i just got back home from a 12 day backpack hunt for tahr on NZ's west coast. this is truly one of the worlds toughest mountain hunts. anyone with a passion for hunting surefooted creatures in pristine mountain country had better get themselves packing for NZ's southern alps. you won't regret it....
packed and ready to start walking in..
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2466.jpg)
we followed a river to it's glacial source. you will not encounter bush thicker than that in NZ's west coast, period!
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2472.jpg)
someone strung some wire over the gorge...handy!
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2482.jpg)
stay tuned. more pics when i upload more into photobucket. i'm waiting on pics from my mates too.
Looks awesome bud, can't wait for more :thumbsup:
after about 20hrs of walking, (pronounced scrambling) we were close to the tahr country.
i glassed a bull tahr from here.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2501.jpg)
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2511.jpg)
tahr camp.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2576.jpg)
tahr live here. (http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2541.jpg)
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2539.jpg)
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2538.jpg)
a kea. a carnivorious parrot.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2565.jpg)
beyond the big boulder in the foreground is a very steep 500 odd meter drop to the river. sounds like perfect tahr ground.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2582.jpg)
when i poked my head around the boulder a nanny saw me and started whistling. a look around the other side of the boulder revealed a lone bull standing on a bluff about 250m below me. we saw about 10 tahr here. the other boys got some pics of them. will post when i get them.
glacier country
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_2585.jpg)
Damm that is some awesome looking country.
Been waiting for this one, spectacular country!
Can't wait for the rest.
I remember watching a documentary on those Kea's,
they like eating the livers out of sheep while they are still walking around!
Must have been a grueling hike in but well worth it to be up there. Hows the altitude?
Absolutely spectacular! I have no idea how the hunt turned out, but regardless, the three of you have done something that very few will ever be able to do. I have only heard of tahr being hunted with the use of helicopters before - you did it right!
Wow, can't wait for more......
the other guys got a long shot each at 35m and 50m but didn't connect. i didn't get a shot at any. next year...
more later....
we were at about 1700m. the tops go to about 2300m. not what one would call high altitude but you won't find steeper country.
Amazing you guys are my heroes for even trying!
beautiful place,they remind me my side of the mountain.Keep them coming.I am really excited about it.
Sounds like an awesome hunt! That terrain looks amazing. Can't wait for the rest of the pictures :notworthy:
Hi Clint,
I cant wait to read the rest of the story mate...!
What packs were guys all wearing...?
Cheers Guy :)
:campfire:
WOW!!! :campfire:
WOW, I'm speechless! Just fantastic country. Can't wait to see more! :thumbsup:
This is so cool! Thanks...more pics? :pray: Please.
Great pics so far. Thanks for sharing your story.
Keep the pics coming.
:eek: Thats some country that few will ever see but thanks to you we get a window for a little peek!!!!!!!!!!!
Simply Awsome :notworthy:
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
This IS *good*!
:campfire:
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Tahr is definitely on my bucket list. That place looks so cool! I really want to hunt there one day.
Bisch
wow that is some tuff looking country
Cool Clint :cool:
Wow, thanks for the post. That is a wonderful looking place.
Looks like great adventure.
Simply awesome and breathtaking (especially when i think about the hike up!)
:notworthy: :campfire:
Spectacular. That country looks like it'll put some legs and lungs on ya.
Thanks for sharing the outstanding photos of a places I'll probably never see. Some very beautiful scenery.
wow is all i can think of
Wow.....what else can I say. Just speechless. What awesome country and a lifetime hunt.
Cannot wait to hear the rest of your adventure.
What a adventure :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing, would love to do something like your hunt. :notworthy:
Ghee, that looks amazing! What an adventure..... You guys Down Under are really lucky with the hunts you have out there. Keep them coming.
Thanks for sharing. Good stuff!
Mate ... awesome awesome stuff ! I just did Fiordland about a month ago on the Sth Island .... its a wild bit of scrub over there eh !
I'm already planning next year too !!!
Great stuff Clint! Keep it coming, been waiting to hear how your trip went! :thumbsup:
What an outing!! :notworthy: :notworthy:
I am out of breath just looking at the pictures.
Thank you for sharing with us(especially me as I know for a fact it's a hunt I wouldn't be able to pull off even if I had all the of the money in the world...lol
God bless,Mudd
Totally awesome adventure. I bet you all had a wonderful time. Regardless of the kill, you all had a very successful hunt. Congrats!!!! :clapper:
Those are some georgous pictures. I can't wait to hear about the rest also, sounds like a trip of a lifetime.
Wow i am speechless.A lifetime hunt and the right way
:archer2: A great adventure.
Thanks for taking us along
Wow!! I'm jealous.
I can only hope that I would be man enough to keep up! :campfire:
That country is just too beautiful for words!
Thanks you so very much for sharing this with us.
All I can say is WOW!!!
:eek: That looks so cool! Bet you had a ball.
I can only assume my invite was lost in the mail :biglaugh: , don't worry I couldn't afford it.
i hope this insipes someone to make the trip to NZ. this is a hunt well within the realms of us mere 'non millionaire' mortals. BUT YOU MUST BE FIT! for me this is like hunting mtn goats on the cheap. any foriegner can hunt on public land there for no cost. just be sure to take the time to jump online and apply for your hunting permit, which costs you nothing and you can print it out instantly!
no tags, no ballots, no seasons, no bag limits, self guided. oh yeah, and if you find yourself looking at a red deer or a chamios you can shoot them too. we saw a few chamios while we were there.
your only costs are flights, car hire, food, mountain radio hire (recommended!), motel (maybe a night either side of the time in the bush)
the currency exchange rate would be in your favour too.
think of it as hunting sheep or mtn goats without the cost and drama trying to get a tag for one...if at all.
the only other cost would be chopper hire if you choose to use one. it's very popular for hunters there to fly into a hunting area, get dropped off and picked up a week or so later. we just wanted the extra challenge of packing in.
hunting NZ is an awesome experience, and it affordable!
Great pics Clint! Glad you and your mates had a good time! Not too far from my neck of the woods either!
I sent you an email.
Sounds like I better start saving.
Some awesome country there! That makes where I hunt elk look like Kansas! Thanks for sharing.
Looks like an awesome trip!
Very beautiful country. Thanks for sharing Clint!
hard and beautiful !
My absolute dream hunt, looks amazing, thanks for posting Ozy!
Thanks for sharing your hunt with us and inspiring me to look into hunting NZ.
here's some more pics guys. some pics from my mates are filtering through.
room with a view
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/4391.jpg)
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/3431.jpg)
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/7051.jpg)
lunch time
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/4131.jpg)
this is typical of the type of terrain we delt with for the walk in and out.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/8741.jpg)
and finally.......some animals!!!
the 2nd from the left is a young bull, the rest are nannies.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/6541.jpg)
Simply awesome......
There will be another fee come into effect soon that a tax will be placed upon trophies for getting them out of the country but its not a huge fee. Ozy Clint our west coast bush is pretty thick a. Good to you hear you had a great trip. Nothing beats NZ :)
Its exciting times to be a kiwi because we have a big game animal council that is going to manage our deer,chamios,thar and our wild pigs. If this is a good thing or not time will tell.
Wow again, the west coast looks amazing.
Was the route up through the thick stuff marked?
Looks like a path indicator on the tree. Would make a big difference for a first timer to the area.
Also, the guy with the 'Vias' camo, would have been virtually imposible to pick out if his face had been covered in the pick of the three of you sitting together. Good pic for the Kuiu site.
Thanks again for posting.
Wow.Amazing pics is all i can say.Thats some tuff country.Thanks for sharing.
we thought the same thing wolfkiss.
that pattern blended perfectly with the rocky terrain there. we sat and had lunch one day and even at 10 yards he disappeared.
yeah we followed a trail into the backcountry. trying to walk anywhere other than the trail is like walking through a brick wall. it was a relief when we finally made it above the bushline.
Great adventure guys. Thanks for sharing :thumbsup:
spectacular again !
That looks like an incredible adventure. Thanks for sharing.
FANTASTIC ADVENTURE. The rewards go to those who take the risk
Wow !!!
What incredible country ...
Thank you for bringing it here :campfire:
Looks exactly like Mt goat country I have hunted in British Columbia. Beautiful!
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_0729.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/bowjack/IMG_0733.jpg)
:thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :archer2: Not much place for my hammock. Looks like a bunch of fun though.
jack shanks- yes, mt goats are a dream hunt of mine too. i saw a few in the purcell mountains when i was in BC a couple of years ago.
tahr are considerably cheaper to hunt and i can do it self guided. being able to do it self guided has huge appeal to me.
from my experience the mountains in canada (at least where i was) are, in the majority are not as steep and the valleys are bigger and wider. the country in nz is very steep with the valleys being narrower and steeper. when your in the valley bottom it feels like you've got a wall either side of you.
both places are very tough going though, of that there is no doubt.
Clint,
I have had the opportunity to hunt Mt goats in some different areas of BC. The Coast Mountains of BC look very similiar to those photos of New Zealand in this thread.
I had a burning desire to hunt tahr in New Zealand at one time. Because of some back problems I think my mountain hunting days are over though. Glad I was able to at least experience the mountain hunts here in the states and Canada I have been fortunate to go on.
Spring 2013 for my 50th B-day present to myself is my current plan. I have been researching this opportunity for a LOT of years. Got distracted from going by moving to Alaska instead of visiting NZ 10 years ago.
Clint, on your return trip, which month would you choose based on this experience?
WOW!!!! :eek:
That is some gorgeous and rugged looking country. Price of getting there -- blood, sweat and sore everything. The view -- Priceless!
TTT what an awesome adventure! Making me think coming there instead of hunting goats in BC should be considered :cool:
Fantastic Country.I was born and raised in BC and it looks very similar.Up the BC coast theres lots of goats ,we used to glass them from our boat.
Given the choice I would be going to NZ. Red deer ,Boars and Tahr would be my dream,and like you said the cost alone would be worth it compared to BC.
Clint - Thanks for sharing. How does one go about signing up for a hunt like that. I spent some time in NZ when I was in the Navy. I kick myself in the but everytime I see something like this. I had the opportunity to both hunt and fish while I was there and never did it. I was a younger man then and only had one thing on my mind as NZ also has many beautiful women.
Thanks for sharing your hunt with us. That looks like some country I like to hunt someday.
Wow!!! That looks like so much fun.
I too would like as much info as you could help with. Would like to get some use out of that passport than just the Bahama's.
I am 42 years old, and I've never heard of a Kea
learn something new everyday !
great hunt and pics/story
brad, I havent either.It takes a special person to take the time to take pics on such a challenging hunt.good job gentlemen. :notworthy:
You know it is steep, when your vertical and on your hands and knees. It is beautiful country, for sure.
Awesome photos, and story, too. That sure is a beautiful area. Thanks for sharing your hunt.
Some wicked stuff there. Really enjoyed your photos. Good luck next time. Awesome. :thumbsup:
steve h-
i would go at the same time, 2nd week of may for 2 weeks. they rut in june but you can expect very unpredictable weather then, sometimes dangerous.
anyone feel free to pm me about hunting in NZ it really isn't hard to organise a self guided hunt there.
got some more pics for you...
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/999.jpg)
me on the swing bridge.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/076.jpg)
can you see the chamios?
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/460.jpg)
a sentry nanny tahr that caught our movements.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/617.jpg)
the trad trio..
from left, paul, mark and myself.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/715.jpg)
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/634.jpg)
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/624.jpg)
here's paul in his KUIU gear at 20 yards...
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/731.jpg)
a classic tahr hunting scene...
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/299.jpg)
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/297.jpg)
i'd like to thank my trekking pole sponsor. it's the 'traditional' model....LOL
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/889.jpg)
I can't even dream that big. Amazing hunt and experience.
Clint-You're livin' the dream, mate!
:clapper:
What a beautiful country!
Thanks for sharing:)
Wow, that is quite the adventure. Thanks
Thanks for sharing sir!!! :campfire:
great pics, thanks again for sharing.
What a hunt :campfire: thanks for sharing
Steve H, I'll be 48, does that count for 50th?
homebru
Dang :thumbsup:
Thank you .. it was just awesome thinking about it.
Very cool! Looks like an adventure to seriously consider!!
We are having a heat wave in my part of Alaska right now with driving rains/winds. I've been up for a couple hours and its still dark outside. Day dreaming is all there is to do in Alaska for half the year or more. Maybe I should go THIS year?!
Great Pics!!!!!! UNREAL!
Once around is an experience for a lifetime, yet you may be planning to give a go once more in 2012.
Looking forward to your generous sharing of the next wonderful excursion.
I bet those scenes are burned into your memory forever more.. Amazing country!
Simply awesome!
Great pics of some awesome country. Ozy an outstanding tread. Thanks
That is so incredibly cool Clint!!! Thanks for sharing the story and pictures with us! So many awesome adventures out there and only so much time and money to go around, it sure is a fun dilema to try and figure out.
WOW, JUST WOW!!!!!! That is a dream hunt
Thanks For Sharing (AWESOME)!
Could you get any closer to heaven,just amazing all of it.Thank you for sharing it with us.
stunningly beautiful country!
thanks for sharing....
><>
Glenn
:eek: That looks like an intense hunt! I would love to do that someday. I wonder how much a plane ticket is....
Thanks for sharing!
The time is getting closer and I've been looking over what we did last year getting all excited about this years planned trip back to the land of the long white cloud. Once you hunt in mountains like these it's impossible to shake the hold they get on you.
Here's some photos to add to Clint's thread.
Man there was water everywhere! It was falling on us, splashing up at us, floating around us and pouring out of the rocks towards us. down in the scrub choked valleys the constant rain and fog really made taking photos very difficult at times.
Nice looking chamois country.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011085.jpg)
This waterfall looked like it sprang from straight out of the rock.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011102.jpg)
It was exciting to finally emerge above the tree line and see this.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011120-1.jpg)
This was the sight of my first tahr for the trip only a few hundred yards above us, late in the afternoon as we were heading for the bench just below where it's standing to set up our camp for the next few days.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011155.jpg)
We saw Tahr around us on the bluffs and cliffs every day from here on in, but getting to where they were was out of the question for this non Tahr footed human. Saw bulls on this face regularly.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011157.jpg)
Amazing animals! These tahr decided to play follow the leader down a sheer cliff face. Then proceeded to turn around and go back up again. Just unreal!
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011337.jpg)
The boys spot some below us.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011361.jpg)
I'm sure Clint was half Tahr the way he moved around the edges of bluffs.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011371.jpg)
Nothing like a sheer 200m cliff beneath you to bring a smile to your face.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011369.jpg)
Some missed opportunities.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011188.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011187.jpg)
Mark relates the missed shot to Clint. Hanging over a cliff to release would have put my shooting off too.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011383.jpg)
Big bull and his girls.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011168.jpg)
Looking back down some of the valley we'd spent three days trekking up.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011145.jpg)
WOW!!!! That is one awesome place. I really want to hunt there one day.
Bisch
I smell Bull Tahr.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011225.jpg)
This Bloke snuck in below us in the low cloud. A shot was had but it wasn't to be.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011224.jpg)
Couldn't think of a much better resting place.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011388-1.jpg)
The only opportunity we had on a Chamois was on the walk out. Unfortunately our bows were packed and she took off before we could get them back together. I couldn't get the auto focus to work very well in the fog so it's a lousy photo.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011411.jpg)
Can't wait for the next round in a couple of months.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/PaulRea/NZ2011307.jpg)
Man, that's the coolest! Some awesome pictures. I'm sure the pictures don't do it justice. Time to get in shape for the next go 'round, eh?
thanks for the pics that was very enjoyable.
It couldn't have looked better in my dreams. Lucky fellas. AWESOME!
Th whole time I was waiting to see something on the ground, but as I followed the pictures the hunt started to excite me and I forgot about the tangible ideals of success. It very clear you three amigos had a great and extremely successful hunt. Thanks for the information regarding the ease of hunting newzealand.
Thanks you thank you thank you,
Adam
Amazing! Thanks for taking us along. :campfire: