Kazakhstan: Maral or Ibex?

[CoopT]

Hi all

I have been thinking about embarking on an Asian hunting adventure for a few years and might pull the trigger this year and book one (wife allowing!).

The plan is to go September 2025 for ibex but i'm told that is prime Maral rut time and so i'm hesitating between doing a Maral hunt or an ibex hunt. I'm sure some will reccomend doing a combination hunt but i'm not sure i'll have time or cash for that at this stage!

The Maral is a magnificent animal, and the opportunity to call them and hearing them bugling in the untouched Kazak landscapes will be surreal. However the ibex is what I see as the epitome of mountain hunting. Its a tough choice!

Has anyone done any of the two?

Speak soon,
CoopT

 

[kieran222]

I have also made similar enquiries recently and decided on Ibex, Kyrgyzstan Sept 2025. Haven't booked yet as still finalising dates but want to do it before I can't. Looks challenging and a memorable experience.

 

[CoopT]

Kyr is apparently a lot more challenging and the features almost moon-like. Why not!! Much more stalking than horses. What made you go for that?

 

[gaza916]

One thing to consider is how you tweet your trophy home - a Maral head is massive compared to even a very large Ibex. 2 friends of mine shot Maral in Kazakhstan last year and ended up chopping the antlers into segments to make them a sensible size to pack.

 

[CoopT]

Chopped the antlers!!? Didn’t expect that!

I heard the shipping was about €1.5k back to Europe but if you have a shoulder mount then packing that from the taxidermist to your home is like shipping a bus..

 

[kieran222]

Kyr is apparently a lot more challenging and the features almost moon-like. Why not!! Much more stalking than horses. What made you go for that?

Just liked the sound of the whole experience. I'm not sure if I will even bring back any Ibex horns if I do get one. I already have trophies from Africa at home that is possibly going to be sold as my wife doesn't really like it.

I do have a warthog shoulder mount on the wall of our lounge though, it was destined to go on the wall that the TV is on but she didn't fancy looking at it all of the time so it ended up on the wall behind us. Just waiting for a large picture to fall off the stairs wall so that I can put up my blue wildebeest shoulder mount. That looked a lot bigger when it was shipped to my house.

 

[JeffreyL]

Hunting Ibex in Kazakhstan was the greatest adventure of my life by far, 20 odd years ago but some of the experiences are still very fresh in my mind. Most memorable, absolutely incredible scenery, a private internal flight on an Antonov troop carrier, both take off and landing without runways! Being so high (altitude only) that oxygen was scares and muscles ached with any exercise, amazing wildlife, 6 days on a pony and all 4 seasons of weather in 24 hours. The hunting was also very good, be prepared for some long range shooting. J

 

[turner.jc1]

I’ve done Ibex in Kyrgyzstan and am off to Kazakhstan for Maral this year. Can’t wait. Who did you book with?

 

[kieran222]

I’ve done Ibex in Kyrgyzstan and am off to Kazakhstan for Maral this year. Can’t wait. Who did you book with?

I have booked with Henry Skeffington, The Real Big 5.

 

[turner.jc1]

That’s who I booked both trips with too