About the Afghan Urial

Info About the Afghan Urial

The Afghan urial is a striking wild sheep native to the arid mountainous regions of Central and South Asia. These agile animals are easily recognized by their reddish-buff coats, bluish-gray faces, and impressive, wrinkled horns.

Description of the Afghan Urial

Size and Body

- Height and Weight: Stands about 32 inches tall at the shoulders with a relatively small, sinewy build weighing around 100 pounds. Females (ewes) are noticeably smaller than males.

- Coat Color: The main body fur varies from reddish-buff to yellowish-brown in summer, fading to a lighter shade in winter.

- Markings: The underparts and rump patch are white. The face has a distinct bluish-gray tone. During winter, rams develop a small black saddle spot on their body.

Distinctive Features of Rams (Males)

- Neck and Chest Fur: Rams sport a striking white bib coupled with a long, prominent black ruff stretching from the throat down the neck and chest.

- Horns: They carry massive, strongly wrinkled (corrugated) horns that are triangular in cross-section. The horns grow outward and curve backward behind the head, with record lengths exceeding 41 inches.

Females (Ewes)

- Horns: Unlike the dramatic spiral horns of the males, females have much smaller, thin, and nearly straight horns.

- Mane: They lack the prominent black neck ruff and white bib seen on the rams.

Recommended Calibers

Use a minimum of a 6.5mm caliber rifle to hunt Afghan Urial.

Where to Hunt Afghan Urial

Trophy Afghan Urials are legally hunted in two vastly different environments: native mountain ranges in Central and South Asia and private, managed exotic game ranches in Texas.

Native Asian Mountain Hunts
Hunting Afghan Urials in their native habitat requires international permits, extreme physical fitness, and high-altitude spot-and-stalk tactics. These hunts can be done in Pakistan and Tajikistan in the November to March timeframe.
Texas Exotic Game Ranches
Texas has a thriving population of introduced, top-tier Afghan Urials to hunt. This option lets hunters bypass the complex visa laws and extreme mountain climbing. Hunts can be scheduled year-round on these ranches.

What is Considered a Trophy Afghan Urial

A trophy Afghan Urial is primarily judged by the length, mass, and symmetry of its horns. The quality of its distinctive cape is also an important part of the trophy. The horn size to look for when hunting the Afghan Urial are:

Good Trophy: A good Afghan Urial trophy has horns that will measure from 27 to 30 inches long.
Excellent Trophy: Rams with horns measuring from 30 to 34 inches are considered an excellent trophy animal.
Record Class Trophy: Rams over 34 inches long are rare and truly exceptional. A trophy this large today would be considered a lifetime achievement.

Cost to Hunt Afghan Urial

Texas hunts are priced either on the size of the animal or as a flat trophy fee. These prices usually include lodging and meals. Expect to pay $5,500 up to $9,500 for a trophy Afghan Urial at a Texas hunting preserve.

For a mountain hunt in Tajikistan, hunts will start around $28,500. Pakistan hunts are the most expensive option typically costing at least $35,000.