Jack Brittingham's 2003 Tajikistan Marco Polo Hunt
Field Report #8, October 10, 2003
The Last Day's Hunt
For me there is always a special air of excitement on the last day of any hunt. The fact that you have made it to your last day of hunting without taking your animal means there have been many exciting events already, as there always are in a hunt. And, over the years, I have had some of my greatest hunting days on the last day. I am always extra excited, and full of anticipation about what the day will hold.
On this last day I was teamed up with what I felt was the best sheep hunting team in camp; Attabeck and Sasha. As we began our drive to a location chosen by the two sheep guides, I knew that, at the very least, we were going to have some excitement. As usual, the jeep ride was another bone jarring experience which completely negates the need for coffee to help you wake up. The ride itself provides more than enough exhilaration to bring you fully alert. As our drive progressed I could see we were returning to a location we had hunted the first day of the trip. I knew the area held many sheep and was confident we would have a good chance to find and stalk a big ram.
We eased the jeep to a location just below the lip of the saddle and got out to walk over to the edge where we could peer down into the valley without being seen by the sheep. It was still early enough that long shadows extended across the valley floor, and many sheep could be seen feeding in several different locations.
It wasn't long before Sasha and Attabeck had spotted a group of rams which contained a very large animal with impressive horns atop his head! this band of seven rams were feeding about two kilometers away, across the valley at the base of a big scree slide. It wasn't long before they began to move up into the scree and situate themselves in their first morning bed.
We began our stalk in plain sight of the sheep, only our initial course took us away from the sheep on a diagonal that would eventually take us behind a ridge that would give us the cover necessary to make a more direct approach. We moved slowly and the sheep watched us without reacting. Once out of the rams sight we were able to turn towards them and pick up our pace. Periodically we would have to stop to allow for ewes and lambs to move off from our path, all the time hoping they wouldn't spook the rams.
As we were closing the distance out target rams got up and began to feed up the mountain and it wasn't long before they were out of sight over the ridge. Again we fell in behind them and continued our advance. After crossing two low ridges the sheep had again worked there way out onto the valley floor. As we came over the third rise a little too fast we saw the sheep feeding below us at about 500 yards. I felt I could have laid down and taken a shot from there, but one of the young rams had seen us when we pooped over the top, and he began a trot that quickly took them beyond my comfort range. Again they started to feed and the waiting game was back in effect.
As they approached the river and began to cross something totally unexpected happened. The whole band of sheep, which now consisted of a group on ewes and lambs as well as our seven rams, took off running at top speed! Looking behind them I spotted two wolves running at top speed. This chase lasted several hundred yards before the wolves gave up and headed back towards the river. Needless to say this put an end to our sheep hunt, as this group of sheep continued up into the mountains at a fast pace until they disappeared into Afghanistan. I got a very good look at the big ram we were chasing one final time as he crested the ridge. I am comfortable with the estimation of at least sixty inches of horn on each side of his massive frame.
As we laid on the ridge watching the wolves that had just spoiled what was likely our last sheep opportunity, I couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to get a shot at them. They were now close to 1000 yards away and directly upwind of us. the two wolves began moving around below us to the North and, as they did so, became a little more crosswind from us. Attabeck and I decided to see if we could howl to bring them in range for a shot. Our first attempts were in vain as the pair still could not hear us. There course continued to carry them further to the downwind side and on our third attempt the big male picked up his head and stared exactly at our position. We carried on with our howling and both wolves began running at us from about 700 yards out. At the time this all started, I had taken the video camera from Michael and was filming the action. The challenge now would be to get the camera back in his hands, get the rifle in mine, switch from a sitting position to a prone position, all without spooking the wolves that were closing in on us fast!
I decided to wait to the very last minute to do this and so continued filming the advancing wolves until they were under 200 yards. Without Michael moving, I slid the camera forward and down to his waiting arms. I then leaned across Attabeck to reach the rifle, and roll myself into a prone shooting position, while at the same time, bolting in a round. The wolves were now waking up to the deception and I knew we didn't have much time. I had intended to shoot the big male first but must have lost track of him when I was getting in position to shoot. I centered the crashers on the first wolf to appear in my sights, thinking it was the big one. As soon as the crosshairs were steady I shot and the wolf went down. The second wolf was now running from right to left, in a direction I could not shoot because both Michael and Attabeck were on my left in tight formation. Attabeck again began howling which stopped the wolf. he looked back at the female who was still thrashing around and came running back to her. As soon as he stopped I was able to flatten him as well.
The whole experience was thrilling and even more so for our guides, as the wolf population in this area is very high, resulting in tremendous losses to the local sheep population on an annual basis. Their estimates were that each wolf would account for approximately forty sheep per year. This is very believable considering one mountain lion will kill around fifty-two deer per year.
We had a bid celebration on the side of the mountain reliving an event that is certainly more rare than the taking of a big ram. I'm not necessarily saying I wouldn't rather have taken a big ram, but I was certainly thrilled at the whole experience that had just taken place! The wolves were beautiful with very nice fur, the big male weighing close to ninety pounds! According to both Sasha and Attabeck this wolf exceeded the size of the biggest wolf they had ever seen in this area. He also had a very nice sized head which will make a fine display.
We set up the male for pictures and spent time to make sure we got some very nice shots. As the kills were captured on video, we also took time to film the setups necessary to have an edited version of exactly what took place on that lonely hillside so far from home. Once edited, it will allow me to relive this unusual hunting a most vivid way for many years to come! At some future time I am sure this segment will appear on a future tape which will likely be called "Quest for Tajikistan Argils."
After three trips to this unique country I still don't feel I have compiled enough footage for a feature film. I have plans to return once again in December of 2004. Hopefully, I will then be able to get the ram of my dreams, like the one I keep seeing silhouetted against the sky and snow, an image that will never leave my mind's eye!