Chamois at Chaillol

Alps all over the place. A feast for the senses.

Mountain Range: European Alps
Area: Chaillol. Población: Molines en Champsaur, Hautes Alpes (FR)
Altitude: 2001 - 2500
Organizer: ONF

Pedro Cabellos

Altitude: The hunt starts on foot from Molines en Champsaur (1,250 m) up to the area around the peak "Le Chaperón" (2,750 m). The ascent is manageable via trails up to an elevation of around 2,100-2,300 m. Trophy: They are hard to spot... The rutting season was already over this week, the last week of November 2024. The guide informs us that wolves arrived in the Champsaur Valley five years ago (there are two packs), which has had two effects: it has reduced the chamois populations and caused them to move to higher altitudes. This is not a region known for very large trophies, although it is possible to hunt beautiful chamois specimens. Hunting: Typical chamois hunting—walking, climbing, stalking, glassing, etc. In our case, we ascended 900 meters, reaching an altitude of 2,150-2,250 m, and were able to shoot a very nice chamois at sunset, which we retrieved the following day. Difficulty: Medium Shooting distance: 267 m. There is no option to rent a firearm. Accommodations, meals, etc.: Everything was fine. There is a wide range of hotels and tourist accommodations, as well as restaurants of all types. It is recommended to find lodging close to the hunting area, as the ascent to the mountain begins at 7:00 a.m. Staying an hour away would understandably cut into your sleep time. Recommendations and comments: Snowfall can significantly impact this hunt. We hunted on the 27th and 28th of November 2024, with 40-50 cm of snow above 1,900 m, and the previous 6-7 days had been impossible for hunting due to heavy snowstorms that affected this part of Europe. The chamois hunting season in the French Alps ends on November 30th. Given the need to book 6-9 months in advance, one can only hope for favorable weather conditions to ascend the mountain and hunt. The guide mentioned that approximately 60% of hunters guided by him and his partner in this area (Chaillol) successfully harvest a chamois. A highly recommended hunt in a spectacular setting like the Alps.

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