Just received a nice glossy hard copy of the tahr diary and information on aging tahr bulls all ready for a tahr hunt in our balloted block first week June. First time have seen this from our Department of Conservation (DOC) who administer our public land.

Interestingly they are heavily promoting the culling of nanny groups by hunters during the week they are in the blocks. They go so far as to suggest parties could take a suppressed 223 rifle to lessen disturbance of bulls with party members taking turns to each do a days culling especially if they take their trophy bull/s early in the week.
Of course as with all our game animals there are no seasons or limits on animal numbers, sex or age, so parties can shoot until they run out of ammo or barrels get so hot they droop

First time I have seen encouragement to cull animals so succinctly put by DOC. They even included a packet of Jellybeans to help sweeten the deal. Good on them though for working with hunters to manage our game animals.

For some reason I'm reminded of the latest Australian 'Alone' series. They dropped 10 Aussies into some lake area near Te Anau, with all manner of mod cons like tarps and bows.

However, they have to survive with one hand tied behind their backs: a woman caught an eel but had to release it; and one bloke said he could see deer coming down the hill after dark but was not allowed to shoot them then.

I can understand the eel thing but, despite my 45-year ADA membership, wonder why a government that hates exotic game cares quite so much about the deer.

Sambar, shooting is restricted to daylight hours on DOC (public land). Nothing to do with protecting game animals, more to do with preventing spotlighting and preserving public safety on this land.
I imagine the TV series is shot on DOC land.

There are no restrictions/regulations preventing the shooting of game animals at anytime day and night or using spotlights and thermal imaging equipment, on private land (provided you have permission from the owner to hunt on the land of course).

No rules about hunting at night with a bow as far as im aware. You are not allowed to use a spotlight or thermal on public land at night for safety reasons though.

Actually just checked and I see that there is now a no hunting after dark rule on public land.

quote:

not hunt during the hours of darkness – 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise

This would probably be the most broken rule out there I would suggest as alot of game is taken right at last light.