Dhorpatan: Nepal’s only hunting reserve

• Sushant Lama

Dhorpatan is Nepal’s only hunting reserve where you are permitted to go for hunting. It is the only protected area in Nepal that is able to get a hunting license issued by the department of the National Park and Wildlife Conservation in Kathmandu.

It was established in 1987 to facilitate the need of hunting sports and to protect various endangered species of western Nepal. It is located at an altitude of 2,850 to 5,500m and covers an area of 1,325 sq km around the Dhaulagiri Himal which extends up to the Rukum, Myagdi, and Baglung districts. Though Hunting and Conservation are opposite to each other, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is the proof that the conservation is still possible parallel to hunting. The reserve offers a new kind of adventure for tourists other than trekking and mountaineering.

Vegetation

The hunting reserve consists of forests, marshlands, and meadows. Alpine, subalpine and temperate vegetation can be found here. Higher altitudinal areas are filled with snow all around the year.

It is home to many species of vascular plants, flowering plants, and many common plants like Oaks, Fir, Birch, Spruce, Juniper, Pine, Hemlock, Rhododendron, etc.

Wildlife and Birds

The Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is home to many species of animals and birds. There are 18 species of mammals like Snow leopard, Musk deer, Red panda, Himalayan tahr, Blue Sheep, Ghorals, Langur, etc. There are about 137 species of birds like Cheer pheasant, Koklass pheasant, Impeyan Pheasant, Danphe, etc.  2 species of reptiles are also recorded here. The Blue Sheep is the most popular species animal in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve for hunting. Another animal popular for hunting is Himalayan Tahr.

Hunting blocks and animals permitted for hunting

There is the presence of seven hunting blocks in the hunting reserve having separate names. There are four blocks in the southern part and three in the northern part. These divisions are made to make hunting easy and effective for peoples.

Himalayan Thar, Blue Sheep, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, and Spotted Deer are the animals allowed for hunting in Dhorpatan. The following are the hunting blocks of the reserve with animals available for hunting.

Southern Hunting Block:

1.Falguna: Blue sheep and Himalayan Tahr

2.Barse: Blue sheep

3.Gutsang: Blue sheep and Himalayan Tahr

4.Surtibang: Himalayan Tahr

Northern Hunting Block:

1.Seng: Blue sheep and Himalayan Tahr

2.Dogadi: Blue sheep and Himalayan Tahr

3.Sundaha: Blue sheep and Himalayan Tahr

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is somewhere between March to April because of favorable climatic conditions. During winters it’s very cold with cloudy mornings, snowy high altitude areas, and windy afternoon which is not good for hunting. The monsoon starts from June and lasts until November which makes time between March to April the best time.

How to reach Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve?

Buses are available from Kathmandu to Tansen and it’s a three-day trek to the headquarter of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve from Tansen. Also, you can take flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara and from Pokhara, a four days trek via Baglung will take you to reserve headquarter.