Originally from the Himalayan Mountains of Asia, these magnificent mountain goats were liberated in New Zealand’s Southern Alps in 1904. Although both the bulls and nannies have horns, those of the bulls are much longer and heavier. However it is not just the horns that make a fine trophy - the lion-like mane on the bull is every bit as important as good horn length.
The Tahr is the perfect extreme mountain animal with only the Rocky Mountain goat challenging him as the ‘King of the Mountain’. The tahr bounds down almost vertical rock bluffs, their hooves barely touching the rock, while we only can stand and watch in awe.
To see a mature bull in full rut, standing on the white snow with his flared name blowing in the wind, is one of the most memorable alpine hunting experiences.
Hunting Tahr with Kiwi Safaris
At Kiwi Safaris we pride ourselves on hunting 95% of all our tahr on foot - without the need for helicopter access. Our private hunting areas border one another and have excellent 4x4 vehicle access.
The bulls exist either solo or in small bachelor groups, but at the onset of the rut in early May they join the female groups. A mature bull can weigh up to 300 lbs and can be tough to put down, so we recommend a heavier caliber rifle like the 7 mm mags, or 300 win mags through to the .338, as being ideal.
We hunt the eastern side of the Southern Alps, where it is all ranch country - ranging from rolling hills to steep mountain country at the back of the properties. A tahr hunt, while being quite physical, is achievable by most people. We have successfully guided clients as young as nine years of age to secure the trophy of a lifetime.
It is recognized that Kiwi Safaris New Zealand has the finest foot hunting for trophy bull tahr in New Zealand, all our tahr hunting is conducted on private land, free from the constant pressure of resident hunters, meat recovery and heli-hunting on all public land. This ensures you the best alpine hunting experience possible, with plenty of time to look over many bulls in order to harvest that dream trophy. Don't be fooled by the "Helicopter assisted" hype that some may promote. It is completely unnecessary to have to use a helicopter to hunt Tahr. As well, Kiwi Safaris have taken more trophy bull tahr with the bow than any other outfitter in New Zealand.
For tahr hunting, the best time for the capes is from May through to October and it is possible to see in excess of 100 tahr a day - with many trophy bulls amongst them. Contact us now for the best of New Zealand tahr hunting.
