I have just returned from a quick trip into Tahr country.
In essence it was an explore of an area just on the edge of the usual range, that I hoped might have a few resident old bulls that not many people would be hunting. New mate Dan, who hass just moved over from the Uk came along and after a 3.5 hour drive and similar walk we reached the river where I wanted to cross.



It was a bitterly cold spot, which will not receive any direct sunlight for the rest of winter, and so we trudged on up valley chasing a hillside where the sun would reach. Then set about finding a flat spot that wasn't wet to camp, which took us close to an hour.



By this stage it was getting on for evening and we were stuffed, but there was no time for sitting about as I needed to explore our route for tomorrow and Dan had a spot on the river with some animal sign he wanted to check out. So we split up for the evening.
Id hardly gone up the creek I wanted to explore by 100 yards when I came up over a rock jumble to see a Bull 60 yards away. Scoping him out I didn't feel he was what I was looking for, but then noticed he had some sort of injury and seemed to be missing a leg. I was about to go back and get Dan, when the wind changed and he smelt me. So making a quick decision I chambered a round and shot him.



The leg had been broken some time ago it turned out and had healed twisted up under his chest. He was small bodied and not doing so great, so a good one to take out.
With dark approaching I explored a bit more and happy with the route, was just turning back when I heard a shot ring out. That hurried my return and I got down to the river to find an extatic Dan with a big bodied mature bull with 12.5 inch horn and an incredible cape. In fact the skin was so good we took the whole thing for a floor rug.



Those skins weigh 15kg (33lb) alone, so Dan was going to have a big load out.

The next day was pretty uneventful and reaching the country I wanted to hunt, we found sign, but not much and not very fresh. We got a quick glimpse of a bull moving through and I found an old nanny that had died of natural causes in the last few days,but it was clear the Tahr had moved and that the bulls we had seen were on the move through the area, not stopping, so we made a decision to return to camp and pack and head out across the river too a hut, from which we could get an early start out the next day and maybe pick up an animal at first light.

Next morning we loaded up, and as Dan is young, I was giving him a hard time about carrying his trophy out and how I had to carry the tent and boat for both of us, when about 40 yards in front of us up popped a red hind. I wanted some meat, but we were still 3 hours from the road and she was big, so I pretended to shoot her before she ran off. Next corner and another one crossed out route and the temptation grew, but I refrained.
So a short time later when a 3rd ran across in front and stopped behind a tree to look back my caution was gone and she received a round too the head.



There was no room in my pack, so we took out the back steaks and bagged them and found room in a side pocket and then took off the back legs and removed the pelvis bone leaving the legs held together by skin and I dropped them over the top of my load. Now I was going to have to eat my words from teasing Dan about his load and as we had phone reception, I sent a quick message to Zeeriverat saying how I was going to have to beat the young guy back too the car.

my post the other day about not carrying heavy loads was now incorrect and each of us had 40kg (90lb) to lug out 7 kilometres.



I did beat him too the car, but only by about 2 meters.

About 20 kg too much in the second half of your life! Young Dan did well for a Pom!

Nice little hunt there Shanks with some good photos of typical knarly Westland country. I thought maybe you had a tahr ballot block but obviously not. Any chamois seen?

Spent many a day in that country which was on my door step but unfortunately those days are over for me.

Yeah he did well!

Surprisingly we didn't see a chamois, which was unusual as last year in a similar area close by we were tripping over them.

I dont enter the ballot any more. too many idiots bombing up bulls and you are stuck with a fixed week that dosnt take account of weather. I just wait now till I have a weather window and go.

Well done all round. That water looks bloody cold!

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
Well done all round. That water looks bloody cold!

Pure fresh snow melt water, I used to dream about it when working in the iron ore belt up in Nth West Aussie and drinking warm water from a canvas bag slung on the Cruiser roo bar

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
Well done all round. That water looks bloody cold!

That spot will not get any sun for the rest of winter. It was like stepping into a fridge.

Love the pics and write up Craig! Dan shouldn’t feel too bad if you only beat him to the road by 2 meters.
Great idea breaking in a young pack mule!

Yep told him ill take it easy on him now and he can do all the hard work in 10 years.