Dagestan Tur in Azerbaijan
Eastern Tur (Capra cylindricornis) also called Dagestan Tur, or Pallas Tur after 18th century German zoologist Peter S. Pallas, or Caucasian bharal because its horns resemble those of a blue sheep.
Males: shoulder height 31-39 inches (79-98 cm). Weight 120-175 pounds (55-80 kg), sometimes to 220 pounds (100 kg). The female is about 20 percent smaller. Somewhat smaller and decidedly darker in color than the west Caucasian tur. The coat is uniformly reddish-brown in summer, with underparts whitish and the tail, breast and lower legs darker. Turns a uniform dark brown in winter, with underparts slightly lighter and the tail, breast and lower legs much darker.
There is a small white rump patch. Beard is dark and very short (up to three inches (7.6 cm) in length), and difficult to detect in some animals.The horns are quite unusual for a goat, being smooth and rounded, curving above and behind the neck, with the tips turning inward and upward. Very similar to those of the Himalayan blue sheep or bharal, but are more massive. Average trophy is 32” – 35” (81 – 89 cm) with some trophies up to 40” (101 cm). The record was taken in Azerbaijan. Left horn - 45 inches (114,3 cm) long, 13 7/8 inches (35,3 cm) circumference at the base; Right horn - 43 4/8 inches (110,5 cm) long, 13 7/8 inches (35,3 cm) wide the base.
Areas
Republic Azerbaijan: Sheki, Fil’-Filli, 170—200 miles (270 –320 km) or Quba 100 miles (150 km) from the capital Baku
Hunting season
From June 1 to November 30.
The optimal period is from June to September.
Route
You can fly to Baku through Frankfurt, Moscow or Istanbul. Our crew will meet you and assist you through customs. You will be taken to hotel for overnight at Baku depending on the airline schedule. Next morning you travel by van and then proceed on horseback to camp.
Camps & Accommodation
Base camps are comfortable wooden lodge with beds and shower or tented camp with simple conditions located at 5,700 feet (1,900 m). A good skilled staff makes you feel comfortable.
Hunting
Hunting is done on foot with option of horseback in the earlier and later time of period. It is a spot and stalk hunting with a big portion of hiking. Driven hunts can be done, if necessary. Spike camps are used intensively in order to avoid the most difficult part of vertical hiking. They are set up at 8,500-9,000 feet / 2,700 – 3,000 m. It happens often, that one spots rams right from a spike camp.
Climate
Weather is normally sunny with occasional showers and fog. Daytime highs in June - August are 77 to 80 °F (22 to 25 °C), with lows of 50 to 57 °F (10 to 15 °C). In September – October daytime temperatures are 50 to 59 °F (10 to 15 °C) with 15 to 23 °F (-8 to -5 °C) at night.
Shedule
Day 1 Arrival in Baku, customs formalities, overnight at hotel
Day 2 5 hour car drive to Fil’-Filli, Sheki or Quba and another few hours on horse
Day 3-8 6 day hunt
Day 9 Return to Baku, overnight at the hotel
Day 10 Early morning departure back home