Thread: Tahr hunting advice please - Next weekend

Originally Posted by Goosebayhunter

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.

The Tekapo Heli base has been shut down, they've just been absorbed into the coast operations now.

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

The Tekapo Heli base has been shut down, they've just been absorbed into the coast operations now.

Clint flying from the station now tho?

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

Originally Posted by Gkp

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

Ice axe and crampons, without the experience to use them correctly, and without the experience to read the snow condition, could get you into a great deal of trouble, or just dead.

You don't need to be a mountaineer to strap a pair of crampons on. It's like having a PLB in your backpack, just because you got it doesn't mean you have to use it.
What happens when you come to a steep frozen section that you need to get across safely? It doesn't even need to be steep! Having an ice axe and crampons in Thar country is a must no matter how experienced you may be or think you may be. To not have them would be like rock climbing without a rope!
Safety first.

Originally Posted by Gkp

You don't need to be a mountaineer to strap a pair of crampons on. It's like having a PLB in your backpack, just because you got it doesn't mean you have to use it.
What happens when you come to a steep frozen section that you need to get across safely? It doesn't even need to be steep! Having an ice axe and crampons in Thar country is a must no matter how experienced you may be or think you may be. To not have them would be like rock climbing without a rope!
Safety first.

No.

To "not have them" will prevent someone inexperienced in winter alpine conditions, going somewhere that is going to give them trouble if their luck is not good.

To have them, could easily see an inexperienced person climbing into difficulty because of misplaced confidence.

But, if you were to spend a day teaching him where, when and why the danger zones are, and how to save yourself when it goes tits up, then your offer of a gear loan would be a great idea.

I think it is fair to say that anyone going into an alpine mountain environment should be aware of the dangers and precautionary measures to keep safe. Or at least if they are not familiar with alpine hunting I hope they do the research and ask someone who can help them out.
It all turns to Shit a lot faster when there is snow, ice, cold temps, short daylight hours and mountain weather involved.
Stay safe.

Originally Posted by Gkp

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

If you haven't done the training, dont take a rope.
Same goes for ice axe and crampons to a lesser extent.join NZAC and do a basic snow craft course.

When you get to the point you only have sky above take a seat and glass down, climb then climb some more.

Ah that makes sense, I hadn't heard about that.

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

Ah that makes sense, I hadn't heard about that.

I could only assume I messaged him a while back and he was still flying so dunno.

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I’m pretty sure Tekapo Heli has closed and the machines redeployed to the coast operations?

If you have a good weather window and permission for the Reardon hut etc it would be my pick. You will have the area to yourself and good animal numbers when I’ve been in. If it’s cold take more clothes

If its cold you will need crampons, you can strike clear ice right after you hop out of your truck and take a heavy fall practically on the flat - don't ask how I know that. If you haven't done a course in self arrest then don't go on steep stuff in them. However if you watch a few you tube vids before you go and find a safe place to practice (where you won't drop off a bluff or start an avalanche) a bit you'll be in the same position as if you did the basic NZAC course.

Also posted this under the Tahr Cull Update:

If you are looking for a male tahr see if you can follow this lead.

All male tahr left during DOC culling operations will be way-pointed and the information published on the DOC website.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets...ional-plan.pdf

Page 11, appendix two, item 4