US man pays $125,000 for hunting Markhor in Chitral

An American hunted a nine-year-old Kashmir Markhor with 38-inch horn in Gahiret-Golen community after obtaining a permit for trophy hunting from the wildlife department.

The US national, named Robert Myles Hall, won the bid to hunt Markhor, with a whopping $125,000, according to Chitral Wildlife Division.

"On the third trophy hunt of the season, Mr. Robert Myles Hall, an American national, hunted a Kashmir Markhor at Gehrait-Golain Community Managed Game Reserve on 18/02/ 2024. The Markhor was approximately eight years old, with a horn size of 38 inches," the department wrote in a post on X.

Markhor, a wild goat native to high-altitude monsoon forests in central Asia, are highly valued for their majestic horns.

It's worth noting that hunting permits are issued annually for various areas, including Tooshi Conservancy in Chitral District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Gehrait Conservancy in Chitral District, and Kaigah Conservancy in Kohistan District.

Under the trophy hunting programme, local communities receive 80% of the licence fee and the government keeps the rest. The amount varies as licences are issued through a bidding process.