Thread: Mt Cook Tahr day Hunt help

Hi Guys, wondering if anyone could help me out.
The missus and i might be planning a trip down to Chch to see her friend and Bf for new years and im hoping to spend a night or 2 around Mt Cook.
And since we live in Hamilton no sane man would pass up to chance to go after Tahr.
Problem is my mate (the BF) and i have very little experience hunting Tahr country and don't really know where to begin.
My limitations are:
Only a day to hunt
Gotta be a walk from the main rd
Can't be crazy steep (not for lack of fitness but lack of experience, i don't wana get ourself in any stupid situations with bluffs etc)

I've heard people talk about the Hoopthorn stream or sawyer stream, what do you guys reckon?
Also which side of the watershed would the Tahr be on (north for sun, south for shade?)
Not after a record head but if i see a mob of Tahr close it'll be a good day in my books.

Any advice would be great,
Rich

Hoophorn stream is good. I have seen them on the north side of the valley in the bluffs at the head of the stream. Also I have seen tahr from the road that heads up to the terminal lake. A day hunt won't be easy as the tend not to come down from the bluffs until late afternoon/evening.

Take a headlamp, spare torch & be prepared to walk out in the dark, in saying that thou we saw our first tahr out feeding at 3:30 the other day.

If the budget is not an issue talk to Mt Cook Airlines --- Mark Hayes the piolet will know where to take you

DoC Twizel would be worth talking to as well, they do all the control work in the Park so generally have a pretty good handle on numbers and where they are at. Most of the creeks up there will hold tahr, and you can see them from the road in places. They will be very bleached out by then, probably like outdoorlad's avatar photo

Ok cheers guy,
I will do a bit of research and make a few phone calls and see where that leads.
No i just gotta convince the missus!
R