Thread: suggestions for a foot access hunt Tahr location for fit beginners

Hi all,
My son and 2-3 mates want to do a 3 night 4 day Tahr hunt early december.
They have not really done any DOC southisland hunting. Most of their hunting is North island bush or private land / bush margins.

They want somewhere they can get above the bush and glass.
They are around 24-25 years old resonably fit but not experianced in alpine hunting.
They are used to hard going having spent every university summer in white overalls with 20 ltr back packs of spray working through cut over forestry blocks hand spraying toi toi, black berry and gorse to let the natives come through.

they will have a 4wd ute but not set up with recovery gear or for deep water.
Ok shooters to 300 mtr.
Keen to challenge themselves.

So can anyone suggest some good starting points for them?
Son has asked me but I have no idea were to start.
they will be starting from Christchurch.
Thanks Z

I have done bugger all Tahr hunting but have a few mates that do,
2 options spring to mind immediately
Head up the Jolly river to Green Point Hut mid week probably better than weekends easy access no 4wd required you can get a road car to the trail access, be prepared to walk 4 or 5 hours in, take good glass and warm gear as the hut is not known for being warm.
The other option if they have a decent 4wd is to head up the Rangitata river bed to the Growler hut and spend some time up there glassing then make a plan for an afternoon hunt if you get on to a mob of tahr in an area your comfortable climbing to.
plenty more experienced tahr hunters than me about hopefully someone will be along to offer more advice than I can.
neither of these areas are anyones spot x so you will need to do some homework before you go, but both areas are known to hold Tahr

Start at Erewhon stn through the Jumped Up Downs then up the Lawrence to the biv ( 1 day).
Or cross the Rangitata go to Murphys ck and up to the biv.
Both exciting country but nothing technical. people can drive part ways up to them but it can be technical 4WD and not so good for a solo vehicle so a fit party has some advantage.

Great thanks guys and also for the PM i recived as well.

pm'd ya.

Hi All,
thanks for the responces. I've more than enough suggestions for the boys to make a selection from.
Z