Lovember Tahr Trip

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03-12-2011, 10:31 PM
Steve338

Lovember Tahr Trip

Sneeze had a few well deserved days off and I was up to nothing as usual so we teed up a trip down the East Coast for a Tahr. Chris had never shot one and I hadnt been after them for two years so it was all on.

An early start from Nelson and we had Tahr on the deck that evening.

Unfortunately the weather was average, blowing an absolute gale most of the time. On the first evening we spotted a nice bull on the opposite face at 750 yards, It was a 10 mph wind where we were so I dialled that and could see no indication that it was stronger. Sneeze spotted the shot and it was good for height but blown 1.5m approx to the side. Later we put the data through the ballistic program and it must have been a wind of 28-30mph out in the middle:eek:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...20151Large.jpg

We turned to the bluffs behind us as there were Tahr all around us as it was getting dim.

They were up at a 36 deg angle and the slope was slippery as, we had a few laughs trying to stay put and take a shot.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...20130Large.jpg
I scoped myself on the steep angle, fark it hurt a bit too. Rifle 338Edge

The two that Sneeze shot did the most impressive freefall, the rock bouncing and piroettes that I have ever seen, they landed on a snow chute and slid a bit further down. The result was horns broken off, all legs broken, back broken, pelvis shattered. It certainly gave us a reminder to be careful on the steep stuff. Recovering meat was a problem with that much damage too.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...20139Large.jpg
These little buggers turned up on carcasses within a minute of the shots and did the same in separate valleys, they sure know how to get a free feed.

We got a couple the next day which were in much better nick and we got a heap of meat and did some sausies, bloody great too. Longest shot was just over 500yards and was a cracker by Chris, most others were pushing 400yards and over.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...20150Large.jpg
Camp set up

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...20133Large.jpg
Sneeze with his first, they were up on the bluff high above the snow chute

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...20149Large.jpg
Me with one of the lighter coloured animals seen

November is supposed to be Lovember but the lowest ones we seen were about 1350metres ASL and there were plenty up alot higher.
03-12-2011, 10:41 PM
sneeze

;)Cheers Mate great way to spend a few days.Nice country.Last time I was down that way I left my brand new Tom Petty damm the topedoes album at my girlfriends.:(
03-12-2011, 10:45 PM
The Claw

Nice work guys, a few of us were in that general area a couple weeks prior. Saw heaps around, some fed a long way down to around 1,100m ASL, some even lower, but most were up high like you say. I shot a couple, one looked alright through the spotter, but ended up at 11 3/4". The other one I shot for meat fell about 400m into an unrecoverable snow chute. Quite spectacular to watch...
03-12-2011, 10:51 PM
puku

thanks for the read there steve. Also awesome work on getting some the first day after travelling down there!
03-12-2011, 11:55 PM
Philipo

Good stuff boys & great pic's :cool: What a rag tag bunch of buggars :D
04-12-2011, 08:03 AM
jakewire

Great yarn and photo's a good start to the section.
04-12-2011, 11:37 AM
Terminator

Thanks for the write up and photos Steve a good start for the new forum stories section.
That nose looks a bit worse for wear didn't know your edge had teeth.
04-12-2011, 06:21 PM
outdoorlad

Good report, cheers
04-12-2011, 06:48 PM
Breda

Nice pics.
04-12-2011, 07:58 PM
sako75

:cool: What was the meat damage like with the 338?
04-12-2011, 08:10 PM
Steve338

Quote:

Originally Posted by sako75

:cool: What was the meat damage like with the 338?

Left an impressive exit wound for sure but the truly impressive damage was from the huge tumble they took!
04-12-2011, 08:22 PM
tui_man2

nice trip had there

looks like you got a good bite:grin:
04-12-2011, 09:46 PM
Kiwi Greg

Quote:

Originally Posted by tui_man2

looks like you got a good bite:grin:

Bald Bob knows about those.....but I can't talk my Edge bit me as well, those high angle shots are a bitch :pissed off:
04-12-2011, 09:52 PM
The Claw

Quote:

Originally Posted by sako75

:cool: What was the meat damage like with the 338?

The bull I shot with my 338 Lunatic at 820m soaked up a 300gr SMK. Smashed the onside shoulder, minced the chest cavity, through the off shoulder and came to rest under the skin. Dropped it on the spot, but then again, the energy at that range is the same as point blank shooting something with most normal big game calibres...

At closer ranges (400m is the closest I've shot something with it) shot placement is critical for any sort of meaningful meat recovery off the front shoulders... Normally results in less to carry which is good!
05-12-2011, 07:24 AM
Terminator

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Claw

The bull I shot with my 338 Lunatic at 820m soaked up a 300gr SMK. Smashed the onside shoulder, minced the chest cavity, through the off shoulder and came to rest under the skin. Dropped it on the spot, but then again, the energy at that range is the same as point blank shooting something with most normal big game calibres...

At closer ranges (400m is the closest I've shot something with it) shot placement is critical for any sort of meaningful meat recovery off the front shoulders... Normally results in less to carry which is good!

:grin: less meat more room for long range gear in your pack.
05-12-2011, 09:26 PM
veitnamcam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

Bald Bob knows about those.....but I can't talk my Edge bit me as well, those high angle shots are a bitch :pissed off:

The one I saw wasnt a high angle it was like 5 degrees:grin:

Good report and pics cheers
06-12-2011, 06:35 PM
landlock

nice stuff, love the country you were in
12-12-2011, 02:28 PM
Homer

G'Day Fella's,

Ouch Steve, that .338 Kiss had to hurt!
I see you recovered OK and decked a Tahr or two!!!

What kind of .338 are you shooting Steve and also, what bullet brand/type and weight?
I have a couple of them myself (-06, Win Mag and .340Weatherby).

Edit by Homer,
Steve, I just went and read that you are using a .338 EDGE!
Double Doh!!

Doh!
Homer
12-12-2011, 03:24 PM
Steve338

Hi Homer
Yep a 338 Edge using 300 grain Sierra Match Kings with 94 grains of H1000 and CCI250 primers (pretty much Shawn Carlocks standard recipe for the edge)- ***If anyone is going to load up an edge for the first time start at 92gn and work up***