Kyrgyzstan Ibex Hunt: Film, Gear List, Training Programs

Our adventure began with a cascade of travel mishaps that would have daunted even the most seasoned traveler. Imagine spending over 60 hours on the move—with missed connections, lost luggage, and unexpected flight changes due to weapon restrictions. There were moments when the logistical chaos seemed insurmountable. Yet, in the midst of uncertainty, we discovered that our true strength lies in our mental and emotional toughness. When plans go awry, it isn’t the physical challenge that wears you down, but the emotional endurance required to keep moving forward. Attitude and mentality are game changers in difficult situations.

“The greatest rewards aren’t the trophies we bring home but the person we become in the process.” Whether it was dealing with overpacking and underpacking dilemmas or navigating language barriers with a smile, every twist in the road reinforced the importance of adapting, overcoming, and maintaining a positive attitude in the face of adversity.

Once we finally reached the mountains, nature itself offered us a reward far greater than any trophy. The wild landscapes of Central Asia, the echo of ancient cultures, and the raw, untamed beauty of the wilderness served as powerful reminders that life’s most profound lessons are often learned off the beaten path. The hunt, with its moments of quiet focus and bursts of adrenaline, was a microcosm of life: unpredictable, challenging, and ultimately rewarding if you have the fortitude to persist.

MTNTOUGH Programs We Recommend For A Hunt Like This

Don't have a full gym setup? We recommend the Backcountry Minimal Gear program. This program uses dumbbells, Kettlebells, a step-up box, your hunting pack, and a pull-up bar: 

Are you Over 50 years old? Do you want to ensure you can get up the mountains and execute when it matters? Want to continue doing what you love for longer? We built a program specifically for more seasoned hunters with the hunting legend Randy Newberg while we trained him for his Dall Sheep Hunt. If you want a low-impact and highly effective program, try out Pre Season 50+


For folks with a full gym setup, we have the ultimate pre-season prep program. This program is meant to build the ultimate mountain athlete for backcountry hunting.


Gear We Used/Recommend For This Hunt:

Packs - Stone Glacier Sky 5900: A versatile, high-capacity hunting pack designed for extended backcountry hunts. With 5,900 cubic inches of storage, it provides ample space for gear while maintaining a lightweight frame. Its adjustable load shelf allows for heavy pack-outs, making it ideal for rugged, high-altitude hunts.

Bas Layer - Stone Glacier Chinook Merino Hoody: performance-driven merino wool base layer that offers excellent moisture-wicking, temperature regulation, and odor resistance. The Chinook is designed for comfort in variable mountain conditions, keeping you warm when it’s cold and cool when you’re active.

Pants -
-Stone Glacier De Havilland Pant: A durable, breathable hunting pant designed for high-mobility pursuits. Features a strategic stretch design for unrestricted movement and a venting system to regulate body temperature in varying conditions. The integrated waist adjustment allows for a custom fit without a belt. 
-Stone Glacier M7 Pant: Ultra-warm, windproof, breathable hunting shell worn over base layers or mid-layers in cold and snowy conditions. Designed to balance warmth and ventilation to reduce the need to shed or add layers on frigid late-season hunts.

Puffies -
Stone Glacier Grumman LITE Down Jacket: A lightweight but highly insulated down jacket, built with 850-fill HyperDRY down for maximum warmth-to-weight performance. Ideal for glassing in frigid conditions without adding bulk.
Stone Glacier Grumman Down Vest: Provides core warmth while maintaining breathability and freedom of movement. A perfect layering piece for staying warm without overheating during high-output activities.

Shell - Stone Glacier De Havilland Jacket: A versatile, weather-resistant shell designed for mountain hunting. It offers a balance of durability, stretch, and breathability, making it ideal for protecting against wind, rain, and snow without restricting movement.

Rifle - SIG CROSS-MAGNUM SAWTOOTH: A lightweight, precision hunting rifle built for mountain hunts. The combination of the Sig Cross chassis with a Proof Research carbon fiber barrel provides unmatched accuracy and weight savings, making it perfect for long-range shots in remote terrain.

Scope - SIG SAUER Tango DMR 3-18x: A high-performance scope with a versatile magnification range for long-range precision. It offers clear glass, illuminated reticles, and advanced adjustments for accurate shots in varying light and environmental conditions.

Binos- SIG SAUER ZULU6 HDX BINOCULAR 16X42MM: Advanced image-stabilized binoculars that deliver rock-steady, high-magnification viewing. Ideal for long-range glassing without a tripod, helping hunters pick apart distant terrain with ease.

Range Finder - SIG SAUER KILO8K-ABS: A cutting-edge rangefinder featuring Applied Ballistics software for precise ranging and shooting solutions. With extended range capabilities and onboard environmental sensors, it provides accurate ballistic data for long-range shots in high-altitude conditions.

Mapping App - onX Hunt: The industry-standard digital mapping app for hunters. Provides offline GPS mapping, topographical overlays, and detailed land boundary information, ensuring navigation and location tracking even in remote backcountry areas. Now offering an integration with Sig to drop waypoints with your range finder.

Medical - Jase Medical Kit: A comprehensive emergency medical kit designed for backcountry hunters. Contains essential medications and first-aid supplies to handle injuries and medical emergencies in the field.

Boots - SCHNEES Beartooth Uninsulated: A rugged, supportive mountain hunting boot built for extreme terrain. Offers superior ankle support, aggressive traction, and a durable leather build to handle steep, rocky landscapes with confidence.

Trekking Poles - LEKI : Lightweight and adjustable trekking poles that provide stability and support while navigating steep, uneven terrain. Helps reduce fatigue on long ascents and descents, especially under heavy pack loads

Headlamp - PEAX: 
A high-output, rechargeable headlamp built for backcountry durability. Provides long battery life, multiple brightness settings, and a reliable beam for navigating in the dark or field dressing after sunset.

Tents - Stone Glacier Tents
These tents are built to excel in the harshest backcountry conditions, striking the perfect balance of minimal weight, durable performance, and reliable functionality. 

Additional Items Dustin Recommends For This Adventure
-Sunscreen and sunglasses the high elevation cooks your face 
-Extra Large Duffle Bag: You can get your head and cape home as a checked bag instead of expensive shipping.

Each of these pieces of gear played a crucial role in ensuring a successful and efficient high-country ibex hunt, providing reliability, performance, and comfort in extreme mountain conditions.