Mountain stalking

The experience of hunting in the mountains is undoubtedly one of the most loved and desired modalities for a hunter. It is a collection of sensations, in which the slightest mistake can end up throwing all the effort overboard. In this blog you will learn tips for stalking, which species to stalk in Spain and where, as well as a recommendation of materials that cannot be missing on your day. But before all that...

What is a stalk? What species can I stalk?

It consists of searching for and stalking an animal until you get close enough to shoot it. It is a very complicated method that requires a lot of time and physical skills. It is also the most exciting type of hunting, since any mistake can make you lose the trophy you have been looking for for so long.

In Spain there are all kinds of hunting grounds, spectacular farms and places and great professionals who will help you find the animal you want. The species that are most in the spotlight in this modality are:

Chamois

It is one of the most characteristic species of the high mountains, its appearance is unmistakable due to its hook-shaped horns (both males and females). It is one of the great challenges for hunters, since many physical qualities are needed to face hard days in unpredictable climates such as storms or rock falls from the summits.
Chamois move in the early hours of the day. They are diurnal animals and must be observed carefully with good binoculars . Once you have selected the animal, you must try to approach it slowly and carefully with the changes in wind. Ideally, you should approach it from a distance of 150 metres, to avoid mistakes and unnecessary injuries to the animal.
The ideal places to find them are mainly the Sierra Leones, Picos de Europa, Cantabrian mountains or the Pyrenees. In this video you can see a chamois hunted with a bow in the Picos de Europa.

Mountain goat

It is one of the most beautiful and authentic hunts in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as being unique and emblematic of our country. People from all over the world come to Spain every year to hunt large trophies. There are four subspecies to stalk: Sierra Nevada, Ronda, Beceite and Gredos. They can be hunted in the places that their name indicates, such as, for example, Muela de Cortés or Maestrazgo.
The best time to hunt a male ibex is during the rutting season, which is when the large specimens leave their hidden summer shelters and are more easily seen, already wearing their characteristic black winter fur. A tip for hunting an ibex is to gain height on the herd, to enter from above downwards. In this video you can see a male ibex stalking in Maestrazgo.

Roe deer

It is one of the most passionate hunting methods, the “elf of the forest” is one of the most appreciated species by hunters. There are large hunting areas for roe deer in Guadalajara, Teruel or Soria, although they are widely spread throughout Spain. They are very curious animals and their antlers are of great interest to stalkers, who wait months and years for the perfect specimen, studying its behaviour and preferences. The best time of day to find them is at dusk, when they leave the forest looking for more preferred areas to feed, because they are animals with very fixed and territorial habits.

Barbary sheep

The Barbary sheep are a species native to North Africa, but they have found the perfect habitat in the Mediterranean mountains of Murcia and Alicante to thrive. In these mountains, the Barbary sheep feels at home and if they discover you too soon, they will not stop running and you will miss the chance you have been waiting for. The males are distinguished from the females by the length of their beards and the thickness of their horns, although both are great trophies.
Barbary sheep stalking in the open terrain of the Iberian mountain ranges requires a great deal of effort, with many hours of climbing and descending very steep slopes that force one to negotiate the terrain by repeatedly zig-zagging, taking long detours to arrive in suitable conditions for the shot.

Mouflon

The European mouflon is one of the best adapted and most difficult animals to hunt. Its excellent eyesight, its ability to lock itself in place and the fact that it is a gregarious animal make this stalking a real challenge. The most spectacular open-air stalking is in the Pyrenees, where we can find them at different heights, so the hunt can be adapted to the physical condition of the hunter. The mouflon, being a species of Iberian big game, is among the elite when it comes to hunting. This is due to its abilities in the wild.