The argali (Ovis ammon) is the world’s largest wild sheep, and the Marco Polo or Pamir argali is its most celebrated form. Argalis inhabit the high‑altitude open valleys and lofty plateaus of central Asia, with the Marco Polo variety occurring in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and western China. This subspecies grows the longest horns of any sheep, the world‑record ram boasting a horn curl of about 75 inches. Hunting these magnificent rams in their windswept mountain homeland—where even base camps sit at 3,000 m—is a quest that attracts dedicated mountain hunters.
Marco Polo argali hunts typically take place on remote Pamir and Tian Shan plateaus at elevations of 3,500–4,500 m. Hunters ride horses or travel by 4×4 to high camps and then spend hours glassing south‑facing slopes for a mature ram. Once a group is located, guides and hunters stalk along ridgelines, often taking long shots across open basins—early autumn offers milder weather and rams feeding openly before winter storms arrive. The Tian Shan argali has thicker, more tightly curled horns, while the Hume argali’s range lies between the Naryn and Fergana mountains; all require excellent physical fitness and patience.
Argalis are considered threatened in parts of their range, but Tajikistan alone supports more than 25,000 individuals. These sheep spend winters on sun‑bathed slopes around 4,200 m and descend to stream bottoms in summer. Historically, argali horns were used to build fences in the Pamirs, but today, well‑regulated trophy hunting provides the primary incentive for conservation. U.S. authorities list argali in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as threatened, and only a limited number of CITES‑controlled permits are issued; revenue from these hunts funds scientific surveys, anti‑poaching patrols and community development.
Rowland Ward recognises a dozen varieties of argali and SCI lists fourteen, including the Tien Shan and Hume races offered here. The Altai argali, which lives in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains, is the largest in body size, while the Marco Polo holds the record for horn length. Local herders once fashioned argali horns into corrals and fences, a testament to their abundance and cultural value. Because these sheep inhabit some of the world’s highest mountains, hunters must be prepared for altitude sickness, extreme weather and long climbs.
Marco Polo Argali can be found in the following location:
Marco Polo Argali has the following variations:
- Tien Shan Argali
- Hume Argali
