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Marco Polo Sheep Hunt in Tajikistan

WTA Team
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  • WTA Team

I recently had the opportunity to go on a WTA hosted hunt, with Mark Peterson, to Tajikistan in search of a Marco Polo sheep.  One would think that having my own underground 100 yard rifle range would give me an edge while hunting Marco Polo sheep, but I’m here to tell you nothing could be further from the truth.  Marco Polo shots are out there!

 

My Marco Polo hunt plans started when my wife saw a picture of a Marco Polo sheep in one of my magazines and said, “Why don’t you have one of these?”  My answer was, “Did you read about the cost of the hunt, the long flights and all the driving you got to do to get there?” She knew that I had seen a photo of a Marco Polo when I was 12 or 13 years old and had wanted to hunt one ever sense then.  So, my dear wife added the costs up and said “I think you need to go regardless of whatever.”   Those were her words and that was good enough for me.

 

I have heard about some of the horror stories told by hunters going after sheep in third world countries, and decided that I needed assistance to make my trip successful.  I called Worldwide Trophies Adventures and what an excellent decision that turned out to be. The OA staff at WTA was excited to talk to me about the trip.  They answered every question I had and knew what was going on. Then I was told that Mark will call you the next day and he did. Mark kept using the phrase “hosted hunt”, and said he was personally hosting this hunt.  Mark honestly described what would happen on his hosted hunt.  I was hooked and soon booked for the adventure of my life time.

 

Not long after, I received 13 pages of instructions on how to travel, what to bring and other useful information.  I started planning and putting things in order. Mark has an extremely well organized group of people at WTA who made my planning easy.   Our group, for the hosted hunt, met in Chicago and headed East on Turkish Air.  We arrived in Istanbul after a long flight and then took another flight to Dushanbe, Tajikistan.  Then it was more than a day traveling in Toyota Land Cruisers to reach our base camp.  I didn’t know what to expect, but our base camp was one of the finest I have ever been in.  We had great food and clean rooms and a friendly staff with smiles.

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Traveling to base camp in Tajikistan

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After a short first night, breakfast was at 7.  Then we went to the range to check our rifles.  The range had two-foot square steel swinging target, painted yellow, with a painted black diamond in the center.  They were at 300, 400, 500, and 600 meters, so we knew that short shots were probably not much of a possibility.

 

Heading out of our camp, there were Marco Polo sheep everywhere.  They were on the mountains and in the valleys.  There were herds of a few sheep and herds of several hundred. We got within several hundred yards a herd of maybe 200 or so.  My guide and the interpreter were excited about one of the rams in the group.

 

It was not easy trying to find that one trophy sheep out of such a large herd, but I found him in my binoculars and then in my scope. My guide and my interpreter were helping me keep on him.  Then my ram stepped left and stopped and looked down at me. They were giving me yardage as he kept climbing.   He stopped at 720 yards and I was sure glad that I practice long shots back in Idaho.  We were at the base of a hill that was so steep that my bi pods were extended all the way out and I still could not get enough lift.  I was shooting up hill at a steep angle of about 65 degrees and the wind was blowing left to right at about 50 miles an hour.  I held into the wind at what I thought was true and squeezed the trigger.  He dropped on my first shot.  I hit a little bit low in the front shoulder but he was my sheep soon after that. My guide kept saying he’s a real trophy at 60 inches plus. Later when we put the tape on him, he actually measured 61 inches.  My first day hunting Marco Polo couldn’t have gone any better.   I just can’t say enough good things about my dream team who assisted in the hunt.

Marco Polo
Kerry and his Marco Polo Sheep

 

On day 2 of the hunt, we were traveling and looking for Mid Asian Ibex. There are a lot of them around but they were mostly up high in the rocks.  We found this small herd of females but it also had a single dark male.  His color made him easy to track as the herd moved up the mountain.   We first saw him at 300 yards but he just kept climbing as the wind was swirled.   At 660 yards he stopped for the first time, turned left and looked straight down at me. The wind was so crazy but I thought it mostly was in my face, so I just held dead center and squeezed the trigger.  My dream team started yelling and giving me the high five.  We could see that he was hit and I figured hit hard but he never went down.  All of the Ibex ran but him and he was moving slower and slower to reach the rock ledge where he went down.  My guide and interpreter thought that he was 40 plus, but to my complete amazement he measured a full 44 inches. What an amazing Ibex he was!   What an amazing adventure it is in Tajikistan!!

Ibex
Kerry and his Mid-Asian Ibex

The staff working at this camp were the best professionals I’ve ever seen when it comes to capping, fleshing, salting and caring for our trophies.  They are amazing to say the least.

 

The bottom line facts describing this amazing hunting adventure are simply this.  During my time in Tajikistan I saw over 5000 Marco Polo sheep, about 1500 Ibex, 13 wolves, 1 fox and 1 Snow Leopard.  I had a great time with the hunters assembled for Mark’s hosted hunt and made many new friends.    WTA and Mark Peterson gave me my hunt of my life time.  Integrity is the word that comes to my mind.    Putting it simply, if you are not using WTA as your outfitter, you are not using the best.

 

Thank you very much WTA for doing and being all that you promised!

 

Morgan Kerry Phillips

 

If you’re interested in learning more about WTA’s hosted hunts, click here.

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Limited-Entry Alaska Dall Sheep: North America’s Pinnacle Hunt

Limited-Entry Alaska Dall Sheep: North America’s Pinnacle Hunt

As the December 15 deadline to apply for Alaska’s most coveted big-game tags approaches, one opportunity stands above all others: limited-entry Dall sheep. If you’ve ever dreamed of pursuing this iconic high-country species, now is the time to apply.

Why this Hunt Matters More than Ever

In the not-too-distant past, Alaska suffered back-to-back-to-back severe weather events that dramatically impacted Dall sheep populations across much of the state, resulting in fewer over-the-counter opportunities and even closures. Hunters have been forced to look to Canada, where hunts are now largely sold out through 2027 and prices have surged beyond $60,000. Even at such outrageous prices, availability is scarce.

This shift has made Alaska’s limited-entry draw areas for Dall sheep one of the most valuable options left for serious hunters. With hunts priced between $28,000 and $35,000, applicants can still access very high-quality white sheep at nearly half the cost of Canadian alternatives.

Exceptional Success Rates

Despite the challenges statewide, the limited-entry regions—managed by very conservative tag allocations—continue to produce outstanding results for the lucky applicants of WTA TAGS:

  • 100% shot opportunity during the past three seasons,
  • 90%+ harvest rates on mature rams,
  • Some of the largest Dall rams in North America.

For those willing to embrace the physical challenge, this hunt represents the ultimate North American mountain adventure.

Why…
My Alaska Range Grizzly Adventure

My Alaska Range Grizzly Adventure

I’ve been a bear hunter my whole life, but grizzly was always the dream. When the time finally came, I reached out to WTA to book a hunt. My someday hunt was finally becoming a reality. I thought I knew what I was hoping for: one good opportunity at a mature grizzly. What actually happened over those 10 days was beyond anything I could have imagined.

My journey began in Anchorage, where I stayed the night before flying into the bush. The outfitter has a liaison in town to help with any last-minute needs, so no rental car was needed. The next morning at Merrill Field, I boarded a turboprop (they use caravans, not tiny Super Cubs) for the 1½-hour flight into hunting country.

At the airstrip, the crew waited with Kong—a massive military deuce-and-a-half that can ford rivers, plus Polaris six-wheelers. After a stop at the roadhouse to organize, we headed to moose camp, about four miles upriver.

The camp itself told stories of 50 years of hunting. Cabin walls covered with dozens of hunters’ stories, as far back as the ’70s. Old regulation books showing $50 polar bear licenses. Boxes of ammo, left behind over decades for anyone who might need them. Four cabins with wood stoves surrounded the main lodge, and there was a creek-fed shower with endless hot water. A crate of beer stays ice-cold in the stream. It’s glorious. Remote Alaska with just enough comfort to keep you hunting hard every day.

From the roadhouse, we spotted two black bears on the mountainside. That evening, the cameraman Jordan and I glassed near camp, getting oriented for what was supposed to be a grizzly-focused hunt.

The next morning, those black bears were still there. We moved in. At 390 yards, with shifting thermals threatening to blow our approach, I took my shot. Low but lethal. Two more shots finished it. While butchering, we discovered this old boar was peppered with birdshot—dozens of pellets in each leg and shoulder. Somewhere, sometime, he’d been a problem bear. He could take a bullet. By 3 p.m., we had meat in the freezer and the hide salted. We were back to looking for grizzly.

Day two took us seven miles up the creek on six-wheelers, somewhat technical riding through river crossings and over rough terrain. Near the old sheep camp, we spotted a sow with three cubs and various black bears, but no boars.

Then everything changed. Rounding an alder-lined corner, our guide hit the brakes. A black bear ahead was acting strangely. It was actually approaching us. Behind him, a grizzly was hunting him, panting from the chase. The black bear, caught between predators, escaped up the cliffs.

The grizzly sat on its haunches, exhausted, looking between us and the black bear as it escaped. This bear was in full predator mode, seemingly calculating whether we might be easier prey. Then he simply lay down for a nap, 400 yards away, completely unconcerned by our presence.

For 34 minutes, I stayed behind the gun. Time passed slowly as we talked through every scenario: “If he does this, we’ll do that.” Finally, he stood and turned broadside at 415 yards. One squeeze, perfect shot placement. He barrel-rolled down the slope.

This was it—the animal I’d wanted forever, taken in a sequence I couldn’t have scripted better. Pure euphoria.

We had two bears down and over a week left of hunting. Day three was Jordan’s birthday, and we decided to get him a bear tag from camp. This would be his first hunt behind a rifle. We picked up a great black bear in no time. Jordan’s demeanor totally changed as he went into hunt mode and put a perfect 350-yard shot right into the bear’s heart. Top-tier birthday!

Three bears in three days with a week remaining. I bought a second tag and grabbed my bow. We spent four days searching for another bear, exploring drainages, following wolf tracks, catching Dolly Varden, and collecting shed antlers. Living the full Alaska experience while always hunting.

On the second-to-last day, I spotted a huge black bear doing loops through berry patches on a steep face. After multiple failed positioning attempts, I opted to go solo while Jordan and our guide filmed from a distance. The bear, hearing me crash through the alders below him, thought I was another bear invading his berries. At nine yards, with his hackles up and ears flat, I put an arrow through his front shoulder. Our group’s fourth bear.

Four bears in four days. An incredible adventure. This was the outfitter’s first year focusing on Fall bear hunting. The populations are thriving (evident from the moose without calves), and they’ve wisely increased tag allocations.

I came to Alaska with a lifelong dream of taking a grizzly. What I got was something I couldn’t have imagined: multiple species, incredible encounters, and memories that transformed a dream hunt into something beyond dreams. The grizzly lying down in front of us, completely unafraid. Jordan’s pure joy at his first bear. Stalking with my bow, close enough to hear the bear growling and clacking its jaws.

Some hunts meet your expectations. This one created new ones. When you book with WTA, you’re not just booking a hunt, you’re setting yourself up for adventures you can’t even imagine.

Learn about this Hunt

The Central Flyway is a waterfowl superhighway—a vital corridor for migrating ducks and geese—and for those of us lucky enough to be waterfowlers, it offers unmatched opportunities to hunt and experience the migration from September through January.

Over the past 40 years, I’ve had the privilege of chasing ducks around the world, but many of my favorite memories come from following this flyway, especially during those early years when my duck-obsessed father would pull my brother and me out of school every Fall to chase birds.

That’s right! We missed school every year for dedicated waterfowl trips. No regrets.

In the true north country, along the edges of Canada’s boreal forest, early-season hunts are nothing short of magical. The birds are just beginning their journey south—hungry, unpressured, and eager to settle into newly harvested grain fields. It’s a waterfowler’s paradise. The decoy spreads in these northern zones are often among the first the birds see, and their eager, uneducated responses can be absolutely breathtaking.

One of the most unforgettable sights is the famed swirling cyclone of Canada geese funneling down into a field. I can still hear my dad yelling over the deafening honks, his voice barely audible, “They can’t hear us!” The birds were so loud that those at the top of the funnel couldn’t even hear the gunfire below. If you’ve ever experienced it, you know exactly the kind of spine-tingling moment I’m talking about.

When the birds pushed south, so did we.

The prairie pothole regions of North Dakota are pure waterfowl gold. The right pothole on a cold morning—especially if you can find open water—can be magic. And if the water’s frozen? My dad had a fix: get there early, break trail through the skim ice, and push it under itself to create an opening. Voilà…open water.

I’ll never forget one frigid morning. After breaking ice, my hands were bright red and on the edge of frostbite. I looked at my dad for sympathy, but he just grinned as the puddle ducks cupped up and said, “Do you want warm hands, or do you want to shoot ducks?” Like I said, he was a fanatic. I grabbed the old Winchester pump and did my best. That day, I also learned the value of hand warmers and Gore-Tex gloves.

There are so many unforgettable moments:

  • Slipping and sliding at a Nebraska reservoir, laughing hysterically as we wondered if we’d ever get the old Suburban and trailer back up the icy boat ramp. After limiting out on greenheads.
  • Rowing across the Delta Marsh in the dark to find the perfect crescent-shaped bulrush island to set the decoys that the canvasbacks couldn’t resist.
  • Chasing snow geese in South Dakota and realizing we’d finally picked the perfect field, the one that made it worth all those hours spent spray-painting sheet-metal shell decoys in the garage.

These weren’t just hunting trips. They were memories shared with family, with friends, and with the great outdoors itself.

In the end, missing a week of school every year was worth every single minute.

The last duck hunt I shared with my admittedly duck-crazy father was a world away and half a lifetime ago. The hunt may be long over, but the memory will always stay with me.

At WTA, we’re proud to connect our clients with trusted partners so they can experience these same one-of-a-kind adventures.

We offer incredible destinations and outstanding outfitters all along the Central Flyway—from Alberta and Saskatchewan to North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma—so you can create your own lasting memories.

Call Worldwide Trophy Adventures at 1-800-346-8747 today to book your trip of a lifetime.

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