GILGIT: A Spanish national hunted the season’s first Astore markhor in the Rahimabad area of Gilgit on Thursday after obtaining a permit for $151,000.
Wildlife Conservator Khadim Hussain confirmed to HUM News English that Spanish national Carlos hunted the 13-year-old Astore Markhor in the Danyore Community Controlled Hunting Area (DCCHA), which spans from Danyore to Rahimabad.
The Markhor had an impressive antler size measuring 45 inches. He said this was the first hunt of an Astore markhor during the ongoing trophy hunting season.
Carlos secured the permit through the first-come, first-served policy adopted by the Gilgit-Baltistan Parks and Wildlife Department following two failed attempts to attract higher bids for the 2024-2025 trophy hunting season.
During the first auction attempt in October last year, the highest bids for two Astore Markhor permits from the Danyore and Buji CCHAs reached $107,000 each, significantly lower than the previous year’s record bid of $181,000.
A re-auction held on November 25 also failed to attract any buyers for the Markhor permits. This prompted the department to implement the first-come, first-served approach, which resulted in the sale of all four Astore Markhor permits at prices ranging between $150,200 and $151,000, slightly exceeding the base price of $150,000.
In the previous 2023-24 trophy hunting season, hunters harvested 51 Himalayan ibex, six blue sheep, and four Astore Markhor trophies, generating revenue of Rs309.35 million — an increase of Rs89 million compared to the Rs220 million collected during the 2022-23 season.
Notably, 80% of the revenue from the trophy hunting program is allocated to local communities, supporting critical education, healthcare, and development initiatives. The current trophy hunting season runs from November 1 to April 25.