GB Announces Trophy Hunting Permit Rates for 2026-27 Auction

The Gilgit-Baltistan Parks and Wildlife Department has announced the base rates and auction schedule for trophy hunting permits under the GB Trophy Hunting Program 2026-27.

The department will auction permits for three Astore markhor, 14 blue sheep and 100 Himalayan ibexes. The programme is part of the region’s regulated wildlife management framework and will offer permits through an open bidding process.

The highest base price has been set for the Astore markhor, with each permit starting at $200,000. Blue sheep permits will have a base rate of $25,000, while permits for Himalayan ibex will start at $11,000.

The announced rates highlight the high value placed on permits for some of Gilgit-Baltistan’s most sought-after mountain wildlife. Trophy hunting programmes generally use controlled quotas and permit fees as part of regulated wildlife management and conservation efforts.

According to the auction notice, four Astore markhor permits were included in the exportable quota. However, one permit had been carried forward from the previous hunting season.

As a result, only three new Astore markhor permits will be offered for auction in September. The limited number of permits is expected to make the bidding process particularly competitive.

Open bidding for the permits will take place on September 10 at the Forest Complex in Jutial, Gilgit. Interested participants will be able to compete for the available permits under the terms and conditions outlined by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

The programme includes a substantially larger number of ibex permits compared with the other species. A total of 100 Himalayan ibex permits are scheduled for the 2026-27 programme, with each permit carrying a starting price of $11,000.

Fourteen blue sheep permits will also be offered, with the base rate for each permit fixed at $25,000. The difference in permit numbers and prices reflects the specific quotas established for each species.

The Astore markhor has the highest individual permit value among the species included in this year’s auction. The $200,000 base rate places its permit in a significantly higher price category than those for blue sheep and Himalayan ibex.

Gilgit-Baltistan has mountainous terrain that provides habitat for several important wildlife species. Regulated trophy hunting has been used in parts of the region as a wildlife management approach, with authorities controlling the number of animals that can be hunted.

The auction process will determine the final price paid for permits, as the announced figures are base rates rather than necessarily the final winning bids. Open bidding allows the market to determine the final value of each available permit.

The September 10 auction will therefore be an important date for participants interested in the GB Trophy Hunting Program 2026-27. The event will take place at the Forest Complex in Jutial, Gilgit.

The latest announcement provides details on both the available quotas and their starting prices. With three new Astore markhor permits, 14 blue sheep permits and 100 Himalayan ibex permits listed, the programme covers a total of 117 new or available permits across the three categories.

The auction also demonstrates the structured nature of the province’s trophy hunting programme, where species-specific quotas, permit rates and bidding procedures are established before the hunting season.