Just returned from a great Tahr hunt.
Left home at 5.30 am and drove into the head of the Rangitata Valley (South Island, NZ)
1 1/2 hours by road the 1 1/2 hours 4WD.
Climbed up into the tops, and were up high by 11am. Progressively climbed altitude, glassing all the way. Stopped at 3pm for a kip and a feed, then turned round into the wind.
My Buddy and I took a side of the valley each, keeping in touch with 2-way radios. Around 4pm we started seeing Tahr, saw 30 or so, in places that we'd earlier glassed, they are hard to see when they're bedded down.
My buddy spotted 4 nice looking Bulls, and I helped guide him in over the 2-way.
He got into position at 250 yards or so. Meanwhile I dropped to the valley floor below him. Four shots later nothing had connected, so thought I'd have a crack from where I was sitting, the rangefinder put them at 475 yards.
Boom and I dropped a nice Bull with my first shot. Longest shot I've ever taken. Was great to see handloaded bullets that I'd worked on for a while, perform so well.
I skinned him out for a full body mount. (I have a hunting client who wanted a full mount skin.) and we started packing out.
Darkness fell an hour later, and we still had 3,000 feet of descent left, and through some tricky ground (Waterfalls and the like.) got back to the truck at 11pm and drove out to arrive home at 3am. Two very tired units, but what a day in the hills.
I'll post a photo of the Bull via someone who knows how. Any takers?

Here is TrackersNZ photo

TrackerNZ.

Posting pics are easy mate. Just join a hosting site such as hunt101 and follow the instructions in the post at the top of this forum. If I can do it you can

And quick post a photo....I just want to see a mountain...or even a hill!!

Any minute now!!!

What caliber,bullet weight??

Rem SAUM 7mm
140 gr Barnes Triple Shock.

Tim, have you gone to Alaska for your Goat hunt yet?

Travis

I leave on Wednesday 5th.
Will be up there for two weeks.
Looking forward to it.
Managed to wade through the paperwork and get my gun in, so that's turned out good.
Will let you know the outcome on the Alaska forum. How's that Dall Ram coming along?
BTW I got a real nice Bull Tahr hide back from the Taxidermist yesterday, let me know what your delivery address is.

Tim, I'll send an email...

Glad to see on the Alaskan Forum that you got your paperwork through. That 7SAUM with 140 gr TSXs will be great for goats...they're tough to anchore on a hill, from what I've heard.

Nice shot! What was the altitude there?


Okie John

Guys - Tim is currently on his way to Alaska for his bear/mountain goat hunt .

I expect we will get a story and pictures on his return .

Altitude.
We were at about 1500 metres, what's that about 4,500-5,000 feet.
Tahr live in the 1,200-1,500 metre zone for most of the year. Occasionally in late spring (Oct-Nov) they will come lower as they moult.
Some smart Old Bulls live considerably higher, but loose elevation to feed at dusk.
We started out at 700 metres, about 2,000 feet.
Typically on a Tahr hunt you can expect to gain 2-4,000 feet. (On foot)
Of course when a helicoptor is involved, then a lot of the hard work goes out of it.
The goat hunt in Alaska was very similar, in terms of hieght gain.
Biggest difference was the ease of glassing goats, they stick out like Dog's balls.
Different story with Tahr, you need keen eyes and good glass to pick them up.

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=729107953#729107953

That was the Goat hunt 2005.

Also an Ibex hunt in Spain 2006

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5421043/m/359103715

Next is Black Bear,Grizzly and Caribou, again in AK Sept 2006, can't wait, only 3-4 weeks away.