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The Special Nominations in

The Five Mountain Trophies

The Magnificent Seven

The Special Nominations in Trophy Hunting

The Russian Association of Hunters1 and Fishermen (Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz) The Russian Association «Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz» www.rors.ru Tel.: +7 (495) 452-13-36, 646-67-07 The Five Mountain Trophies

To develop and popularize the national trophy hunt among Russian and foreign hunters Association Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz establishes the following award nominations: The Five Mountain Trophies The Nomination includes trophies (antlers and horns) of the following species (subspecies) of hunted : The Five Mountain Trophies West Caucasian goat or Kuban tur ( caucasica); and East Caucasian goat or Dagestan tur (Capra cylindricornis); The Magnificent Seven Chamois ( rupicapra caucasica); Siberian ibex (Саpra sibirica sibirica); Snow Sheep (Siberian - nivicola lydekkeri, syn. lenaensis, albula, obscura, or Kamchatka - Ovis nivicola, syn. storcki).

3 The Russian Association «Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz» www.rors.ru Tel.: +7 (495) 452-13-36, 646-67-07 The Five Mountain Trophies The Five Mountain Trophies

of breath may occur. Short of breath is a normal phenomenon, but you have to be prepared to master it. Shortness of breath makes aimed shooting impossible. Trained Specific Features of Mountain people take about a minute to recover their breath and the untrained ones between five Hunting and ten minutes, but the will not wait The hunting for mountain animals is an exclusive and meanwhile. When you are going hunting difficult enterprise and imposes very high requirements in the mountains you have to take along both upon endurance and stamina of the hunter. The your specific medicines and multivitamins. hunter who is going to hunt for mountain ungulates must Physical loads, fat food and cooling may be aware of the degree of the expected physical overloads lead to serious exhaustion. Equipment of the and make an objective assessment of his capabilities. It must mountain hunter is also a very important be kept in mind that the hunter will have to walk much issue. You have to thoroughly think over through the mountains with steep slopes, at high altitudes and select your clothing and shoes. A small (over 3000m), under conditions of a rare atmosphere, durable backpack may be used not only for where a drastic fall in ambient temperature may occur, carrying any necessary sundries, but also as where winds permanently blow and the oxygen content a shooting support. is low. The body must adapt itself to new conditions, and Mountain hunting imposes special therefore acclimatization is inevitable absolutely for every requirements not only upon the hunter, one. Trained people go through it much more easily. In the but upon his weapons, too. Weapons used process of acclimatization aggravation of chronic diseases, in the mountains must be light-weighted impairment of general well-being, ear pressure and short and precise. Shooting range may be quite

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different – from several dozens (near salt earth patches) to several hundred meters while stalking. While hunting at altitudes of 2,500m and higher it is necessary to introduce a correction for air rarity and wind and to keep in mind that the bullet flies upwards while shooting at high angles, West Caucasian goat both while shooting downwards and upwards, therefore inexperienced shooters should better or Kuban tur (Capra refrain from shooting at distances of more than 300 meters. The sling and straps attached to stock caucasica); swivels should not have glittering chrome-plated parts (sun glints are visible far away) and should be prevented from jingling while carrying. It is better to fire half-jacketed bullets, because the full- East Caucasian goat or jacketed ones go often through producing many wounded to collect which under mountain Dagestan tur (Capra conditions is practically impossible. When firing for adjustment, it is necessary to try shooting at a cylindricornis). distance between 300 and 500 meters, while it must be taken into account that you will have to shoot Tur is a local name for Caucasian animals not only at a long distance, but also upwards or downwards at significant angles, in the goats. In the world they are known lying or kneeling position. The as endemics of Caucasus. For foreign most convenient for mountain specialists they are West and East hunting are 3 – 9 x variable Caucasian goats. Domestic specialists magnification sights with call them Kuban and Dagestan tur. objective lens diameter between The habitat of those animals comprises 40mm to 50mm and good coated practically the entire Greater Caucasus optics. It is very easy to make Mountain Range. The westernmost Habitat of Caucasian a mistake while determining point of tur occurrence is the upper goats in xx century the distance in the mountains, (Sokolov, Tembotov, reaches of the Belaya River, and the 1993). Points with accordingly, a rangefinder may easternmost one is the Psygansu River, figures are the fixed be very useful. a feeder of the Terek River. The length places of habitation. The spreading on different of the Kuban tur's habitat does not altitudes is presented as well

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exceed 300km. With an average width of 15km the habitat area makes 4,500 square kilometers only. The westernmost point of Dagestan tur occurrence is considered the upper reaches of Bezengiyskiy Cherek River (opposite to the City of Nalchik). The length of the habitat is about 500km, and the habitat area makes 13,500 square kilometers. The Kuban tur is habitant only in the territory of and occurs along the Northern slope of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories and in Kabardino-Balkaria. The Kuban tur has acinaciform horns; both male and female turs are horned. The size of the turs is close to that of the Siberian (the biggest among the goats). The turs' body length makes up to 165cm, the height at crest is up to 109cm. The weight is up to 100kg. The horns are solid; the girth at the horn base makes 30% to 40% of the horn's length. For instance, at a horn length between 66 and 74cm the horn girth of male turs older than 8 years equals to 29cm. The horn length depends on the animal's age as follows: 7 to 9 years – 66cm; 10 years – 67cm; 11 years – 69cm; 12 years – 73cm; 13 years – 74cm. The horns grow most strongly at an age of 6 to 8 years. The horns of the Dagestan tur are heavier and longer than those of the Kuban tur. The horn form is intermediate between acinaciform horns and twisted sheep horns; they look like a hollow forests, in Subalpine and Alpine meadows, in the spiral. Horns of a tur at an age of 7 to 10 years nival zone. The rut takes place in November to make an impression of being very thick. Horns January. Female Caucasian goats retain reproductive of older animals look thinner, because they are ability up to the age of 15 to 18 years getting one or longer. The average horn length according to occasionally (1 to 5%) two buck kids yearly. the age is as follows: 10 years – 80 to 84cm; 11 The best time for tur hunting is October and years – 86 to 88cm; 12 years – 84 – 102 см; 13 November. Four hunting methods are mainly years – 91 to 103cm. practiced: stalking, hiding, lying in wait near salt The animal inhabits an altitudinal belt earth patches, drinking places, or runways, and game between 1,000 and 3,800, in firry and drive. The use of 8mm weapons is recommended for tur hunting.

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and female animals. A male's horns are on the average somewhat longer and more solid than those of a female. The horn length of the Caucasian chamois does not exceed 26cm. The horn structure is extremely original. On the scull the horns stand vertically and then gradually diverge from the base to the tips; sometimes they Caucasian chamois grow almost parallel to each other. The peaks are sharply turned backwards and downwards. (Rupicapra rupicapra Rings on horn sheaths are weakly pronounced, caucasica). the peaks are smooth, and no ribs are present. The horns are rounded in the cross-section and The Caucasian chamois is a black in color. In the first year the horns reach a narrow, with a sharply pointed forward edge. small well-shaped animal with length of 5 to 6cm, after one and half year 12 to The inside part of the hoof is soft, but the horn a thin long neck, on high foots. 14cm. At the end of the second year the horns edges are sharp and solid. Thanks to such hooves The animal has a small head and begin to turn backwards, and by the age of 2.5 structure the chamois can move along extremely a short tail projecting from its . years take the final form. narrow runways and very steep slopes. The body length reaches 135cm, In our country, the chamois occurs only in The chamois is a non-migratory animal and, height at crest is 70 to 80cm, and the Caucasus Mountains. The chamois' fitness Habitat of Chamois in Caucasus in xx century (Sokolov, Tembotov, 1993). Points with though it is capable to climb high into the figures are the fixed places of habitation. The spreading on different altitudes is presented weight is 25 to 50kg. to mountain life is expressed by its hooves as well. mountains, very vulnerable. In the Caucasus Horns are specific both to male structure. The hooves are big, strong, and very

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Siberian ibex (Саpra sibirica sibirica).

The of this animal is an extremely perplexed question, so we give, without going into details of this scientific discussion, the taxonomy according to Geptner and Fedoseyenko (Capra sibirica sibirica). The Siberian mountain goat is a high-mountain inhabitant. Being an animal spending the most time in the cliffs it is as to the body form much different from the sheep and Mountains, its great feed rival is the tur. The chamois feeds on relatively smooth slopes. the other ungulates moving on an fact is that the chamois eats downs only 3% of The rut takes place in October to November; even surface. the pasture area, whereas the tur eats down 60% pregnancy lasts between 160 and 170 days. A The Siberian ibex features a thereof. female gets one, or, more rarely, two kids. Spreading of Siberian ibex in Siberia (Smirnov, Tkachenko, 1992). massive body on short thick legs and 1 – suggestions about the border of ibex habitat in upper The chamois inhabits the Alpine, Subalpine, To hunt the chamois are practiced such a small light head. The hooves of Paleolithic, and partly the forest belt of the mountains. It methods as game drive, laying in wait near salt 2 – places where petroglyphs and fossil remains were found the mountain goat are so structured mainly populates steep and rocky parcels. The earth patches and runways, and stalking. 3 – habitat in nowadays

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that sliding on smooth, very steep surfaces is canyons, gorges, cliffs and stream excluded. A long fur and a very thick down gravels at altitudes between 1,700 allow it to hibernate under extremely austere and 3,200m. The mid mountains are conditions, at altitudes between 5000 and inhabited by approximately a forth of 5500m, where ambient temperature in winter the population. They inhabit in this often falls down to 60 degree and where winds area canyon slopes hardly accessible blow incessantly. for man and predators, while rock The Siberian ibex stands out among the masses remain necessary elements of mountain goats as featuring the largest size. the Siberian mountain goat's habitat. The body length of the males reaches 171cm, The rut takes place between October that of the females 145cm, the males' height at and late January. Practically all crest reaches 110cm, and the weight – 140kg. females participate in reproduction On the average, the males weigh between 80 from the age of 2.5 year. Pregnancy and 100kg, and the females – about 50kg. lasts between 152 and 180 days. In The horns are long (those of the males up Altai, 65 to 70% of the female goats get to 148cm, those of the females up to 30cm) one kid, the rest – two, in exceptional massive (up to 31cm around those of the cases – three kids. males) and squeezed on sides and acinaciform The best time for modern trophy in one plane. The horns diverge from the base hunting is October and the best hunting at a small angle (under 45 degrees). The front method is stalking. Recommended (forehead) edge is wide, while the lateral weapon is an 8mm repeating rifle edges are backward skewed and converge on with good optics and a rangefinder. the hind rounded rib. The horn sheath forms This kind of hunting similar to all in the cross-section a triangle featuring sharp kinds of mountain hunting imposes angles at the base and a rounded vertex. On extremely severe requirements upon the broad front surface of the horn are located the hunter's endurance and stamina large protuberances whose number enables and his equipment. you determining the male's age. To do so you have to divide the number of protuberances by two and add one to the number so obtained. Old males' age is difficult to determine by this method, because their horns are cracked and broken off against rocks and while fighting. Up to 7.5% of the males have defective horns. In the territory of Russia the Siberian ibex inhabits the Sayan Mountains and Altai. It populates the hardly accessible upper parts of forest brushwood areas and the Alpine tundra up to the snow patches. Two kinds of the mountain goat's habitat are determined: high Siberian ibex in Western Sayan near Yenisei River. (Sokolov, 1979) Siberian ibex in Altay (Sobanskiy, 1992) mountains inhabited by ¾ of the population, 1- second half of XX century 1- the habitat reconstructed according to the rock and mid mountains. High mountains are 2- in the past carvings 2- habitat in nowadays (figures are in the places of mainly a zone of bald mountains that is local habitation) deeply dismembered featuring circuses, 3- main places of rock carvings concentration

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Snow Sheep (Siberian - The following subspecies of the Snow Sheep the vicinity of the city of Norilsk the Snow Sheep segments is observed at the age of 4 to 6 years are recognized in the territory of the Russian inhabits the Putorana Plateau. The Putorana and remains rapid until extreme old age. The ovis nivicola lydekkeri, or Federation: Kamchatka Bighorn (ovis nivicola), Sheep is included in the Red Data Book and is frontal horn surface of the males older than 8 Kamchatka - ovis nivicola).. Okhotsk Snow Sheep (ovis alleni), Siberian Snow therefore not huntable. years is strongly erose as a result of fighting and Sheep (ovis lydekkeri), and Putorana Snow The Snow Sheep are mountain animals, but the horn tips are split or broken off. There occur Sheep (ovis borealis). unlike the Siberian Ibex, they do not exactly one-horned animals, too. As to their linear size The present habitat of the Snow Sheep in Russia match our notion of such animals. The limits of the horns of the Snow Sheep are equal and vary is widespread, but mosaic. The westernmost point their habitat coincidences with the upper border between 71 and 89 (41 and 115), the girth at the of the habitat is mountain systems eastwards of the vegetation belt (not more than 1300m), base is between 30 and 36 (21 and 38). of the Vitim River. Further the habitat spreads while in the areas with good developed Alpine The sex ratio is 1:1, and the habit of life is out to Stanovoy Range and the southern part tundra the Snow Sheep prefers just those areas, mainly a family and group one. The females most of Aldan Mountains. Then it turns northwards whether at an altitude of 150m above the sea commonly get one lamb. After 18 to 20 days the along the Dzhugdzhur Range. The Snow Sheep level in Putorana or 1800m in Kamchatka (where young female stops caring for its kid. An adult occupies practically all mountain systems of the climate is more mild). female, the mother of the young mother, one Eastern Siberia along the upper reaches of Yana, External appearance of the Snow Sheep may say the kid's grandmother, now begins to Indigirka, Kolyma, Omolona, Anadyr and others accords with its habitat conditions: the animal is care for it. Thus, bevies of females with lambs Spreading of Asian Snow sheep (Boeskorov, 2001) rivers, as well as Verkhoyanskiy and Cherskiy heavily built on short thick legs. Both the males may be formed. Young males at the age between a- habitat in nowadays б – borders of the areal in XVIII – beginning XX centuries ranges, and reaches the seacoast of Chukotka and and the females have horns. The females' horns 2 and 5 years also form bevies. The Snow Sheep в – fossil remains of Pleistocene Bering Strait. The habitat of the Snow Sheep also are small and rarely reach 30cm. The males' can actively protect itself against predators using г – fossil remains dated Holocene age (according to scientific literature) comprises Kamchatka and Koryak Highland. In horns are solid and heavy. Maximum growth of its horns and legs, but it can do it efficiently

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The Magnificent Seven

The nomination includes the trophies (Carnivores – skins and sculls; Artiodactyls – horns; Gulliformes – a А-4 photograph of a capercaillie killed at mating place) of the following species (subspecies) of hunted animals: - Ursus arctos (Ussuriysk or Kamchatka) Wolf (Canis lupus); (Lynx lynx); (Eastern Siberian - Alces alces pfizenmayeri, or Kolyma - Alces alces buturlini); Siberian Red – Maral ( elaphus sibiricus) Siberian Roe Deer ( pigargus); Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) at the mating place.

only against predatory birds, while the wolf always triumphs being for the Snow Sheep the most dangerous predator. All sensory organs of the sheep are highly developed. Stalking the sheep down the wind is impossible. The animal notices the man's movements from a distance of 1.5 to 2km. When a helicopter appears, the males rush asunder. The Snow Sheep is hunted by driving game, with dogs and by stalking, most often in early autumn period (1 to 1.5 month). While stalking it is necessary to abide by common rules: to stalk up the wind, preferably when the sun is behind the hunter's back, and to try to avoid abrupt movements.

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These are the White, the Brown and the Black Brown Bear Bear. We, however, will talk only of the Far (Ursus arctos) Eastern group of bears to which are referred the Ussuriysk and Kamchatka Bears which the The Bear is the largest land predator. Ac- trophy hunters are most interested in. cording to some reports, the weight of the bear The Ussuriysk Bear is a very large subspe- (that from the Kodiak Island) may reach thou- cies with the biggest scull (up to 455mm long). sand kilograms. In the Carnivores order the The males' body length reaches 3m and more. Ursidae family is specified which, in its turn, is The females are by 25% smaller. The bear oc- divided into four genera. In Russia, this family curs in the Ussuriysk territory, on Sakhalin, in is represented by the genus Ursus that com- the Amur River and Primorye regions, and on prises the largest representatives of this family. Southern Kuril Islands. Coloration is mainly dark. The zoologists sup- pose that this subspecies surpasses in size the Kam- chatka Bear. The size of the biggest scull of an Us- suriysk Bear is very close to that of the world cham- pion from Alaska. The Kamchatka Bear inhibits Kamchatka, Chu- kotka, the shore of the sea of Okhotsk up to the Stanovoy Range, and the Karaginsky, Kuril, North- ern Kuril, Shantarskiye white bear which is seen as preda- and Saint Lawrence Is- tor par excellence, the brown bear lands. Its size is very great, is an omnivore. The most of its somewhat smaller then the diet consists of vegetable food. Ussuriysk bear. There are The bears choose for rest hid- two kinds of coloration – den nooks. In summer they take dark and whitish. rest directly on earth, in bush, in The brown bear is a for- moss, and on grass. In autumn, est animal. The habitats before the winter cold comes, the of the brown bear are old bear begins to prepare itself for forests with good berry- hibernation which it spends in fields, ravines, wind-fall- sleeping. On the average, the bear en trees, lakes and brooks, sleeps 5 to 7 months, in Russia. and moss bogs. Though it But to do this, the bear has in its is considered to be a pred- wake time to accumulate a quan- ator, in fact, unlike the

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population on Kamchatka has in- ting» period on which it depends, whether the creased after a great number of big bear will survive the winter or not. During males has been killed, which elimi- this period high-energy feeding stuffs begins nated in a greater degree the impact to prevail in the nutrition one of which be- of cannibalism. A female bear gets ing oat. Thereupon is bases one of traditional in the den from one to four (rare- bear hunting methods - «at the oats», when ly five) cubs weighing at birth not the hunter watches the bear in a hide near the more than 500g. Should they be big- field onto which the bear comes to feed. We ger, then the female would have not will not describe the relative techniques and enough fat and vitamin reserves to only say that the most bears are killed with feed the cubs. Usually, the birth oc- tity of fat and vitamins that would enable it to the use of this very method. The bear shapes curs in December or January. The carry, give birth to and breed cubs and to hold a long time - between 10 and 12 years. Its life female gives birth once each two out some time after leaving its den, until vege- duration is between 30 and 35 years. A female years, and during her whole life – 5 tation it needs for food has grown up. The bear propagates kind only at an age of 4 or 5 years. times. The cubs begin to live inde- leaves the den nourished and with excellent It is due to the female's late maturity. She must pendently at an age of 3 years. skin. In the spring time, hunting at the carrion overcome its being afraid of the male. The case The bear is a prestigious hunt bait laid in advance is practiced. The spring is is that among bears cannibalism is very com- trophy, so you have to be very re- the hardest time in the bear's life. The rut takes mon, so would a male encounter a younger sponsible while choosing a weapon place between May and July depending on the female of lesser size, he would simply eat her for this hunt. The weapon must be region. From August begins the so called «fat- away. For instance, according to Fil, the bear chosen depending on the hunting method.

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food availability. They become able to see on the tenth day, and since this time begins the cubs' extra nutrition with semi-digested meat brought them in the stomach by the father- wolf actively participating in the provision of the family. The first ten days, until the female leaves the nest, the male brings her prey. As the cubs grow up, the female wolf bring them out of the den (burrow) to the so- called «nest» plot, the number of which in the hunting area may be between 2 and 5. The female wolf also begins to hunt without going too far from the den, whereas the male wolf goes 15 to 20km away. Returning from the hunt, the adult animals call the cubs by howling, and the cubs respond revealing the location of the den, which is used by the hunters who locate the nest and take the cubs away. The first-year cubs also respond the parents' voice which is used for luring the wolves by imitating their howls. By the way, this hunting method is the most emotional. Fed with meat and milk the cubs are growing fast and are by autumn quite able not only to roam together with adult wolves within the hunting area, but also to hunt. In the autumn and winter period the pack valuable fur animal and the respective mode begins to roam within its whole hunting area of regulating their population, the more so Wolf (Canis lupus) which in the moderate climate belt amounts to because their skin is in high demand being The wolf is referred to the order Canis, to takes place from December, in the northern – between 250 and 450 to 600 squared kilometers, at the same time a precious hunt trophy. The which are referred the jackal, , arctic fox, etc. from January or February. The rut lasts about and in the Arctic prairies up to 1200. The wolves greatest damage is caused by the forest and The organizational unit of wolves is the pack a month continuing in the northern regions for cause significant damage both to agricultural prairie wolf and it is necessary to control its connected by kinship relationship; the pack a shorter time. Due to the fact that male wolves and game husbandry industries. The wolves population by all methods not prohibited. includes the father-wolf, the mother-wolf and prevail in the wolf population the rut takes damage the game husbandry by killing a great Life duration of the wolves in the wild is the first-year and the second-year wolf cubs. place by no means peaceful. During the rut number of boars, roes, moose, and deer of between 7 and 8 years, in some cases between At the outskirts of the pack's hunting area may males from adjacent territories may trespass different species. The value of damage cause 9 and 11, in bonds up to 15 years. live wolves of the past offspring, which wolves the pack's area so that a «rut pack» is built up by wolves equals to millions of rubles. That The males come to sexual maturity at the age fail to have their own hunting area and have whose number reaches up to ten and more is why the absolute priority for the specialists of 3 years, and the female at the age of two. not created a family. These are so called «non- species. It happens, when two female wolves of game husbandry is the regulation of the The wolf population in Russia fluctuates in territorial» wolves. The life of a wolf pack is being in season join to the rut pack. A female wolf population. But this regulation should the last five years within 40 thousand animals. clearly divided into two periods: spring and wolf's pregnancy lasts two months plus two to be carried out on a strictly scientific basis There are huge possibilities for commercial summer or breeding period and autumn and five days. The female usually digs a burrow or rather than randomly. For instance, polar and hunting, especially in the off-season time summer or nomadic period. The rut or bridal settles in a badger hole. Six to eight cubs are mountain and taiga wolves cause minimum (hunting with flags in the summer in the nest period is extended. In the southern regions it usually born, sometimes more depending on damage, so they should have the status of a plot).

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lynx inhabits practically the whole territory Lynx (Lynx lynx) of our country, except the Arctic prairies and Moose (Alces alces L) plain parries. The lynx's ability to adapt it- The world fauna comprises four species of Our planet is inhabited by one species of moose self to climatic conditions is amazing. The : bobcat (Lynx ruvus Schreber 1777); which is divided into two large groups: the animal inhabits the vicinity of Verkhoyansk Canadian lynx (Lynx Canadensis Kerr 1792); European and the American. These groups of the where the temperature falls down to -68ºC Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus Temm 1824); moose differ both in appearance (phenotypically) and other regions where the temperature and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx Lunn 1758). and genetically. Thus, the diploid chromosome raises up to +56.7ºC. The lynx has high legs, In our country the lynx is represented by number of the European moose is 2n—68, and its broad and well lowered paws allows it two species – Iberian and Eurasian lynx. that of the American moose is 70. walking in deep snow practically without The Iberian lynx inhabits Caucasus. It fea- To the European group in our country is sinking in. The biggest is the Yakut lynx. Its tures a rather small size (average weight of referred the moose whose habitat occupies the fur is very voluminous fur, soft and dense. males is 12.5kg), rough and rare fur of bright whole European part of Russia, Eastern Siberia Winter fur coloration is bright, there pre- red color with well- expressed speckles. as well as Altai. vail smoky and bright and silver and whit- The Eurasian lynx is a bigger animal (av- The American group's habitat spreads ish hues with softly expressed brownish and erage weight of males is 20.5kg) with dense from the right shore of the Yenisei River up black speckles. long voluminous fur. The lynxes occurring to the Eastern borders of Russia. Within this The most important biological feature of in the European North and the Baltic states group three subspecies are specified: Eastern the predator is the range of its prey. In the have more expressed speckles. The Eurasian Siberian or Yakut (Alces pfizenmayeri), Kolyma range of prey the prey size (Alces buturlini) and Ussuriysk moose (Alces optimum is specified. In the cameloides). food ration of the Cauca- The Yakut moose occupies the territory sian lynx prevail hares, the eastwards of the right shore of the Yenisei River rodents, birds, wile in that up to the Cherskiy Range, and southwards up to of the Eurasian lynx a large the Stanovoy Range. share take the ungulates our country, especially its Asian part. Limiting The Kolyma moose inhabits the North-West (depending on the region). factors in the winter period are availability of of Siberia eastwards of the Cherskiy Range. However, when lacking fod- fodder and deep snow cover. Critical for the The Ussuriysk moose inhabits the Far East, der the lynx would settle for moose is a snow height between 70 and 90cm. northwards up to the Stanovoy Range and the mouse-like rodents and up- Enemies of the moose are big predators: wolf, watershed with the Lena River as well as the land fowls. bear, lynx, wolverine, and the tiger in the Far East. Trans-Baikal region. The greatest density is ob- In the North-West of Russia it is the wolf. Only The moose is a typical inhabitant of forest served in mountain forests. male moose have antlers. Antlers are not only a regions; the most favorable conditions for it exist Mating takes place de- secondary sexual feature, but also an indicator of in the subzone of Southern taiga and mixed leafy pending on geographic zone hierarchy. A very high individual and geographic forests. Good land for the moose is leafy young between late January and variability of antlers depending on animal's age forest whose core form trees. Mandatory early April. Pregnancy lasts has been identified. According to size and form is the presence of water and bog lands whose 67 to 74 days; there are usu- of antlers, size of individual parts, number of vegetation the moose uses to recover the ally two kittens in the brood, tines and antlers weight the physiological status shortage of mineral salts and microelements and or more rarely 3 to 4. of the animal may be reliably estimated. The accumulate a reserve thereof which it spends in Two hunting methods are moose antlers develop up to the age of 10 to 12 the winter time. mainly used: encompassing years, and then they begin to degrade. The most The moose is much better than other ungulates and hunting with dogs. typical are shovel-like antlers bordered by tines. adapted to the life under severe conditions of The European moose's antlers usually have the

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form of a flattened shovel with a very small bend to 202cm high. It weighs up to 570kg (according and powerful long tines. The shovel is monolith to unverified data up to 655kg). without division into an upper and lower one. The Kolyma moose features a huge shovel. The At the same time, it should be mentioned lower shovel is developed very rarely. Tines are that the shovel of the Western Siberian moose often lacking in the upper part of the shovel and to those of the deer being nevertheless is often divided, as if squeezed at the beam grow usually not from the edge of the shovel, powerful. axis into an upper (the main part) and a small but from the hind part of the shovel body. The Among all methods of moose hunting lower. The biggest European moose antlers have Kolyma moose is the biggest subspecies of the the most suitable for trophy hunting is the the Western Siberian moose: their span reaches moose on the planet, its body is up to 346cm hunt by luring the animals by imitating 160cm, they weigh up to 22kg, and the number long and at the shoulders up to 239cm high, it their voice. The best time for this hunt of tines is 20 and more. weighs up to 744kg. The antlers weigh up to are considered to be the first ten days The antlers of the Eastern Siberian feature a 42kg. The antlers of this moose are all-round from the beginning of the rut. In this broad (up to 62cm) massive shovel divided along world champion (611 scores, CIC) time adult old bulls with good trophy the beam axis into a lower (an analogue of the The Ussuriysk moose has antlers of the same antlers may be lured. In the territory of superciliary tine) and an upper part (the shovel shape as a deer. The shovel is developed very the forest zone the rut peak falls within itself). The circumference of the beams is up to rarely and very weak. Apropos, among almost all September 17 to 20. To determine the 42cm. The tines are as a rule numerous (up to 42), geographic races of the moose occasionally occur beginning of the rut you have to deduct but small, a little finger long. The antlers span antlers similar to those of the deer as a result of from the time of the rut peak the number reaches 160cm. the antlers weigh over 20kg. The degradation. Shovel-like antlers of old moose 25. Accordingly, you have to begin body is up to 300cm long and at the shoulders up may transform themselves into antlers similar hunting from August 23 to 25.

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and cedar woodlands. Then, eastwards toward the number of tines begins to decrease due to the Western and Eastern Sayan Mountains, in aging. The total beam length reaches 136cm; the Baikal Region its habitat are pine and spruce, girth at the base is 27cm. Distance between the spruce and firry and cedar woodlands. beam ends is 150cm. The rut begins in mid September and continues Hunting by stalking or at salt earth from a until mid October. In this period the males get hide is practiced. together harems consisting each of 3 to 4, rarely 7 to 8 female deer. Between the males take place violent fights. The pride period of female deer lasts 1 to 2 days, and repeats after 10 to 20 days, in case of nonfertilization. Pregnancy lasts 8 to 8.5 months and calving occurs between late May and mid July. The calves are born speckled. The male calves leave the mother the next spring, and the females continue to go with the mother. Only male maral have antlers. While branching for the first time the antlers split in a furcated form. The antlers beams of this maral grow throughout its whole life and all tines lie approximately in one plane, parallel to the long body axis. The upper part of the antlers, beginning with forth tine which is larger than the others and flattened, turns backwards and enlarges more than the lower part. The beam end has the form of scissors; the superciliary tines turn away from the stump. Lateral tines are located at right or blunt angle Siberian Red Deer - Maral relative to the main beam, (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) while those of Sika deer - at a sharp angle. Antlers Maral belongs to the biggest deer. Live color. The young calves are speckled until the of adult maral have 6 to weight of adult male is 250 to 300kg; it is 150 first shedding. In Russia it occurs in the wild in 7 tines. The superciliary to155cm high at the shoulders. There is a Altai, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Irkutsk Region, tines of the Siberian Red strongly developed mane on the neck. The , and the Western Sayan Mountains. Deer, unlike the Izubr’, distinctive bright «target» pattern on the The maral is mainly a mountain animal are located in one plane. hind-quarters is great, broad and overlaps the living on rugged and woody terrain. In Altai, At the age of 12 to 14 years crupper. Coloration is from reddish to straw it inhabits pine forests, spruce and firry, leafy

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deer begins to eat a great quantity of dry fodder degree, . The death rate of young calves is Siberian Roe Deer The Siberian Roe Deer is a very plastic animal. which is not digested due to acute shortage of rather high and can reach at the beginning of the Being as a matter of fact a woodland and prairie free water in the stomach. According to a study next reproduction 80 to 85%. (Capreolus pigargus) species the deer avoids deep taiga and inhabits of А.А. Danilkin, the deer's water demand is The form of the Siberian Roe Deer's antlers is plain and mountain woodland searching for 1500ml/day, and water share in the stomach subject to great individual variability. The most The Siberian Roe Deer is a graceful beautiful places with rich vegetation in the flood beds content must make about 82%. If the deer eats massive antlers have 4 to 8 old males. Their animal of light constitution, referred to the of brooks or small rivers. It prefers bright dry fodder for a long time, water-salt metabolism length reaches 48cm; span is 47 cm, weight (with Cervidae family. It occupies a huge habitat from woodland with good developed underbrush and and digestion process are disturbed and, as scull) up to 1600g. The antlers color caries from the left shore of the Volga River up to the Maritime young growth, with meadows and overgrown consequence, the deer with a stomach full with light-gray to deep-brown. Antlers of almost Territory. The habitat is patchy, because in such clearances and old fire-sites. In addition to grass dry fodder perishes with hunger. Creep-feeding black color occasionally occur. The antlers are a great area there are not anywhere conditions plants, the deer eats offshoots and buds of birch, with dry hay practiced in the game husbandries covered with great number of big pearls. The for the deer's habitation. It mainly depends on aspen, basswood, ash tree and oak, and fir- only worsens the situation. antlers feature from four to six tines. The biggest the snow cover's height and duration. Critical needles. It often eats mushrooms, lichens, acorns, The roe deer are limited polygamous animals. antlers have the roe deer of Southern Ural, Altai height of the snow cover for the deer is 50cm. berries, and fruits. Critical time for the deer is The females participate in reproduction from the and Fore-Baikal region. Of very high quality are The Siberian Roe Deer avoids terrains where late winter and early spring. In this period the second year up. The rut of the Siberian Roe Deer the antlers of the roe deer of Kurgan population. snow of such a height lies 230 to 240 days in then deer suffers shortage of wet fodder of full energy takes place in August and September. Duration Degradation begins from 8 years up. year. value. Metabolism increases at the time, and the of pregnancy is 279 to 296 days. There is a latent Presently, to hunt the roe deer such methods stage. 1 to 2, rarely 3 to 4 calves are born. Main as encompassing or chase as well as stalking and enemies are wolves, lynxes and, to a lesser hunting at salt earth are widely used.

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Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) on the mating place Capercaillie is polygamous and a male can copulate with several females, while females can choose a male. On the mating place the center is occupied by males of elder age group (4 to 5 years). These very male constitute the reproduction core and on undisturbed mating place only they copulate with females. 3-year males also have their own mating place, but they not always fly to display. The two-year males display at the periphery of the mating place mainly in the closing period. One year old capercaillies, as a rule, do not display, though they arrive at the mating place nevertheless. Females ignore one- and two-year capercaillie. Those males form the reserve of the population, which will be used to fill the mating place subsequently. The mating period of the females lasts 7 to 10 days, since then they stop flying to mating place. Spring hunt on mating place is carried out in the height of mating and the most actively mating old males are killed. Thus, while hunting on mating places are killed species determining successful reproduction. Game husbandries providing hunt on mating place have to determine the killing limit for each mating place individually, rather than generally for all mating places. The shooting percentage should better not exceed 10%, i.e. one male for 10 mating on the given mating place. Should the mating place be smaller, then the hunters must refrain from shooting. Some words on equipment. Clothing must be warm, but light-weighted, khaki-colored and exclude rustling. Shoes, should the terrain allow it, may be of any kind with a not very rigid sole. While shooting you have preferably to avoid hitting the chest.

34 The Russian Association «Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz» www.rors.ru Tel.: +7 (495) 452-13-36, 646-67-07 Text is written by: A.I. Assinovskiy, Photographs: S.A.Tishkevich and S.A.Tishkevich, T.V.Tishkevich others

Russian Association of Hunters and Fishermen Golovinskoye shosse, 1, Moscow, 125212 Russia Contact information: +7 495 646 67 07 e-mail: [email protected]

The Russian Association «Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz» www.rors.ru Tel.: +7 (495) 452-13-36, 646-67-07