Nepal is a mountainous country despite its small size (on average, the length from east to west is about 1000 km and the width from south to north is about 150 km), the altitude here ranges from 67m in the Terai to 8849m at the summit of Mount Everest, with 83% of the country’s area occupying the Himalayan ranges mountain system. The northern territory of the country is covered in snow with 1310 peaks above 6000m. Nepal is home to 8 out of 14 tallest mountains above 8000m.
You can hunt animals such as the Blue Sheep (Pseudois Nayaur) and Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus Jemlahicus) in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. Blue sheep, also called Nakhur or Bharal grow withers from 75 to 89 cm, their weight reaches a maximum of 70 kg. The average size of trophies (length of horns) is 60 cm. Biologically, these sheep have features characteristic of both mountain goats and sheep. The Latin name of the genus (Pseudois) means “false sheep”. Wool has gray-brown color with a bluish tint. The goat who decided to try on someone else’s fur coat – such a thought comes when looking at the Himalayan Tahr. The neck and shoulders of adult males are decorated with thick straw-colored manes, descending to the ground. These animals are perfectly adapted to life on steep slopes of the Himalayan mountains. They weigh 40-100 kg, and the average size of trophies (length of the horns) is about 30 cm. As additional trophies, you can get Muntjac deer and wild boars.
There are many different airlines to get to the capital of Nepal is Kathmandu. It is possible by taking a flight to New Delhi, and then a less than an hour flight to Kathmandu (but there are difficulties with the transportation of weapons in transit through India), or it is possible by Qatar Airways through Qatar which flights directly to Kathmandu. At the airport, in Kathmandu, you will be met by a representative from Ktmguide who will help you get through all customs formalities. Upon arrival, you will be taken to the office of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Nepal for registration of hunting licenses—the personal presence of the hunter is required. After that, you can rest and spend the night in one of the many hotels in Kathmandu.
The next day you follow to the hunting area. The most suitable and fastest transport for the transfer to the camp is a helicopter. This flight lasts about 1.5 hours. Next, you will have two days of hiking to the base hunting camp, during which acclimatization of your body to high mountain conditions will take place.
In the spring season, a cheaper one is also possible, but also a long way to get to the base camp. By car, in 2 days on mountain roads, you can get to the extreme mountain village and further 1 more day walk to the mountain village of Dhorpatan. Further also follows a 2-day hiking trip, in the hunting reserve.
The hunting season in Nepal is divided into two periods:
1. Spring – March-April
2. Autumn – October-November
Best Seasons:
– Spring: April
– Autumn: from the end of October to the beginning of November.
The base hunting camp is located at an altitude of about 4,000 m above sea level. At the base camp will be 20 service personnel including Sherpa, cooks, and guides. Separate tents are camped for sleeping, kitchen, shower, and toilet.
The weather is quite favorable during the hunting seasons but it can change dramatically in the Himalayas. Day temperature is around 10°C to -20°C, at night from 0°C to -10°C. Intermittent snow and rain can be expected both in early October and in March-April.
Hunting for a blue sheep is physically very difficult due to the fact that it passes on foot at a height of 4000 – 5500 m above sea level. The altitude when hunting for tar is slightly lower, about 3,000 m. Every morning a hunter accompanied by guides goes to the grounds from the base camp in search of trophy animals and returns back before dusk. It is possible to use a spike camp – small tents for spending the night in the mountains, without returning to the base camp. During the hunting day, mountain slopes are examined – places for feeding and daytime sheep. When a stag with good trophy qualities is found approach starts (hiding) to a comfortable short distance. The average firing distance is usually is 300 m. The physical condition of the hunter is a very important factor for a successful hunt. The effectiveness of hunting in recent years is 100%!
Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu. preferably on a morning flight and not on Saturday (official day off), customs formalities, registration of a license at the Ministry, excursion program, overnight at the hotel
Day 2 Helicopter transfer to the hunting area, hiking to the hunting camp, overnight in the intermediate tent camp
Day 3 Hike to the hunting base camp, rest, and acclimatization
Day 4-9 6 hunting days
Day 10 Walking descent from the base camp to the helicopter, overnight in tents
Day 11 Return to the helicopter landing site, flight to Kathmandu, overnight stay at the hotel
Day 12 Departure from Kathmandu
The Blue Sheep + Tahr combination increases the duration of the trip to 15 days!
The cost of hunting (for a group of at least 2 hunters):
If the hunters wish to replace the helicopter transfer with transport by road (possibly only in the spring period), then the cost of helicopter transfer is deducted from the total cost (US$ 4,000 one way for hunting) and added cost of transport by jeep x + US$ 1,400.
Congratulation!