Thread: Tahr hunting advice please - Next weekend

Hi all,

First post here. 4 of us heading into Tahr country next Friday for 2-3d. Looking to fly in from Mt Cook but a bit concerned about recent weather and how that might affect where we go.

We are looking for some options on best locations to fly into for all weather conditions. Not interested in being in country where we need ice axe and a full set of crampons.

We are just wanting somewhere with good numbers of animals rather than targeting trophy animals. Aim is to get a bull with a nice mane rather than the best horns.

Current plan is:

Clear weather: Reardon Hut at the head of the Dobson. 2 in hut and 2 camping outside in alpine tent.

Mediocre Weather: 2 in Reardon and 2 in Erceg Hut up the Hopkins

Bad weather: Jollie, Cass or 2 Thumbs (drive and/or walk-in)

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

HI Guys.

Biggest thing at the moment is the large amounts of Snow above 600mtrs.


I have not done many flight up the dobson but bull always tent to be really high.

If you want good Bulls sometimes the best places is not where huts are. I could recommend flying up first or second creek in Jollie, tenting it out and then walking out to save you one trip and usually a good bull or 2 in there.

The murch is OK if you got a big gun same again tho Bulls are usually high and mountains are huge.

This time of year you will need an ace and crampons regardless of low country. Once it freezes over night and if you slip in the mornings it can be fatal.

Any other info on Saftey, gear, camping in snow let me know Happy to help.

Many thanks Tom

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@moovet why don't you jump over introduce your self so people know who they are dealing with and a little about yourself.
You have to remember weekly there are new members joining here asking the same question or straight on to the for sale section trying to sell there shit, or its i been hunting for a week and havn't shot my first deer any one know where a mob is. Then fuck off any never heard from again or even try to contribute to the forum

Originally Posted by Goosebayhunter

HI Guys.

Biggest thing at the moment is the large amounts of Snow above 600mtrs.


I have not done many flight up the dobson but bull always tent to be really high.

If you want good Bulls sometimes the best places is not where huts are. I could recommend flying up first or second creek in Jollie, tenting it out and then walking out to save you one trip and usually a good bull or 2 in there.

The murch is OK if you got a big gun same again tho Bulls are usually high and mountains are huge.

This time of year you will need an ace and crampons regardless of low country. Once it freezes over night and if you slip in the mornings it can be fatal.

Any other info on Saftey, gear, camping in snow let me know Happy to help.

Many thanks Tom

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Out of curiosity what is the best way to camp in snow?

A few years back we hunted Whale and Bush Streams not far from Hermitage. Lots of animals in the Bush Stream area and not bad to get around mind you it will be different in snowy conditions. Have to check to see what damage DOC have done in that area if they have worked it which I think they may have done.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Out of curiosity what is the best way to camp in snow?

I was wondering that too. I'd be very interested to hear some of your tips @Goosebayhunter

Regarding your hunt moovet, the advice from Goosebayhunter is pretty solid. Reardon Hut is small and while it offers some shelter from the rain I can tell you first hand it offers no shelter from the cold. The Jollie has some good options, maybe park yourselves at the top fork... there's a flat campsite area on the north-western side... and hunt from there with plenty of scope in all directions.

I wouldn't go anywhere without crampons at this time of the year. Hell, I take them even in summer. Without them you'll be staying in the tent.

Above all else: Take photos, post results and contribute to the forum.

Oh, and enjoy the trip!

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Out of curiosity what is the best way to camp in snow?

Hey Lads there is a few different ways to contribute to makint camping in the snow more enjoyable and warmer.

Firstly make sure you buy a good 4 seasons tent "trusted brand" anything other than MSR or Kuiu, Kathmandu.
I can recommend "one planet nissens" one planet snow goondie. "Mont epoch" hillibergs any one.

Sleep 2 in each tent. 4 seasons tents are double walled being warmer on the inside and hold in heat. On cold nights sleep with 2 in 1 tent and the temp inside will be much higher.

Sleeping mats. The thermorest xtherm or similar is the best for snow. And all your spare clothing you have put on top of your bed roll to insulate yourself further from the cold. Get a blow up pillow. And put inside the hood of your sleeping bag.



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Originally Posted by bigbear

@moovet why don't you jump over introduce your self so people know who they are dealing with and a little about yourself.
You have to remember weekly there are new members joining here asking the same question or straight on to the for sale section trying to sell there shit, or its i been hunting for a week and havn't shot my first deer any one know where a mob is. Then fuck off any never heard from again or even try to contribute to the forum

@bigbear Apologise for not providing an intro but I wasn't really looking for someone special .

Seriously though I didn't realise there was a separate forum for it so happy to do so. Will include it here as well if it makes a difference:

Born and bred in Invercargill and Queenstown, used to work for DOC in Fiordland but been based in the North Island for 25 years. Always trying to find an excuse to get back home which usually involves hunting, diving or fishing. Fiordland, Greenstone and Stewart Island will always be my favourite places but have spent more time hunting in the Kaimanawas than anywhere else.

Have shot a few Chamois mainly around Nelson/Marlborough but haven't got a tahr yet. Realise I ain't getting younger so want to get a bull with a good mane to get mounted in the next few years.

Going down south for work next week so have taken a few days off either side so I was hoping to look for a tahr before the first big snowfall this season. Bit late for that and as I don't have winter alpine experience I don't want to risk it if the conditions are against me. Will go for a deer instead if that's the case.

I shoot a Tikka M690 6.5 x 55mm and do all my own reloading. Looking to load some Hornady 143gn ELD-X for this trip.

Happy to do my part on the forum and contribute where I can but if you're still interested @bigbear I only like long walks along the beach if it ends up with lots of crayfish at the end of it!!

@moovet id have to agree with others the reardon biv is very small and uninsulated. You can get three in there with one on the floor.(getting tight with gear) we sat in the hut for over 24hrs when some ruff weather came through and it was better then a tent. All so the wind dumps right on top of you there my mate spent all night getting flattened by his tent. And i am no expert but id say you would need ice pick, crampons even in there. What about flying in to the next hut down at least there is a fire and a bit more room. I know you can drive to it but if you can't afford to damage your vehicle it might be another option

I've taken a couple of parties of young fellas (and older ones too) up the Hopkins at this time of year and they all shot Tahr - no big bulls though but at least they got to see them. I think the true left is better but opinions vary on that.

While GBH is spot on with his tenting in the snow info, you don't have too, its perfectly feasible to climb up to Tahr from the valley huts and back down each day, just pick a good spur and make sure you use the same one coming back down (cause you'll undoubtly be in the dark in the bush, and you don't want to get fucked up just above the valley floor)

Thanks for all the advice guys.

The other hunters in our group are of a similar level of experience so have agreed to postpone this area until next year, probably in May.

I am still coming down and was wondering about some of the lower altitude areas to the east that hold tahr as an option for next weekend.

Specifically I was thinking about the Eastern 2 Thumbs or Sinclairs range which according to DOC still have good tahr numbers but is easier country an option to hunt other species.

Any thoughts as always would be appreciated.

I walked into Erceg in mid march this year after shooting a few Tahr further down the valley on the true left. It's pretty steep country around there and in winter would be hard going with out the help of an ice axe etc. There is a lot of warnings up there for the avalanche risk with steep little gullies where the snow drifts sit at this time of year. Pretty quiet though, no one had written in the hut book for 6 weeks and the hut book was 25 years old.

Originally Posted by moovet

Thanks for all the advice guys.

The other hunters in our group are of a similar level of experience so have agreed to postpone this area until next year, probably in May.

I am still coming down and was wondering about some of the lower altitude areas to the east that hold tahr as an option for next weekend.

Specifically I was thinking about the Eastern 2 Thumbs or Sinclairs range which according to DOC still have good tahr numbers but is easier country an option to hunt other species.

Any thoughts as always would be appreciated.

I'll message you a couple of spots...

Middle gorge hut. Awesome hut. Fly in with tekapo helicopters. Fly in plenty of firewood. Amazing hunt and warm with fire. Usually a few Bulls in there this time of year.

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Take a ice axe and crampons! Could save your arse. I will lend you mine. Rope is also handy