MONARCH OF THE GOBI

Gary Hansen, Gobi argali hunt in Mongolia. February/March 2008, page 41

International sheep hunter Gary Hansen hunted in Mongolia some eleven years ago and dreamed of going back. Early in 2007, he got the opportunity to return for Gobi argali and ibex, and brought along two good friends, Bryan Tyler and George Harms. The hunt was booked through Vladimir Melnikov of ProfiHunt, in conjunction with his friend and partner, Khurlee Ankhbayar (Ankhaa) of Mongolei Reisen Safaris. The hunting area was near the small settlement of Erdene, in the East Gobi Province along the border with China. Guides Muugii and Bayaraa were young and energetic and familiar with the area. On the first morning, Bayaraa told Gary that during his scouting he had spotted a truly outstanding ram in the area. On the second to last day, the hunters got close to a ram that had good length and mass but Bayaraa indicated it was not as good as the one he had seen, so Hansen reluctantly passed.
They returned to the hunt area the next morning. The terrain was not particularly high or steep but was clustered with large rock outcroppings that called for slow and deliberate walking; the hunters were less than a mile from the international border and could not afford to spook any rams. At last they came upon one of the largest rams of any species Hansen had ever laid eyes on. Although a veteran sheep hunter, Hansen admits he totally lost his composure. The ram was upwind, feeding broadside at sixty yards with three smaller rams. The ram slowly raised its head, turning it toward the now-frozen line of hunters: Bayaraa in front of Gary, Bryan, and Muugii behind him. Hansen explained what happened next:
"I had flashes of astonishment and panic going through my mind at the same time. Thinking he would bolt at any instant, instead of simply bringing my rifle up and taking him offhand, I pulled a novice and swung my rifle up on Bayaraa's left shoulder. I'm assuming Bayaraa was as rattled as I was because the cross hairs were dancing all over the ram and the instant I pulled the trigger I knew I had shot above his back. At the muzzle report, the ram jumped, did a 180, and disappeared behind some large boulders. Knowing I'd missed, I instantly ran to where I thought I could get another look at him. In those fifty or sixty yards of running, I knew I'd blown an easy opportunity at the ram of a lifetime, and I knew the ram would be in China in a matter of minutes.
"When we rounded the rocks I could see all four rams running full out, side by side, about 200 yards out. They were quartering away slightly right with the big ram on their far left, all headed for China. Knowing I would never see the ram again and with nothing to lose, I slung the rifle sling around my left elbow, swung the vertical cross hair slowly right until it kissed his left shank, and squeezed off. With the recoil, I couldn't see a hit but I heard the whap. Next thing I knew, Bryan, Bayaraa, and Muugii were all grabbing me, yelling "You hit him!" I knew I could never make that shot again in a thousand attempts. It was all over but the hugs and the pictures. What a hunt-from an all-time low to an all-time high within a matter of a few seconds! That's sheep hunting, and that's what keeps us all coming back."

FACTS SPECIES: Gobi argali (Ovis ammon darwini)
LOCATION: East Gobi Province, Mongolia
DATE TAKEN: August 2007
HUNTER: Gary Hansen
SCI SCORE : 226 3/8 (world record)