Ibex Hunting: King of the Old World’s Mountains
Published On: Maggio 18, 2025

The ibex is one of the most fascinating alpine creatures, a symbol of resilience and wild elegance.

Belonging to the genus Capra ibex, it is a species of wild goat that has successfully colonized the highest mountain ranges of Europe and Central Asia. It lives and thrives where few other animals dare to go: on rocky slopes, vertical cliffs, and rugged ridgelines, adapting to extreme conditions with remarkable agility and an extraordinary survival instinct.

In addition to the Alps—home to the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex)—there are several other subspecies distributed across various mountainous regions of the Old World:

• The Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), found in the Middle East and North Africa

• The Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), inhabiting the mountains of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan)

• The Turkestan ibex, hunted in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

• The Walia ibex, endemic to Ethiopia and protected by law

Many of these subspecies are part of regulated hunting programs within sustainable management strategies, where hunting plays an active role in conservation—economically supporting habitat monitoring and protection efforts.

Among the most popular destinations for European hunters is Spain, where four subspecies of the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) can be hunted: the Gredos, Beceite, Sierra Nevada, and Ronda ibex.
Each of these displays distinct morphological characteristics, particularly in the shape and curvature of their horns. Ibex hunting in Spain takes place in wild settings, from Mediterranean woodlands to rocky peaks, offering a highly technical and visually stunning experience.

Another fascinating destination is Iran, home to the Persian ibex (Capra aegagrus).
In Iran, hunting is allowed only in designated controlled areas and is regulated by a strict quota system. The landscapes are harsh and evocative—from the Alborz Mountains to deserts dotted with rugged outcrops—where the hunting tradition remains deeply rooted. These hunts are part of sustainable wildlife management programs, where regulated hunting contributes economically to the monitoring and protection of habitats.

In this article, we focus in particular on the Alpine ibex, the undisputed ruler of the high altitudes between Austria and Switzerland.

The Alpine Ibex: Sovereign of the Peaks and Symbol of Resilience

In the lofty heights where the air thins and rock meets sky lives one of the most iconic animals of the Alpine arc: the ibex (Capra ibex).
With its imposing horns, proud silhouette, and absolute mastery of the steepest slopes, the ibex has for centuries symbolized strength, adaptability, and wild beauty.

The ibex is found in various regions of the Alps, but its most historically significant populations are in Switzerland and Austria, where it is now the subject of careful conservation management. It lives above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), among glaciers, rocky ridges, and alpine meadows, moving with surprising agility even on the steepest inclines.

Adult males are distinguished by their long, curved horns, which can exceed 90 cm (35 inches) in length, marked with ridges that reveal their age.
Their coat ranges from light grey to dark brown and thickens during the winter months to withstand the harsh cold. Ibex are gregarious animals, living in same-sex herds for most of the year.

Ibex Hunting in Austria and Switzerland

Among the dizzying cliffs of the Alps and the profound silence of high-altitude valleys lives one of Europe’s most iconic and captivating creatures: the Alpine ibex. Proud, agile, stubborn, and resilient, it has become the very symbol of the wild, untamed, and pristine mountain environment.
Hunting it is not just a technical challenge—it’s an ancient ritual that blends spirit, effort, and respect. In Austria and Switzerland, two countries with deep-rooted and strictly regulated hunting traditions, this form of hunting is practiced with near-surgical precision and regarded as both an act of ethical selection and an experience of extraordinary beauty.

A Delicate Balance: Wildlife Management Among the Peaks

In both Austria and Switzerland, the management of the ibex population is entrusted to state or cantonal authorities, who work in close collaboration with biologists, gamekeepers, and local administrators.
Each year, a selective culling plan is drawn up, with clearly defined quotas based on thorough population surveys. These take into account density, age and sex structure, environmental impacts, and climate conditions—ensuring a balanced, sustainable approach to preserving the species and its alpine habitat.

Permits are extremely limited and are issued only in areas where the ibex population is stable, abundant, and sustainable.
In Switzerland in particular, many permits are allocated through lotteries or public auctions, with the proceeds used to fund national parks and alpine ecosystem conservation projects. This virtuous system makes ibex hunting an active component of environmental preservation.

A Tough Hunt, for True Hunters

Those who take part in an ibex hunt know they will face often extreme environmental conditions.
Sightings typically occur above 2,000–2,500 meters (6,500–8,200 feet) in rocky, harsh, and remote terrain, where the physical strain of the climb merges with the intense focus of spotting and the adrenaline of the shot.

The hunt often begins before dawn, with a technical backpack, high-precision optics, layered clothing, and boots capable of handling any type of terrain. At the hunter’s side are expert alpine guides—often retired gamekeepers or local wildlife managers—who know the habits of the herds, their favorite resting spots, movement patterns, and even the direction of the mountain winds.

The approach is never invasive. Observation, time, and patience are just as essential as the rifle. Because the ibex is not pursued—it is awaited. With a silent heart, eyes behind the binoculars, and a still mind.

Ethics, Selection, and Precision

The moment of the shot is always the culmination of a long process of selection and assessment. Older animals are preferred—often dominant males at the end of their reproductive life.
This ensures the population can renew itself without disrupting its natural balance and reinforces the hunter’s role as a careful selector rather than a mere predator.

The shot is almost always taken at considerable distances—between 200 and 350 meters (650–1,150 feet)—and demands top-tier equipment, reliable optics, appropriate calibers, and a deep understanding of high-altitude ballistics.
But above all, it requires emotional control, respect for the animal, and a sense of responsibility that goes far beyond the technical act.

The ibex, with its regal bearing and solitary nature, deserves a perfect shot. The margin for error is minimal, and hunting ethics dictate that the animal must be taken down in the cleanest, quickest, and most painless way possible.

The Allure of a Trophy That Tells a Story

Taking down an ibex is never guaranteed. Often, after entire days spent among scree slopes and shifting mists, the hunter returns to the valley without having fired a single shot. But that, too, is part of the experience.

Because those who hunt in the mountains know that the true value isn’t in the harvest—but in having lived the effort, the silence, and that suspended moment in which man and nature observe each other up close.

The trophy of an ibex is not just a set of horns to display. it is the synthesis of a story, a tangible memory of an experience lived with depth. In Austria, the trophy is often officially measured using the CIC (International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation) system and recorded in local hunting registers. In Switzerland, it is frequently accompanied by a certificate attesting to its origin and legality.

When and Where: The Hunting Calendar

The hunting season varies based on regions and local regulations. Generally, it spans from late August to November, with peak activity occurring in October and November, when the males begin moving more to find females and become more visible.

The most renowned areas include the Valais Canton, Graubünden Canton, and Bernese Oberland in Switzerland, and the Tyrol and Salzburg regions in Austria, where hunting is deeply rooted in alpine culture and the appreciation of the land.

A Unique Experience Amid Beauty and Silence

Hunting the ibex is not just about obtaining a trophy: it’s about immersing oneself in a primordial landscape of wind, silence, and vertigo.
It means confronting physical limits and embracing the patience needed to wait, observe, and decide. The moment of the shot is never spontaneous: it is the result of hours of climbing, studying, and distant glances exchanged.

Hunting the ibex is, for many, a return to the essence of the mountain. It is a privilege granted only to those who can accept the rules of high altitude and the philosophy of selective hunting.

The ibex came very close to extinction in the 19th century, saved only thanks to the first conservation efforts undertaken in Switzerland and Piedmont. Today, thanks to protection and reintroduction plans, the populations are in good condition, but hunting is still limited to a few specimens each year.

Why Banning Ibex Hunting in Italy Is a Mistake for Species Conservation

The Alpine ibex is one of the greatest conservation success stories in Europe. Extinct in most of its range between the 18th and 19th centuries, it survived only thanks to a small core in the Gran Paradiso area in Piedmont. From there, with great human effort, it was reintroduced to numerous alpine regions in Switzerland, Austria, France, and Italy. Today, after over a century, the ibex is no longer at immediate risk of extinction, but its absolute protection in Italy has become counterproductive.

A Weakened Genetic Pool

All the ibexes found today in the Italian Alps are descendants of just a few founder individuals. The consequence? An extremely low genetic variability, which makes the populations vulnerable to diseases, environmental changes, and reproductive issues. In Switzerland, Austria, and France, where selective hunting is allowed and regulated, management programs also include genetic monitoring and targeted reinforcement actions.

An Opportunity for Italy: Hunting as a Conservation Tool

Introducing regulated, selective ibex hunting in Italy, as is already done in neighboring alpine countries, would allow for:

• Strengthening the genetic health of the species.

• Improving the quality of habitats.

• Integrating conservation efforts with local development and hunting tourism.

• Promoting a culture of responsible, ethical, and scientifically grounded hunting.

You don’t protect a species by freezing it in place. A species is protected by managing it intelligently, with data and a long-term vision.

Making ibex hunting an active conservation tool in Italy is not only possible — it is necessary.