Foot hunt for Tahr and Chamois

12 August 2008, 00:49

Weathered

These are some of the better catchments for hunting, all contain tahr and most have chamois all are public land. Some like the Dobson, Twin Stream and Jollie boarder on private land however permission to hunt this land is often given. This map is centered just to the west of the light turquiose lake (also in this sat map) in the center of the South Island satelite photo.

This is the usual snow coverage in winter

Peter, Wazza's hunting area in his report is the south west area in fiordland

If you hunt the west coast in winter expect at least one of these in a week.
Average precipitation on the west coast is 18-19 meters a year about 30% falls as snow, The permanent snowline on the west is 1600-1800 meters on the east 2000-2300 meters. Tahr altitudinal range runs around 800 to 2800 meters depending on the time of year. chamois are more evenly distributed and I have seen them standing on sand dunes on the west coast ! they tend to inhabit lower sections of the valley than tahr.

You do not need to be young just determined and prepared if you want success, the bulls are there you just need to get to them

12 August 2008, 01:22

Weathered

Spring, Sept to Nov can be very productive as the tahr and chamois are feeding intensely. Tahr rumens shrink to 1/3 of their normal size in winter the predominant activity apart from random feeding and chasing nannies is standing around in bluffs looking hairy and majestic. Avalanches can be a pain in spring I took 2 chamois from a group of 11 in the valley floor directly under the point release avalanche just starting in the center of the photo

In spring try to avoid hunting in Nor wester weather patterns as it brings rain snow avalanches and loose rock,like europes fohn wind other wise in good weather hunting can be excellent with animals moving everywhere and coming lower down the hill to feed. You may not get great skins but I have seen batchelor mobs of up to 50 bulls in catchments with 15-20 being normal.
Spring is also the time you will get least conflict with heli-tourists
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