Pakistan trip part # 2 (Ibex)

[starbailey]

 So after the absolute amazing Himalayan Blue sheep hunt, I had several days left before flying home so I optioned to try for a Himalayan Ibex. I am so happy I chose to hunt them as they are such cool animals. There are way more ibex than Blue sheep and are widely distributed. These things are the spookiest animals I have ever hunted and always in the steepest section of the mountain.
 We traveled to several different areas during the first 3 days I chased after them but settled into a small mountain town after spotting a certain group of 6 billies. There were 2 in the group that were big and one Huge billy. We bedded them that night to hunt them the next morning only to wake to 6 inches of new snow. We made the climb to our glassing spot only to sit there for the next 4 hours watching the snow pile up. Finally the weather broke and off we went after them. The group was in a terrible spot to get close but it was that or try to take a 550-600 yard shot. After stalking 3 hours in 2 feet of snow we crested over the last ledge only to see the ibex sprinting up the mountain to safety. I just knew that was going to happen.
 Every day we would go and check on the group to see if they had moved to a stalkable position before going and hunting other groups. We put stalks on several other trophy sized ibex but just couldn't get close. These animals were always in the most inaccessible cliffs on the mountain. I was starting to get frustrated in seeing animals but not being able to get to them.
 On the 6Th night we had made a stalk on a group with a good billy. Once again we only made it to 675 yards. That is too far for me. I practice for months out to 500 yards but wanted to keep things inside of 400.
 Once again we checked on the Huge ibex to see they hadn't moved off their ledge so it was back to glassing the other draws and cliffs. We had made our way to where we were the night before to find the ibex gone. The whole upper mountain was visible so we knew the ibex had to have went down to water hopefully moving into range.
 Hurried to the top of the ridge to look over to see the ibex already making their way up out of the bottom back into the cliffs. I don't know how they heard us but now they were on a run. I set up and ranged the group, 425 yards! I picked up the 3 billies in my scope and ranged again, 450! I seen the wide billy (best of the group) move through my scope. I confirmed with Norhan, guide, which one and waited for the ibex to give me a shot. Seconds later he slowed to a walk and quartered away. I held for 475 and squeezed the trigger. After recovering from recoil all I seen was feet and belly facing the sky! I couldn't believe he anchored there on a little point! The guides were jumping up and down giving me hugs and kisses. Yep, I just admitted that. I hit the 39 inch ibex high in the shoulder exiting out the neck on the off side at a ranged 470 yards. Further than my self imposed limit of 400 but that was as close as we had gotten to any ibex in 6 days of extremely hard hunting.
 

[h20hunter]

Holy smokes....that thing looks huge!

[pianoman9701]

Another fascinating story. Thank you.

[bearpaw]

Sounds like you had a fantastic hunt, thanks for an excellent story about an awesome animal, congrats! 

[bowhunterforever]

Great story and trophy

[Falcon]

Brian,

Congrats on a another great worldwide adventure.
I am sure that beautiful animal was well earned in some mighty thin air.

[wadu1]

Great story and trophy

I wish I had the time and money for a hunt like that; great photo to boot.

[Bean Counter]

Given a lack of vegetation visible in the photos, I'll have to echo a comment in the previous thread in wondering what the heck it is that these animals eat. 

[snowpack]

Nice.  Did they try to pack that one out whole too?

[starbailey]

No Snowpack, we didn't take him out whole but they did want to push him off the ledge and skin him at the bottom 1000 feet below! 

[Fowlweather25]

Either youve got some seriously long arms or that thing is gigantic!

[starbailey]

The Himalayan ibex are big bodied animals. They are the second largest of the ibex family behind the mid-Asian ibex. He was a 10 years billy and I would say he was 300-350 lbs live weight.

[Fowlweather25]

Wow!

[actionshooter]

WOW! More pics please!

[NWWA Hunter]

So cool!!!

[starbailey]

I have so many pics. I am sorry to say it will be Monday before I can get back to mg computer to post some more.
 This ibex hunt was so cool but so frustrating at the same time. I've never found THE animal before and not been able to get to it to kill. I seen 25-30 billies with 5-6 being trophy but was only able to get within shooting range once. They were soooooo spooky! One mistake and for get about it!

[cedarriver]

Thanks again for sharing your adventure.

[TheHunt]

Great share and story. 

Thanks for sharing

[Hoythunter]

Talk about some rugged country, unreal!  What an amazing adventure, thanks for sharing.

[shanevg]

Such an awesome story! There are very few foreign animals that I have a desire to pursue but ibex is definitely near the top of my list (right alongside a NZ tahr.)

[wa.hunter]

I wish....Nice job and great story and pictures

[starbailey]

Ok, back at work so I can add a few more pics.
The huge ibex we were after was the middle billy at the top of the 6 together.
 The pic of the wide ibex was taken the night before I killed him as we waited for them to feed closer.
 My hunt team having a snack before we went to retrieve the ibex.
 The last pic is of some locals dressed up to bless me/us with a successful hunt. They had incense burning and put flower on our shoulder to symbolize a bountiful harvest. Then they invited us to their hut for warm Yak milk and two other local dishes.

[Falcon]

Brian

This had to be a trip of a lifetime. These people that were your guides
Porters, cooks etc seem to some of the best people on the planet.
If I ever even come close to booking a trip like this you are the
Guy I will be coming to get contact info to use the same outfit.
Again huge congratulations on a hunt of a lifetime. 

[redi]

Sweet trophy. Congrats. Sounds like an epic trip.

[ramslam]

Amazing adventure, Starbailey and congrats on some fine trophies.  I never had the Pakistan bug until you went!  Well done!