Hunting and Wildlife Magazine - Issue 225 - Winter 2024
Words By: Bruce Hansen & The New Zealand Tahr Foundation
This time of year is typically great for Tahr hunting around the rut while bulls are looking their best. I have managed to fit a few trips in myself and bumped into some fantastic people sharing their stories along the way, but also a few with questionable views on Tahr hunting. So, I’m hoping that this article will go some way to providing clarity on the bigger picture.
In short, the hunting demand from recreational, guided and Aerially-Assisted Trophy Hunting (AATH) combined with the DOC culling operations and AATH offsets, is leading to an unbalanced Tahr resource for future demands. The general anecdotal feedback I have received is that the Tahr population is decreasing in many areas, so it is crucial for recreational hunters to approach Tahr hunting responsibly. Be selective, taking only mature bulls which you can recover. I've heard several unfortunate stories of hunters taking large quantities of young bulls and many being unable to retrieve shot bulls, resulting in lost trophy opportunities. While some instances may be attributed to chance, many can be avoided by carefully assessing the animal, terrain and shot placement. Remember, "check the route before you shoot".
In June, the new 2024/25 Tahr Control Operational Plan (TCOP) was released and is available now on the DOC website; this plan sees an increased number of control hours by DOC. This is causing concern in the hunting community as it will have a significant impact on the herd. NZDA will continue to push for sustainable herd management, pursue opportunities within the TCOP for recreational hunters to get improved access to Public Conservation Land () and provide a recognisable contribution to herd control in high-density areas.
In this update, we have the following important and informative message from the New Zealand Tahr Foundation (NZTF), of which NZDA is a stakeholder member.
With winter being the busiest time of year for Tahr hunting, it’s important to consider the herd's well-being and how we can maximise the number of high-quality bulls available to hunters in the future. This means leaving the younger bulls to mature into trophy animals.
Tahr herd management
For hunters to enjoy continued trophy success, we need to be selective. Spend time assessing the available bulls and only pull the trigger on the one you want. The herd can’t support hunters taking multiple bulls each; there aren’t enough bulls to go around with that mentality. However, hunters may take the opportunity to manage the herd by controlling the breeding population (nannies) when they’re present in high densities, causing damage to vegetation. This typically looks like multiple groups of 10+ nannies in an area. Avoid shooting juveniles, as many of these will be future bulls.
When aging and judging bulls, it is a good idea to use several indicators, both physical and behavioural. The following provides some points to aid this process:
Juvenile: 6-18 months
It is difficult to determine which juveniles are bulls, so leave the juveniles and shoot a nanny for meat. Juveniles may be a similar size but most likely smaller and narrower, with just a shorter smooth horn at six months with some ridging developing at 18 months. Nannies will have longer horns with defined growth rings. These young bulls are our future trophies; with fewer nannies around, they’re only getting more valuable.
Inmature: 2-5 years
These bulls will vary significantly across the age group, but all will be relatively narrow in the body and light in colour. Immature bulls will have manes varying from a scruffy neck to a smaller, light-coloured mane. Of note is the colour of these bulls, which is generally uniform across the body, with no real defined dorsal stripes. These bulls will usually be with the nanny groups and are often seen harassing nannies. These bulls will not get a chance to breed (in a natural herd structure) and will be slightly larger than nannies but lack the real bulk of a mature bull. Horns on these bulls are 9-12+ inches with light bases, and annuli will be noticeably spaced far apart. Ridging will be defined, and horns will look like they come straight back off the skull, with no ‘stacking’ to the bases.
Mature: 5.5-8.5 years
These are your typical herd bulls and the bulls most often shot by hunters. Mature bulls will have full manes and dark hindquarters; during the rut and winter, their manes hang very low on the front leg. Manes can vary from bright blonde/golden to grey/black. The colour of manes is more of an individual thing than an indicator of age. The hindquarters and the face of mature bulls will be black/almost black.
Kidney/dorsal stripes will be noticeable on mature bulls; these are light-coloured lines on either side of the spine, extending from the mane's back to the rear quarters. A mature bull will be 1.5-2 times the size of a nanny and should look ‘heavy’ on his feet. During the rut, these bulls are usually seen in the nanny groups, showing classic signs of rutting (posturing, flehming/lip curling). Horns will be anywhere from 10-14+ inches and ridging and tips are usually in good order. They will start showing some ‘stacking’ of annuli at the bases.
Old bulls: 8.5 years plus
Very little separates a ‘mature’ bull from one who is truly old; the bodies are similar, with only slight changes in body and horn shape/style. You will need a good eye, patience, and practice to distinguish the two. These bulls generally carry more bulk in the body, especially if viewed from behind; they should be wide across the back.
During the rut these bulls will often isolate themselves with one nanny. If you see a lone bull with one nanny, get close and have a good look. Horns are often the best way to identify old bulls; a large percentage of these bulls will have broken or broomed tips and worn chipped ridging. Old bulls will have distinct ‘stacking’ to the bases of their horns; this is true regardless of the size of their horns.
Best practice for extreme conditions
Tahr inhabit a formidable environment, and hunters must be physically and mentally prepared. Tahr are usually found on or near steep rocky bluffs. They usually set out to feed in the late afternoon, returning to cover the following morning. The terrain in most of these areas can be unstable, and the area surrounding the sites is usually steep, broken, rocky and mountainous. Heavy snowfalls are disruptive, and westerly storms may occur during the Tahr hunting period. Avalanches are a potential hazard. Snow and ice usually become heavier towards the end of the season.
The West Coast is known for heavy rain, so hunters should be well-equipped and prepared. River crossings can be difficult and dangerous when water levels are high or discoloured. Always ensure you have everything you need for an unexpected night out when setting off for a hunt, as very few wilderness areas can be safely navigated in the dark. Have an ice axe and crampons for those higher-elevation landing sites and be sure you are comfortable using them. Or, quite simply, don’t go into the more serious terrain.
Communication methods
Good communication devices are essential. Satellite phones or messaging devices accompanied by Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) are recommended. Each hunting party should have at least one means of communication, and each member should have a PLB within hand reach in case of an emergency event.
Campsites (relevant or not?)
Landing sites are in areas within walking distance of Tahr herds and often have reasonably sheltered campsites nearby. At most of these sites, poor weather could prevent aircraft access. Careful planning and weather forecasting is essential. Ensure you have sufficient supplies to cope with delayed pickups. The designated landing areas are the only places where a helicopter may land (some ballot sites have two options). If you leave the campsite, ensure you have enough food and a suitable shelter as conditions can change, and you may be out longer than expected. Ensure you can get back to the landing site safely before the planned exit time.
When selecting your campsite, hunters should be aware of natural hazards such as dead overhanging trees, avalanche and boulder chutes and flooding levels. There will be Kea at some sites; do not feed Kea and ensure that campsites are kept as tidy as possible to avoid attracting their attention. The best way to stop Kea from making a mess of your campsite is to keep it tidy first and not interact with them as it quickly becomes a game for them. And throwing things at them will only make it worse! Be aware that campsite locations may change due to flood or avalanche damage, changes to water channels or other issues.
Ensure that all rubbish is flown out with you and remember to keep the campsites tidy and free from animal and human waste. Rubbish was noted at the end of 2023, and it seriously jeopardises our privilege of flying into the wilderness areas. Human waste should be buried at least 15-20cm deep and 50m away from streams or campsites.
Tahr records and ballot returns
Good data is essential to inform Tahr management; Make use of the NZTF Tahr App for reporting your sightings and kills. Ballot returns are crucial; if the animals you shoot aren’t recorded, they won’t be tallied in the annual total. This year, there was a single ballot form to fill out that we have worked on with the Department of Conservation (DOC). This is the official ballot return and must be submitted to DOC. Information regarding Kea on this ballot will be shared with the Kea Conservation Trust, and aggregated ballot data (no individual/personal information) will be publicly reported.
Have a great hunt. I wish you the best of luck finding that mature bull for the wall. Remember - age is key.
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