Big game hunts are conducted in various locations throughout Spain depending upon the species desired as shown on the map below.

Due to the overall size of Spain, the mountainous terrain, and the spatial distances between hunt areas for the various species such as chamois, Beceite and Gredos ibex, red deer, etc., it is important to plan your hunt carefully as hunt opportunities are limited geographically as shown on the above map.

Most hunters try to achieve too much in too short a period of time, so you need to review the species list and decide which species will be the primary focus of your hunt and then plan your hunt accordingly. If you wish to hunt more than one area/species, then you should plan on additional travel days in addition to the minimum number of hunting days per species for travel between the respective hunt areas.

The four sub-species of ibex are, by far, the most popular big game attraction in Spain, with other species such as chamois, fallow deer, mouflon, and red deer available as well. As ibex tend to be the most sought-after Spanish big game animal(s), the following overview will be limited to the four sub-species available in the country.

Beceite Ibex: The Beceite sub-species is hunted in the provinces of Tarragona, Castellón and Teruel in the eastern and northeastern portion of the country. Trophies scoring up to a maximum of 230 – 240 CIC points (81 to 85” SCI) may be expected. Beceite ibex scoring over 240 CIC points are rare.

Gredos Ibex: The Gredos sub-species is hunted in the Gredos Mountains in the provinces of Ávila and Cáceres, Riaño Mountains in the León province, and the a few in the Las Batuecas Mountains located in the province of Salamanca. Trophies scoring up to 25 – 260 CIC points (87 to 92” SCI) may be expected.

South-East (Sierra Nevada) Ibex: The South East sub-species is hunted in the provinces of Almeria, Granada, Jaen and eastern Málaga. In general, there are some areas where you can expect trophies scoring up to 200-210 CIC points (71 to 75” SCI). The outfitter also hunts South-East ibex on a private estate of approximately 7,400 acres (3,000 hectares) close to Granada where huge trophies scoring over 270 CIC have been taken.

Ronda Ibex: The Ronda sub-species is he smallest of the four ibex sub-species found in Spain and is hunted in the provinces of Málaga and Cádiz in southern Spain. It is very rare to harvest a Ronda ibex that scores above 180 CIC points (64” SCI).

Ground transportation to/from points of arrival and departure and between specific hunt areas, four wheel drive vehicle within the hunt area(s).

Ground transportation between the point of arrival/departure and the hunt area. In the actual hunt area, four wheel drive vehicles and/or horses will be used as necessary and/or appropriate.

Clients of this particular outfitter stay at very nice hotels, country cottages or National Paradores that are close to the hunting area. The specific accommodations will be dictated by the area hunted.

While hunting in the Toledo Mountains, hunters will stay at El Castañar, where the guest house called “Casa Rojas” is the original property home built in the 16th century. Casa Rojas has been refurbished to accommodate hunting guests.

Breakfast and dinner will be served each day and will include a selection of breads, meats, fruits and vegetables based on availability and individual preferences. The evening meal will depend to a degree upon your lodging, but would generally feature exquisite Spanish cuisine with various menus including local game, ample fresh produce and fruit along with a selection of fine Spanish wines. The bar is also stocked with a selection of liquor, beer and soft drinks. Packed lunches are prepared for each hunting day.

Alcoholic beverages will be provided in moderation and will include a selection of domestic wines, beer and a limited supply of distilled spirits. Those individuals wishing to imbibe a specific brand of American, Canadian or Scottish spirits would be advised to purchase a bottle in the duty free shops in transit to ensure that your preferred brand is available.

All hunts are fair chase hunting utilizing spot and stalk techniques. Access to the hunting area will be by four-wheel drive vehicle or horses, but the final stalk will always be on foot. All guides are fluent in English, very knowledgeable regarding the local flora and fauna, and are very experienced with the CIC and SCI scoring systems.

The outfitter and his sons are all SCI Measurers, with one of the sons being an SCI Master Measurer.

Balerean boc (goat), Barbary sheep (aoudad), chamois (including Cantabrian and Pyrenean sub-species), European fallow deer, European mouflon sheep, European roe deer, Iberian wolf, Spanish ibex (including Beceite, Gredos, Ronda and South-East sub-species), Spanish red deer and wild boar.

• Balearean boc (goat) are only available on one of the Balearic Islands off of the eastern coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Barbary sheep (aoudad) are only found in an area generally southwest of Valencia and east of Albacete.
• Cantabrian chamois are only found in the Cantabrian Mountains in the far north of Spain in an area located generally north of León and south of the Bay of Biscay.
• Pyrenean chamois are only found in the Pyrenees Mountains in the northeast of Spain in an area located generally south of the border of France and northeast of Zaragoza.
• Deer (fallow, red, roe) and mouflon are found in different areas in Spain, with hunts for these species conducted in the Toledo Mountains as well as the Cork Forest.
• Wild boar are fairly widespread throughout the country.

The months in which hunting is allowed for the various species available in Spain are listed in the table below.

- Season(s) and Optimum Dates for Specific Species - Continued

The hunting seasons for each of the species listed above are summarized as follows:

Balerean boc (goat) : Year Round

Barbary sheep (aoudad) : October – February

Beceite ibex : mid/October – May

Cantabrian chamois : May – November

European fallow deer : September – mid/February

European mouflon sheep : September – April

European roe deer : April – September

Gredos ibex : mid/September – June

Pyrenean chamois : April – May; October – mid/December

Ronda ibex : mid/October – April

South-East (Sierra Nevada) ibex : mid/October – April

Spanish red deer : September – mid/February

Wild boar : Year Round

Iberian wolf : January – March

The optimum dates for ibex are as follows:

Beceite ibex: late November through December; February through April. The mating season is late November through December.

Gredos ibex: March through June; September 15 through December 15. The mating season is mid November through December

South-East (Sierra Nevada) ibex: late October through early December; February through April. The mating season is mid November through December

Ronda ibex: late October through mid December, February through April. The mating season is late October through late November.

Any caliber from the .270 Winchester upwards should be sufficient for most of these game species; however, we recommend a .flat-shooting caliber such as the 300 Winchester Magnum or equivalent if available – particularly for longer shots at ibex.

The bullet selected should be a premium bonded core soft point. Specific recommendations can be made upon request.

We would also recommend a variable power scope with a low power setting somewhere around 3X to 4X and a high power setting somewhere around 10X to 12X.

A list of recommended clothing and equipment will be furnished upon booking. For initial hunt planning purposes, general recommendations can be made upon request.

The climate of Spain is extremely diverse due to a combination of geographical and orographic conditions and can be roughly divided into fiver area (not including the mountain climate):

• Continental Mediterranean climate in the inlands areas of the Iberian Peninsula largest city, Madrid).
• Oceanic climate in Galicia and the coastal strip (north/northwest coast) near the Bay of Biscay (largest city, Bilbao).
• Semiarid climate or arid Mediterranean in the southeast (largest city, Murcia).
• Mediterranean climate region extends from the Andalusian plain along the southern and eastern coasts up to the Pyrenees, on the seaward (eastern) side of the mountain ranges that run near the coast (largest city, Barcelona).
• A localized subtropical climate exists in the coastal area around Granada and Málaga.

Spain is situated in the northern hemisphere on the 40th parallel (latitude of 40º North). As a consequence, the seasons in Spain correspond closely with the seasons in North America (northern United States) – not taking into account the climatic influences of the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. Temperatures in Madrid range from an average low of 37ºF in January to an average low of 65ºF in July and August; and an average high of 49º in January to an average high of 88ºF in July. Madrid receives an average of 17.2 inches of precipitation yearly, with approximately 59% of this precipitation occurring from October through April – the prime hunting months. Temperatures in the mountainous areas of the country will be cooler due to the altitude, while temperatures along the eastern coast will be warmer due to the climatic influences of the Mediterranean.

Take a small digital camera that you can carry in your shirt or vest pocket for your trophy photos and learn how to use the camera before your trip. I would also recommend taking a slightly larger camera such as the Canon PowerShot SX-1 IS or the PowerShot SX-10 IS, both of which have a 20X optical zoom (equal to a 560 mm telephoto lens) for shots of wildlife while you are out hunting.

As with any mountain species, hunting chamois, ibex and mouflon in the mountainous terrain of Spain will require some walking and climbing. As indicated above, four-wheel drive vehicles and/or horses will be used as appropriate to the greatest extent possible, but all hunting is fair chase, the final stalk will be on foot, and the hunter will need to be prepared for some walking in mountainous/semi-mountainous terrain for these species.

Hunting of the various deer species and wild boar will also generally occur in the lower slopes (forested areas) of the country and the terrain should be less difficult (steep) as the areas where chamois, ibex and mouflon are hunted.

On a fitness scale of one to ten (with one being very poor physical condition and ten being excellent physical condition), I would rate the physical level of the hunting in the Spain at five for deer and wild boar and six for the mountain species including chamois, ibex and mouflon.