Join the Russian Hunting Agency for a Caucasian Tur Hunt

WEST CAUCASIAN TUR
Capra caucasica dinniki

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY
(male) Shoulder height 37-42 inches (95-107 cm). Weight 200-250 pounds (91-113 kg). Females are about 30 percent small than males. Larger than the mid-Caucasian tur, with a more ibex-like appearance. The face is short and blunt. The hoofs are large. The beard is long, up to seven inches (18 cm), narrow and prominent. The short summer coat is yellowish-tan, lighter on the back and sides, darker on the head, very dark brown on the tail and lower legs, and dirty white on the belly. The winter coat is heavier and coarser, varying from grayish to yellowish-brown, with a dark dorsal stripe. The horns are black and rather similar to those of an ibex, being scimitar-shaped and having prominent cross ridges on the front surface, but they are much more massive and relatively shorter. The tips are widely separated, the distance varying between 16-26 inches (41-66 cm) and sometimes more. The horns are triangular in cross section, with strongly rounded angles and bulging surfaces. Females have thin, weak horns that are elliptical in section and slightly curved. The record trophy was obtained in Krasnaya Polyana: Left horn length - 41 6/8 inches, circumference 12 3/4 inches. Right horn length - 40 6/8 inches, circumference at the base - 12 1/2 inches. The total score: 164 4/8

DISTRIBUTION
A top game animal that lives in some of the most beautiful mountain country anywhere. A limited range at the extreme northwestern end of the Caucasus Mountains, from Mt. Cugus (northeast of Krasnaya Polyana) eastward to include the upper reaches of the Belaya and Laba rivers. Boundaries with the mid-Caucasian tur are unclear.

HUNT
Hunt is conducted in open, precipitous terrain, usually above the timber line. The hunt is physically demanding and long shots may be required. Bad weather can be a problem in this region, with fog, rain, hail, snow and strong winds a daily possibility. Hunters should be in very good shape, try to hunt early in the season, and allow enough days. Caucasian chamois, mid-eastern red deer and the occasional wolf may also be seen, but bear and red deer seasons are not open on early hunts. We organize hunting for the West Caucasian Tur in Kabardino-Balkaria and the Krasnodar Region.

EAST CAUCASIAN TUR
Capra cylindricornis

Also called Dagestan tur, or Pallas tur after 18th century German zoologist Peter S. Pallas, or Caucasian bharal because its horns resemble those of a blue sheep. (Tur oriental, Ostkaukasischer Tur, Tur du Caucase oriental).

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY
Males: shoulder height 31-39 inches (79-98 cm). Weight 120-175 pounds (55-80 kg), sometimes to 220 pounds (100 kg). The female is about 20 percent smaller. Somewhat smaller and decidedly darker in color than the west Caucasian tur. The coat is uniformly reddish-brown in summer, with underparts whitish and the tail, breast and lower legs darker. Turns a uniform dark brown in winter, with underparts slightly lighter and the tail, breast and lower legs much darker. There is a small white rump patch. Beard is dark and very short (up to three inches (7.6 cm) in length), and difficult to detect in some animals. The horns are quite unusual for a goat, being smooth and rounded, curving above and behind the neck, with the tips turning inward and upward. Very similar to those of the Himalayan blue sheep or bharal, but are more massive. Females have short, thin horns that grow outward, upward and back. Gregarious, sometimes in large herds numbering several hundred. Males and females keep separate except during mating season. Prefers to feed on forbs and grasses, but will browse. Obtains water from small pools high in the mountains. An extremely good climber as are all goats. Predators are wolves and occasionally leopards. The record was taken in Azerbaijan. Left horn - 45 inches long, 13 7/8 inches circumference at the base; Right horn - 43 4/8 inches long, 13 7/8 inches circumference at the base. The total score: 179 6/8.

DISTRIBUTION
Eastern part of the Caucasus Mountains east of Mt. Dykhtau.

HUNT
The Dagestan tur, like all tur, is a very fine sporting game animal. It is hunted in steep, high mountains where good physical condition is a must, long shots may be required, and even an average trophy is something to be proud of. Weather in this region is much better than in the western Caucasus. Hunting terrain is open and precipitous. Hunt usually takes place at elevations as high as 12,000 feet or (3,650 m), but later in the season at elevations, ins thick forest where animals descend to escape heavy snow. We organize hunting in Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia (Russia) and Azerbaijan.

Hunting Season: August-December in Russia and May-September in Azerbaijan. Tour duration: 7 - 10 days

MID-CAUCASIAN TUR (SEVERTZOV)
Capra caucasica caucasica

DESCRIPTION & TAXONOMY
Intermediate between the west Caucasian and east Caucasian turs.

Compared to the true west Caucasian tur (dinniki), the severtzovi race to the east (but still west of Mt. Elbrus) is described as slightly taller, standing 38-43 inches (97-109 cm) at the shoulder. The black horns are smoother, with smaller cross ridges, and the tips may be closer together. The beard is shorter, being only of moderate length. Summer coat is reddish-gray, with forehead and chest darker and browner; front of legs darker, becoming black near the hoofs; belly and inner thighs a dirty white. A darker dorsal stripe may or may not be present. The caucasica race from Mt. Elbrus eastward to Mt. Dykhtau was originally described as a hybrid between severtzovi and the east Caucasian tur (cylindricornis). This is confirmed by recent observers who describe a wide variety of hybrids from this area, often in large herds that include a number of different forms. Individual horns are said to vary from like those of cylindricornis, though often with cross ridges like those of dinniki, to long and scimitar-shaped like those of dinniki, but relatively smooth like those of cylindricornis. The caucasica race is generally darker in color than the severtzovi race, and with a dark dorsal streak. The winter coat is dark brown. The record Mid-Caucasian Tur was obtained in Russia (Kabardino-Balkaria). Length of the left horn - 30 5/8 inches, length of the right horn - 33 1/8 inches; circumference of the left horn at base - 12 1/8 inches, circumference of the right horn at base - 12 inches. The total score: 144

DISTRIBUTION
Boundaries with the west Caucasian tur are unclear.

HUNT
Hunting is organized in Kabardino-Balkaria.

• Learn more about Caucasian tur hunting.

• Contact us at info@russianhunting.com.