Markhor

Scientific name: Capra falconeri

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males are larger with a long, corkscrew-shaped horns spiraling upward; females are smaller with shorter, straighter horns. Coat is tawny-grey to reddish-brown, darker along the back and spine, with lighter underbelly and darker legs.

Size and weight

Males 80–100 kg, females 40–65 kg; body length 150–160 cm. Males noticeably heavier and more robust.

Habitat

Steep, rocky mountain terrain between 2,000–4,000 m elevation, with sparse scrub, pine forest, and alpine meadows. Prefers broken ground with cliff faces and canyons offering escape routes.

Distribution

Endemic to the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and western Himalayan ranges of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, with isolated populations in Tajikistan. Restricted to high-altitude alpine zones.

Diet

Graze on grasses, clover, and herbaceous plants in spring/summer; browse shrubs, leaves, and bark in autumn/winter to supplement sparse winter forage.

Behaviour

Primarily crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk; diurnal in undisturbed areas. Form bachelor groups (males) and female herds with young; solitary males sometimes observed. Move vertically with seasonal grass availability.

Hunting tips

Glass high ridges and cliff-edge meadows at dawn/dusk; fresh droppings and hoof marks on game trails are primary sign. Approach from above on broken rock, using outcrops for cover. Stalk slowly into wind, watching for sentinel females on exposed ground; males often bed in inaccessible terrain during midday.

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 3 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.