Bezoar ibex

Scientific name: Capra aegagrus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Powerfully built caprine with short, stiff coat in grey to brown tones. Males carry long, stout horns with prominent transverse ridges; females sport notably shorter horns.

Size and weight

Males typically weigh 40–60 kg and measure 120–140 cm in body length; females weigh 25–40 kg and measure 100–120 cm.

Habitat

Bezoar ibex inhabit steep, rocky mountain terrain with sparse vegetation and exposed cliff faces. They range from 600 to 4000 metres elevation.

Distribution

Found across East Anatolia, the Caucasus, Kopet Dag and regions bordering the Persian Gulf. They favour high-altitude terrain adjacent to cliffs and precipitous slopes.

Diet

Bezoar ibex graze on grasses, herbs, leaves and browse; in winter they shift to shrub foliage, bark and dried vegetation.

Behaviour

Most active at dawn and dusk. They form small, sexually segregated herds; males congregate in larger groups during the rut.

Hunting tips

Scout for fresh tracks in snow, mud and stone, and collect droppings at salt licks and favoured grazing zones. Approach from upwind, use terrain folds for concealment and stalk slowly along cliff-side routes where animals move in early morning and late afternoon. Watch for ibex moving upslope when disturbed.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 5 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.