What are young Ibex going for at auction these days?

Depends on what kind, male or female, how old, how the horns look and how many others want him. I just sold this one on Wildlife Buyers for $6010. He was 4 years old. Good Nubian kids are going to cost $2K to 3K.

How big of a gamble is it to buy them young before you know their potential?

Not a gamble at all if you get one from a reputable breeder. When I started, I bought a kid on WB. It was a set price of $3000. Guaranteed to be pure. The next 3 kids I bought from Caveman Wildlife. They cost me $3500 each. I saw the females and males these kids came from and saw what his older males looked like. I later sold them as 4-year-olds for $7500 each.

A few from Caveman. Also, if you start with kids, they will turn out a lot calmer.

Beautiful

Very nice