Good day Gentleman,
It gives me great pleasure to write this report on a recent trip I undertook to New Zealand. The trip had some business purposes, but thought that this was a great
opportunity to experience the huntng industry of another country. I feel it is important to learn these new experiences as it refreshes the mind to different hunting cultures, which gives me new perspective and fresh ideas of running an outfitting business in South Africa.
I was collected by my host, and now very good friend, Craig Feaver, who owns a magnificent ranch on the South Island of New Zealand, operating under the name of Rata Peaks. The ranch is an approximate 2 hr drive from the city of Christchurch. The drive seems very short, once you get totally mystified by the beauty of this amazing country. Craig and his partner Jan , ultimately farm with velvet, which they obtain from the Red Deer.
I, however, was after an animal that has prickled my mind for a while, namely a Tahr.
The Tahr is a type of a mountain goat, which for some odd reason seem to find it necessary to inhabit near vertical rock faces, displaying their balancing skills in ledges only a couple of inches wide. I stood for some time, just admiring how they mock fight and play on these rock faces, with one false step, ultimately meaning an end to their existance.
The first day on arrival, we headed over to the local taxidermist to borrow a rifle. Since I would be travelling quite a bit, I found that it would be too much of a hassle to take my own rifle over, and decided to use whatever they give me. I was supplied with a neat little .300 WSM. What an awesome calibre, which shoots flat and hits hard. On the first day, we checked the rifle, which needed a couple of clicks to set it to my shooting style. Craig wanted to head out immediately, which I was fine with, but after getting to the first look out point, I could feel something was not right. The jetlag has caught up with me, since there was also an 11 hr difference between South Africa and New Zealand, and as many of you know sleeping on a plane is not the most comfortable.
I decided to call the first day, without even as much as a sniff at a stalk. At 5 pm local time, I was in lala land, trying to get some rest for the next day of hard hunting.
The next morning brought a lot of excitement, as we could see some Tahr from the house on the mountain side. After fuelling ourselves a great breakfast the morning, we headed out in our pursuit of a Bull Tahr. We spotted a group against a mountain side about 500 yds away, but they were accompanied by a group of Red Deer. The Red Deer, which are a lot more skittish than the Tahr, would surely make the Tahr bolt off if we pushed them too hard.
We did allow the Red Deer to see us, but just enough to make them uncomfortable to move off without disturbing the Tahr too much. The Tahr were feeding away from us at the time, and the plan was to give them enough time to feed around the hillside, giving us an opportunity to put a stalk in.
After approximately two hours, the animals had moved out of sight and we closed the gap. We spotted them on the other side of a hill, which was ranged at 207 yds. Childsplay for a .300 WSM.
After sitting on the hillside for a while, a mature bull presented himself, standing on a rock above all the other.
I decided to take him. The bullet broke the shoulder and stopped just under the skin on the otherside. The Bull was not happy after the shot, and took two steps before rolling a fair way down the mountain.
After reaching the Bull, some photos were taken, after which we did a full mount cape on the animal. It will most probably not turn out into a full mount, but this leaves my options open once the animal gets back to South Africa.
The scenery of this hunt was magical and a true treat to me, who have only been exposed to South African bushveld. The ranch is situated in the same mountains where the movie of Lord of the Rings were filmed and the one photo I have posted here actually shows the location of where they built the castle for the movie.
All in all, I had an eye opening experience that will live with me for the rest of my life. If any of you are looking for a great or a new challenge, give yourself a chance at a Tahr Bull.
Hope you enjoy the photos.
Best Regards
Marius Goosen
KMG Hunting Safaris

Top stuff mate - thanks for the great report!!

just a word of advice too.... you really should look at getting the taxidermy done in NZ. I am trying to do trophy imports in South Africa at the moment... and it is a bloody nightmare. Completed taxidermy would be much easier (less paperwork).

Good stuff Marius. I'm going to try to get over there next year if I can. Its a good looking country.

Matt,
Thanks for the heads up. I think the reason that I wanted to have it done in South Africa, is number one, it would be done by the same taxidermist that I recommend to all of my clients, so I know him and his work very well. I also am not 100% sure how I should have it mounted yet. I feel that you might lose a bit of the effect of the Tahr's mane with a regular shoulder mount. Full mount is not an option.
So, still deciding what i will do.
I thought that I had this all figured out, but thanks for putting the doubt back in my mind!

I have a client from Sydney who hunted with me this year in June, who has invited me for a Red Stag and some Pigs. So, I look forward to taking him up on his offer in the future.

Cheers,
Marius

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
Good stuff Marius. I'm going to try to get over there next year if I can. Its a good looking country.

Bakes,
Incredible country. Let me know if I can send you the details of the guy I hunted with. Real super people, and its a big area that they hunt up there. You need to get that trip sorted out, and follow through with it, you wont be sorry.
Good eye opening experience, which my own outfit will only benefit from.

Cheers,

Thanks for the offer Marius. My trip wont be a hunting one but a work one. I'm going to try for a 3 month exchange next year if my work will release me.

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
Thanks for the offer Marius. My trip wont be a hunting one but a work one. I'm going to try for a 3 month exchange next year if my work will release me.

Bakes,
When I'm hunting I'm working, and when I'm working I'm hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by KMG Hunting Safaris:
Matt,
Thanks for the heads up. I think the reason that I wanted to have it done in South Africa, is number one, it would be done by the same taxidermist that I recommend to all of my clients, so I know him and his work very well. I also am not 100% sure how I should have it mounted yet. I feel that you might lose a bit of the effect of the Tahr's mane with a regular shoulder mount. Full mount is not an option.
So, still deciding what i will do.
I thought that I had this all figured out, but thanks for putting the doubt back in my mind!

I have a client from Sydney who hunted with me this year in June, who has invited me for a Red Stag and some Pigs. So, I look forward to taking him up on his offer in the future.

Cheers,
Marius

Tahr shoulder mount will still look good but once again you are more likely to get a good job of it if done by a NZ taxidermist Id reckon.

If it were me ... I would beg borrow and steal to find enough money to get a (my) tahr full mounted. They really are just a gorgeous animal and deserving of a full mount.

You have a spare kidney? Dont you??

What's a full mounted tahr worth in New Zealand anyhow?? Does anyone know??

Matt,
You're playing with my mind here. At this moment the full mount cape has been treated and is ready to be shipped here.
Will have to make my decision about where the work will be done within the next 48 hrs.
Thought I had this figured out.
I'll ring my taxidermist up tomorrow and get his opinion on the paperwork required and how he suggests I mount it to get the best out of the Tahr. He's a straight shooting guy, so will give me good advise. He has done a couple of Tahr, and had some good ideas. He suggested that they start the mount from just infront of the hind leg, with the animal almost quartering from out of the wall, if that makes any sense. With this being done, you will get the full effect of the animal with its mane.
Thanks for your input,I truly appreciate it.

Cheers,

There are some tricks to shoulder mounting a Bull properly, I'll get some pictures up for you to explain,but essentially you want a lot of shoulder, and the head kept low, not raised like a deer or antelope. This allows the mane to be captured fully, and to fall forward and out, instead of just down. Mine are freezedried, and I don't think its comparable to standard mounting, as it really holds the hair out better than most due to the way the skin is hardened. Shoulder mount in NZ is about 900nzd, full body will be thousands.

Okay, these pics might explain. First a "traditional" mount



The hair hangs stright down, when as much as possable, you want it puffed out like they do in the rut.
Compared to this one.




Also, the neck on a traditional is too long and thin, shorten the neck and bulk it into the shoulder, they are truely built like a Bull in the front end when you see them skinned.

Shankspont,
Thanks for that!
With the head lower down, it does make a real difference.

Cheers,