Tahr Rut (2016)

[Anotherkiwi]

In New Zealand its the tahr rut in June and a great time to head into the South Island to try for a trophy tahr. I won a ballot that gave our party permission to take a helicopter into a wilderness area. We had 4 days of perfect weather and plenty of bulls seen. My friends shot a nice bull and a buck chamois too. Both fantastic trophies from one of the most amazing places to hunt in the world (ok, so I'm a little bias!). I shot a nice bull tahr but unfortunately was unable to recover it, very disappointing. Planning is underway for a spring hunt when the bulls move off the high country and into the valleys.

Here are some photos of the trip.

Camp
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/cb140_photo/IMG_2482_zpstyx7ndb1.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/cb140_photo/media/IMG_2482_zpstyx7ndb1.jpg.html)

Looking down at camp from the other side of the valley.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/cb140_photo/IMG_2487_zpsl8mezjeh.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/cb140_photo/media/IMG_2487_zpsl8mezjeh.jpg.html)

Some difficult country to navigate
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/cb140_photo/IMG_2444_zpsmamer142.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/cb140_photo/media/IMG_2444_zpsmamer142.jpg.html)

Nanny Tahr
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w469/Nigel_Robson/P1000230_zpsyqx7ggo2.jpg (http://s1077.photobucket.com/user/Nigel_Robson/media/P1000230_zpsyqx7ggo2.jpg.html)

Local native mountain parrot - Kea
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w469/Nigel_Robson/P1000215_zpsojjarxpw.jpg (http://s1077.photobucket.com/user/Nigel_Robson/media/P1000215_zpsojjarxpw.jpg.html)

Nice Bull
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w469/Nigel_Robson/P1000216_zpsngunqt73.jpg (http://s1077.photobucket.com/user/Nigel_Robson/media/P1000216_zpsngunqt73.jpg.html)

Another nice bull
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w469/Nigel_Robson/P1000278_zpsi5lfszd1.jpg (http://s1077.photobucket.com/user/Nigel_Robson/media/P1000278_zpsi5lfszd1.jpg.html)

My friends nice trophy for the trip
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w469/Nigel_Robson/P1000231_zpsoy94xv8w.jpg (http://s1077.photobucket.com/user/Nigel_Robson/media/P1000231_zpsoy94xv8w.jpg.html)

My friend made this video of the trip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP7oGflnMWY

[warriorboy10]

Looks like a great hunt!! Approx. how much for a hunt like that?

[Schroedes13]

I was down in Timaru this past summer for a family visit. I tried for almost a month to get someone to take me out big game hunting, but unfortunately everyone was quite tight lipped about their hunting plots. I did get out on a wallaby hunt that was pretty amazing. They taste pretty good too!


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[Anotherkiwi]

Warriroboy, the only big costs are transport. Getting to the south island from the north island ($NZ400 for the car and 3 people on the ferry) and the chopper ride ($NZ300 each) and $NZ60 permit.

[Anotherkiwi]

I was down in Timaru this past summer for a family visit. I tried for almost a month to get someone to take me out big game hunting, but unfortunately everyone was quite tight lipped about their hunting plots. I did get out on a wallaby hunt that was pretty amazing. They taste pretty good too!
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That's a shame. There are some easy access tahr spots near Timaru that you could of hunted solo. If you get back here let me know and I can share some spots with you. Also anyone can call the DOC office and they'll give you great info.

[warriorboy10]

Warriroboy, the only big costs are transport. Getting to the south island from the north island ($NZ400 for the car and 3 people on the ferry) and the chopper ride ($NZ300 each) and $NZ60 permit.

Good to know. Thanks , AK.

[GSPhunter]

Top stuff, great fun hunting those big hairy fellas

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[astepanuk]

Love to Kill a nice Tahr Bull and Reg Stag was thinking of one of the Hunts at the Next SCI banquet.

[300magman]

Great pics! Tahr and chamois is definitely on the bucket list for me.

[ForwardBias]

Awesome pics man!