Lured to this majestically beautiful, yet inhospitable region to test mountain hunting skills and attempt to collect one of these unique denizens residing above tree line.

Story and photography by Bob Zaiglin

High in the Swiss Alps thrive the iconic Alpine ibex.  Once extirpated from the region, thanks to conservation efforts the majestic animal reigns as king in the rugged high country of Switzerland.  Big-game hunters from around the world are lured to the region to test their mountain hunting skills in an attempt to collect one of these unique denizens residing above tree line in some of the most beautiful, yet inhospitable terrain in the world.

It wasn’t until 2019 while hunting Alpine chamois in the French Alps I became aware of the Alpine ibex.  After a challenging hunt in grueling weather, I was privileged to take a beautiful chamois.

Following my hunt, Jan and I, along with Thierry Fecomme, returned to Nice, but not before Jan entertained a little shopping in some of the colorful quintessential villages located throughout the Alps.

In the village of Colmar, the first thing that caught my eye was a ubiquitous bronze statue of an Alpine ibex with long, scimitar-shaped horns extending over its back in the center of the village courtyard.  Until then I had no idea this majestic high-country animal existed, so I researched it and discovered it was a revered game species found only at the higher elevations above tree line, making it a physically challenging hunt in a postcard-like atmosphere.  Relishing the challenge high country represents, I inquired about hunting the animal with Thierry in France but was informed there was no season on ibex there, but his son Joffrey, owner of JF Hunting, guided ibex hunts in Switzerland, so we booked a hunt before my boots were dry from my latest mountain adventure.

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