Donald Trump Jr. goes hunting in the Sierra de Gredos
After visiting Teruel in spring, the eldest son of the US president returned to Spain days ago to disconnect and enjoy nature
«Rain, cold, wind, snow, fog ... For three days he did everything. Anyone else would have decided to stay safe, but he did not give up going out into the mountains. With these words, one of the people who accompanied him explains to what Donald Trump Jr. (40 years old) found in what was his second visit to our country in just over six months.
Between the intense campaign of the legislative elections in the United States - which took place on November 6 - and the celebration of Thanksgiving in the company of his children, the eldest son of President Trump allowed himself three days of disconnection, adventure and experiences "far away of civilization ”in the Sierra de Gredos.
Conservationism
A great fan of hunting - "of course, with his willingness to go out every day despite terrible weather conditions, he showed that he is really passionate," explains this same source - and a convinced conservationist, Donald Trump Jr. would return to Spain later from a trip made last April. In spring he enjoyed the "unique and incredible" landscape - as he himself wrote at that time on his Instagram account - of the Serranías de Beceite, in the province of Teruel. In this second journey, and already in the middle of autumn, the New York businessman became interested in the project to recover the wild male in the lands of the Sierra de Gredos Regional Hunting Reserve, whose origin dates back to 1905, when the town councils and owners individuals in the area made a donation to King Alfonso XIII of hunting rights on their land. Specifically, the large lagoon, the five lagoons and the cliffs that limit them to the south were transferred.
At the beginning of the 20th century, only fewer than a dozen examples of ibex were known to exist in the area - one male, seven females and three kids. Today the number stands at about 18,000. Thanks to the hunting management plan to maintain a sustainable population of this species, this reserve located between the provinces of Ávila and Cáceres has become one of the most attractive destinations for Spanish and foreign hunters.
Since dawn
As this newspaper has learned, Donald Trump Jr. and part of his companions spent the night in Jarandilla de la Vera (Cáceres), the town that has the best accommodations in the area, including the National Parador. They started at dawn and returned when night fell. During the three days, they traveled on foot and accompanied by horses through the reserve and, also, through the Jerte Valley. Donald Trump Jr. shot down a male ibex. "It was an old specimen and possibly this would be his last winter," says one of his expedition companions. Of course, he doesn't shoot at the first thing that comes his way. When you come here you know what you are going to hunt: adult animals that usually move alone. The purpose is to follow a rational and sustainable management of this activity and he was very clear about it ».
Sandwiches in the bush
The son of the US president tasted the meat of the wild male that he himself killed and also gave a good account of sausage sandwiches with tomato in the middle of the mountain, as well as chestnuts roasted over the embers of a bonfire. There was no time to enjoy the restaurants in the region. Not even for a short sightseeing tour of the area. «He came to spend three days away from the New York traffic and took advantage of them in the mountains. For him, the true rest is in being able to enjoy experiences in nature, far from civilization ”, clarifies another of his teammates.
Discreet and secure
Donald Trump Jr.'s latest trip to Spain has been organized by Shikar Safaris, a company run by Kaan Karakaya and dedicated to hunting adventures around the world. It is not the first time that Trump relies on Shikar Safaris due to the discretion and security during his escapades. In fact, no details have been disclosed about the security device that usually surrounds him. “It was all very discreet - continues the same source -. Until they said his name, hardly anyone realized who he was. What is known is that among those who lived with him in the three days in Gredos were Juan Luengo, representative in our country of Shikar Safaris, and Pedro de Ampuero, experienced hunter and European director of the technical clothing brand KUIU Ultralight Hunting.
Precisely Donald Trump Jr. was a close friend of the president of KUIU and former American football player Jason Hairston, who died on September 4 due to complications derived from a chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE, in its acronym in English and also known as « fighter's dementia ') developed during his professional career in the NFL (National Football League).
"He is a natural type, friendly and quite close," explains the same source to ABC. «His simplicity in dealing with him and his passion for adventure surprised his Spanish companions, who saw the very son of the American president enjoying a very different way of life from the one he has on a daily basis. People in the area he came across didn't even know it was him. "
Donald Trump Jr. fulfilled the objective set when, days ago, he landed in Spain: to hunt, recharge the batteries and return to the United States without making noise.
