About the Alpine Ibex
General Information
The Alpine ibex is a wild mountain goat known for its incredible climbing skills and huge curved horns, living high up in the cold European Alps.
The Alpine ibex is a sexually dimorphic species; males are much larger and carry much larger, longer horns than females. Its coat is brownish-grey. Alpine ibexes tend to live in steep, rough terrain and open alpine meadows. 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.
Description of the Alpine Ibex
Size and Weight
- Males (Bucks): Stand 26 to 41 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 176 to 220 lbs.
- Females (Does): Stand 26 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 66 to 110 lbs.
- Body Length: Total body length ranges from 4.2 to 4.6 feet long.
Horns
- Male Horns: Massive and saber-like, curving backward and up to 3 feet in length, featuring prominent horizontal ridges (knobs) across the front surface.
- Female Horns: Much smaller, thinner, and shorter, typically reaching only about 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
Suitable Weapons
A long-range flat shooting rifle in the 6.5 to 30 caliber will be sufficient to bring down an Alpine Ibex.
Hunting Area
You can hunt alpine ibex free range primarily in Austria, Slovenia, and Switzerland, but the opportunities are very limited and costly.
Alpine Ibex can also be hunted at a few high fence hunting preserves in Texas.
Trophy Expectations
Horns that measure over 32 to 39 inches long are considered a trophy Alpine Ibex.
Cost to Hunt
An Alpine Ibex hunt costs from $15,000 to $40,000 depending on the country and horn length.
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