Jack Brittingham's 2003 Tajikistan Marco Polo Hunt
Field Report #6, October 1, 2003
The Taking of Michael's Ram
On day four, we were up by 4 AM and in the jeep by 4:45, on our way to another valley for an early start. If you are wondering why Michael and I are still hunting together instead of separately, the answer is two fold. First, we had agreed to film for each other, and second, since my rifle did not show up at the airport, there was only one decent rifle in camp. Neither of us felt comfortable using the Russian 7.62 to try a 400 yard shot. Besides, with as many rams as we were seeing, we were both sure we would connect without too much trouble. We again saw many rams in this new valley, but it wasn't until we had returned to the jeep and were on our way back to camp that things got really interesting.
On our way back we took a detour which gave us an opportunity to check yet another valley before dark. Finding it loaded with sheep we eased our way further along in the jeep as the afternoon light began to fade. A sudden flurry of excitement among the Tajik guides alerted us to the fact that a group of rams had appeared out of a fold in the mountain on the right side of the jeep. As they made their way up the hill, we could see one ram was exceptional. Immediately the jeep was turned to the left so the hood could be used as a rest, and quickly shut off. Michael bailed out to try and take advantage of this unusual opportunity but a problem soon became evident. The driver, used to right handed hunters, had instinctively swung the jeep to the left, but Mike being a south paw, was unable to get a proper rest. He quickly scrambled into a shooting position across a rock on the ground to attempt what was by now going to be a five hundred yard shot. As the range was called out to him he waited for the biggest ram to be clear of his companions and then squeezed the trigger on the Remington 7MM Magnum. You could see by the reaction of the ram he was well hit. In the fading light the decision was made for them to come back the next day to try and recover the ram.
Michael and I decided to split up for day five so he could take the time necessary to both recover and photograph his ram, while I continued to hunt for mine. We covered much country on this day but only saw about twenty rams, none of which were in the category I was seeking. The biggest thrill of the day was when I returned to camp that evening and viewed Michael's sheep! It exceeded our best estimates by two inches, taping out at exactly sixty inches on the left horn. In reviewing the video it appeared the right horn may have been slightly shorter than the left, but the horn tip was damaged when the ram fell, and now taped fifty-six and one half inches. With both bases exceeding 15 inches, one could not ask for a better, or more impressive Marco Polo, and Michael was rightfully pleased! His excitement was contagious and the whole camp was thrilled with his trophy.