Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Anyone Have Dagestan Experience?

Begs the question, who invited your son and why??

L.W.

You saw the little winky things?

The poem in my signature is Sufi.

Geno

Handcuff your son to his bed the evening before scheduled departure. Apologize for losing the key and tell him you will make up for the plane ticket cost.

Everybody wins except the Dagers.

Is there a clear reason for invitation ?

Chechen tried very hard to establish the first Islamic republic there :

Wrestling maybe? Its like their national sport there. I know years ago Dagestan invited foreign amateur wrestlers there to train. Former UFC Heavyweight Justin Wren talks about he was slapped by an adult male for whistling while there training in college. I guess whistling is considered very rude and a sign your an idiot there.

If you go too who will plan and run the operation to get your son out? And who will borrow the immense pile of Yankee greenbacks to pay for it?

I love the Bald & Bankrupt guy.

The hospitality of the people in the former soviet union is unbelievable.

I've traveled some over the years. Been to places that many would be uncomfortable with. One thing I have learned is there is a difference between showing up as a tourist, and being invited by a person or group that is hosting you.

This trip is for a group of young wrestlers. For those that don't know, Dagestan is the center of the universe for top-tier wrestling. If you've ever heard of Khabib, he is from Dagestan. Sadulaev, is the top, pound-for-pound wrestler in the world. From Dagestan. The wrestling culture is phenomenal and these boys have been invited to go and train with a few clubs in the region. Starting in Petersburg and then traveling south into Dagestan. I understand this isn't the simplest, safest opportunity like traveling to Edmonton. This is a once-in-a-lifetime training opportunity and life-altering experience. Trying to figure out what the reality is on the ground.

I note that not many people have chimed in with personal experience, and that is what I am looking for.

It has "stan" in its name. Need I say more? I refuse to go anyplace where bacon is illegal.

The US State Dept has issued a level 4 travel warning which states DO NOT TRAVEL TO DAGESTAN. Is that not enough information? Don’t be a fool and risk your son’s life.

I lived/worked in Kazakhstan for three years both off and on shore and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and it was a challenge. On shore I was in Atyrau and it was not uncommon for expats to be rolled walking drunk on the streets then thrown in jail for being drunk in public. An early outing with other expats bar hopping had young Russian girls flat-azz grabbing ones crotch, mine included. So from there forward I learned to head from my apartment in Europe to my office via bridge or, in winter, right across the Ural River to Europe to buy ground meat of origin lost and taught a small shop nearby (they all sold vodka some apparently could make one ill) what Bombay Gin, via photos he had, point and shoot so of speak. A great but difficult time...

Maybe check with SCI?

The lady who published the Hunting Report works there and she is up to date with traveling to many places. Hunters go to Dagestan every year to hunt tur. Perhaps she has some info?

Good idea.

Thanks

Okay.

As I said before, I have traveled in areas that are sketchy at best.

I enjoy seeing those parts of the world many would never.

Throw my kid into the mix and obviously the calculus changes.

Really one of my biggest concerns would be flying regional airlines. I am looking into how they will be traveling from St Petersburg to Dagestan and that will play into our decision.

I may be able to go as a chaperone. That I don't know about yet. If I can't go, then the decision making would be more heavily influenced by other specifics such as itinerary, mode of travel, etc.

This!

And Ed stated what, to me, is absolutely obvious.

When traveling these type of ares, do not get drunk or do anything to affect your ability to take care of yourself, if that makes sense.

Don't go messing around with the local flavors. Leave the women alone. Avoid gambling, drugs, drinking, etc. etc. etc.

Be polite. Be good guests. Be aware.

In South Africa I've hired meet and greet services, rifle permit services and drivers/tour guides from Air 2000. They're worth their weight in gold. They keep me safe by keeping from going where I shouldn't. I started to argue with a ticket agent about the legalities of shipping my ammo back home. I knew I was right, but the Air 2000 agent advised me to let it go. Everything worked out and his advice was great. I was a guest in foreign third world country.

Don't rock the boat, you don't want to be detained, their laws ain't our laws.

I just remembered her name, Barbara Crown.

Don't be going places you don't belong.

nuke that farking place.....