Kyrgyistan Ibex Hunt Questions

[avon_7]

It's only 8 days until I fly from Tropical Darwin in Australia to Sydney - Dubai and then Bishkek for my trip of a life time Ibex Hunt.
I think i have tried to manage as many risks and issues as possible. I'm going with a reputable Outfitter who I personally know. Apparently there will be plenty of guides, horses and an interpreter in camp.
I have all the gear for an ultra cold mountain hunt. My rifle ( 300 Win Mag Christensen Arms with NF scope) is as sorted as it's going to be and i'm confident out to 500 Meters. I'm using 200gn Hornady ELD-X. I'm taking two range finders, a Spotting Scope and two pairs of Binoculars (I hear the guides commandeer hunters Binoculars)
I'm street savvy enough to watch out for Bandits in Taxis, pick pockets and other rip off merchants (I have been to South Africa several times)
I have US Dollars in cash to for Gratuities and VIP airport service. I have spare money for unexpected hotels and restaurant meals. I have extra money for a Roe Deer should we tag out early and I have my Cities permit sorted.
We plan to bring our skulls and horns back in our checked in gear to Australia and apparently there is a reputable Taxidermist in Bishkek who can tan our Capes. From there he will post them back to us (Thats the plan) I'm going with 3 other blokes and they are hunting Sheep as well as Ibex. I'm the only Ibex only hunter.
I have a few questions and Id love some feedback from anyone that has been there.

Is this Taxidermist in Bishkek reputable or not. I have heard horror stories of Outfitter extorting money out of their clients to send Trophies back.

My Outfitter said I should bring freeze dry food and snacks because the food supplied in camp can be a bit, shall we say unusual. I have a lot of freeze dry meals packed but can you buy snack bars and chocolate in Bishkek because I dont want to carry too much weight in my checked in gear?

Is the water in Bishkek and the camp likely to be ok to drink because the Outfitter said bring a water purifier? I have heard of hunters getting sick from the food and water in Kyrgyistan.

I'm still waiting for an answer to the question I asked the Outfitter . Do I get refunded the trophy fee if I don't get a shot? He recons there are so many opportunities that no one has ever asked him that before.

I'm 54 and reasonably fit ( was an athlete in my younger years and have hunted all my life, a lot of very physical hunts in NZ)
Are there any other traps I should be aware of and thankyou for your feedback in advance....

 

[avon_7]

I forgot to add that the area we are going to is called Pik Dankova
The cost of the hunt is around $6,000 US which is more like $10,000 Australia. Though the real cost by the time I get back will be more likely $20,000 if you include all the gear I had to buy, rifle testing, hotels and unforseen expenses...

 

[Sarg]

Cant help you but I'm envies & I hope you have a great hunt, shoot a Wolf to ?

Yes I'm afraid a lot of these taxidermist or expediters hold out trophies hostage & extort the shit out of us in most country's !

Happened to me with Danish pricks & with Namibia trophies !!

 

[avon_7]

If i'm lucky enough to see a Wolf then it's definitely on the hit list.

Cant help you but I'm envies & I hope you have a great hunt, shoot a Wolf to ?

Yes I'm afraid a lot of these taxidermist or expediters hold out trophies hostage & extort the shit out of us in most country's !

Happened to me with Danish pricks & with Namibia trophies !

 

[Scott CWO]

I’ve been next door in Tajikistan. If worried about the water, take a collapsible filter bottle and a filter bag. There are several available options. I use Katadyn products and they work great.

As for the refund of your trophy fee, I don’t think it will be needed as there are lots of ibex in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

 

[Scott CWO]

If you’re successful fairly early in the hunt, get your cape fleshed and salted a couple times and just take it with you as well as the horns/skull. That’s what I did in 2018. I brought an extra empty waterproof duffel bag with me and put my Marco Polo cape, skull and horns in it and paid for an extra checked bag on the way home. I shot my ram late in the hunt and even salted it again in my hotel room shower in Dushanbe! Too easy.

 

[avon_7]

If you’re successful fairly early in the hunt, get your cape fleshed and salted a couple times and just take it with you as well as the horns/skull. That’s what I did in 2018. I brought an extra empty waterproof duffel bag with me and put my Marco Polo cape, skull and horns in it and paid for an extra checked bag on the way home. I shot my ram late in the hunt and even salted it again in my hotel room shower in Dushanbe! Too easy.

That would be my preference also but back in Australia we can't bring green capes in any more (well thats the word)

 

[Hunter4752001]

@avon_7 might be worth asking Quarantine before you go as to what their requirements are. Also make sure you know what treatments and certification they need. Don't rely on your PH because they are only used to dealing with EU and US paperwork. Australia is a totally different situation and Quarantine will go through everything in minute detail. If they are not happy they, will put everything through the gamma radiation treatment which turns your cape to a nasty rubber like mess. Also check if you have a Quarantine authorized taxidermist in your area.

Overall, importing tanned capes is much easier.