1. Final Destination
Bakú, having between 5-8 hours’ drive to the hunting area, where hunters will take the horses and ride all the way up to the main camp.
2. Hunting Area
Eastern Caucasus, close to the regions of Oguz and Sheki.
3. Accommodation
Although there is a main camp at foot of the mountain, this is a “fly camp” conducted hunt where hunters will stay in the mountains for the night and will only return to main camp once the hunt is finished or, if for any reason, the guides decided to change area.
4. Hunting Season
From June 1st until October 15th.
5. General Comment
Situated between Western and Eastern Asia, Azerbaijan borders with the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. With two thirds of its total extension containing oil deposits, the country boosted in only a few years’ time. Azerbaijan has nothing to do with what we witnessed when we first visited in 2004.
Caucasus Mountains, extend from the Southern Russian Federations on its north face, all the way to the Caspian Sea, cutting Azerbaijan from northwest to southeast on its southern fase, shaping one of the most breathtaking mountains in the world, not because of the average altitude, which varies between 8,200-11,200 feet, but because of the extreme rugged terrain.
The hunt consists of 5 hunting days, more than enough to find the Dagestan Turs in normal circumstances and always conducted in 1x1. Upon arrival to Baku, hunters will be welcomed by a representative of the outfitter and depending of the time, might be lucky to head directly to the hunting area. It usually takes between 6 and 8 hours’ drive with a short break in between to eat something and stretch legs. Upon arrival to the last, right where the road ends, hunters will be met by the team of guides and will start the way up to the main camp which is usually accomplished by horse. The ride takes approximately 3 hours and halfway up, rifles are checked. The main camp, an old shepherd’s hut, although precarious, offers plenty of comfort and the chef, the oldest veteran guide in the area and good friend, is always making sure nobody is short of food and hot tea. The hunt will not begin until the next day, when both guides and hunter will start their way up the mountain, on foot, as the steepness of the terrain does not allow horses to go up. They will only come back once the Dagestan Tur has been harvested or in case the hunting guides decide to change hunting area from one day to the next one. Distances in these mountains are way too long and lots of useful time would be wasted coming back to main camp every evening.
Dagestan Tur hunting season runs from June to October. Normally, it would be more convenient to aim for the early season, however this does not determine the success of the hunt whatsoever, as it may happen with other hunts. It is the mountain itself and the weather which will mostly determine the best time of the season from one year to the other.
We encourage all hunters willing to attempt a hunt of this nature, considered by many as the toughest hunts in the world, to follow our advice of training to get in extremely good shape as well as practicing with the rifle as much as possible. From home, everything seems pretty simple, but everything changes when, in the mountains, the Dagestan Turs are spotted and one becomes aware of where must they go in order to reach the group of turs. It takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to attempt this adventure and it is only worth it as long as one is able to enjoy the experience to the fullest. This is only possible when one is mental and physically well prepared for the challenge.
After more than 15 years sending clients and hunting those mountains ourselves, experience has shown that this is not a hunt to be pursued in a 2x1 basis. The number of days in such circumstance is quite limited, and both rains and fog, so common in the Caucasus, could compromise 2 hunting days, hence, significantly reducing the chances of success for 2 hunters going together. For this reason and in order to optimize the chances of success, we only offer 1x1 hunts with a maximum of 3 hunters per group.
6. Included
Invitation letter
Rifle import permit
Airport assistance and rifle clearance in Baku upon arrival and departure
Hunting licence
All ground transport during the hunt
All services needed for the hunt to take place
Hunting guides
Horses
5 hunting days
Trophy fees for 1 Dagestan Tur trophy, regardless of size
Field trophy preparation
7. Not Included
Flights
VISA
Veterinary certificate, CITES and trophy shipping
Accommodation before and after the hunt
Additional trophies
Additional hunting days
Non-hunter / observer
Taxidermy
Insurance
Tips
Other personal costs