Just started making plans for a free range tahr hunt on public land- South Island. No helis- huts and tents and lots of climbing. Looks like a lot of fu!

Need to get into shape, but am looking forward to it!

Good on you mate.

Nice! Let us know if we can help.

One of the best, most rewarding hunts you'll ever do.
I think it's one of (if not THE) best hunt there is.
It has almost everything you can ask for in a hunt..travel, exotic location in a safe country, fantastic people, breathtaking mountains, easy on the wallet, a trophy that you will EARN, and looks damn good on the wall.

I need to go again. You'll love it! Best of luck and let us know how you do!

The really bad news for you my friend is that it is very addictive hunting those tahr .i have hunted them more times now than i can rmeber and shot over half a dozen and would do it again tomorrow

Who is the guide you are booked with?

Good luck and I am sure you will have a great time.

Here is a warm up to get you keen

Westland Tahr

More of the same

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I am really looking forward to it. The shots can be looong I think. Will use a 270 how does that sound?

Weathered, Great vids BTW.

quote:

Originally posted by 404WJJeffery:
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I am really looking forward to it. The shots can be looong I think. Will use a 270 how does that sound?

Weathered, Great vids BTW.

Not my vids unfortunately but very cool, .270 is an adequate calibre not all range is long. There is a big difference between dropping nannies and bulls, shoot what you are comfortable with and that can still deliver approx 1200 footpounds of energy or more at ranges you are comfortable shooting at.

quote:

Originally posted by 404WJJeffery:
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I am really looking forward to it. The shots can be looong I think. Will use a 270 how does that sound?

Weathered, Great vids BTW.

.270 sounds perfect. Havn't had one yet I couldn't have shot and recovered with the mighty .270

Have to brush up on long range shooting. My local range max is 300 yards, so I will do some research (or open to suggestions) on how to sight in and correct for longer distances. I assume I should be prepared for shots longer than 300 yds?

Joel, that will be the hunt of a lifetime. I think a bull Tahr in full coat is one of the most spectacular trophies there is. A 7 RUM or 270 Wby might give you a bit more energy at range.

If you can be consistant at 300 meters or 330 yards, they you are fine a small hold over for 350 meters / 390 yards.

Be prepared to have fun shooting some nanies.

Is 243 considered too light for tahr? I ask because I have a Steyr 243 that I love and will shoot quarters at 300 yards (the rifle will, not me) from a rest etc. at the range, plus the recoil is nothing.

I read Chuck Hawks site and he argues the RUM of the world get you 30-40 more yards at MPBR (maximum point blank range) but are not worth the extra cost of ammo and recoil.

Chuck Hawks article

You just want to be sure that the bullet arrives at your determined range, whether 300 or 400 yards, etc) with enough horsepower to get the job done. A 7 RUM with a 150gr bullet arrives at 400 yards with 2,258 ft/lbs of energy. A 243 with a 100gr is down to 882.

Bring your 270.
It is plenty good enough and a 243 can be a bit borderline on Tahr. Specially with long shots on big bulls.

Site your 270 in 3 inches high at 100 with a reasonably fast 130gr load. it'll be close to 3 low at 300, then do some experimenting at 400 to see what hold point you need. Its usually around the thick part of the post, or x hairs on the spine with a leuopold type reticle. Or get a boone and crocket and use the graduations.
If you shoot one at 600, you've still got to walk over and collect it, so why not just walk bait closer to start with and make sure'er of the shot.

Bring the rifle you like to carry the most, you'll be doing a lot of walking with it (it'll get a few gnarks, or have its patina added too depending how you see it) and a rifle you are really comfortable with will be one youi'll shoot better. As Shanks says, just walk a bit closer (or take another day) if you need to.

And thats another important thing to realise about NZ's mountains, they and the weather dictate the programme, not your flights, meeting your wife or anything else. Ultimately attempting to meet deadlines is what kills most of the folks who die in our mountains each year.