The Maral is similar to the American elk. With a live weight of up to 900 pounds and a shoulder height of 5 feet, he is a monarch. Even the weight of the antlers pushes back the boundaries. Skull & horns specimens of 30, 33, and up to 45 pounds have been documented. The structure of the antlers is somewhat different to that of the European Red Stag. A Maral’s main beam can reach lengths of more than 5 feet. As a rule, the antlers are also not as dark as those from other top class deer countries such as Romania, Poland or Hungary.

The bonus is that this same mountain range is home to genetically superior Mid-Asian Ibex that are huntable in the same area.

Getting There: Most hunters fly to the destination city of Almaty via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. We meet you at Customs to clear your firearm and begin the 5-hour drive to base camp.

Hunt Strategy: The terrain is mountainous and features a mix of thickly forested slopes, high open meadows and draws. We ride horses from base camp to reach several tented spike camps where the horseback hunts begin from there. The Kazakh guides are expert horsemen, and their horses are proven to handle terrain with steady confidence. You’ll spend time glassing and figuring out the direction of bugling to begin the approach to a promising bull. You’ll walk for the final stalk, and physical fitness is major difference maker for Maral and Ibex; the terrain is vertical and rigorous side-hilling on foot is the norm. Prepare for shots of 300-600 yards in big open country. Use enough gun. Cartridges with heavier bullets in the 7PRC, 300 PRC, and .338 class are effective on big Maral.

Season: September

Length of Hunt: 12 days including in-country travel time to and from camp for the Maral & Mid-Asian Ibex combo hunts. Up to 8 days for Maral or Ibex only.

Options / Major Species: Mid-Asian Ibex, Siberian Roebuck, and Wild