In an earlier thread it was suggested that a tahr/chamois hunt may be something I should look at. After some research, I am looking for a basic outfitter that can point me to the general vicinity of some habitat and leave me for a few days. I'm looking for a zero frills experience. Could someone point me in the direction of an "outfitter" or land owner (if applicable in NZ).

http://www.hawea-hunting.co.nz/ Chris Mc Charthy

http://flyfishhunt.co.nz/ Gerald Telford Are both top outfitters and members here,but with hunting season well under way may not be checking this forum right now.

http://www.scenic-flights.co.nz/index.html
Not an outfitter as such, but a highly reliable, experienced helicopter operator on NZ's West Coast, South Island. Has extensive knowledge of public land hunting country ( productive spots ) and flies in many hunters every year. They will give advice if asked. The West Coast high country is special with many zones holding good Chamois and Tahr numbers. However, DO NOT take weather or the challenge of the terrain lightly in this area. Gear and preparation must be absolutely tops. For a SAFE hunt here I seriously recommend hunting with experienced guides, at least until your own knowledge has increased. Many of the name outfitter / guides are probably solidly booked at this time of year. Try asking Marcus Pinney if he could set you up for the kind of hunt you are looking for. I have not hunted with him, nor do I really know him but what I have heard is positive. The West Coast is his home hunting ground.
http://www.wildernesstrophyhunting.co.nz/

Alpine Adventures, the link 30.06king has given, is a goody. James Scott is king of the South Westland area and could drop you into an area. The tahr ballot blocks are opening soon so he and his other pilots will be busy but they always have others not in the ballot blocks that they will fly into huts for hunts.

I wouldn't recommend tenting at this time of year, our winter snows and the bad weather that bring them are close.

The Whimper Hut is a good area right in the middle of tahr and chamois country but there are plenty of others. All you need is a free permit for hunting the Department of Conservation (DOC) land (public land). These are available on line and this site has a lot of other information too. http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-a...nces/hunting-permit/

Don't under estimate the ruggedness and isolation of the country, you slip or fall and you are on your own, no roads, no people around. Need to have an EPERB, sat phone etc for safety, and watch the weather. 3000ft in NZ, which is our winter snowline, is climatically equivalent to 10,000ft in the Himalayas so you will not be in pussy foot country.

What are your plans/ What are you hoping to achieve? If you are comfortable doing it yourself, then Plenty of us can give you advice or help.

I feel fairly comfortable doing it on my own. My intentions are to spend some time alone in nature, the possibility of killing a once in a lifetime animal is icing on the cake.

Still pay for you to have an experienced companion. Our mountains kill lots of overseas folk who believe they are experienced enough.

Nothing like a bit of adventure. Im not sure, but with the title "Primitive" Are you planning on useing a bow? If not and you are useing a rifle, you will need a new Zealand residence that has a gun safe to get a visitors firearms licence.

James Scott is indeed the guy you want to ring for flights into that part of the country. if you wish to walk in, then I can give you a couple of spots worth looking at.

Can I get Mr. Scott's contact information? Primitive in the sense of lodging/traveling. I will be using a rifle. I do have a background in mountainous terrain, so that should not be a major issue (other than it can always be a major issue).

quote:

Originally posted by BonsaiCrimson:
Can I get Mr. Scott's contact information? Primitive in the sense of lodging/traveling. I will be using a rifle. I do have a background in mountainous terrain, so that should not be a major issue (other than it can always be a major issue).

James is the owner of Alpine Adventures, the link 30.06king gave above. Here's the link to the FAQ page on the site. James still flys himself so often when choppering into the alpine region for hunting you will have James as your pilot, nobody better in the industry.

http://www.scenic-flights.co.nz/faq.html

There is a guy from Christchurch - I think his name is Brooking. He used to do Wallaby & tahr hunts - low cost. Drive in walk for a few hours to a hut - Mt Dobson if I remember.

The best chances are to find some local hunters form the NZDA and try and get invited. That is what I did.

Tahr are quite plentiful and not that hard to hunt if you know the local area. Getting a big trophy bull is always challenging and never a guarantee.

It is not uncommon for a couple of hunters to go for 3 days and shoot 10 animals - mostly nannies & young. Doc want them to be controlled.

They aim for a base population of 3000 animals and every 5 or 6 years the mobs breed up to over 9000. Then the cullers and helicopters go in & bomb them up.

The hunt I did was with a guy who was local - he invited me over and we drove to the back country of Mid Canterbury and parked the 4X$ & walked a couple of hours up a stream to a bivy. From there we hunted for a couple of days.

On the way in just a few minutes up the creek we met a couple of locals who were coming down from the hills & they had just shot a few - less than 20 min from the car.