West Caucasian tur
Scientific name: Capra caucasica
- How weight is recorded: Carcass weight
Field notes
Appearance
A stocky, muscular ungulate with short, dense grey-brown to dark brown coat. Males are noticeably larger and carry distinctive back-curved horns; females are smaller with shorter, thinner horns. Both sexes have pale underbellies.
Size and weight
Males 45–65 kg, 130–145 cm body length; females 30–40 kg, 115–130 cm body length.
Habitat
West Caucasian turs inhabit steep, rocky alpine and subalpine terrain between 2,000 and 4,000 metres elevation. They favour cliff faces, scree slopes, and sparse alpine meadows with rocky outcrops.
Distribution
Endemic to the Caucasus Mountains, restricted to the western range from the Black Sea coast eastward to Mount Elbrus region.
Diet
Alpine grasses, forbs, lichens, and mosses in summer; woody shrubs, dried vegetation, and bark in winter.
Behaviour
Diurnal, most active at dawn and dusk. Highly gregarious, forming small herds of 5–15 animals; males may segregate seasonally. Agile climbers with precise footing on vertical rock.
Hunting tips
Glass high ridges and cliff faces during morning and evening hours; fresh tracks and pellets on snow or soft ground indicate recent use. Approach from above when possible, using rock outcrops for cover, moving slowly and scanning for movement. Wind direction is critical in open alpine terrain; stay downwind and expect rapid departure upslope.
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 1 country in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.