05 July 2012, 11:06
Todd WilliamsTahr, Chamois, and Stag Hunt June 2012
New Zealand 2012 -- Red Stag, Tahr, and Chamios HuntOutfitter - South Pacific Safaris New Zealand; Mike and Deborah Wilks
Guide – Hayden
South Island of New Zealand
Rifle – Ruger No. 1, 300H&H Mag., Trijicon 3X9X40 Scope
Barnes TTSX 180gr Handloads at 3050fps
Leica 10X42 Binos with Range Finder
Technical Climbing Boots for the Tahr hunt
This hunt was booked several years ago but for one reason or another, it just kept being pushed back year after year. Mike and Deborah were very kind in allowing my deposit to continue rolling over from year to year without penalty other than the normal and expected price increases over that period of time. My wife loves to travel so this trip was on her “Bucket List”. Not the hunt, but the visit to NZ!
This is a hunt report so I’m going to keep this part short as it pertains to the travel aspects only. My wife’s father was an airline pilot, my wife a Flight Attendant, and I was an airline pilot for the better part of 2 decades before medical reasons took me out of the cockpit. I mention this to establish that we come from an airline background and understand the challenges of making customers happy and streamlining the travel experience. We traveled on the Star Alliance with US Airways, United Express, and Air New Zealand. This was the worst travel experience I’ve known to date.
I could easily go on for pages on this but want to get to the hunting so I’ll leave you with a small example of how unaccommodating Air New Zealand was! We arrived in Auckland with plenty of time to spare for our connection to Christchurch. It took 57 minutes for the police to finish their breakfast and man the police station inside baggage claim where the firearms permit was issued. This is not an Air New Zealand issue but rather a police issue. However, we now had 35 minutes to clear customs, recheck the bags, walk to the domestic terminal, clear security, and make the flight connection. With 25 minutes remaining once reaching the baggage recheck, I asked the agent to simply move us to the next flight, 40 minutes later in order to take the pressure off all the way around. His response was that moving us to a later flight, with 25 minutes remaining to recheck, walk across the airport, clear security, etc. would require an entire new ticket for both my wife and myself! We actually made the connection arriving at the gate fully soaked with sweat from running through the terminal as our names were being broadcast over the PA system that the plane was being held for us and others were waiting! The bags however, did not make the flight and arrived 40 minutes later on the flight I asked to be moved to! Go figure! The entire airline / airport experience there and back went like this but I’ve gotten it out of my system now so let’s talk HUNTING!
A few months back here on AR, I got involved in a sometimes heated but generally polite discussion about Helihunting. Honestly, until that time, I was completely unaware of the term “Helihunting” and the issues surrounding it in New Zealand. As mentioned, I booked this trip several years earlier, long before joining AR and back when my only research conducted on hunting trips was limited to calling a few references. South Pacific Safaris New Zealand was recommended to me by a good friend who hunted with them awhile back, so I booked with them on word of mouth. Imagine my surprise, and disappointment with myself, when I learned they are one of the 16 Helihunting Operators!!
Even though I didn’t know about the controversy when booking the hunt, I remember distinctively telling Mike that I wanted to avoid using choppers as much as possible. Mike stated that would be no problem as long as I arrived in shape and maybe added a few extra days to the hunt. Let me state here and now that from the comments I’ve read on AR concerning New Zealand hunting, there are not many here who will accept any positive comments on Mike Wilks and South Pacific Safaris New Zealand. I understand the position, as there are many issues with Helihunting that need to be changed. As I’ve stated in the past, I support the ending of Helihunting. To be clear, we are talking about herding and harassing the animals with a chopper instead of simply using the machine for access into the mountains.
I suppose my insistence on doing the hunts on foot was a bit off-putting to Mike in the beginning as he seemed a bit “cool” in demeanor compared to the shows back home in the States. He probably thought I was going to be a “Problem Client” which I suppose I would have been if my desires on how to conduct the hunts were not honored! In all fairness and honesty, Mike had no problems at all conducting the Tahr and Chamois hunts on foot and never insisted on doing it any other way. With that, plans were made to get underway!
We started with the Tahr hunt, which was to be conducted on private land, near Lake Heron (sp?), well South of Christchurch. We stayed in an excellent little hut at the base of the mountains. The residual smell of smoke from the two wood burning stoves was most pleasant and held the promise of a relaxing evening in front of the fire! That’s the extent of the pleasantries however as this was a hunting hut, not the Ritz! No toilets other than a nice selection of chest high sticker bushes all round. In addition, the activities were about to take a decidedly adventurous and physically demanding turn once the hunt got underway.
Our plan was to attempt to walk into the area, accessing the hunting area by means of a rock-strewn creek. Due to recent heavy snows, we were not able to make the required progress necessary to reach the Tahr. In most places we were dealing with climbing in knee-deep and heavier snow. With the creek as high as it was, it was also unavoidable to wade deeper than our boots would protect. Not such a big deal to fill up the boots with cold water on the way out, but possibly dangerous to do so going in. We spent the afternoon glassing and making a plan for the following day. We arranged for a chopper to pick us up at the base of the mountain, where we parked the truck, at daybreak. Based on our glassing activities from the previous day, we elected to ride only to the top of the mountain, getting above the majority of the snow that hampered our progress the previous day. Just getting to the elevation on the mountainside where the midday sun had a shot at the snow, made all the difference in the world. Actually the difference between knee-deep snow and ankle-deep snow!
When the chopper dropped us off and departed, there was a strange sensation of quite and isolation. Also the realization that the only way out was to put one foot in front of the other! Very cool and worth the trip!
Hayden and I traversed numerous bowls in some really steep and icy conditions. In many places, looking down was definitely not recommended. As we moved from ridgeline to ridgeline, we paused to glass the valley across and below prior to showing ourselves and continuing. I was certainly not prepared for how well Tahr blend into their natural surroundings on the mountainside.
After approximately 4.5 hours, we reached the 6th ridgeline. Hayden stated he had shot quite a few Bull Tahr from this bowl. Sure enough, there were about 20 animals present, including 2 mature bulls. He picked out the better of the two bulls while I struggled to reach the ridgeline pinnacle where he has so often set up the “snipers pit”. I was really hanging off the mountainside, laying down in an almost standing up position, if that makes sense. It was quite comfortable to settle into the rifle and begin the long wait for my quarry to stand up. Personally, I don’t have a problem shooting animals in their beds, but this guy was laying butt to the right, shoulder to the left, head looking downhill and blocking the vitals. I had no option but to wait.
During this time, we were able to set the video camera and even discuss the upcoming shot a bit. No need to do any “re-takes” as there was no hurry. I don’t like retakes anyway for that matter! The bull was ranged at 160 yards, at about a 60-degree shot downward. With the rifle hitting 2” high at 200 yards, I simply elected to place the amber dot approximately 1/3rd up from the bottom of his chest as he stood. One shot is all that was required. After firing the rifle, Tahr exploded in all directions from hidden retreats all over the place. It’s truly amazing how fast they can run downhill without the slightest difficulty while we can barely make our way!
Speaking of that, Hayden went ahead with the video camera as we descended to the downed animal. Just as I made a switchback, my left heel came to rest on a clump of grass hidden under the snow and I was off to the races. It’s really amazing how fast I began picking up speed. Then I hit a bump of some kind that threw me airborne and started me tumbling. I was aware of sky, ground, sky ground, sky sky, etc. Each time I saw earth, I tried to grab something, like a clump of grass. I was vaguely aware that my speed was getting out of hand when I all of a sudden stopped on all fours, gasping for air. Looking down, I had two more bushes of grass clumps before finding myself in the rocks approximately 20 yards below. I don’t know how far I fell! Maybe 50 yards, more or less.
It was enough, I can tell you that. In the process, I broke both pinky fingers. The right was twisted in and under at the middle knuckle while the left was dislocated to 90 degrees outward at the middle knuckle. Without thinking, I grabbed the left pinky and pulled. It snapped back into place giving me no more issue until swelling set in later that evening. The right was a bit more of an issue but we managed. I also did something to the middle finger on the right hand causing substantial swelling and discomfort. Other than that, I was no worse for the wear with the fingers.
However, the real problem was that I had severe pain in my solo-plexes or where the diaphragm meets the bottom of the Sternum. I was unable to expand my chest more than about ½ way in getting a breath. This situation pretty much rendered me useless to Hayden concerning getting the animal skinned and packed out. We seriously contemplated pulling the emergency rescue beacon for chopper pick up. If we had had a Sat Phone and could have simply ordered a chopper extraction, I would have said yes. Absent that option, and probably against my better judgment, I elected to walk out with Hayden carrying most of the gear. I have to say, the boy is a stud of a mountain goat! I know you Kiwi’s say no tipping in NZ but Hayden certainly got some additional greenbacks for his efforts!
As it turns out the Tahr was a good one at a bit over 13” but I couldn’t care less. I was happy to have taken a mature bull, on foot with the exception of the chopper access, and then to have made it out under physical extremis without mechanical assistance. The smart decision?; probably not but I was in the moment and prepared to reach deep.
Arriving back at the lodge around midnight, we had a decision concerning the Chamois hunt. A Helihunt is something that I considered out of the question but I had come a long way, spent some money, and would like to find a solution concerning success with my now limited breathing capacity. We elected to take the chopper in, locate the animals but not chase or harass in anyway, then set down in an area that would allow a mostly downhill approach. Then once the animal was secured, the chopper would pick us back up. Yea, … still not so keen on this plan as we got closer to one group of Chamois than I was comfortable with. I stated my position and we backed out, leaving them alone, while moving to a different area.
This took quite a bit of time, as I wasn’t willing to just set down and start shooting. We were going to do it in a way that I felt at least somewhat comfortable with or else I would just go home without. Either was fine with me. Eventually, after about 3.5 hours, we found a small group of 4 generally heading up hill and appearing to be undisturbed by us. We flew around the back side of the ridge and unloaded. It took us over an hour to maneuver into a satisfactory position. Of course, this doesn’t sound like much, (just over an hour), and I apologize for that but I was working within my limitations at this point. Long story short, I was able to get the shot at about 250 yards. It actually took two as I didn’t settle in properly on the first try.
The remaining time was spent with my wife, Donna, back at the ranch looking for a good Stag. Hey, it’s estate hunting so it’s not real hard. But it gives my wife a chance to go into the field without roughing it too much, and get a glimpse of what we do in the field. How realistic of a glimpse, well not that much but she’s a girl’s girl and taking the time to video the animals while walking up and down the hills makes her happy. And a happy wife makes for more hunting trips!
While concentrating on the Alpine species, Deborah, took Donna into several local towns and markets where she had the opportunity to do some shopping, a little Whale Watching, and a few encounters with a charging Seal! She was well taken of and I never had to worry about her enjoyment.
I know that because Mike is one of the 16 operators doing HH, there is little I can do or say to sway any opinions here. That’s fine and I’m not trying to do so. I don’t understand your issues forward and backward but did try to learn a better than basic insight to what is going on there in NZ. But I will say that once I made it clear that I wanted to hunt on foot instead of HH, Mike went out of his way to accommodate my wishes. He never tried to talk me out of foot hunting except to say that it will likely be one of the most strenuous hunts I’ve done. And it was. Of course the fall, added to the difficulties. I feel 100% comfortable with how the Tahr hunt was conducted and mostly comfortable with how the Chamois hunt was conducted, concerning the chopper. Anyone who takes exception to how we did it, I’ll grant you the validity of disagreement.
All in all, the hunt was a great success. Donna had a blast on her first overseas trip in a few years. New Zealand was on her bucket list for years so now she’ll have to add to it. I saw some really beautiful country and pursued some unique animals. I got some good video to relive the hunt whenever I so desire and made some new friends. I’m still struggling with the chest issue and plan on a doctor’s visit tomorrow just to put the matter to rest. I really think I have simply pulled a muscle but we’ll see. I hope you all enjoyed the report.
don't get me started
Having been on a tahr hunt on the western side of the South Island mountain ranges in early May and seeing hundreds of tahr most days I just have a hankering for those majestic and pretty chamois. Don't get me wrong, a trophy bull tahr sure is a grand beast and I'm sure will hold pride of place for you and great memories of a rough and tough hunt to secure the trophy. 
