Thread: Taking a novice into the mountains

I'm after some advice from the wisdom of the forum!

I have a friend over from the states who really wants to shoot a tahr. It is the one thing he feels he must do in NZ.
We are perfectly located up near Mt Hutt, so not far to the rangitata catchment or anywhere else.

I have a small four wheel drive so can get some access but nothing too full on.

The problem:

Time constraints mean it must be a winter/spring hunt.
My mate has never done alpine hunting of any type.

The Question:

How do I get someone with zero experience the opportunity to shoot a tahr without putting them at risk?

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions/solution

You must have been in the same situation at some stage.
I had a N islander on my last trip. I believe it is common knowledge, that N islanders may as well be, Yanks. The one we had along, even dressed like a yank.
He got around fine in the tiger country. I wouldn't worry about it. Especially in easy country like the Rangi.

Yah I know we all started somewhere. But this dude is from the Midwest... Ie a mole hill is actually a mountain.
Sweet we might just start somewhere REAL easy

Originally Posted by R93

N islanders may as well be, Yanks.

Good on ya!

Originally Posted by .22-250 everything

Yah I know we all started somewhere. But this dude is from the Midwest... Ie a mole hill is actually a mountain.
Sweet we might just start somewhere REAL easy

Off the chair lift, mt hut

Hunt to his ability, not yours. The Rangitata is fine. Let him go at his pace, even if it means you do a fair bit of waiting. Keep a close eye on him and assess risk based on his experience and ability. It means you will need to be patient and thoughtful. Keep him hydrated. Get off the hill before it freezes, and in the light. You will be surprised how quickly some people adapt and gain confidence. By the 3rd day he will get a Tahr.

If its in the spring the Tahr come down a bit lower anyway.

I've just come back from taking a tyro out after a Tahr. It only took a day for him to find his feet and get a bit of confidence. He got one too.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by R93

You must have been in the same situation at some stage.
I had a N islander on my last trip. I believe it is common knowledge, that N islanders may as well be, Yanks. The one we had along, even dressed like a yank.
He got around fine in the tiger country. I wouldn't worry about it. Especially in easy country like the Rangi.

Rather a yank than a wank!.......id take him to the north island then......that way he wont be frightned by the no rifle hunting trips with double sleeping bags

Originally Posted by Tahr

Hunt to his ability, not yours. The Rangitata is fine. Let him go at his pace, even if it means you do a fair bit of waiting. Keep a close eye on him and assess risk based on his experience and ability. It means you will need to be patient and thoughtful. Keep him hydrated. Get off the hill before it freezes, and in the light. You will be surprised how quickly some people adapt and gain confidence. By the 3rd day he will get a Tahr.

If its in the spring the Tahr come down a bit lower anyway.

I've just come back from taking a tyro out after a Tahr. It only took a day for him to find his feet and get a bit of confidence. He got one too.

Good luck.

Thanks mate for the advice

Many of the yanks I've come across tend to pooh-pooh our mountains till they get onto them (They have roads to 13,000 feet, so often they never have to actually climb very far). The best thing I've found is to take them for a couple of day hunts after goats or the like till they get limbered up and used to our terrain and vegetation (i.e. watch the slippery carpet grass and don't sit on the spaniards).