Thread: Tahr control update from NZDA

NZDA update on the Tahr situation:

Tahr numbers have increased to such a stage that serious concern has been raised by the Minister, and conservation groups.

NZDA acknowledges that the numbers are well above the limit set by the Himalayan Tahr Control Plan 1992 and is cooperating with DOC in a program to reduce numbers.

Facts

· The HTCP sets a limit of 10,000 across the entire feral range
· Monitoring (2 methods) by DOC places the number on DOC land alone at around 35,000 with the estimate of 20,000 on private and leased land.
· The feral range has extended from that recognised in 1992.
· Annual harvest up to now has varied but in 2016/17 totalled 4615 ( excluding recreational hunters outside the ballot and organised hunts)
- The annual harvest has not kept the numbers under control.

Reaction

· NZDA, SCI, Guides etc accept that the increase has happened.
· The Minister has directed DOC to take effective action.
· The Tahr Plan Liaison Group has been reactivated.
· A designated person and DOC office (Twizel) will coordinate operations.

Operations

· DOC will switch Search & Destroy operations from containment to concentrating on hi density areas.
· DOC and LINZ will work with land managers (private and leased land) to reduce numbers

· NZDA and other recreational hunters will be engaged in management hunts on areas identified by DOC as priority areas. (Oct – March)

· Applicants for management hunts will need to meet criteria (experience and capability).
· Recreational hunters will be encouraged to provide kill returns.


Related issues

· Commercial interests (guides, WARO, AATH) have raised the concern that their business is based on a tahr herd large enough to sustain the current harvest and that a reduction to 10,000 would destroy their industries.

· Recreational hunting of tahr has never been more popular and a reduction to 10,000 would have serious implications particularly for trophy hunting of mature males.


NZDA Position

· NZDA represented on the Tahr Liaison Group and will cooperate with DOC in reducing numbers.

· NZDA will insist on a “No Bulls” policy for management hunts including DOC SAD .

· NZDA along with commercial interests will review the on-going DOC monitoring and research and further discussions on the appropriateness of the 10,000 limit.

Stay tuned for further information to come, updates on Facebook/Instagram.

Poor WARO and AATH operators, imagine someone coming along and ruining your tahr hunting!
Poor little poppets.

You may not like the WARO and AATH guys but if they loose their business because Tahr numbers take a dive then our chances of getting decent throphy's also takes a dive.

Thanks for the info @FRST

I think the old figure of 10,000 Tahr over the feral range is un realistic now days. In areas where the populations have increased to unacceptable levels they need to be reduced by reducing the female population and leave the Older and young bulls for the trophy hunters. Culling should only be done in areas sustaining environmental damage. Vegetation monitoring would be the best way to get the information required so that the desired result can be obtained. To just go out there and destroy 20-30,000 tahr when it may not be needed is a huge waste to the economy.
Does it really matter if there are 30,000 tahr running around our mountains and not the old 10,000 figure that was once agreed on?
Such a majestic animal shouldn't be slaughtered for the sake of it unless there is no other option.

Originally Posted by ZQLewis

You may not like the WARO and AATH guys but if they loose their business because Tahr numbers take a dive then our chances of getting decent throphy's also takes a dive.

Care to explain your logic?

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Care to explain your logic?

+1

Originally Posted by ZQLewis

You may not like the WARO and AATH guys but if they loose their business because Tahr numbers take a dive then our chances of getting decent throphy's also takes a dive.

I’d like to not lose tahr from NZ - I don’t think we will- but I’d like to lose some rich American or kerosene cowboy ruining my hunting even more. I’ve never been primarily a trophy hunter, but if I’ve got horns on the wall I’ve earned them, as it should be.
Drop the numbers back, lose the cowboys.

Originally Posted by ethos

Poor WARO and AATH operators, imagine someone coming along and ruining your tahr hunting!
Poor little poppets.

Oh the irony lol

Originally Posted by ZQLewis

You may not like the WARO and AATH guys but if they loose their business because Tahr numbers take a dive then our chances of getting decent throphy's also takes a dive.

I’d say your chances would improve if they aren’t being aerialy harassed & chased forcing them into the scrub

Originally Posted by ethos

I’d like to not lose tahr from NZ - I don’t think we will- but I’d like to lose some rich American or kerosene cowboy ruining my hunting even more. I’ve never been primarily a trophy hunter, but if I’ve got horns on the wall I’ve earned them, as it should be.
Drop the numbers back, lose the cowboys.

Overseas hunters are charged a trophy fee by DOC collected by the Safari Park / Hunting guide. The Game Animal Council has sought to have overseas hunters levied to provide an income for GAC, rather than levy NZ hunters. Re 'Kerosene cowboy' It is no longer legal for overseas hunters to shoot from an aerial platform. flying machines are however used for access the same as Kiwi hunters use them. The point being possibly missed is that if these 'pest' animals are generating an income for DOC and for the country as a whole then we are much more likely to maintain a herd. There are now sufficient Tahr on private game estates to provide all the trophies needed by overseas hunters if the feral herd was eliminated. The reason that Tahr are commercially trophy hunted on the DOC estate is that trophy parks outside the exclusion zone can choose the cheaper option of a 'fair chase' animal paying only the DOC fee rather than paying a park inside the zone a trophy fee.
So we should embrace the overseas tourist hunter they are our saviour. How cool if Prince Harry was taken Tahr hunting when he and Megan are here, that would lift the image.
There are 30,000 spare so if the kiwis can't get the job done let the tourists hunters have a crack

The tourist cowboys are allowed in our wilderness areas anytime, unlike myself.
So fuck the fat fucks and there guides


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Overseas hunters are charged a trophy fee by DOC collected by the Safari Park / Hunting guide. The Game Animal Council has sought to have overseas hunters levied to provide an income for GAC, rather than levy NZ hunters. Re 'Kerosene cowboy' It is no longer legal for overseas hunters to shoot from an aerial platform. flying machines are however used for access the same as Kiwi hunters use them. The point being possibly missed is that if these 'pest' animals are generating an income for DOC and for the country as a whole then we are much more likely to maintain a herd. There are now sufficient Tahr on private game estates to provide all the trophies needed by overseas hunters if the feral herd was eliminated. The reason that Tahr are commercially trophy hunted on the DOC estate is that trophy parks outside the exclusion zone can choose the cheaper option of a 'fair chase' animal paying only the DOC fee rather than paying a park inside the zone a trophy fee.
So we should embrace the overseas tourist hunter they are our saviour. How cool if Prince Harry was taken Tahr hunting when he and Megan are here, that would lift the image.
There are 30,000 spare so if the kiwis can't get the job done let the tourists hunters have a crack

No they can fuck off.
Paid canned hunts and trophy hunts are “ethically challenged” and create extremely bad press for all hunters.
Secondly as Smiddy says, non deserving shits and giggles cowboys actually get preferential access to tax paying kiwis to our wilderness blocks at present so pull the other one. ��
Lastly tourist trophy hunters “getting the job done” on lowering animal numbers?
Yeah nah.
The herd obviously needs ongoing targeted control and that will involve bombing some nannies and not being precious about just shooting trophy bulls eh.

Originally Posted by Smiddy

The tourist cowboys are allowed in our wilderness areas anytime, unlike myself.
So fuck the fat fucks and there guides


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

+1

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Overseas hunters are charged a trophy fee by DOC collected by the Safari Park / Hunting guide. The Game Animal Council has sought to have overseas hunters levied to provide an income for GAC, rather than levy NZ hunters. Re 'Kerosene cowboy' It is no longer legal for overseas hunters to shoot from an aerial platform. flying machines are however used for access the same as Kiwi hunters use them. The point being possibly missed is that if these 'pest' animals are generating an income for DOC and for the country as a whole then we are much more likely to maintain a herd. There are now sufficient Tahr on private game estates to provide all the trophies needed by overseas hunters if the feral herd was eliminated. The reason that Tahr are commercially trophy hunted on the DOC estate is that trophy parks outside the exclusion zone can choose the cheaper option of a 'fair chase' animal paying only the DOC fee rather than paying a park inside the zone a trophy fee.
So we should embrace the overseas tourist hunter they are our saviour. How cool if Prince Harry was taken Tahr hunting when he and Megan are here, that would lift the image.
There are 30,000 spare so if the kiwis can't get the job done let the tourists hunters have a crack

Just how much of that fee makes it to DoC? Do you actually reckon it's an income to them? If they charge like the Americans do for an out of state hunter I would believe you but seriously I would think it accounts to sweet FA.


If prince Harry shot one and increased publicity then more land would be locked up for paying shooters only and that is not what this country is about. Take a look at his homeland hunting it is expensive

Originally Posted by gonebush

Take a look at his homeland hunting it is expensive

If only he hadn't gone hunting that one time