Thread: Tahr northern limits

No one knows where they are going and no one can ever say where they are going

They released Tahr in the Argentine Patagonian Andes in 2006, it's very hard finding much information on them other than "the introduction has been a success" (give them thirty or so years and they will be wreaking havoc) but I'm adding it to my bucket list.

I don't know about north, but I came across this fella way east at below 300m ASL, close to the coastline on the east coast on public land just before Christmas 2015. Walked up to within about 30m of him, snapped a couple photos & watched him slowly wander off. Clearly knew my fly rod wasn't loaded

Bases nothing super special but that length is incredible... surely must be pushing 14+, even 15?!

That is a special animal alright.. especially given a few more years

I never saw it to verify, but 7-8 yr ago there was reported to be one seen and taken in the river bed next to home. Probably only 30km from their natural habitat, but 5km from the coast, and 25m ASL. A lot of people in a small area hunting him. Was a good place to stay away from. @Dreamer may have heard or know more about that one

I know of a few shot in Jackson's Bay south of Haast😆

The pic of the one just above is not that clear on my phone but looks to be a young animal with decent length. Tips are hard to make out but I would be looking for him If I knew where he was this year. Small bases but could have grown into them by now.
Has real potential if still alive.

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Originally Posted by R93

The pic of the one just above is not that clear on my phone but looks to be a young animal with decent length. Tips are hard to make out but I would be looking for him If I knew where he was this year. Small bases but could have grown into them by now.
Has real potential if still alive.

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Yep, I'd guess he was still a young one, he wasn't particularly big in the body yet either, although possibly deceptive with that ragged summer coat, as I've only really seen em with full winter coats before. Definitely had a lot of potential. Whether he's still alive or not I don't know, haven't been back to that area since, but he was safe from me.

Was really just seeing one so close to the coast & at low elevation that surprised me. Was the last thing I was expecting to see while spending a day on the river.

Originally Posted by Wildman

The were almost decimated by WARO in the 80's. Would have been wiped out if it wasn't for the moratorium on them. Unlike deer which choppers could never wipe out

I don't think complete eradication would have been possible, they would have survived in small numbers in the West Coast scrub country.

We're they over in the coast very extensively then? They got the population down to less than 2000 by some accounts.

Originally Posted by Wildman

We're they over in the coast very extensively then? They got the population down to less than 2000 by some accounts.

Yeah but you know as well as I do that absolute abundance numbers are nonsense..

They were definitely well established on the coast into the scrub country by the time WARO got started on them.

Originally Posted by gimp

Yeah but you know as well as I do that absolute abundance numbers are nonsense..

They were definitely well established on the coast into the scrub country by the time WARO got started on them.

Let's call it an estimate then. Probably better than the word of your old mate Dave spinning shit over a beer...

I'll take your word for it, and it raises an interesting question - is a tahr in the bush really a tahr or just another smelly goat?

Himalayas

Originally Posted by Wildman

Let's call it an estimate then. Probably better than the word of your old mate Dave spinning shit over a beer...

I'll take your word for it, and it raises an interesting question - is a tahr in the bush really a tahr or just another smelly goat?

Dave doesn't drink beers though. I heard it was an estimate of 1000 tahr anyway...

There are animals north of the Lewis Pass. They flew not walked though


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