Urial Hunts

Hunting Urial

The urial sheep is a relatively small member of the Mouflon species. However, there is quite a variation across the six subspecies, with the smaller Punjab and Blandford Urial rams weighing as little as 40kg with the largest, the Transcaspian, weighing 90kg. Of the six Urial species, four can be found in Pakistan. The Transcaspian Urial is located in Iran, and no licenses are currently being issued for the Bukhara Urial.

The most sought-after Urial in Pakistan is the Ladakh Urial, for which no licenses are currently being issued. However, one or two licenses may be issued in the coming years. One of the larger sheep, the Ladakh Urial, found in the Karakorum Mountains, is highly coveted due to the steep terrain where it lives and the difficulty of the hunt. A true mountain hunt, it is by far the hardest of the Urials to obtain, not just for obtaining a license, but also for the difficulty of the hunt.

The Punjab and Blandford/Balochi Urial are of the smaller urials. Adult rams may only weigh 40 kg. The Blanford Urial inhabits the south of Pakistan, in the Sindh province, and can be combined with a Sindh Ibex, a smaller variety of the mighty Bezoar in Turkey. Punjab Urial around Islamabad could be a good option for hunters on a shorter hunt. Neither of the smaller urial subspecies presents a massive challenge, and both can be hunted relatively easily in a couple of days.

The Afghan is one of the larger subspecies of urial, and due to the majority of its range being across Afghanistan, it is one of the hardest sheep to acquire a permit for. The occasional permit is released in Tajikistan, with very little being known about the population in Iran. The only true place to obtain a viable permit is in Pakistan. The permits are heavily sought after and do not come cheap, so Afghan Urial is an animal that takes a lot of planning. It is hunted in the foothills of the Himalayas, so it is easier than the Ladakh Urial but more challenging than Blandford and Punjab, which means the permit is much more sought-after.
Pakistan is a shining star in conservation hunting, and the now well-known Markhor Awards have been created in honor of Pakistan’s national animal in the hope that others may follow in the footsteps of one of Asia’s most successful conservation stories. On any urial hunt, you will be accompanied by local wildlife officials from the relevant State Department. You will witness firsthand how your license fees help the local communit

Blandford Urial Hunt

Blandford urial is considered one of the world's most beautiful species of wild sheep. The Blandford Urial, also known as the Balochistan Urial, is a most impressive animal. Standing at approximately 30 inches in height at the shoulder and weighing from 80 to 90 pounds, this extraordinary creature captivates observers.

• Physically, Blandford urial hunting is probably one of the most accessible mountain game hunts available anywhere in the world.
• Trophy quality is absolutely incredible. The world record was broken three years in a row.
• Hunters can combine their urial hunt with a Sindh ibex hunt.
• Blandford urial hunting in Pakistan is from November through March.

Ladakh Urial Hunt

The Ladakh urial is a sheep native to the high-altitude terrain of the cold desert. Found only in Ladakh (Ladakh is the highest plateau in India, with most of it being over 9,800 ft.) This subspecies of urial has been classified as endangered and is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life Protection Act. Nevertheless, this wild sheep is disappearing as its habitat shrinks.

Unlike other herbivores of Ladakh, such as the blue sheep and the ibex, the urial is not adept at navigating high, rocky terrain. It also requires large grazing areas and thrives in habitats characterized by rolling hills and floodplains of the sort usually found in the valleys of Ladakh. The urial also requires easy access to water. In Ladakh’s Indus Valley, for instance, the urial is traditionally found around barren lands close to the villages and the river. As a result, highways and roads, often constructed close to the river, cut right through its habitat.

Punjab Urial Hunt

Punjab Urial is a sub-species of urial found in the Salt Range Mountains of Punjab Province of Pakistan. The Salt Range is estimated to have over 4,000 urials. The area produces huge rams. A horn size of 26” inches and above is considered very good. The horns are lightly curved in some Urials. It's slightly more reddish than other subspecies. Males have a white bib and a long black neck ruff. The horn length of Punjab Urial is 24-30 inches. The season for Punjab Urial hunting runs from October to March. The Punjab Urial habitat typically features a warm climate, and the hunter may expect temperatures up to +30 in the afternoon. Most experts recommend the second part of the season when it’s colder, as lower temps are believed to work better for urial hunting.

Afghan Urial Hunt

Trophy hunting for Afghan Urial in Pakistan. All urial permits have a one-week life, so the hunters must hunt in that one week given by the government/ wildlife department of Pakistan, and arrival dates must be mentioned on the permits, so any change is not possible. All hunts are non-refundable, and no refund can be claimed. All clients need to know that hunting in Pakistan involves flying in airplanes, driving with jeeps on roads in the mountains, hiking, camping in cold weather, and walking in mountains where no proper tracks or trails exist. Also, snow, ice, glaciers, and steep terrain can make hiking difficult.

Urial Hunts in the United States

Transcaspian Urial Hunts in Texas

The Texas habitat and terrain on several private ranches affords hunters the ability to safari-style hunt from high rack vehicles, hunt from a modern comfortable blind, or even engage in a good old-fashioned spot and stalk hunt. Transcaspian Urial Hunters can choose to Bow Hunt, Rifle Hunt, Pistol Hunt, or Black Powder Hunt. They are native to western central Asia, from Iran to Kazakhstan to Pakistan to northern India. The Transcaspian Urial is the domestic sheep’s ancestor and the oldest line of the Ovis species. They often inhabit lower elevations where grazing opportunities are plentiful.