I have intentionally not looked at this thread until now (I had figured with 6 pages it would be full of pics and the end of the trip would be written)


thats not the case, where are the UPDATES??????

L.R.

   more please clint but hurry as you know how long it takes to get here LOL!!!!

As Clinton said the next day we continued onwe had the decision to go left of the spur we were on and hopefully come out in the creek above the gorges we were avoiding . Or go right and head to the creek we had been up before.......
We headed left, we didn't take any photos until we popped out on the creek, as the journey was testing yet again with varied terrain within the bush from giant boulders that were difficult to navigate around to fern covered understory that covered up large drops and craggy creeks and lets not forget the ever present twisted sub alpine bush. yet again mentally and physically draining as every step had to be planned.
At least we could stand up on this leg and walk/scramble.
Boy we were happy when we dropped into the creek.

This thread is Great!  Keep it coming!

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Back in the creek.


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Looks like an easy stroll.


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Just keep going up!


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I was above Clint looking for a a spot to camp, when we re grouped he told me of this buck he had put up.


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The shute this Chamois ran up was on the other side of the creek and near vertical, they are amazing animals.


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We found a camp spot as Clinton described, it was pretty average to say the least we couldn't even put the inner of the tent up.

Then the fog rolled in.

i was making my way up along the creek, a little above the creek bed when i rounded a big boulder. this guy stood up at 20 yards. perfectly broadside looking down into the creek. he had heard something but had not yet seen me.
where was my bow? in three pieces, still strapped to my pack. you walk through near impossible bush for 3 days, bow stowed away for ease of travel. then while looking for camp late in the day, an hour or two after having finally made it above the bushline, you bump a chamois buck and he stands there waiting to be shot. all you can do is admire his beauty and be thankful for the experience and bid him good day with a smile.

those pics were taken when he was going up the side opposite side of the creek. agility that is hard to believe until you see it with your own eyes.

oh no!

it must have been quite a moment none the less!

cant wait for the rest keep it coming clint!

Great stuff!  That pic of that buck nearly vertical is awesome!!!!

Beautiful animals. I'm sure it was a pleasure just to get to see one.

man, I thought this thread would have been twice as long as it is by now! keep it coming!

L.R.

So these Tahr are an invasive "threat" species in NZ? Is there a limit, or open culling? Wish the states had "Pests" that good looking. We have snake head fish, carp, rats, hogs, etc. Nothing near as tempting to hunt as these critters. Yes hogs are good hunting for food, but as to being a trophy...Not to me they aint. Just a mangy pig with big teeth.

I just keep coming back to this awesome thread.

Sorry this is taking a long time, I have a lot on at the moment.

The next morning I was nursing a back injury that I had from before the trip.
There were Tahr in a few spots above our camp so Clint went for the first hunt of the trip.


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QuoteOriginally posted by Ghost77:
So these Tahr are an invasive "threat" species in NZ? Is there a limit, or open culling?

Hi Ghost, There is no bag limit and no season.
You do need a hunting permit that is obtained online and is free.
They do cull them with choppers from time to time.

Now this is starting to get somewhere.  More please, sir.

Wow, this is good stuff. I've been looking at pic's, and not reading as much as I should. How many days did it take to get to this point?

Just read the story in Traditional Bowhunter about hunting tahr.......that looks like a trying hunt!

who was in that article michael?
i would like to read it myself.

i spotted this herd of bulls above our camp but there was no way to get above them without being in full view and spooking them. i didn't want to risk that after the effort of getting there. i put the 200mm lens on and snapped some pics. i never tire of watching these animals.

i came back down to camp and found that mark's back had got alot better after he had some anti-inflamatory tablets that i brought for my knee in case it played up on me. we relocated camp to the only flat spot in that entire basin. lucky we found it.

then we both settled in for a few days of hunting. finally.

This is truly a grueling hunt but looks like you're getting close....  fantastic stuff guys