mountain peaks. Unfortunately, it was already getting dark, and the distance to the sheep was about 4 km in a straight line, or roughly 8 km by detour. However, their silhouettes were clearly visible against the "fading" sky. Of course, the next day we set off in that direction. The climb was quite steep, around 500-600 metres, and after about an hour and a half, we managed to spot a group of sheep, one of which had very good trophy qualities. We decided to close the distance as much as possible and try our luck... But there was one serious problem – a strong side wind, about 4-5 m/s with gusts up to 8-9 m/s... I must admit, I had little experience and skill shooting in such wind, and the distance was no small matter either – 520 metres. I took the shot "on the spot", but the bullet was severely deflected to the left, toward the neck near the head, which the sheep lowered at that very moment. The strong wind and the sheep's sharp desire to feed at that precise moment played a cruel trick on me – I missed! The sheep bolted and stopped only at a distance of 890 metres! And then, another miss: the bullet was deflected even further left! The sheep were in an open area in the "saddle" during the shots, and apparently, the wind there was even stronger than at the shooting position. Although all calculations were made, they were obviously incorrect. This marked the end of the first day of the hunt for the Kolyma snow sheep. Over the next six days of hunting, we saw several herds of sheep, but either they were females with lambs, or non-trophy males. As the laws of drama would have it, everything happened on the last day of the hunt. Completely by chance (at least for me, but not for Fyodor), on the summit of a small hill directly opposite us, Fyodor spotted three 6-7-year-old rams, two of which were grazing calmly, while the third kept looking at us and then at the slope below. Fyodor suspected there might be more sheep lower down... And within 5-10 minutes, three more trophy males appeared on the horizon, one of which had very good trophy qualities! The first three sheep crossed over the slope and disappeared, while the new trio quietly, unsuspecting, began grazing in their place. It was clear that I couldn’t afford to miss this chance! In the end, from a distance of 510 metres (angle +16), I harvested a magnificent 15-year-old Kolyma snow sheep trophy! A huge thank you to Fyodor Chernyshov for organising the hunt and for the memories that will last a lifetime!

Mongolia welcomed me with its harsh and beautiful nature. My goal was to harvest the pride and treasure of Asia: the Altai argali, a unique species that demands complete dedication. As before, the hunt was organised by Nimrod Hunting Tours, and together we devised a route that promised to be a true challenge. The Altai argali, a trophy I had dreamed of for years, is renowned for its impressive size and majestic stature. In preparation, I studied the experiences of those who had ventured before me, watched countless videos, and immersed myself in hunters' stories. But no matter how much I prepared, Mongolia always manages to surprise. Upon arriving in the mountains, the fierce Mongolian wind quickly reminded me that success here is never accidental. The temperature dropped, and the wind battered us relentlessly, shifting direction unpredictably. We set out early in the morning, expecting the hunt to last only a few hours. We spotted a group of argali, but approaching them proved much more difficult as the wind was not in our favour. We circled the mountain, climbing and descending at altitudes of 3,300-3,500 metres, covering a total of 20 kilometres in conditions that alternated between snow, sun, rain and winds of up to 10 m/s. In the evening, as fatigue and the biting cold took their toll, we finally spotted a magnificent Altai argali. From an awkward position, I took a 460 metre shot - a testament to my determination, resilience and patience. The trophy, taken on the first day of the hunt, was a worthy confirmation of the long-awaited hunt.

The value of this trophy lies in the fact that I took it from a distance of 1,248 metres in the presence of two witnesses :).

A magnificent hunt in incredibly picturesque locations. The hunt was challenging as the deer were extremely cautious at this time of year. The trophy was taken on the morning of the third day of the hunt, despite the high density of animals in the area! According to my preliminary estimates, this roe deer will qualify for gold.

I had an excellent hunt and a relaxing stay in a comfortable camp on the banks of the Kamchatka River.

The first attempt to hunt a red or hybrid sheep took place in February 2024. Three days of searching were unsuccessful. Many females were spotted, but no trophy sheep could be found within the allotted time. I returned in December and on the first day took a magnificent 10-year-old sheep at 410 metres.

And once again hunting in the Caucasus with old and dear friends. This time I went with my middle son. He was particularly interested in mountain hunting. We had been skiing together on Elbrus and Dombay, but this was a completely different adventure. The main aim was to hunt with a compound bow. It was my second attempt, but once again I was unsuccessful. We managed to get close, but the tur was startled and disappeared in an instant. As the hunt was coming to an end, we decided that if we came across a worthy animal, we would use a rifle. In the end, an excellent tur was taken from almost point-blank range at a distance of 150 metres. It was truly fascinating to stalk such a cautious animal and get as close as possible. This required not only physical endurance but also skill, patience and a deep understanding of the animal's behaviour.

The beginning of November I met in the Irkutsk region at Gennady Kislov's base "Buguldey". The hunt was organised by Artyom Veselov and the company 'Profi Hunt'. As always, everything was organised at the highest level, the hunt was quick and productive. I managed to take a good male musk deer. I shot from 230 metres. The hunt was not difficult with a little snow and light frost. Thanks to all who organised and conducted the hunt.

My younger son Mikhail and I hunted Balkan chamois in Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the village of Slap. A unique feature of this hunt was that we travelled by boat through a picturesque canyon in search of chamois! We managed to take two male chamois, aged 7 and 9 years. The shooting distance was 220 metres. Many thanks to Vuka for the excellent organisation of this hunt and the wonderful company, which made it even more enjoyable to enjoy the beautiful autumn landscapes of Bosnia's forests and mountains!