Kuban, Mid Caucasian and Dagestan Tur

Within the Caucasus Mountains Range live the three varieties of the Caucasian Tur. These Capra species are highly desired in the international hunting community and are commonly regarded as the most difficult hunts on earth.

In the eastern portion of the mountain range you find the Dagestan Tur. These tur are the same variety that one can hunt in neighbouring Azerbaijan. Within Russia, the Dagestan tur is commonly hunted in combination with the other two tur so that a visiting hunter can hunt all three tur varieties within the same country. As with all tur hunting, expect a true mountain hunting experience. Visiting hunters will hunt the republics of Ossetia or Dagestan.

In the middle of the Caucasian range, you will find the naturally occurring hybrid that is the Mid Caucasian Tur. This tur occurs where the Dagestan and Kuban tur ranges overlap. Hunted in the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, these tur are considered the most difficult of all of the tur. 

In the far western portion of the Caucasus you find the Kuban Tur. The Kuban variety has a resemblance more of an ibex than the other two tur with its scimitar shaped horns with prominent ridges as well as sporting well defined beards. The Kuban tur has a much smaller overall range as well and as such, the hunting is more restricted with fewer permits available. The Kuban tur are only hunted in the republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia. Many hunters consider these to be one of the greatest and most special mountain hunting trophies on earth.

Caucasian Chamois

Also residing in the Caucasian Mountains lives the easternmost variety of chamois. These small Capras are beautiful and nimble mountain dwellers that are quite similar to other chamois varieties further west in Europe but with slightly shorter horns on average. Caucasian chamois are often added onto a hunters’ wish list when he/she is intending to hunt the Kuban tur as these chamois are found in good numbers in the same locations as the tur.

Snow Sheep

With six varieties of Snow Sheep available to hunt, Russia is an Ovis hunters dream! Eastern Russia is home to the Koryak, Kolyma, Kamchatka, Okhotsk, Yakutia and Chukotka varieties of these beautiful thin horn sheep.

Our outfitter in Russia is the longest standing outfitter in the country and has decades of experience with all the varieties of Snow Sheep available with a stellar track record of high scoring rams, including several world records to their credit.

Kamchatka Brown Bear

Kamchatka Brown Bear hunting is one of the most exciting AND affordable adventures available to the international hunter. The Kamchatka peninsula is world famous for its big bears. Our Russian outfitter has over 20 years hunting experience with 9 foot bears being taken by 10 to 12 clients and 10ft+ trophies being taken 1-2 times per year.

There are two very different seasons for bear here, both with pluses and negatives. The spring hunt is from mid April to mid May. You are hunting the bears as they are emerging from their winter dens. Snowmobiles are used to get the hunters into the remote backcountry. Once in bear country. The hunter and the guide will cover huge distances looking for a track of a big bear. Once the tracks that indicate a trophy boar are found, the hunters will follow the tracks until they catch sight of the bear. Trophy quality (size, hair quality etc.) will then be judged.

The fall hunting season is from mid August to early October. Hunting this time of year consists of traveling by vehicles to boats or all-terrain vehicles to the hunt area. Once there, hunters will spot and stalk the bears on foot, or by spotting and stalking near active salmon streams, berry patches and feeding areas.

These fall hunts can also be combined with snow sheep hunts which make for an incredible package. With flights from Anchorage, Alaska now flying into Petropavlovsk, it is quite easy to reach the Kamchatka peninsula without the 40+ hours of travel needed when transiting through Moscow.

Altai Ibex

Near the Mongolian and Kazakh border lays the expansive Altai Mountain range. Here hunters have the option of hunting the Altai ibex. Most hunters travel to Mongolia for this variety of ibex, but hunting them in Russia is a true wilderness experience and comes at a much discounted price tag from Mongolia nowadays. The average trophy size is 35 – 43” with larger trophies being taken each year.