It is pleasing to note that Pro Hunt has maintained its leadership in Kazakhstan’s outfitting services market for the second consecutive year. While 2014 was highly successful, largely thanks to Russian hunters who constituted a significant portion of trophy hunters visiting Kazakhstan, the economic crisis and devaluation led to a sharp decline in Russian hunters, from 36% to just 5%.
It has become customary for Pro Hunt’s outfitter division to summarize the season’s results at the end of each year.
The beginning of the season did not bode well. However, by March, the number of clients from other countries increased sharply, offsetting the loss of the Russian market. New countries appeared on the map, including Australia, the UAE, Croatia, and even India!
As in previous years, four main destinations remained popular: the national parks Altyn Emel, Kolsai Kolderi, and Sairam-Ugam, as well as private hunting grounds, including those owned by our company.
Altyn Emel National Park, known for its consistently successful Tien Shan ibex hunts, remained a favorite. Hunting in these grounds is well-suited for both beginner mountain hunters and seasoned professionals. The high density of hoofed animals and the relatively low elevation of the mountain range, part of the Dzungarian system, make it particularly appealing. Unique natural and climatic conditions have long made this place a “Mecca” for trophy hunters from around the world. The region is also rich in history, with hunters frequently encountering ancient artifacts, petroglyphs, burial mounds, and other natural and historical landmarks.
A detailed landscape report on Altyn Emel can be found via the provided link. Typically, trophies in this hunting area measure 90 to 125 cm. Additionally, every season there are cases of hunters incidentally harvesting wolves and Siberian roe deer trophies.
Hunters predominantly used bolt-action rifles (90%), with many choosing Remington 700, Blaser R93/R8, and Christensen Arms. Other brands such as Sauer, Sako, Heim, and Merkel were represented in smaller numbers. Interestingly, two hunters used semi-automatic rifles (Browning BAR and Benelli Argo in .30-06 caliber), but both left without trophies. One of them was part of an express group that hunted for only two days, while the others in their group succeeded within the allotted time. This is another reason to reconsider the use of semi-automatics for mountain hunting!
There were a few instances of “non-harvests” in combination hunts, where clients aimed to take two different trophies but, due to hunting circumstances, managed to secure only one. Calibers used for mountain hunting broke down as follows: .300 Win Mag — 18%, .300 Weatherby Mag — 16%, .30-06 — 16%, 7mm Rem Mag — 20%, .270 Win — 10%, 8×68 S — 16%. The smallest caliber used was .243, and the most powerful was .338. Statistics show the dominance of .300 calibers, along with the growing popularity of 7mm and 8mm calibers.
The Kolsai Kolderi National Park is another highly popular destination. This unique area allows hunters to secure maral, ibex, and Siberian roe deer trophies within the same hunting territory. Combination hunts are particularly popular, offering hunters a chance to reduce costs while pursuing multiple mountain trophies. Last season, hunters from Croatia managed to achieve a “triple combo,” harvesting all three of Kazakhstan’s top trophies! Kolsai is renowned for its gigantic maral trophies, considered among the largest in the world today.
Maral hunting tours are typically fully booked early in the year. Hunting in the Tien Shan mountains immerses hunters in pristine wilderness, leaving unforgettable memories of mountain hunting. This territory is essentially the largest and most remote wildlife reserve in Kazakhstan. Trophies of Siberian ibex from this area are also notable for their impressive size.
Trophy hunters remain exclusively male, with an average age of 46 years. The youngest hunter was 25, and the oldest was 66. Notably, one of our first clients was an 82-year-old hunter!
The third growing destination is the Sairam-Ugam National Park. Over just a few years, the world has learned about the outstanding ibex trophies from the southwestern Tien Shan mountains. This year was no exception: a hunter from Denmark took an ibex with 145 cm horns, while hunters on border territories with Uzbekistan harvested trophies measuring 130 cm and 139 cm. Hunting in the Ugam mountains is physically demanding, requiring strength and endurance. However, this area boasts some of the largest Central Asian ibex in Kazakhstan, as confirmed by reports from recent years. In addition to ibex, combination hunts for Siberian roe deer are possible in this region.
The Dardamty Hunting Grounds once again hosted maral hunters. Outstanding bulls, monitored throughout the year by rangers using visual observations and trail cameras, were successfully harvested. Comfortable living conditions were provided, and transportation within the grounds was conducted on horseback. In the 2015 season, a budget-friendly program for maral hunting with trophies under 8 kg was introduced for mountain hunting enthusiasts. Many hunters dream of experiencing “roar hunting,” but the costs are often prohibitive, while some do not require large trophies. This practice will continue in the 2016 season.
For the upcoming season, we hope to expand the hunting territories offered by our company. New national parks in the Almaty region are expected to receive permits for hunting this year. The potential for organizing hunts for the Altai subspecies of the Siberian ibex is generating significant interest. In the 2015 season, a hunt for what is undoubtedly the most beautiful ibex in the world was successfully conducted!
