New to this forum. Planning first time hunt in NZ.

[Bagheera]

Access is generally easier on the East, sometimes even by 4WD eg MacAuley Hut, although perhaps not recommended for visitors. Walking in for a week involves a 30 kg pack plus rifle and typically 8 hr a day over bouldery riverbeds eg Forbes Biv.

Ice axe and helmet are the most useful. Crampons are handy if you have the texhniques. Rope seldom used due to crumbly rock and absence of reliable anchors… most tahr and chamois are shot well within the subalpine vegetation zone not full alpine.