About the Alpine Ibex
Info About the Alpine Ibex
The Alpine ibex is a wild mountain goat known for its incredible climbing skills and huge curved horns. The Alpine ibex live in steep, rough terrain and open alpine meadows high up in the cold European Alps.. They can be found at elevations as high as 10,800 feet and their sharp hooves allow them to scale the steep slopes and cliffs of their mountainous habitat. Their majestic horns and brownish-grey coats
Description of the Alpine Ibex
Size and Weight
- Males (Bucks): Stand from 26 to 41 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh from 176 to 220 pounds.
- Females (Does): Stand from 26 to 28 inches tall at the shoulders, and weigh from 66 to 110 pounds.
- Body Length: Total body length ranges from 4.2 to 4.6 feet long.
Horns
Both males and females have horns, but males have much larger and longer horns.
- Male Horns: Massive and saber-like, curving backward and up to 36 inches in length, featuring prominent horizontal ridges (knobs) across the front surface.
- Female Horns: Much smaller, thinner, and shorter, typically reaching only from 12 to 14 inches long.
Coat and Color
- Summer Coat: Short and iron-gray with slight chestnut or brownish shades.
- Winter Coat: Thicker, woolly, and dark brown or grayish-brown to better insulate against freezing mountain temperatures.
- Beard: Both sexes can have a small beard under the chin, though it is generally thicker and more prominent in males.
Hooves and Legs
- Legs: Short, stocky, and very powerful, allowing them to leap high onto steep ledges.
- Hooves: Split with a hard outer rim and a soft, rubber-like concave inner pad that acts like a suction cup and emergency brake on vertical rock faces
Recommended Calibers
Use a minimum of a 6.5mm caliber rifle to hunt Alpine Ibex.
Where to Hunt Alpine Ibex
You can hunt alpine ibex free range primarily in Austria, Slovenia, and Switzerland, but the opportunities are very limited and costly. Another great alternative is to hunt alpine ibex on a game preserve in Texas.
- Austria: The most popular European destination for free-range Alpine ibex. Seasons generally run from August through December. Packages and trophy fees vary based on horn length.
- Slovenia: Hunting is possible, but the opportunities are limited for foreign hunters.
- Switzerland: There are large, robust native populations, but hunting is strictly regulated and limited.
- Texas: These hunts take place exclusively on private, high-fence exotic game ranches. Since they are classified as exotic livestock in Texas, there is no official hunting season, so you can hunt them year-round.
What is Considered a Trophy Alpine Ibex
A trophy Alpine ibex is judged primarily by the age of the animal and the length, mass, and prominent ridges (knobs) of its horns. Unlike other ibex species whose horns can sweep from 45 to 50 inches, purebred Alpine ibex have much shorter, thicker, and more compact horns.
- High Quality Trophy: Any purebred Alpine ibex with horns measuring over 30 inches long is considered a high-quality trophy.
- Record Class Trophy: Horns reaching from 35 to 40 inches are considered a rare, world-class trophy.
- Mass and Base Circumference: A quality trophy requires heavy, thick bases. A base circumference from 9 to 10 inches is considered excellent.
- Age: A trophy size Alpine ibex will be at least 10 to 12 years old.
Cost to Hunt Alpine Ibex
Alpine Ibex hunt costs from $15,000 to $40,000 depending on the country you hunt, and the length of the horns.
- Free-Range Native Hunts (Austria & Slovenia): Average Cost is from $31,000 to $39,000+ for the total package.
- Texas Game Preserves: Average cost is from $15,000 to $25,000+ for the total package.
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