The Nepal Weekly 
May 5, 2025
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve ins only one hunting reserve established in 1987. It covers an area of 1,325 square km (512 square mile) in western part of Nepal in the Dhaulagiri Himal Range.Putha, Churen and GurjaHimal extend over the northern boundary of the reserve. It adjoins Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung districts. Management objectives of the reserve allow sports trophy hunting and preserve a representative high altitude ecosystem in western Nepal. This single hunting reserve of Nepal fulfill to meet the needs of hunting for Nepalese and foreign hunter.
The higher elevations remain snow-capped throughout the year. Altitudes vary from 3000 m to more than 7000 m. The Flat meadows above tree line (4000m.), locally known as patans, are important for animals like the blue sheep and other herbivorous animals.
The reserve is divided into seven blocks – 1. Fagune Block, 2. Barse Block, 3. Gustung Block, 4. Sundaha Block, 5. Surtibang Block, 6. Dogari Block and Seng Block – for hunting management purposes.
The reserve is surrounded by villages on all sides except the north. Local people depend on the reserve to meet their requirements of timber, fuelwood, fodder, and pasture.
Every year livestock grazing activities begin from February and last until October. More than 80,000 livestock enter the reserve for grazing.
The majority of people belongs to the Mongoloid race, including Magar, Thakali and Gugung. Amalgamation of different ethnic groups has resulted in mixed pattern of cultures.
The reserve is characterized by alpine, sub-alpine and high temperate vegetation. Common plant species include fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce. Pasturelands occupy more than 50% of the total area of the reserve at higher elevation.
The reserve is one of the prime habitats for blue sheep, a highly coveted trophy. Status survey on blue sheep conducted by DNPWC on 2007 revealed that the reserve has 852 blue sheeps. Other animals found are: leopard, goral, serow, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus macazue, langur and mouse hare. The resrve is home to 137 sps of birds. Pheasants and partridge are common and their viable population in the reserve permits controlled hunting.
Endangered animals in the reserve include Musk deer, Wolf, Red panda, Cheer pheasant and Danphe.
The hunting license is issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Dhorbaraha, a Hindu religious place on the banks of Uttarganga River near Dhorpatan, lies in Fagune block. Every year on the day of “Janai Purnima” in August, a religious fair is held here which is attended by many local devotees. The magnificent view of Dhaulagiri Himal from Barse, Dogari and Gustang bocks are exceptional. Seng and Sundaha block are rich in wild animals.
The hunting reserve sees favourable climate in the monsoon which lasts in the beginning of October. Day time temperature is very low during winter due to strong winds. Higher elevation remain covered with cloud in the morning, later clouds are cleared by the wind. Snow may occur even at low elevation until early April, however, it soon melts. The best time to visit the reserve is March, April, October and November.
Public bus service is available from Kathmandu to Burtibamg via Baglung Bazaar and other route via Tansen-TamgashGulmi also. Similarly, visitors can reach by foot from Beni, Myagdi to Dhorpatan within 3 days normal walk.
Chartered service helicopter may be available on request from Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Hunters, particularly those from the United States, Russia, Mexico, Spain and Germany, arrive in Nepal for the game. In 2022, the reserve also allowed Nepali citizens to hunt wild boars to boost domestic tourism in the area.
Permission for hunting is openedfor two seasons every year – October and November and March to early May. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation grants permission to private companies which facilitate foreign hunters through a bidding process, and those companies bring foreign hunters making the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve a center of attraction for adventurous hunters from around the world.
