After booking this hunt in 2022 at SCI with, outfitter-Wild Hunting Turkey & Asia, finally started hunt 3/20/24. Was supposed to hunt in 2023, but the Country of Turkey did not issue and Bezar hunting permits over pressure from “Greenie’s”. They have had a very steady issue of tags and harvest for many years. These tags are issued by Turkey government and go for a very steep price $20,000 to $35,000 depending on trophy quality of the area. The outfitter winning tag bids, pays this to the government. Each year a silent bid for next year tags. In Prior years 425 permits issued in all the hunt units. After looking at all facts and bringing in outside parties to the table, they did issue 128 county wide permits for 2024, broken down by hunt units. In my hunt unit, only 2 tags issued for 2024. They also upped the age limit to be a legal Ram from 6 years to 8 years (mine was 11 years old). They only live to be 10-13 years old. They live in a rugged harsh terrain.
The game scouts had spotted this ram way before I arrived several days ago. He moved within a big steep, rocky (very large boulders) area from one side of the mountain, to the other. They told me if taken with bow, he would become the new #1 in SCI book. The outfitter had another bow hunter who had taken the current #1 in 2020. I had a lot of pressure on me if I got close enough for a shot.
On day 1 AM, we spotted the ram 3/4 the way up the slope. There was a big canyon between us and the mountain side he was on. We decided to drive to the other side of the mountain and drop down to his location. We made the move and by 2:00 were within 300 yards of him. Walking in these boulders and rocks is not easy, especially for 64 year old guy. But narrowing the distance for a shot was difficult. We did have a good wind. (These Ibex have great eye sight and sense of smell). We moved very slow, stop and go. And several female ibex near him too. He was at a 40 degree angle 60 yards below us in rock and brush. He finally turned at a good angle, and was brush free on vitals and I took the shot. Prior to this, I had drawn bow back 3 times, but he moved and I let off on bow. The shot was perfect left to right, but about 1” high above his back. I missed!! The arrow crashed into the rock ledge behind him and shattered. He did not know what happened, but he spooked and headed downhill. I was very upset at myself, but a 60 yard shot is not easy in this setting and with this much pressure to make a clean kill shot. Looking at the I-Phone slow motion video taken by guide, the arrow was about 1 “ high. Fletching actually touch back at one point of flight.
We moved back to a very high glassing point to try a find him again. About 4:30 we saw him bedded again. In the spot he was at, if a game scout crossed canyon, and walked up 600 yards uphill on mountain, the wind would bow his sent toward ram and he would spook running South into a ledge, and make his way around the lower edge of it. This is a massive wall of vertical rock. My guide and I moved down the slope we were on which was the upper side of this massive ledge (this ledge rises up about 200 yards tall) positioning ourselves below the most logical place he would pass through if he came. It was a big bet, but could work if he did not go below us. It was a 50/50 chance.
We got in position, and took my pruners and cut a shooting lane. The shot would be 24 yards above us. About a 40 degree angle uphill. He would come, left to right. We were hidden behind some really big rocks. The game scout radioed that he had spooked Ram, and he was headed our way. From start point of being bedded, Ram was about 2500 yards from us. Then about 200 yards out from us (we could not see him yet), the game scout said he was going to go right under the ledge to us. At 35 yards away, we could see his horns coming our way. There was a big bush tree he had to pass, then I would take shot. As he passed bush tree my guide made a sheep sound to stop him. I shot. Again shot was perfect left to right, but high. Did not hit any vitals, but the arrow had broke his backbone on the ibex hump. At that moment I was not aware of that break in back bone.
Again I was very upset. High shot, wounded animal and hunt over (if you draw blood, and do not find animal, hunt over). But the Samari broad head had fractured his back bone during the spinning process. Think about the kenetic energy and stress on that broadhead.
At this time in the evening, too late to track. I could not sleep that night. A $35,000 dollar hunt plus $3500 in tips, and travel and a wounded animal. WOW, I thought. How could I have not made a double lung shot at 24 yards? But I will say, these are high-pressure bow shots with all that is ridding on the shot, and you are standing in rough spots and in tough angle positions. These situations are the “World Series” of hunting situations. One chance, and all on the hunters shot with the bow.
Upon coming back and finding the Ram, it turned out to be a lethal shot. But shot looked bad at first. How relieved I was. From high points of hunt, to very low points of hunt, it ended on a very high point. Those of us that hunt, all understand these moments.
I have been very lucky with my Ibex bow hunts. In 2013 in Spain, my Rhonda scored #1 SCI with all methods, Beceiti #1 with bow, South Eastern #2 with bow and Gredos #9 with bow. Now another #1. I have been very lucky and have had great guides helping. Without these high quality dedicated game scouts and guides, this hunt would have not have turned like it did. These guys are amazing. And they climb the mountains just like the Ibex being hunted!
Sorry to have been long worded, but I think gave best description of the hunt.
Flying back to states in the AM of 3/25. Will take about 16 hours to arrive back to Houston, TX, then overnight, and fly to MT next day.
Stephen L. Coale
