With work starting to wind up a closer-to-home day hunt won the toss over an overnighter for my weekend jaunt. Leaving home at a leisurely 6am had me crunching up through the crisp pre-dawn air and into conservation land on first light.
With nothing seen in the immediate vicinity I began glassing my way up towards the main ridge, with the forecast westerly making itself known. Gaining a promising vantage point I had a good look around, satisfied the coast was clear I began sidling around to the next gut.
As is the way, once fully exposed movement below caught my eye. A quick look through the binos confirmed the target species. Finding a good rest I was all lined up, a long shot no doubt but doable. A final check showed the mob moving off into the creek out of sight, the wind had been swirly all morning so it seemed it was game over. In hindsight this was for the best, the shot was too far and outside of my abilities.
I had a good vantage point and hadn't seen them go far, only out of sight so decided to quickly drop the 200 odd vertical to their last known location. Cresting a small knob revealed they were indeed still there, exactly where I had first seen them!
Not mucking around this time I lined up on a bull and the 7mm08 spoke. The victim took off with a floppy shoulder, with a follow-up shot dropping him on the spot.
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Tahr down
Just a young bull but an absolute trophy for me, been wanting to get onto one of these for a long time and really pleased it all came together.
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A later autopsy revealed the first shot left him with one lung and half a heart, tough buggers those Tahr.
With back wheels and steaks on board it was a bit of a slog back to the car, no thanks to the "stairway from hell"
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Hill stick, bang stick, Tahr
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