At first glance, this hunt may appear “too good to be true,” particularly after comparing the average industry pricing for ibex hunts in Spain. Hunt Nation’s Derek Amadio has personally hunted with this outfitter and can assure you, this hunt is not only “the real deal” but there are no surprises, hidden fees or special conditions tied to these great offers that a discerning and experienced hunter might suspect. Instead, the outfitter offers a high success, low-volume experience on specially negotiated private land leases at the best-possible pricing. He is able to offer much better pricing by cutting certain amenities most hunters are not interested in paying extra for. The outfitter does not offer a luxurious, multi-million-dollar lodge, nor does he shuttle his guests in a new Lexus LX600. The result of his business model are unbeatable packages for your choice of species including the ibex Grand Slam ibex at pricing most other outfitters will not consider. And he does so with great success as virtually every client of his, regardless of the species they choose, have been successful on this hunt.
Species and Packages
This outfitter can offer any of Spain’s big game species which include four species of ibex, each unique to the Iberian Peninsula (Gredos, Beceite, Sierra Nevada and Ronda), two species of chamois (Cantabrian and Pyrenean), Iberian mouflon, roe deer, fallow deer, Iberian red deer, wild boar and barbary sheep (aoudad) on the mainland of Spain plus Balearean boc on the Island of Mallorca.
2023/2024 Private Land Single Species Package Including Any-Size Trophy – Only $5,995 USD
Priced in USD, these two day/two-night packages, nearly all-inclusive, are the most popular package and perfect for a small hunt added to an existing vacation. And best of all, they allow the harvest of any size of trophy without extra fees for large, medal-class animals. This is very uncommon in Spain as nearly every other outfitter prices their hunts according to the size of the trophy. This package can be applied to 12 of the 13 species found in Spain. Only the Gredos ibex are excluded from this offer. The Beceite is the most popular choice as it is the largest of the three available ibex species for this hunt and offers exceptional touring options in the surrounding area. Hunters can expect abundant number of animals and 100% opportunity with most taking their game on the first day.
Because this special package offers the rare opportunity to take any size trophy for one low flat rate, extending the hunt by adding additional hunting day(s) to allow for more time to look over the most number of animals is recommended. Although two hunting days is enough time under most circumstances to harvest your chosen species, by allowing yourself three or even four hunting days you may increase the likelihood of taking a larger and more valuable trophy. This is particularly true for any groups traveling as a pair of two who intend to stay together during their hunt and share a guide. Additional hunting days are only 400 Euro per person per additional day. If you harvest early, any unused hunting days, including any additional days added to your package, may be applied to any other hunting add-ons or touring options in the local areas.
Ibex Grand Slam Package
Those who want to collect all four ibex species on a single trip to Spain will not find a better offer than this. Unlike most other outfitters in Spain who only offer “representative” size trophies at their advertised starting point, this special package allows hunters to take any size Beceite, any size Sierra Nevada and any size Ronda without any additional trophy fees for exceptional animals. The fourth ibex, the Gredos, must be priced according to size, and for that reason, the size of the Gredos chosen will dictate the total cost of the Grand Slam package.
10-Day Grand Slam Pricing for Single Hunters:
23,000 Euro – for single hunters including any-size Beceite, any-size Sierra Nevada, any-size Ronda and a representative-size Gredos
25,300 Euro – including the above with a low-Bronze medal-class Gredos
27,000 Euro – including the above with a high-bronze medal-class Gredos
28,750 Euro – including the above with a low-silver medal-class Gredos
Larger Gredos ibex of the “super gold” categories may be available.
This Grand Slam package is typically offered as a ten to 11-day itinerary, enough time for success on each species when using a firearm. Archery hunters are encouraged to extend the hunt to 14 days and may do so at 400 Euro per additional day.
What is Included and Not Included
All Packages include trophy fee(s) for animal(s) indicated in each hunting package; Spain’s 21% VAT*, airport reception and all ground transfers during the hunt, guiding services, all meals and accommodations at local 3 and 4* authentic hotels (upgradable) during the hunt, rifle rental, all applicable hunting licenses and permits, the initial preparation of trophies and delivery to the expeditor in Madrid.
All packages DO NOT DO NOT include the following; commercial flights to/from Spain, any meals or hotels before or after the hunt (including the first night of arrival), ammunition @ 5 Euro each; optional 5* hotel upgrades, alcoholic beverages, any additional hunting days beyond what is already included @ 400 Euro each, non-hunting observer fees at 250 Euro per day; optional private guided touring arranged by the outfitter with a vehicle for 500 Euro/day, any additional trophies not already included in hunt package, trophy shipping and expediting expenses, optional travel insurance, any voluntary gratuities, bank wire fee for international deposit payment to the outfitter.
Favorable Exchange Rates
Over the last ten years, the Euro to USD exchange rate has fluctuated greatly from as high as $1.39 per 1 Euro to recent historic lows of .97 cents per 1 Euro. What this means is with the favorable exchange rate, now is that now is perhaps the best time to hunt Spain, and by doing so hunters may save as much as 25%. Because some of this outfitter’s pricing is in Euro, the actual hunt cost must be converted to Euro and paid in Euro at the time a payment is due. Our outfitter prefers the final hunt balances to be paid in cash at the conclusion of the hunt while in Spain however we can accept full payment through Hunt Nation in advance for those who do not want to carry large sums of cash or worry about exchanging Dollars to Euros.
Seasons
With 13 species of big game available, hunting seasons as well as peak periods are dependent on the desired species. Antlered species including roe bucks, fallow bucks and red stags are best hunted in September and October. Some species, like the mouflon, has no closed season and may be hunted year-round. Each of the four ibex species have some variation in seasons, but by large, all four may be hunted from September through April and May. All past hunters have been successful regardless of when they have travelled, but the peak ibex season is from late November, December and into early January during the annual rut. This period offers the highest concentrations of animals and often in very easy to access areas.
Trophy Quality and Expectations
Our flat-rate hunts are conducted on numerous free-range private land leases that range in size from five thousand acres to tens of thousands of acres. These leases are rotated periodically by the outfitter to promote sustainable harvest and to reduce hunting pressure in any one area. For the Beceite ibex, the most popular species, most hunters who are selective will have opportunity at trophies ranging from bronze into silver medal-class with a reasonable chance at something larger. During the fall 2022 season, numerous trophies in the gold and even a super-gold were taken on this hunt. Of course, no guarantees success of a specific size can ever be made with any wild, free-ranging hunt, but to date, no client has taken a Beceite below bronze on this hunt. When hunting the Sierra Nevada and Ronda species, trophy quality is less predictable and representative to bronze-class trophies area more common with some silver medal-class taken.
Those who want to ensure the highest-possible chances of success on a trophy of a specific size should consider a traditional hunt in a government-controlled area. Although considerably more expensive, these areas are closely managed by local communities and the size of the desired trophy can be virtually guaranteed with this option. Local community game guards accompany each hunter and guide while in the field to ensure the animal harvested meets the age and horn expectations for the tag that is purchased. Tags in these areas are issued based on the size and age of the trophy, and like large diamonds, the tag fees (incorporated into the trophy fees) become increasingly more expensive as the size of the trophy category increases. The Gredos ibex is the only species that must be hunted based on a tiered trophy fee pricing structure with this particular outfitter.
Size Categories and Species
Beceite Ibex – one of the two largest of Spain’s ibex species, yet almost always less expensive than the Gredos. Horns tend to have a straight appearance with less curvature than the Gredos or Sierra Nevada. Hunted in the coastal mountains in the eastern portion of the country close to Valencia and Barcelona.
Bronze-class Beceite
Silver-class Beceite
Gold-class Beceite
Gredos – Found in the Gredos Mountains west of Madrid, and often having more horn curvature and darker hair coloration than the Beceite. The Gredos are among the two largest of the ibex found in Spain and usually the most expensive.
Silver-class Gredos
Gold-class Gredos
Sierra Nevada Ibex – Also called the Southeastern Ibex, this species is the third largest of Spain’s four, with prominent curvature of the horns. This species is hunted on private lands and found in the extreme southern region of Spain, approximately 1.5 hours from the city of Malaga.
Ronda – Also found in the extreme southern ranges of Spain, the Ronda are the smallest of Spain’s ibex and often the most difficult.
Travel
There are a number of airports that hunters may use when planning their travel to Spain. The specific region or regions the hunt will take place will determine the best airport options. Madrid, located in the center of the nation, is the best airport of choice for the Gredos ibex. Barcelona or Valencia on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast, are the best airports for Beceite ibex, and each within two hour’s drive to the hunting area. Malaga, in the far south of Spain, is the best option for both the Ronda and Sierra Nevada species. Hunters who are planning a multi-species combination hunt should consider using two airports, one for arrival and a second for departure, to avoid long return drives back to the point or origination where the hunt began. Airport reception and all ground transfers are included with each package.
Firearms
Although it is possible to import your own rifle into Spain, doing so is more difficult in Spain than in many other countries. Rifle rental is included at no extra cost with each hunting package, he only asks that clients pay for the ammunition used at 5 Euro per bullet. A choice of rifles and calibers are available, most of which have European optics with first-focal plane reticles. Archery hunting is allowed in Spain and welcomed by the outfitter, but archery hunters need to consider the additional time likely required for quality shot opportunities and plan accordingly by booking additional hunting days.
Trophy Shipping and Expediting
Sport-hunted trophies from Spain must be processed and shipped by a licensed exporter and may not be taken home in checked luggage. The outfitter does not charge extra for the field preparation of trophies or delivery of the trophies to the expeditor. Barona Trading Company, a third-party shipping and expediting company located in Madrid, will contact each client directly after receiving trophies for instructions and payments.
