Alaska Hunting Safaris and Rick Herscher, welcomes you to Marco Polo Sheep.com and to hunting in the fabled Pamir Mountains of Central Asia. Marco Polo Sheep hunting may be the toughest and most exciting you will ever experience and they are considered by many to be the number one sheep trophy in the world. We invite you to join us on the hunt of your lifetime!

When, Where, and How
Season: September 30 - December 15, February 20 - March 15

Marco Polo hunts originate from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Clients may use Turkish Airlines, via Istanbul, which flies two 737s each week into Bishkek. Aeroflot, via New York and Moscow, also serves Bishkek. Travel is fairly routine and can be arranged online, or through your travel agent.

Upon arrival our clients are met by our English/German speaking representative and are assisted with their baggage, guns, and ammo, then expedited through customs. The customs officers are very friendly and the entire procedure takes only minutes.

Hunting Kyrgyzstan: Clients are taken for lunch, and then driven by car to the hunting area. The first day you will enjoy a very scenic, four-hour drive to the small town of Naryn for your overnight stay. The following morning the drive to the hunt area is completed. The drive is very scenic, but takes 12 to 14 hours.

Hunting Tajikistan: You will fly from Bishkek to Osh, Kyrgyzstan, a 45-minute flight on a Russian Jakovlew 40 jet airliner. In Osh you will again be met by our representatives and be driven to the hunting area in Tajikistan. The drive to the hunting area is very beautiful, but tiresome, taking 15-16 hours. However, this long drive allows you to gradually adapt to the higher altitude. The area is remote and for safety a convoy of two vehicles, 4-wheel drive Russian UAZ, are always used. The route passes several small villages, Gulcha and Sary-Tash, before crossing Kyzyl Art Pass (4,280 meters), at the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Our Hunting Camps

Camps in Kyrygystan are located at 3,700-3,900 meters elevation, in Tajikistan at 4,000-4,100 meters.

The camps in Tajikstan and Kyrgyzstan are similar. They are yerts, the traditional shelter of Tajikistan, Kazakistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Yerts are large, handmade woolen tents, round in shape. They are equipped with a wood/coal burning stove in the center, which is kept stoked 24 hours-a-day, comfortable sleeping cots, tables, and chairs. There are separate yerts for kitchen and dining, for sleeping, and for sauna and shower. A field washer with hot water is available also. Our cook prepares local, European, and Korean meals. Camps are always clean, warm and comfortable, but have no modern conveniences. We use many different camps in our travels through the high mountains and have several that have been re-modeled from former Soviet Research stations, one of which is exclusively owned by our company and staffed by our trained and highly skilled personnel.

On The Hunt

In Tajikistan:
A hunting day typically begins early and usually continues until dusk, or when it is no longer light enough to use binoculars and spotting scopes to locate trophies. Guides prepare and take lunch and drinks for a midday meal, as well as snacks. Russian UAZ 4x4 vehicles are used for transportation during the hunt. They are equipped with radios for communication with base camp, as well as walkie-talkies for in-field radio contact. The terrain is very high altitude, but not extremely rugged, consequently, we can drive the high valleys and mountains covering vast tracts of territory in search of trophy rams. The hunting is one on two, or two guides per hunter, hunter and guide and guide/driver. In all cases the guide will be English/German speaking. Long range shooting up to 500 yards is normal on this hunt. The average shot is 300 yards.

In Kyrgyzstan:
Hunts in Kyrgystan are similar to those conducted in Tajikistan, but the terrain is slightly lower and horses can be used for hunting, scouting, and approaching trophies, making the hunt a bit easier.

The Weather: This region is often described as a “Polar Desert”. It is high and dry, and can be cold and windy. Clients should be prepared with good windbreakers and layered underclothing in case they are “pinned down” and must spend hours waiting on trophies. 

Temperature: October + 15 C daytime, 0-5 C at night. December -20 C daytime, -35 C at night.

Advice: This is the very high-altitude hunting at elevations from 14,000 to 17,000 feet. Although much of the hunting and spotting is done from 4X4 vehicle, clients should be in good physical condition. Clients are advised to visit their doctor before the hunt.

Suggested Equipment List:

• Heavy socks, one pair for each day of hunt. Shorts and undershirts for each day
• White overcoat (for camouflage)
• Good quality sleeping bag, down or fiber of at least 3 pounds fill weight, mummy type is best
• Sunglasses or goggles
• Binoculars and spotting scope, camera and film, flashlight
• Several pairs of long underwear
• High-quality mountain boots
• Good quality windbreaker over clothing. Gortex hunting and ski clothing is excellent.
• Extra duffel bags to transport trophies home
• Minimum of 40 rounds ammunition
• Toilet kit and personal gear

Reservations and Prices

Itinerary via Bishkek/Osh, and Price Tajikistan:

• Day 1 Arrive in Bishkek, then fly to Osh. From Osh you transfer to the hunting area by van. The driving time is 11-12 hours to Karakul camp, 14-15 
  hours to the observatory camp.
• Day 2 Accommodation and rest
• Day 3-12 Your 10-day hunt
• Day 13 Transfer to Osh and overnight, or fly to Bishkek
• Day 14/15 Fly to Bishkek and overnight, or depart Bishkek

Please contact Rick for current prices and availabilities.

Add-Ons:

Non-Hunter From Osh,	$__________
IBEX	$__________
WOLF	$__________

Formalities Package: $200 Invitation and visa support, International Veternerary 
Certificate, Firearms Import/Export Permit.

Cites Permit: $150.00

Cost includes: Experienced guide, Driver and Interpreter. Accommodations, meals and 
transportation while in the hunting camp, professional field care of trophies and assistance packing and getting trophies home.

Cost does not include: Hotels before and after hunt, meals and alcohol in Moscow or other International gateway, International Airfares and personal gear.

Please contact Rick for current prices and availabilities on all hunts

Worldwide Hunts

With thirty-five years of hunting know-how, Rick Herscher and Alaska Hunting Safaris can guide you into the best wilderness country available for the species you're after. With our wealth of hunting experience and professional capability we are considered a premier big-game, trophy-guiding service. We specialize in hunting for trophy brown bear, caribou, moose, sheep, and ibex. We are always available to take your calls and discuss hunting. For full details on hunting opportunities with us, please visit us at these sites:  Alaska Brown Bear Kamchatka Brown Bear Kamchatka Moose Kamchatka Sheep Alaska Mixed Bag Hunting Alaska Caribou Hunting Polar Bear Ibex Hunting Dagestan Tur Mountain Lion / Cougar Pronghorn Antelope Mule Deer Bison / Buffalo Dall Sheep New Zealand Hunting in the Caucus Mts.

Upcoming Show Dates

We will be attending the following U.S. shows in 2006:

TBA

Contact Information

Please contact us regarding our Marco Polo Sheep hunts, or other hunts for trophy Snow Sheep, Ibex, Asian Elk, Kamchatka Moose and Brown Bear, or Alaska Caribou or Brown Bear.

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