Traveler Asif Ilyasov’s Notes – “Spain”
Hasta la vista Ibex!
In February of this year, while hunting in Iran with Sergey Mazurkevich and Valery Malyshev, we planned a trip to Spain for the spring. Valery Alekseyevich had never hunted in Spain before, and this was a great opportunity for him as a hunter. Besides, the timing was convenient for all of us. It is well-known that Spain is home to four types of ibex, each residing in distinct geographic regions. The Southeastern ibex lives in the coastal mountains of Andalusia, near the border of the Ronda region. The Gredos ibex inhabits the Gredos Mountains near Madrid, and the Beceite ibex is found in the mountains near Valencia.
I suggested we hunt the Gredos and Beceite ibexes, since by early May we still had licenses available for these two species. I first flew to Italy, and from there, together with Valery Alekseyevich, we drove to the Sierra de Gredos mountain range—a beautiful range with peaks around 2,600 meters high. The journey took 16.5 hours, and we enjoyed the spring landscapes of Italy, France, and Spain. Luckily, the highways were in excellent condition, so we didn’t feel overly fatigued. Generally, if you’re departing from Madrid, the area is only about two hours away.
At the hotel, we were welcomed by the local outfitter. We agreed on a time to meet after breakfast and went to rest. The next morning, after breakfast, we drove to the hunting area located about 45 minutes away. After a short climb along steep mountain roads, we reached the national park where two local government rangers greeted us in their vehicles. We were provided with an excellent hunting rifle—this doesn’t always happen, but this time it was a Proof 300 WM with a Nightforce NX8 optic.
Just about a week earlier, I had been in a neighboring area of this region with my American hunters. Although the locations weren’t exactly the same—the national park is vast. Honestly, I thought hunting the Gredos ibex would be relatively easy. Especially considering it was inside a national park—a highly valued zone with restricted access, even for Spanish outfitters.
The Gredos ibex is a national treasure of Spain and naturally one of the most exclusive and representative trophies in the country. Of course, the rangers had been informed of our arrival in advance and had prepared by locating mature ibexes. We had requested a “gold medal” class trophy.
After driving a bit further, we began hiking into the park across rugged and rocky terrain.
Your experiences during the ibex hunt in the Sierra de Gredos mountains in Spain provide valuable insights into the region’s nature and hunting conditions. The Gredos ibex (Capra pyrenaica victoriae) is considered one of Spain’s most prestigious hunting trophies, and the hunting season in this area runs from September to June.
The challenges you faced during the hunt—particularly the presence of wolves and their impact on the ibex population—highlight how delicate the ecological balance is in this region. In recent years, Spain has made legislative changes concerning the protection and hunting of wolves. In March 2025, the Spanish parliament lifted the protected status of wolves north of the Duero River, allowing controlled hunting. While this decision was welcomed by farmers, it has been criticized by conservationists and environmentalists.
The equipment you used during the hunt, especially the newly acquired boots, once again demonstrates how mountain hunting requires physical preparedness and suitable gear. When preparing for an ibex hunt, cardio training and proper gear selection are essential for a successful and safe experience.
The Sierra de Gredos region is not only attractive for hunters but also a captivating destination for nature lovers. Its natural beauty, rich flora and fauna, and historical landmarks make it one of the most interesting regions in Spain.
If you are interested in hunting or nature tours in this region, I’d be happy to assist you with additional information and recommendations.
To be honest, a fitness gym doesn’t provide enough load for the heart and leg muscles — and that’s exactly what walking in the mountains requires. Overall, I was a bit surprised at how much and how far we had to walk, although being out in nature, in the mountains, especially with good friends, was a joy for me. But frankly, it was the first time in Spain that we spent such a long time searching for the desired trophy. Sometimes we saw herds of ibex, but none were suitable for us — they were either too young or had small horns. The key point is that the ibex must be old.After a quick snack and drinking from one of the many springs, we continued the search. The second guide hadn’t been seen for quite a while and hadn’t made contact either, so we figured he must be far from us. We spotted another herd of ibex, but once again, there was no “client” among them. The sun was now directly overhead. Around us, we could see “Hispano turistas oblīko marále” wandering the mountains — they passed us and climbed higher, as it was Sunday and the Spanish like to spend weekends hiking in the mountains.Frankly, I’m not used to seeing tourists in a hunting zone, although I had experienced it in Nepal — back then, deep in the mountains, we encountered a Canadian couple who gave us altitude sickness medication — thanks to them. At the summit, there was a bit of cool air and wind, but it was variable.We continued our search quietly, looking for the trophy we were after, as we still had at least two days in reserve — I had planned for that buffer in advance. Everyone who has hunted ibex in Spain knows that these hunts are usually quick, but it’s still a hunt, so having a few extra days is always wise.We realized we had covered quite a bit of ground that day and began considering returning to the vehicles and heading to another valley in the park.
We descended in the direction of the vehicles. Although the distance wasn’t short, it wasn’t critically far either. Naturally, we spent a lot of time using binoculars and a spotting scope. We searched and spotted ibex, but none matched what we were looking for. Valeri Alekseyevich was ready to shoot several times, but each time the state inspector said, “No, señor.”
As we approached the base of the mountain, we settled in one area and began observing a group of 5–6 ibex resting on the rocks under the sun.
At that moment, Valeri Alekseyevich said he spotted one and that it looked good! The guides looked and replied, “No, it’s not suitable, we’ve already seen that one.” But Valeri insisted they take a closer look. It turned out they had been watching different animals — the ibex Valeri saw was lying in the shade of a large rock. And — a miracle! Once the guides took a closer look, they began to show interest. Everything depended on the state inspector — if he approved it, we could go ahead. And he said, “Yes, this ibex is suitable for hunting.” It was one of those rare cases where the hunter spotted the trophy before the guides did.
We started looking for a place to set up the rifle. I positioned my camera and scope to capture the shot and even had enough time to mount a second camera on the hunter — thankfully, we had the time. The distance was only 270 meters. The ibex was standing perfectly broadside — an ideal position. The shot — and a precise hit! But the bullet struck directly in the middle of the body — as they say, “for accuracy.” The ibex ran 20 meters uphill and hid behind a rock — we could still see the horns, but the body was hidden, making a follow-up shot impossible.
We had seen the hit, but it was in the abdominal area — not the shoulder. The ibex stood up again, Valeri Alekseyevich stood ready to fire, but the animal lay down once more, keeping its body out of sight.
We observed the motionless ibex for about 20 minutes and then started approaching. As we moved between rocks and bushes, we kept checking the area where it was lying — nothing had changed; only the horns were visible, and the body wasn’t moving. We were already very close. During this time, the hunter advanced a few meters ahead with his rifle ready — after all, anything can happen in a hunt, and one must be ready for surprises. When we got close enough, we realized: the Gredos ibex had been taken.
After taking some photos, we began the hike back to the vehicles — even I, who felt pain with every step, was satisfied. An 11-year-old ibex — a very good result, even if it took 17 kilometers to achieve it.
We went straight from the hunt to dinner with the guides — to celebrate the success, so to speak. And the next day, another hunt awaited us — for the Beceite ibex in the mountains of Valencia.
After having a good breakfast in the morning, we set off toward our next destination. After about a 5-hour drive, we checked directly into the hotel, and since the hunting area was very close, we decided to go out for an evening hunt. Moreover, it got dark very late, and this was precisely the time when the ibex are most active.
After a 30-minute drive, we immediately spotted a goat, but the size of its horns wasn’t suitable — it was too young. We continued to drive around the area looking for a suitable one, as it was evening and they were expected to be out grazing. In less than an hour, we saw two ibex lying comfortably in the grass on top of a low hill — one of them was grazing. Our guide, Pedro, estimated that it was around 10 years old and that its horns were either of “gold” level or at least “solid silver.” In other words, it was a worthy target. Valeri Alekseyevich also liked this ibex.
“What’s the distance?” Quick question — 270 meters (once again, the same answer). The hunter took position in the grass and fired a single shot, hitting the Beseit ibex precisely in the neck. As I said in the video: “The hunt started — and ended — just like that.” That’s how it was — these two hunts were so different from each other: one lasted 12 hours, the other just 2. But what are a few hours compared to hunts in Kamchatka or the Caucasus? Of course, despite the mountainous terrain, hunting in Spain is very comfortable and easy.
I’d like to note an important fact about the Beseit ibex. It’s possible that in 2024, the number of licenses issued for this hunt will be reduced and prices may increase. The reason is that during the pandemic (especially in 2020 and partially in 2021), local hunters stopped hunting, which led to an increase in the ibex population. However, a disease also spread, wiping out 70% of the population. In areas where mountain ranges intersect, the disease is expected to spread further and continue to decimate the herds. This shows that having too many animals is not always a good thing.
I recommend everyone to visit Spain, this colorful region located on the border between Europe and North Africa, and to enjoy not only the hunt itself but also the social interactions that come with it — it’s truly fascinating! You can watch the film I made together with Valeri Alekseyevich Malyshev on my YouTube channel. I wish everyone success — or as they say, buena suerte!
Author: Asif Ilyasov
Photos: Asif Ilyasov
