Wildlife · Dhorpatan
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve
Nepal's only hunting reserve — a vast Baglung–Rukum wilderness managing blue sheep, tahr and big grasslands under a regulated system.
The Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is Nepal's only hunting reserve — a vast, 1,325 sq km wilderness of high ridges, forests and open grassland valleys spread across Baglung, Rukum and Myagdi districts in the mid-west. Established in 1987, it manages populations of Himalayan blue sheep and other game under a strictly regulated, paid system, while offering ordinary visitors some of the wildest, emptiest country in Nepal.
What makes it unique
Unlike Nepal's national parks and wildlife reserves, Dhorpatan was created specifically to allow controlled, licensed hunting of a limited annual quota of Himalayan blue sheep (naur) within designated blocks, with the substantial fees channelled into conservation and local development. The idea is that a high-value, low-volume hunt gives communities a financial stake in keeping wildlife and habitat healthy. In practice almost no visitors hunt — the reserve's real draw for travellers is its solitude, its open grasslands and meadows and the chance to watch blue sheep and Himalayan tahr on the slopes without another tourist in sight.
Wildlife and landscape
Beyond the blue sheep, the reserve shelters Himalayan tahr, leopard, the rare snow leopard on the highest ground, Himalayan black bear, ghoral and serow, along with pheasants including the iridescent danphe. The terrain climbs from blue pine and rhododendron forest through birch to alpine pasture and bare ridges, with the snows of Dhaulagiri and Putha Hiunchuli towering to the north. The green Uttar Ganga valley drains much of the reserve westward toward the remote villages of Bohragaun and Maikot.
Visiting responsibly
Entering the reserve needs an entry permit and, for foreigners, a guide. This is sensitive, lightly managed country, so travel low-impact: carry out your rubbish, give wildlife space and support local lodges and porters so communities benefit from your visit. The conservation logic here only works when the wider population — not just licence-holders — gains from protecting the animals.
Good to know
- Permits: A reserve entry permit is required; hunting is an entirely separate, licensed and costly activity ordinary travellers never undertake.
- Access: A rough jeep track reaches the valley; plan the long haul with how to get to Dhorpatan.
- Context: See how Dhorpatan compares with Nepal's other national parks and the country's broader wildlife, and where it sits among the best things to do in Dhorpatan.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve?+
It is the only hunting reserve in Nepal, established in 1987 and covering roughly 1,325 sq km across Baglung, Rukum and Myagdi districts. It manages populations of Himalayan blue sheep (naur) and other game under a strictly regulated, paid quota system intended to fund conservation and local communities.
Can you hunt in Dhorpatan?+
Yes, but only through an officially licensed, expensive and tightly controlled programme that allocates a limited annual quota of blue sheep within designated blocks. The vast majority of visitors never hunt; they come for trekking, wildlife watching and the mountain scenery, which only need an entry permit.
What animals live in the reserve?+
The flagship species is the Himalayan blue sheep (naur), the main game animal. The reserve also shelters Himalayan tahr, leopard, the rare snow leopard at higher elevations, Himalayan black bear, ghoral, serow and pheasants such as the danphe, Nepal's national bird.
How big is the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve?+
The reserve covers about 1,325 square kilometres of high ridges, forests and grassland valleys, making it one of the larger protected areas in Nepal's mid-west. It is divided into hunting blocks, with most of the spectacular scenery accessible to ordinary trekkers and wildlife watchers.
