Pakistan

Five of the world's 14 peaks over 8000 meters (26000 feet) are found among the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges of northern Pakistan. In stark contrast are the arid deserts of the Sindh and Balochistan regions of the south. Proliferating across this kaleidoscope of Pakistan's terrain are 19 game species, several of which are prestigious members of the Ovis and Capra families that are unique to Pakistan. As the natural home of so many international hunting award species, Pakistan attracts the world's most prolific hunters each year.

Pakistan's well-regulated trophy hunting system blends pure adventure with benchmark conservation practices. Community-based trophy hunting programs, notably the Chitral Conservation Hunting Program (CCHP) started in 1983, balances conservation and local livelihoods. From a point of near extinction due to poaching to a present day population estimate of 4000 and growing, the Markhor is a conservation success story with few peers worldwide.

Local communities have become key stewards of the Markhor through grassroots conservation initiatives. These efforts focus on habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and population monitoring, driven by the economic incentives of trophy hunting. Through a revenue-sharing model, 80% of license fees go to local communities, fostering support for wildlife preservation.

To hunters, the Markhor's appeal stems from its rarity, challenging habitat, and the prestige associated with harvesting one of the world's most iconic mountain game animals. Hosting the largest markhor population globally, Pakistan's three main subspecies—Astor, Kashmir, and Sulaiman—each possess distinctly attractive characteristics. A lesser known and more isolated subspecies is the Skardu with curved horns uniquely different than its Markhor cousins.

Because a relative few permits are auctioned annually, hunting costs reflect the Markhor's scarcity and global demand. The prestige of hunting these rare, elusive animals in challenging terrain is growing each year. Caprinae Safaris has been operating in Pakistan for decades and each year we assist the world's most discerning hunters with permit acquisition and the most professional outfitting in prime Markhor territory.

Another alluring and royal trophy of the country's north is the Blue Sheep. Located in Gilgit-Baltistan near the Chinese border, Shimshal is the primary hunting area due to its high population of sheep. The valley is remote, requiring a 2-day upward trek from the village to reach Blue Sheep domain.

A hunt for Blue Sheep is adventure by any definition. Similar to Kenya's old, classic portered bush safaris, are Pakistan's portered mountain safaris with 10-15 locals, and sometimes yaks, carrying the camp and provisions, and stopping for an overnight until the hunting area is reached.

The Himalayan Ibex of Gilgit-Baltistan's Hunza Valley is another hunting highlight of the north, with populations thriving in steep, rocky terrain at 3000–4500 meters (10000–15000 feet). Early spring hunts can often be easier when Ibex typically descend to lower elevations.

In western and central Pakistan are the Afghan and Punjab Urials. The Afghan Urial, found in the Torgar area of northern Balochistan near the Afghanistan border, is a larger urial subspecies with prominent bibs and neck ruffs. Horns are larger than those of Blandford or Punjab Urials.

The Punjab Urial is a small subspecies endemic to Pakistan, similar in size to the Blandford Urial. They are found in the lowland agricultural areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along the Indus River, in grassy plains and sugarcane plantations.

Further south within just a 3-hour drive of Karachi is where time-proven hunts for Sindh Ibex and Blandford Urial are conducted. Sindh Ibex, with their simitar-shared horns, are primarily found in the arid, hilly regions of the Sindh and Balochistan provinces, at low elevations of 600–3300 feet (200-1000 meters)

Sharing the same region with the Sindh Ibex is the Blandford Urial. It has distinctive curved horns and lacks a prominent bib or saddle patch compared to other urials. For Sindh & Blanford combo hunts, hunters stay in luxurious lodges owned by local families, offering cultural immersion with the intrinsically genuine hospitality of our Pakistani hosts.

Caprinae Safaris has a longstanding history of outfitting success in Pakistan. We've conducted hundreds of successful hunts for all species since our formation in 2005. Multiple Weatherby, Conklin Foundation, and SCI award winners have entrusted their most crucial Pakistan hunts to us. Today, we are helping many more up-and-coming members of the hunting community understand the possibilities and experience some of the most professional outfitting for some of the most elite species of the hunting world. Pakistan is amazing.