Chamois and wilboar

and how sun and mist can either play for or against you

Mountain Range: Pyrenees
Area: Prepirineo Catalán
Altitude: 2001 - 2500
Organizer: Marc Sobregrau

Diego Guerra

Day 1
After an uneventful flight, a one-hour drive in a rental car brought me to the hunting area, where Marc and his "gillie," Toni, were waiting for me. I arrived a bit late, at 10:30 AM, as my hunting partner for this trip had issues with his flight from Seville due to ammunition problems and couldn’t board. With only half a day of hunting ahead, we quickly ascended to the hunting grounds: a dense strip of black pine (Pinus uncinata) interspersed with open areas of bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and secluded meadows. Beyond 2,200 meters, the terrain opened up into rocky areas dotted with creeping juniper (Juniperus communis).

After a quick climb of 400 meters, we began the stalk, aiming to locate an old  female. The day was swinging between sunny moments, fog, and shifting winds, so we decided to search the slopes most sheltered from the wind. While taking a break, a herd of 15 animals surprised us, appearing along the ridge at less than 150 meters. We hit the ground and assessed them... Nothing promising—either too young or with fawns. We waited for them to naturally move out of sight.

Two hours later, we found another group that seemed to include a nanny fitting our criteria. We cautiously approached from above, but fog rolled in. Five minutes later, the fog cleared up, and upon closer inspection, none were suitable. However, grazing just 30 meters from them, a large wild boar appeared. We decided to gve it a go, repositioning ourselves on a high rock 60 meters away. We reached the spot and located the boar again, grazing peacefully.  100 meters and broadside..easy peasy. I placed my backpack and rifle on the ground. As I loooked through the scope, the fog rolled in again. Ten minutes later, it cleared—but the boar had vanished. It wasn’t its day. At 5 PM, with the winter short daylight  making it harder to assess trophies, we decided to call it a day.

Day 2
With both hunters now ready, we set off at 7:30 AM, heading uphill. My friend would take the same route I had covered the day before, while I moved three slopes west to cover a different area. By 8:45 AM, we were above the tree line, scanning every rock and crevice. This time, the sun was shining bright, with barely any wind, promising a more active hunt.

It didn’t take long to spot the first animals, but none were suitable. Finally, from one ridge to another, at 10:30 AM, we spotted a solitary female moving among the pines, heading uphill. The Nikon zoom confirmed it was a good candidate. Using the mountain’s folds and the sparse pines that courageously grow at these altitudes, we reached a ridge overlooking a small meadow where the slope ended. If all went well, it should appear there.

Fifteen long minutes passed before we spotted her back inside the woods—it was coming. We assessed her, and was suitable, but stayed partially hidden, grazing. It was in my sights, but if it didn’t step out, there was a risk it’d run downhill into the dense scrub, making it very har to retrieve. That area was steep and thick with brush.

Finally, it stepped out, giving us a full view.  It was at 215 meters.....180 adjusting the steepness angle....and perfectly broadside. Like church bells, the echo of the .300 Win Mag reverberated through the valley, announcing to all that it had dropped on the spot. A beautiful 14 year-old chamois. Hugs, photos, and preparation of the meat followed before we began the descent. On our way down, we heard a shot.....good news. Tonight, we would celebrate, honoring the two chamois and reminiscing about the boar that fate snatched from me, secretly wishing it a long life filled with successful ruts.

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