Kern says he expects Mirza to secure another four markhor permits for 2009. These hunts take place the first few months of the year when snows pushes the markhor down to elevations of about 6,000 feet. The best time is in March during the rut and when snow at the lower elevations has melted, allowing green-up to start. Hunts run about three days depending on the area. Trophy quality runs from about 40 to 48 inches.
Some other opportunities in Pakistan that Kern has opened to foreign hunters for the first time are some hunts for free-ranging hog deer, nilgai and blackbuck in the Punjab. Kern says Yates and another Hunting Report subscriber, Larry Reynolds, experienced these hunts this past season. He says there were a few hiccups that he is working out for the next year. Specifically, he hopes to get nonresident permits for these species issued on some private estates (unfenced) where he can arrange for onsite accommodations and other services. He also hopes to add some driven partridge shoots. Rates should run about $6,500 for hog deer, and $6,000 for both nilgai and blackbuck. Hunts are all for three days.
Hunters arrive in Islamabad where they are met and escorted at all times. Kern says all of their travel is low profile,........(continued)
