First Alpine Steinbock

[Conor1]

Evening all. just returned from Stanton in the Arlberg. Happy to report that I had a very successful stalk for a Steinbock and managed a Marmelot as well. The stalk and shot were relatively simple but but the 7 hour hike to the hut was a killer! Thought I was reasonably fit, but legs are feeling the strain from hawking the guts of 15kg on my back!

Will post a full report in the next few days. Here are a couple of photos.

 

[snowy]

Cracking something I'd love to do but unfortunately the lungs are nowhere near up to that sort of hiking .
ps neither the bank balance I fear .

 

[User00047]

A magnificent beast, well done!

 

[Mick9abf]

Waidmannsheil Conor, look forward to seeing the lad when you have had him mounted!!

 

[Conor1]

Should also mention......the beast eventually selected was not the biggest but was one of the oldest, 11 years old, he also had lost his left eye. It was a no brainer......cull the injured animal! They reckon he will make gold medal. Couple of facts....range was 100m, cal was 300WinMag and he was shot at an altitude of 2700ms

 

[goathunter1]

OOOOOOOOO! I am so envious!! Not a pretty emotion. Well done.

 

[1st Pattern Paul]

Wow

 

[sws]

Congratulations!
stunning beast.
A friend has two gold medals and they're the trophy I covet the most

 

[Conor1]

I have just added some videos to Youtube of the stalk, the preparation and of course the shot. Here they are in order!

 

[TOP_PREDATOR]

He looks like an Old Warrior.
​

 

[Klenchblaize]

Top stuff.

I can't get the "7hr hike" out of my head! Couldn't do that anymore.

K

 

[Heym SR20]

That is a proper hunt - something I really want to do sometime. Wouldn't be so much worried about the trophy, but just the whole experience. Last Easter was in the French Alps we had a mixture of Ibex and Chamois across the valley and watched them for many hours through binoculars. On a South facing slope full of warm avalanching snow so could nt get closer than 300 or so yards.

He must have been a tough carry out. Was he butchered up on the mountain and then carried out in a packs?

 

[Conor1]

He was dragged........................couldn`t believe how heavy he was. What I love about Alpine hunts is the ceremony, the placing of the foliage in the beast`s mouth, the respect shown to the beast. It has a spiritual if not Christian feel to it which I enjoy very much and which adds to the experience. And if I may so again.......I really feel my legs today!

 

[scrumbag]

Nice one Conor!

 

[howa243]

Bloody hell 7hrs I could not do that. Fantastic looking animal. What distance was the shot. Very difficult to tell from the vid.

 

[Conor1]

The distance was only 100m which was a relief. I shot a Gemse there last year and that was 240m which is a long way for a small animal............

 

[howa243]

The distance was only 100m which was a relief. I shot a Gemse there last year and that was 240m which is a long way for a small animal............

Looked a lot further than that. Was surprised at how many of them there were. That will be a good trophy. Imagine that a trophy should remind you of a good hunt and that one certainly will.

 

[Conor1]

There was about 35 in the herd. THey are not the spookiest of animals but they can distinguish a hiker from gentlemen clad in olive! Nevertheless, after the shot, they only moved 50 meters away from us and then gradually moved up the mountain. This was for definite a once in a life time event, that is I have no desire to shoot again. However there is the chance to go for a female next year which although similar, is different!

 

[WAYNE DAVIES]

Fantastic hunt and great video, maybe one for the future if I ever get my Chamois first.

Thanks for sharing.

Wayne

 

[Conor1]

Wayne, I have followed your Chamois hunts with much interest................I hope the Gods are good to you soon.