Blue Sheep Hunts

Hunting Blue Sheep

The breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas – the location of some of the finest mountain hunting in the world. Here, you can get blue sheep (bharal), Himalayan Thar, muntjac, and leopard. Also, in Nepal, hunting is permitted for Sika deer (Aksis), swine deer, and wild boar. After many years, we can hunt in this beautiful country known as the "roof of the world.” The bharal (Pseudois nayaur), also called the blue sheep, is native to the high Himalayas. Bharal is a Hindi name, while "blue sheep" is a reference to the bluish sheen in the coat. It is the only member of the genus Pseudois. It occurs in India, Bhutan, China (in Gansu, Ningxia, Sichuan, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia), Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. The Helan Mountains of Ningxia have the highest concentration of bharal in the world, with 15 bharals per km² and 30,000 in total.

Hunting Blue Sheep in the Himalayas

In the high mountain ranges of Asia, nestled amidst the rugged terrain, resides a remarkable creature known as the Bharal, or the blue sheep. These magnificent animals roam the grassy slopes with a quiet and graceful presence, their behavior both fascinating and captivating.

As the sun begins to rise over the vast expanse of the mountains, the Bharal awaken from a night of rest, ready to embrace the day ahead. With nimble hooves, they make their way through the emerald fields, searching for patches of succulent grass to satisfy their hunger. The air is filled with the sound of munching as they expertly alternate between feeding and resting, their movements fluid and seamless.

In this open landscape, the Bharal have honed their remarkable camouflage abilities. Their dense, slate-blue coats blend effortlessly into the rocky surroundings, rendering them nearly invisible to the untrained eye. As they detect any potential threat, their bodies freeze, blending into their surroundings with an extraordinary stillness. This inborn knowledge of their lack of cover leaves them with no option but to remain motionless, concealed in plain sight.

But what happens when the Bharal's presence is finally noticed? In an instant, their tranquility is shattered. With unmatched agility, they swiftly maneuver their way towards the cliffs, their hooves dancing along the jagged edges with incredible grace. It is a race against time, a race towards safety. Their surefootedness on the treacherous slopes speaks volumes about their adaptability to this rugged landscape.

Finally reaching the cliffs, the Bharal comes to a sudden halt. They blend into the rock face, their bodies mirroring the hues and textures of the sharp stones. Frozen in this final moment, they become indistinguishable from the very rocks they rest upon.

Nepal Blue Sheep Hunting

Hunting area: Dhorpatan reserve is the only place in Nepal where licensed hunting is allowed. The reserve covers an area of over 512 sq miles in the Dhaulagiri Himal of western Nepal in the Eastern Rukum and Baglung Districts. Its elevation ranges from 9,350 to 18,040 ft. Hunting is mainly conducted at 3000-5000 meters. Above, there is snow all year round.

Pakistan Blue Sheep Hunting

The Bharal inhabits the remote, almost inaccessible Karakoram mountain ranges in Northern Pakistan at 10,000-18,500 ft. Blue sheep are not as agile as ibex and are typically found in more open and grassy areas. Blue sheep can be found in the Chat Pirt and Ghujerav areas of Shimshal in Baltistan. They are also found in Khunjerab National Park. Shimshal marks the westernmost limit of their range in the Himalayas. Bharal is believed to be common in the Shimshal area, but they are very local in distribution in Pakistan. Blue Sheep hunting does not differ much from other mountain hunts except for the extreme altitudes, for which the hunter should be prepared.

The animals are diurnal, that is, most active in the mornings and the evenings. The hunters try to spot a suitable animal by observing the area with the help of powerful optics in the morning, then approach it as it beds to chew the cud in the afternoon or, failing that, to intercept as it moves again in the evening. Good optics and a flat-shooting accurate rifle are necessities. Good conditioning is important, as fairly long hikes up into the mountains are required to gain access to these animals.

Blue Sheep permits in Pakistan are extremely limited and are sold each fall at auction for the following season.