Ice-Cold Adventure
We had high expectations for our winter ibex hunt in the Pamir Mountains. The Pamirs consist of several steppe like plateaus situated at altitudes of 4,000–5,000 meters, separated by mountain ranges around 5,000–6,000 meters high, with some peaks exceeding 7,000 meters. Hunting at these altitudes in winter means facing extreme cold down to minus 35 degrees Celsius which placed the greatest demands on our preparations and equipment.
When hunting under such climatic conditions, it’s essential to be as well prepared as possible, physically, but also in terms of gear and firearms. Normally, clothing is the first thing that comes to mind when preparing for cold region hunting, but in fact, even more attention should be paid to your firearm. If your rifle doesn’t function in extreme cold, the hunt is over.
I consulted a few firearms experts before leaving, even though none had prior experience with hunting under such extreme conditions. Their advice was incredibly helpful, and I began preparing my Blaser R8 Professional in .300 Win Mag caliber.
The challenge is to completely remove all oil from the mechanical components and the barrel, as most gun oils thicken and become sludgy in arctic temperatures. In addition, oil that “freezes” in the firing pin channel can cause misfires or complete failure of the rifle when firing. In the worst case, this can be life-threatening. If old oil remains in the chamber, the cartridge can freeze, making it impossible to open the bolt.
I had all the oil removed from the mechanical parts and barrel by a gunsmith before departure. If you can obtain oil with a temperature resistance of minus 40 degrees, you can lightly lubricate the inside of the chamber to prevent cartridges from freezing in place.
During the trip, I make sure to store my rifle at outdoor temperatures. As we drive into the mountains, the metal temperature of the rifle gradually adjusts to the ambient temperature, which is ideal. If possible, I store the rifle in a roof box or at the rear of the car’s trunk. Upon arrival at the hunting lodge and throughout the hunt, I never bring the rifle into a heated building. I always store it at outdoor temperatures, in a vestibule, cold car, or shed.
Why that caution? Bringing the rifle into a warm building creates condensation when it’s taken back out into the cold. Condensation occurs when water vapor in the air turns into liquid on a cold surface. Warm, humid air, when cooled by a cold surface like the metal of my rifle, can’t hold as much moisture. The excess moisture forms micro-droplets – condensation – which will freeze when exposed to frost.
Before the hunt begins, I always test the rifle at the most common shooting distances in the mountains, typically 300-400 meters. I fire only the necessary number of shots to avoid overheating and I pause between the shots. When I am ready to hunt, I tape the muzzle to prevent snow and ice from entering the barrel.
Before traveling, I train shooting under similar physical conditions to those expected during the hunt. In the mountains and cold, you’ll almost always shoot lying down, so a bipod is always packed. I train at the distances I expect to shoot, wearing the same jackets and gloves I’ll use during the hunt. I always have a ballistics app installed on my phone and print out my ballistic data to attach to the rifle for quick reference.
In the mountains, you rarely shoot horizontally, so it’s important to adjust ballistics for uphill or downhill angles. Shooting in strong wind at long distances is not recommended, I avoid it.
One very important point: never let your fingers freeze during the hunt. If your hands are frozen, it can be impossible to operate the rifle. I use disposable hand warmers and wear thin gloves under my down mittens. It works very well.
Everything went well during the hunt in Tajikistan. Careful planning before and during the trip laid the foundation for a fantastic hunting experience, which was also crowned with success. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
