Thread: Whataroa - Prospectors Creek

Hey there! Planning to go to whataroa valley in a couple weeks for some Tahr and Chamois. I have done some research on google earth and could see that Prospectors creek looks like a good place, really wide and high. I am planning to fly in and out. Any advice on how to hunt there or if there is any good chamois or tahr numbers?

Thanks a lot!

There will be animals there, I dont know what numbers are like though. Early April is probably a month early to strike the rut, and so depending on if its A nanny territory, there might not be bulls there.

If you take a look at this map of bull sightings, its low anyway.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...g-maps-202425/

Also there are two big waterfalls and some very steep country that's going to limit your hunting options or ability to drop down lower if weather turns bad, and my feeling is Its too open with no scrub for there to be many animals. The tahr use the scrub and bush for safety on the West Coast.

Chamois can be anywhere, and low Tahr numbers can mean more chance of chamois, But id be looking elsewhere, probably lower down for them.

Tell us a bit more about yourself. Age, fitness, how long you are in the country, What you are hunting with, mountain hunting experience, and your goals for the trip so that we can help a bit more.

Thanks a lot! Very helpful!

There is going to be 4 of us and the idea is to make 2 hunting parties. We are all 27 and pretty fit hahaha….

I already hunted the west coast last year with other friends and got 2 chamois, so I am coming back this year with the idea of getting a tahr and a chamois again if possible. Struggling a bit with identifying what valleys/creeks could be suitable for us in the west coast, and I heard franz joseph could work.

I know it is not the best time of the year as the deer rut might be starting, but is the only time we have available to go… I spect this could be good as there could be less thar hunting activity

Thanks a lot, any suggestions are very welcome!!

Ok, Give me your email address and I'll give you some places I think are better options to consider. I must stress I dont know the prospectors creek area, so someone else might have a better idea and say its Ok, But just researching this morning and its not somewhere id head too blindly.

Im taking it that you will be based at Scone hut????? If thats the case you have some great country you can hunt from there,, as well as Prospectors creek...

Thanks a lot Whanahuia!! My email is: ignacio.bgb@gmail.com

Matagouri, I was thinking on camping rather than staying at a hut… we’ve got good tents. Do you know the area?

I have sent you an email with a map showing an alternative. Its in the national park so there has been some culling since I was last there, But I was hunting not too far from there last year and numbers were still OK.

Just sent email..