Marco Polo Argali Sheep are indigenous to a number of countries like Afghanistan, China, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan; however at present they can be only be hunted in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

TAJIKISTAN MARCO POLO:
At present it is believed that the Tajikistan is most probably home to the healthiest Marco Polo population in the world. National field surveys indicate that country holds about 10.000 sheep while some others think that the actual number is a bit higher. Tajikistan has the reputation of having produced the biggest rams in the SCI book. If your top priority as a mountain hunter is a high-quality trophy, there is no alternative but booking your trip to Tajikistan. Their world famous Pamir Mountains have the reputation for producing the biggest of the Marco’s at present. The population and density are so high that within a day’s time 300 to 1000 sheep can be spotted. A hunter can see hundreds of sheep each day and have plenty of chances to harvest his ram of choice. Average rams of the Pamir reach a horn length in the mid-fifties with top-end trophies exceeding 60”.

Marco Polo hunts in Tajikistan take place at high altitudes, which may cause altitude sickness for some hunters. We suggest you consult with your physician before travelling, as medications such as Diamox that can help. Our outfitter’s hunts take place in a relatively new with great numbers and quality. The camp is located at about 14,500 feet and provides all the necessary amenities and more for a comfortable hunt at high altitudes. This hunting area for sheep can reach up to 16.000′ or a bit more at times. This is extreme by anyone’s standards, so careful pre-hunt preparation is important, including talking with your Doctor about elevation illness.

Tajikistan are conducted by vehicle and on foot. It can require hours of vehicle riding and glassing until the rams are located. Once spotted, a stalk begins on foot. When compared with the long hours on horseback in Kyrgyzstan, a Tajik hunt can therefore be completed within a shorter time.

Hunting season for Marco Polo sheep in Tajikistan runs from mid-August through March. Choosing the best period may be a compromise since the weather conditions can change significantly between the early and late season hunts. Marco Polo can be combined with Mid Asian ibex hunt as well.

Tajikistan: The biggest advantage Tajikistan has over Kyrgyzstan is the trophy size. The average length in the area is around 55-56 inches with approximately a 10% chance of harvesting a 60” or larger trophy. Additionally, we do not charge any extra fees for rams of exceptional size. The hunts are conducted in 4×4 trucks and only the last stalk is done on foot. As a general rule, the hunt takes only 2-3 days although we reserve six full hunting days to account for any poor weather. You fly into Dushanbe and are met by the outfitters’ representative.

Although Tajikistan has never been a major destination for the Mid-Asian (Tien Shan) Ibex, in the same camp and, within the same hunting period, this specie can be combined with argali. The average size is around 100-105 cm (40″-42″). Our outfitter has a special separate camp for ibex where chances on a 50-inch ibex can be quite high.

Hunting areas & Altitude & Method ; The high plateaus of the Pamir Mountains are the home for Marco Polo and Mid Asian Ibex. This outfitter has hunted two separate areas in the Gorno-Badakhsnskaya province of Tajikistan; namely Rangkul and Hot-Springs areas which are 800-900 km / 460 – 560 miles east of Dushanbe. Due to reduced trophy quality and increased problems in the Hot Springs area, they tend to hunt the new to the new area. Hunts are carried out at the altitude of 3200-3800 m/ 10500-12500 feet in Rangkul area and at about 4800 – 5000 m/ 15,400 – 16400 feet in Hot-Springs.

Since the Pamir Mountains are basically high plains, almost all parts of the area can be reached by vehicle (unlike Kirgizia where the horses are used extensively). During the day guides and the hunter glass the hillsides and feeding areas. When an old ram is spotted and confirmed, it is stalked until a reasonable shooting distance is reached. Hunters usually have almost 100% chance to shoot one. One note of caution: Marco Polo hunting is known for requiring extremely long shooting frequently. Shot distances from 400 to 600 yards are common, but many times distances from 300 to 400 yards are attainable. Your guide will try to get closer for an easier shot if the circumstances allow. But bring suitable equipment and practice, practice, practice!

Season & accommodation; Although the hunting season extends from September thru late winter, we recommend hunters go in October through early December for the best balance of quality between opportunity and more predictable weather and travel conditions.

Camps are quite comfortable and could be accepted as luxurious compared to many other camps in Asia. Camp cooks provide good, plentiful hot meals and electricity is available through a portable generator. Each camp has bathing and sauna facilities. Satellite phones or messaging devices are needed in this region for any communication.

TRAVEL: Flights to Tajikistan are very limited. Turkish Airlines has direct scheduled flights to Dushanbe several times a week. Turkish Airlines also flies to most of the major cities in Europe and if you use one of these connections or Istanbul, your luggage will be checked all way through Dushanbe. Other than this option, national airlines of the country, Tajik Air, offers several flights to Dushanbe from both Istanbul and Munich.

Once you arrive Dushanbe, you will be met by our representative. Our people will take care of the rifle clearance in the airport and you’ll never be left alone until you leave the country. For the hunters who pursue his/her dreams for the fabled Marco Polo sheep, long trips are inevitable. After your arrival in Dushanbe, you will be taken to the camp by car. This transfer is quite long and tiresome but it helps adjusting to the altitude slowly. The way from Dushanbe to the hunting camp takes about 18 – 20 hours with a one-night stopover in a small town named Khorog.

Day by day itinerary of your hunt; As a general rule most of our hunts are completed in 2-3 days under normal conditions. But we recommend our hunters to reserve at least 6 days in case of bad weather conditions. A total of 10 days from/to Dushanbe enough time for this hunt. An example of your day by day itinerary could be as follows;
Day 01………..Arrival to Dushanbe. Custom formalities, transfer to Khorog 10 – 12 hours,
stay overnight.
Day 02………..Transfer from Khorog to the hunting area, rest.
Day 03-08……Hunt Marco Polo (6 days)
Day 09………..Back to Khorog, stay overnight.
Day 10…..…..Back to Dushanbe, overnight or flight home.

Tajik Visa process; You are required to get a Tajik visa issued on your passport and the validity of your passport should be at least 6 months from your departure date which is crucial. 2 passport size photos and an invitation letter are required for this process.
We provide you an invitation letter we get from the outfitter. Once you send your passport to our head office, we forward all documents on to your outfitter and they obtain your Tajik visa issued on your passport from Tajikistan Embassy in a week. You can also get it from the Tajik Embassy in the US.

Trophy treatment and Shipment; The skin of the trophy is carefully treated, ears and lips are turned and salted and the scull are boiled and cleaned properly. Later, the trophy is carefully packed for shipment. After all papers are prepared which are necessary for the shipment, the shipment is sent to the address that is provided. Receiving your trophy may take a few months and shipment cost is around US$1,500 depending on the address.

The price & Conditions: The 2023 Marco Polo hunt in Tajikistan is $44,500. You can add Mid Asian Ibex for only $7,000 as an additional trophy if taken with Marco Polo. Wolf may be added for US$2,500 Observer fee – US$5,000

The price covers; visa invitation, custom handling, hunting organization up to mentioned days, one trophy fee of mentioned specie (with no size restrictions), hunting license, gun import permit for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, area fees, transfers from/to airport, full board accommodation in the hunting area, interpreter and local guide, Dushanbe airport handlings, assistance of English speaking representative.

The price excludes; International air fares, trophy shipment, insurance, gratuities, domestic flights if taken, extra trophy fee, hotel accommodation before/after the hunt, visa cost, personal expenses, overweight charged by airlines; dip&pack;
(*) Marco Polo is in CITES II. Although there is no requirement for European clients, all U.S. clients are required to apply for their import permits by themselves.

KYRGYZSTAN MARCO POLO (Hume Argali)
With nine-tenths of the country being mountainous, only half of Kyrgyzstan’s 76.641 square mile territory falls below 10.000’ and rises on peaks up to 24.300 feet. The contours of Kyrgyzstan are formed by two major mountain systems: the southern part of the Tian Shan range, a great rock barrier dividing China from Central Asia; and the northern portion of the Pamirs, so high that they are known as the “the roof of the world”. The lofty peaks of these ranges, bridging space and earth, are draped in snow year round. Marco Polo have about the same numbers of animals in Kyrgyzstan and in Tajikistan, but they are more widely dispersed, making for a true hunting feeling and a chance to immerse yourself more deeply into the experience.

Marco Polo rams taken in Kyrgyzstan may not measure as large in horn length as those in neighboring Tajikistan, but Kyrgyzstan does offer numerous benefits that should be considered when deciding between the two countries. Hunt pricing is significantly less expensive, altitudes are lower, the driving distances are shorter and the method of hunting is by horseback rather than by vehicle, something that is often preferred to many hunters who value the experience as much as any other aspect.

Hunts will use a comfortable heated base camp, and depending on the time of year, fly camps, often consisting of shepherds hunts, may be used to hunt a larger area. A cook will prepare and serve food in base camp. Food from fly camps are limited to what can be taken with you and guides on horseback including basic meats, cheese, bread, etc. For that reason, we recommend taking supplemental snacks while in the field. You will be accompanied by one of their experienced PHs throughout your trip. They speak fluent English, but the local guides do not. Animals are in good numbers but since the areas are huge, they can be thinly distributed at times. Average trophy size for most areas is around 48-50 inches with the best trophies measuring a few inches larger. One of the outfitters clients collected a 61 inch ram a number of years ago, making it one of the largest taken in the country in decades.

The port of entry into Kyrgyzstan is the capitol city of Bishkek. And ground transfers to the hunting areas can take anywhere between 10 and 12 hours. You will be met at the airport and your greeter will usually accompany you throughout your stay in the country until departure, however this person will not accompany hunters in the field during the hunt. On average, each hunter will have two local guides during the hunt; one of whom is the master guide.

Season & weather & accommodation
Hunting season for Marco Polo argali starts in late summer and runs through the end of November. Early season hunts offer the most favorable weather conditions for travelling and hunting. Later season hunts have higher risk of cold temperatures and travel delays but offer several advantages including the opportunity to hunt the beginning of the rut and chances of finding higher numbers of sheep as rams often migrate into this area from China during this time of year. Opportunity rates are nearly 100% on mature rams regardless of the dates chosen.

Some of the game species of Kyrgyzstan has been a controversial issue for many years. Only recently, a trophy clarification committee of GSC/Ovis has decided to classify the Hume argali as another subspecies in addition to Marco Polo and Karelini (Tian Shan) while organizations like SCI and USFWS recognize only the latter two subspecies. However, GSCO uses the Naryn river as the northern boundary for the Hume argali and the Fergansky mountains as the southern edge. But according to SCI, true Marco Polo exist in a small area in Kyrgyzstan and remainder of the country is occupied by Tian Shan argali. The USFWS draws the boundary along the Naryn river and considers any argali north of this line as Karelini whereas the southern side is considered to be the Marco Polo country.

MARCO POLO in KYRGYZSTAN – The latest official reports based on the field surveys carried out by the Kyrgyz game department show that the country is home to approximately 10.000 argali which is roughly equal to the Tajik Pamir population. However, the sheep here, unlike Tajikistan, are widely scattered across the country.

The price of a Kyrgyzstan Marco Polo is $30,000- any size. Mid Asian Ibex as additional trophy is $ 6,500.

The price covers custom handling, hunting organization up to mentioned days, one trophy fee of mentioned specie (any size), hunting license, gun import permit, area fees, transfers from/to Bishkek, full board accommodation in the hunting area, interpreter and local guide.

Not included: commercial flights to/from Bishkek; VIP airport fees for rifle processing ($100 per person each way); trophy shipping and expediting; US F&W CITES import permit (US citizens only); travel insurance; meals and hotels before or after the hunt and any gratuities.

Day by Day itinerary; A classic Marco Polo hunt requires 7 days of actual hunting- although a hunter in good shape with a little bit of luck can complete it in 3- 5- days. A tentative itinerary for this hunt could be as follows;
Day 01……….. Arrive in Bishkek, and transfer to the hotel (overnight in Bishkek is optional).
Day 02……….. Drive to the area to ( 8 – 12 hours)
Day 03-09……Hunt Marco Polo (up to 7 days)
Day 10……….. Drive back to Bishkek

Travel: We only recommend using Turkish Airlines as this has proven to be the most reliable carrier for the most available flights and for the ease of taking firearms. Turkish flies from numerous major cities in the United States and Canada to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (airport code FRU) via an easy connection in Istanbul. Travelers with connecting flights through Istanbul are not required to obtain a Turkish entry visa so long as they do not leave the international terminal. A three to five-hour layover in Istanbul is ideal with an early morning arrival into Bishkek. Starting in 2022, all travelers arriving into Bishkek with a firearm are now required to use the VIP airport lounge for rifle clearance at a cost of $100 per person, each way.

Trophy treatment and Shipment ; The skin of the animal is carefully treated. Ears and lips are turned and salted and the scull is boiled and cleaned properly. Later, the trophy is carefully packed for shipment. After all papers are prepared which are necessary for the shipment, the shipment is sent to the address that is provided. Receiving the trophies could take a few months and shipment cost is around US$1,000 each animal depending on the address.

Kyrgyzstan entry requirements: At present time, hunters from the United States are not required to obtain an entry VISA for Kyrgyzstan for stas less than 90 days. Only a passport valid at least six months beyond the travel dates is needed.

(*) Marco Polo is in CITES II. Although there is no requirement for European clients, all U.S. clients are required to apply for their import permits online through the US Fish and Wildlife website.