Cheap Sheep
Hunting for wild sheep and goats has never been on the affordable side of things, but it’s really gotten out of hand lately. Argali and Markhor hunts cost more than you could make selling all your superfluous organs on the black market and a lifetime’s worth of plasma and semen. Have I mentioned that I’m available for hire as a sherpa/spotter? How about my nominal Persian vocabulary and knowledge of Islamic history, tradition, and theology? Hell, give me a month’s notice and I’ll learn basic Urdu to go with the few curse words under my belt. I don’t care what list the government puts me on.
Don’t get me wrong - I admire the ultra-expensive conservation model that funds crucial restoration efforts and employs would-be poachers as scouts and guides. Some Markhor subspecies might be extinct if not for the hunters willing to pay $90K+. And just a few days ago, the Sheep Show sold multiple bighorn tags for over $400K each. All proceeds will go to conservation initiatives. In comparison, license fees from regular hunters are a drop in the bucket.
I’m one of the lucky ones, because there’s a slim chance that somebody will hire me to assist on one of these epic hunts that are well-beyond my reach. But many hunters will never get this chance, and I can’t blame them if they don’t see the conservation benefit “forest” for the “trees” of Rockefeller-esque hunters.
It would be one thing if only a handful of species were this pricey. Instead, the cost for any mountain hunt continues to climb beyond affordability. Just look at how the average Dall sheep hunt has doubled over the past decade. Unless there is a sea change in the demand for these hunts, most of us will be left with ifs, buts, candies, and nuts. This is a shame, because mountain hunting is an incredible experience.
Mullo and Faiseley, who climb like they’re part goat themselves
Realistically, there’s no such thing as a cheap sheep hunt. But for the sake of argument, let’s say “cheap” is anything under $10K all-inclusive. So what free range hunts are available to us hoi polloi?
Domestically, just Aoudad. Unless you’re an Alaskan resident or lucky enough to draw a tag somewhere, the floor for sheep and goat is $15K. You might see some mountain goat hunts listed at $10K, but that doesn’t include the supercub charter, tips, etc. Aoudad can still be hunted in the $4-6K range, but give it a few years and who knows whether that will be enough for true free-range hunts. You won’t see snowcapped mountains on any Aoudad hunt I’m aware of either. If you consider high fence to be free range over a large enough area, then Texas is doing some really cool things with hybrids like Snow Urials and Stromberg sheep. Unfortunately, they’re pricey and we’re a long way off from hunting free range escapee populations of them. If and when it eventually happens, locals will keep that secret locked down tight. The first guided hunts will blow past $10K adjusted for inflation.
Internationally, you’ve got four main options. First and cheapest would be any of the myriad feral goat/sheep across the world. I know, I know - they’re not really wild. But for many hunters it’s the closest approximation you’ll be able to afford and you get to hunt in similar terrain. Many of these herds are more free-ranging than the ferals in Texas, and you’d be saving native flora and sensitive ecosystems from these lawn mowers on legs.
Second would be the Spanish ibex species. While I haven’t personally hunted these ibex, I’m quite excited to develop a camp once I’ve made the right connections. As a near-fluent Spanish speaker proficient in vos usage, I’d be stupid not to seek out Spanish partners. Management class and old broken horn billies can be hunted for under $5K, as well as Iberian mouflon sheep in the same price range. Beware of donated hunts and the 21% VAT that applies to the donated value - NOT hammer price. Sticklers might quibble over whether these ibex are ancient feral hybrids, and that’s to say nothing of the mouflon debate, but I’ve heard enough praise for the hunt that I’d be negligent to leave them out of consideration.
Third and one more rung up the ladder are the chamois and Himalayan tahr introduced to New Zealand. There’s no room for dispute here, this terrain makes for a true mountain hunt for truly wild mountain species. Before COVID, I’d say I could put together a hunt for under $4K. This has changed now that their government has tightened the rules on rifle importation. If you have a local friend to sign off on your visitor license, then lucky you! You can still put on this hunt for $4-6K depending on whether you hike or take a chopper into the hunt area. The rest of us will want a guide for rifle importation, driving the price floor up to $8K. Otherwise, we must face the long dark of hunting these animals with a bow (obligatory clunky LOTR reference). It’s certainly achievable, and you’d get the full mountain hunt experience, but I’d highly recommend a 2+ week schedule so you can chase fallow and red deer in more forgiving terrain. And don’t forget a Global Rescue membership!
The intrepid hunter would do well to choose the fourth option: a tur or ibex hunt in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, or even Uzbekistan. Now, I’m not too jazzed about the last two. While the Russian people are overwhelmingly warm and friendly, and their hunting is great, a decent chunk of the hunt cost is going to their government. At the moment, I’d rather donate to the Harris 2028 campaign. Uzbekistan is in a similar situation, but worse given their terrible game management. They’re issuing snow leopard tags despite plummeting numbers (not that you could import one anyways).
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan’s hunting industries are in a good stage for the budget hunter. They’re developed enough to be safe and successful, but not so developed that the hunts have become less affordable like those in Kazakstan and Mongolia. The people are fantastic and they genuinely like Americans. Your money goes to real conservation too, not just oligarchs. Tajik and Kyrgyz snow leopards are the only populations on the rise. I think that speaks for itself.
Our Tajik Ibex camp is priced under $9K for 2025, and that’s with me in camp as an extra hand and spotter. I’ve seen several others offered at that price point or hammered at auction, you just won’t have another English speaker in camp. Don’t let that dissuade you - it makes for some very memorable caveman charades. But what about import costs? USFWS technically allows you to clear an ibex CITES trophy as airline freight without a broker; the process is just much harder than it used to be, and you could get hosed with “storage fees” if you don’t have everything in order. Point being you could barely squeak under the $10K mark with a great deal on flights. In all honesty, though, budget some breathing room at $11K.
Ardacer shows off his signature.
I recommend Central Asia over New Zealand because I doubt these Asian prices will last very long. I might sound like a salesman, but it’s the God’s honest truth. Third world countries are rapidly modernizing. I’ll put it this way - my guides in Tajikistan all had nicer cellphones than I did. I’ll be surprised if they don’t reach Kazakhstan rates within the next 5 years. New Zealand, meanwhile, needs to drastically reduce invasive species to save their endemic birds, and the public is pushing back hard against the 1080 poison they rely on. NZ hunt prices have plateaued and may even come down relative to other countries and the USD. Between faltering tourism in the wake of COVID and cracks in the leftist voting block, we could also see a reversal of their draconian import laws. If that happens, DIY New Zealand will be back in force, and we can all enjoy affordable mountain adventures!
As a final note, Dagestan Tur in Azerbaijan may stay low for a bit longer than the rest of Asia (when they eventually reopen the hunt area) due to the bitter conflict with Armenia. But my guess is that tur prices will bounce back quickly and join the rest of Asia’s mountain hunts climbing higher and higher. Only greater instability and unrest across the continent could bring the costs down, and none of us should be rooting for that scenario.
