The Northern Areas of Pakistan comprises of the most rugged mountain terrain in the world. Situated at the meeting point of the three greatest mountain ranges in the world (The Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakorams ) this region covers an area greater than the Austria and Switzerland together.
Nestled between Afghanistan, China, Ladakh and India this is the remotest and most inaccessible mountain region in the world. With over 460 mountains higher than 6000m, and five of the world’s fourteen highest peaks this rugged region offers a sanctuary to some of the rare and most prized species of wildlife. The list of species found in this great wilderness is very long.
There are several species of ibex found all over this vast mountain region. With the strict control on hunting some of them reaching phenomenal sizes offering rewarding trophies to the daring hunters who venture in this great wilderness. Any hunting trip in this inaccessible area needs careful planning. A number of permits from the local and federal authorities, special import and re-export licenses for the firearms as well as permits to carry and use these inside the country are required. These often take several weeks to process and must be obtained before the arrival of hunting party in the country.
Due to non-availability of food and shelter as well as scarcity of fuel and strict control on logging everything needs to be acquired in advance and transported on difficult mountain trails by porters to the base camp. This makes professional planning of the hunting expedition a necessity. Special camping equipment, tents, mess tent, utensils, kitchen, food and fuel is carefully selected by professionals to withstand extreme climatic conditions and to last the duration of the hunting expedition.
Experienced mountain guides, hunting scouts, cooks and bearers accompany the expedition to ensure a smooth and efficient operation as well as maximum comfort of the hunters even in the most remote locations. From the base camp hunting scouts and mountain guides assist the hunters in making hunting plans and to establish advance camps closer to the ibex habitat from where scouting and stalking of the trophy animals is done.
Ibex hunting is a very demanding venture and due to the ruggedness of the terrain and remoteness of this region hunters must be in top form. However in the event of an accident or illness helicopters can be acquired for evacuation of causality. All this requires advance preparation. The hunt organizers must know that there altogether twenty hunting permits are issued each year for the entire Northern Pakistan. The organizers must contact us well in advance with details of their party so that the required number of permits could be acquired in advance.
Ibex is found all over the Northern Areas of Pakistan in small scattered groups. The hunting of ibex is allowed only in the areas where community based trophy hunting projects have been based.
The hunting is permitted only during the period between 15th November till 31st March.
The permission for trophy hunting involves several fees and contribution towards the local community looking after the game reserve. The current costs for permission to hunt for ibex in the northern Pakistan include:
The permit fee will change on yearly basis. This permit allows one hunter to shoot one ibex during the winter hunting season starting from 15th November each year. This amount is deposited much before arrival of the hunter in the country so that all the paperwork could be completed in advance. This fee is neither refundable in case of no kill nor is it transferable.
The local community share is 80% and Government share is 20% of hunting fee.
The local communities provide scouts who will guide the hunting party to the various animals in the region. They possess intimate knowledge of the area and the best hunting location at that time. These scouts are carefully selected by Adventure Trips Advisor considering their past performance. The hunter is expected to provide a full out door kit to each scout and guide or pay them an appropriate amount in lieu of the kit.
