More Western Hunters Showing Interest In Hunting Iran

Iran is the latest "hot" hunting destination, even among westerners. Continuing subscribers will recall the story we published this past January (see Article ID 2578) by J.Y. Jones on his experience in Iran. While this destination had been open for hunting for numerous years, US hunters had trouble going there due to US economic sanctions that prevented them from bringing back their trophies. Jones' story produced numerous phone calls and emails from US hunters wanting to know more. Among the questions we've fielded is whether returning hunters were able to import their trophies as Jones reported they would. The short answer is yes. Everyone who brought their trophies back as part of their personal baggage cleared them with no problems. Hunting Report subscriber Mark Hampton hunted in Iran just this past January (Report ID 8114), and brought several trophies back to the US. So, this is apparently no longer an issue for hunters from the US. Of course, hunters from other parts of the world are not affected by US trade restrictions with Iran. Hampton says he was initially a bit apprehensive about traveling to Iran, and spoke directly with several hunters who had recently returned. Once there, he says his apprehension were unfounded. "I never felt uncomfortable," he says. "The people were nice, friendly and helpful." Hampton hunted with Ali Jafari of Iran Safari (info@iransafari.com; www.iransafari.com) and took a red sheep, transcaspian urial and a desert ibex that made his 30th capra species, all with a handgun. (See photos in the online Trophy Gallery of our web site.) Hampton shoots a SP100 6.5 SWM (Winchester shortmag) and says his guides were so intrigued by it that they wanted him to show it to everyone they met. As for the hunting itself, Hampton says he saw well over 500 red sheep in one day of hunting near Tehran. He shot his ibex in one day and his urial in four days. He says the hunting requires lots of climbing and glassing and that one or two game wardens who know where to find the game accompany you. "They are there to help you," says Hampton. "It was a........(continued)