Post by: starbailey on May 01, 2014, 11:57:43 AM
My main focus was in hunting Himalayan Blue sheep. I hunted the Shimshal region of northern Pakistan. Talk about mountains! It took me 6 days to get to the village of Shimshal where we started hiking. It took another two days to hike into the blue sheep hunting area. The hike alone was absolutely amazing. Elevations ran from 11,000 to 14,000 foot! Most all of the 15-20 miles were on narrow trails cut in the side of solid rock faces. Oh, did I mention day time temperatures didn't get over 25 degrees. Shikar had hired local game scouts (3)and packers (15)to help get everything to base camp. I actually felt bad I was only carrying my day pack and I had to fight them to let me carry it.
The three game scouts, who had left the day before, came in late the 3rd night stating they had found 3 different groups of sheep. They were extremely excited about one big bunch that had several mature rams. We made a plan, (they did and then my interpreter told me) to leave well before dark to be sure to be in place for a stalk at first light. We made the 3 hour hike to a glassing spot just as it was getting light. We verified the group was still in the same location as the night before and then look off.
We had to drop all the way to the bottom to cross the river as the sheep were on the other side of the canyon. It took another 2 hours to get within range and as I looked over the crest of the hill there were 45-50 sheep fanned out feeding right toward us. I got out the spotting scope and looked the seven rams over before agreeing with Norhan (the interpreter) of which was the best ram. I will say I was as nervous as I've ever been when I lined up and waited for the ram to turn broadside. After the shooting was done I had a great 11-12 year old Himalayan Blue Sheep on the ground! What a relief! I couldn't have been happier with my wonderful trophy!
There is so much more to the story and THEN we went ibex hunting. :chuckle:
Post by: starbailey on May 01, 2014, 12:02:09 PM
Post by: Mfowl on May 01, 2014, 12:05:51 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on May 01, 2014, 12:13:35 PM
Rough looking country.
Post by: quadrafire on May 01, 2014, 01:13:37 PM
Makes the Blues look like central WA. haha
Post by: X-Force on May 02, 2014, 03:28:34 PM
Post by: NWWA Hunter on May 02, 2014, 03:31:59 PM
Post by: brushhunter on May 02, 2014, 03:44:03 PM
Post by: h20hunter on May 02, 2014, 03:57:00 PM
Post by: starbailey on May 02, 2014, 04:18:50 PM
Post by: couesbitten on May 02, 2014, 06:28:15 PM
Post by: kisfish on May 02, 2014, 06:30:21 PM
Post by: lewy on May 02, 2014, 06:33:18 PM
Post by: Wea300mag on May 02, 2014, 07:43:35 PM
Post by: MLBowhunting on May 02, 2014, 10:34:07 PM
Post by: X-Force on May 02, 2014, 10:37:15 PM
That is some wicked country. Cool pics.that's what I was thinking. major pucker factor.
Post by: Romulus1297 on May 02, 2014, 10:45:54 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on May 02, 2014, 11:07:39 PM
Post by: RadSav on May 02, 2014, 11:17:24 PM
Wow, Pakistan. You're brave! :o
That was my first thought too!
Did you wear crampons or just pucker up on that trail? If it were me they would tell stories for years of the crazy American that said nothing for a week but, "Don't look down. Don't look down. Don't look down". :chuckle:
Post by: bowhunterforever on May 03, 2014, 02:59:39 AM
What an awesome adventure! :tup::yeah: Congrats
Rough looking country.
Post by: RadSav on May 03, 2014, 03:41:36 AM
Post by: starbailey on May 03, 2014, 08:09:43 AM
We talked a lot about the fallacy of the dangers associated with Alkida. They did say there are areas on the Afgan boarder that are dangerous but even the Pakastanies don't go there. The way I can describe it best is it's kinda like our boarder with Mexico and the drug cartels.
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 03, 2014, 09:17:31 AM
that looks like an awesome adventure! I agree on the trail, pucker factor... i would have sat down and been afraid to move!
:tup:
Post by: dewandgin on May 03, 2014, 09:26:30 AM
Post by: scudmaster on May 03, 2014, 09:30:00 AM
Post by: idahohuntr on May 03, 2014, 09:32:19 AM
I just noticed in the third picture one of your guides has a U.S. Army hat on. Isn't that dangerous for a Pakistani? I know we are suppose to be allies, but ...He wants the guys flying the drones to know he is on their side! :chuckle: :chuckle:
What an AWESOME hunt!!
Post by: h2ofowlr on May 03, 2014, 09:35:46 AM
Post by: starbailey on May 05, 2014, 07:56:57 AM
Very cool pics and I imagine it was quite the experience. Can't say I would ever try this, but cool to see others that will.Don't be so quick to turn away from a trip like this. It truly was one of the greatest trips I'll be lucky enough to go on and cost was about the same for a Canadian Dall sheep hunt and much less than a Stone sheep hunt.
Post by: starbailey on May 05, 2014, 08:05:54 AM
The rock hut pic is where we stayed the night on the way back out. I always had a 2 man tent to my self but the packers stayed in the huts. All 18 of them!
I had to post a pic of them with my gun case. I tried to get them to leave it back at the village but my guide wouldnt have it. That poor guy carried that on those narrow trails! No fn way I'd have done it.
Post by: TheHunt on May 05, 2014, 08:20:37 AM
What an adventure and hunt. WOW!!! I would have been saying don't look down all the way there and back.
Post up more pictures
Post by: scottcrb on May 05, 2014, 08:34:02 AM
Post by: starbailey on May 05, 2014, 10:53:01 AM
One of most of the Blue sheep hunt party.
One of the rock hut we stayed at on night 2.
And one of them packing the whole sheep out! I still cant believe they took him out down that steep hill whole. :yike:
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 05, 2014, 10:58:33 AM
Post by: RadSav on May 05, 2014, 02:30:47 PM
Post by: huntnnw on May 05, 2014, 09:52:56 PM
Post by: actionshooter on May 05, 2014, 10:56:41 PM
Post by: alwinearcher on May 05, 2014, 11:23:05 PM
Looks like a blast!
Post by: RadSav on May 06, 2014, 01:32:55 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 06, 2014, 05:20:50 AM
Post by: lokidog on May 06, 2014, 09:23:44 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 06, 2014, 10:09:22 AM
Cool. Still wondering what those sheep are eating though.... ;)only conclusion I can come to is the packers are packing alfalfa up there all year to keep them fed! :chuckle:
Joking... they eat rocks!
Post by: shanevg on May 06, 2014, 10:30:06 AM
Those packers are beasts!!!
Post by: rosscrazyelk on May 06, 2014, 08:05:25 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 06, 2014, 08:26:39 PM
Post by: cedarriver on May 06, 2014, 08:28:58 PM
Post by: h20hunter on May 06, 2014, 08:30:56 PM
Amazing trip for sure! Congrats man and a beautiful ram :IBCOOL:
Carp...you have a bit of hunting under your belt and been on a few adventures....is that the kind of hunt that makes even you a tad envious?
Post by: bracer40 on May 06, 2014, 08:40:00 PM
Post by: Ingwe on May 06, 2014, 09:18:45 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on May 07, 2014, 03:11:12 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 07, 2014, 04:10:59 PM
Carp...you have a bit of hunting under your belt and been on a few adventures....is that the kind of hunt that makes even you a tad envious?
[/quote]
Brian has more then a few animals like his masher moose and some great rams that I am indeed envious of. If I was more of a sheep hunter I would have a few more myself but i dont spend much focus on sheep. I do know a thing or two about planning and hunting other countries and know how much work I have put in to know what I know. Hunting places like Pakistan is out of my league. Brian is more hardcore then me that is for sure. I am glad people like him share these great hunts and let our imaginations run wild.
I have done a few dream hunts already but my ultimate is a Marco ram. I don't know if I will ever get there but can dream for now.
Post by: h20hunter on May 07, 2014, 04:19:03 PM
Post by: starbailey on May 12, 2014, 08:37:53 AM
WOW!!! Thank you for sharing! Gotta ask what everyone is thinking though. Was there any Taliban activity to be concerned about in the Northern region of the country? I assume most Taliban activity is concentrated on the Afghanistan boarder but was curius what you were told/experienced?
There wasn't any concern about taliban at all. I never seen any of the of locals even carry a gun. I have several conversations about taliban with my guide and he did say there were areas on the Afghan boarder that even the locals wont go. He explained that the taliban was just as likely to rob and kill any locals as they are any one. The best way I can explain it is its like the drug cartells on our Mexican boarder. Some areas aren't safe no matter who you are.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on May 12, 2014, 08:41:09 AM
Post by: bearpaw on May 12, 2014, 08:57:25 AM
Post by: starbailey on May 12, 2014, 09:16:13 AM
Nice Ibex and cool storey! :tup: does that area have snow leopards?This pic was taken at the last check point before going into China, about 20 miles away.
This is the only leopard I seen while there. :)
I talked to the conservation hunting area director where I hunted ibex at and he said they were going to issue one snow leopard permit in the near future. I'm sure they are hoping to sell it for big $. I'm just not sure how a person would hunt one. It's not like there are any hounds in Pak to use.
Post by: Falcon on May 22, 2014, 07:49:56 PM
The more I read about these remote worldwide adventures the more I
Daydream at work. This had to be a trip of a lifetime x 10💥
If you ever publish a book or do a video I am pretty sure you would
Have plenty of satisfied customers👍
Post by: Elliott on May 31, 2014, 06:30:33 AM
Nice Ibex and cool storey! :tup: does that area have snow leopards?This pic was taken at the last check point before going into China, about 20 miles away.
This is the only leopard I seen while there. :)
I talked to the conservation hunting area director where I hunted ibex at and he said they were going to issue one snow leopard permit in the near future. I'm sure they are hoping to sell it for big $. I'm just not sure how a person would hunt one. It's not like there are any hounds in Pak to use.
Im not sure how a person could hunt one because they are just so cool. There are some things that I would never kill, and something as rare and cool as that cat is definitely one of the things i would never kill.
Post by: no1waterdog on June 10, 2014, 12:46:35 PM
Post by: acorn on June 12, 2014, 08:17:49 PM