Iberian ibex

Scientific name: Capra pyrenaica

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males are robust with curved, ridged horns sweeping backward and upward (to 1 m long), darker coat with a black dorsal stripe and distinctive chest patch; females are smaller with shorter, thinner horns. Both sexes display pale undersides and darker legs, with seasonal coat variation from reddish-brown in summer to greyish-brown in winter.

Size and weight

Males 60–75 kg, females 35–45 kg; body length 120–135 cm. Males noticeably larger with more muscular build.

Habitat

Iberian ibex inhabit rocky, steep mountainous terrain in the Mediterranean region, preferring limestone and granite slopes with sparse scrub vegetation, pine forests, and alpine meadows. They occupy elevations from sea level to 2,500 m, selecting areas with exposed rock faces and cliff systems for escape terrain.

Distribution

Endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), with fragmented populations across the Sierra Nevada, Central Ranges, and south-central mountain systems. They favor south-facing, arid limestone slopes in Mediterranean climate zones.

Diet

Ibex graze on grasses, herbs, and clover in spring/summer; shift to browsing shrubs, lichen, bark, and pine needles in autumn/winter when herbaceous forage is scarce.

Behaviour

Primarily diurnal, most active during early morning and late afternoon. Social herds segregate by sex outside breeding season; males occupy higher, steeper terrain than females. Highly agile climbers using near-vertical cliffs as primary escape route.

Hunting tips

Glass steep slopes at dawn and dusk; look for fresh tracks in soft soil and scattered droppings along ridge edges and cliff bases. Approach upwind using rocky terrain and scrub for concealment, moving slowly and pausing frequently to scan. Stalk into high ground using folds and outcrops; ibex rely on vertical escape, so controlling terrain above the animal is critical for positioning.

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.

Spain

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.