Alpine Ibex Hunting

Alpine Ibex

(Capra ibex)

Current SCI all time record: Score 105 5/8
Current SCI all time record (preserve): Score 110

Description: The coat length varies seasonally, being short and fuzzy during the summer and growing thicker wool and long guard hairs during the winter. Young animals and adult females are generally light ochre brown to pale brown, while the colour of adult males changes seasonally. In summer, the coat is a yellowish brown with darker legs. There are lighter parts on the neck and flanks, and the underparts are white. In late summer, there is a gradual change in seven to twelve year old males to a dark chestnut brown. As spring approaches, this coloration fades. Bucks have a short beard, 6-7 cm / 2.4-2.8 inches long. The heavy body is supported by short, study legs. The sabre-shaped horns curve upward and bend towards the rear. While they are found in both sexes, but are much larger in males than females. Horns on bucks grow up to 100 cm / 40 inches long, and have small bumps on the outer curve. The much thinner, shorter horns of females are smooth, and grow up to 35 cm / 14 inches long.

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Range: Alps of southern Europe, but primarily Austria and Switzerland; virtually year around.

Natural History: The diurnal ibex is most active during the early morning and late afternoon, lying in the shade of rocks during midday. These ibex are strong jumpers and sure-footed climbers, which allows them to move with ease in their mountainous abode. During the winter, they are found at medium elevations on steep faces usually facing south. As the warm weather approaches, they follow the receding snowline up the mountains to the highest part of their habitat. Here they spend late spring, summer, and autumn. Males join the female herds during late autumn, remaining through the winter and departing during early spring. The male bachelor herds which form during the summer have a distinct hierarchy, based on age, size, and strength. Playful fights occur to clarify this ranking, with bucks rearing up on their hind legs before crashing their horns together. During the rut however, most high-ranking bucks avoid each other, minimizing the number of serious conflicts. Population densities vary widely - from 1 to 9 animals per square kilometer.

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