GUIDED HIMALAYAN TAHR HUNTING NZ

Himalayan tahr are large goat-like animals, native to the central Himalayan ranges of India and Nepal. Introduced to New Zealand in the early days of European settlement for sport Tahr quickly became established in the ideal alpine environment of the Southern Alps. 

The most popular time to hunt Tahr in NZ is during the rut which occurs late May to mid July during the winter. Bulls sporting thick reddish to dark brown pelts and heavy blonde coloured manes join the Nanny herds and preform courtship displays which sometimes end in a violent dual between competing Bulls. In peak condition Bulls can reach over 130kg in weight and stand over one metre tall at the shoulders, Nannys seldom reach 40kg. Both sexes grow horns, the Bulls sporting larger horns than the Nannys with anything measuring over 12 inches from base to tip considered a real trophy. These horns, their striking coats and the fact New Zealand remains the only place in the world where you can hunt this majestic animal combine to create one of the worlds most sort after trophy species.

With no Natural predators in New Zealand Tahr numbers have now reached alarming levels posing a major threat to our alpine ecosystems. Being so isolated from the rest of the world, most plant life in New Zealand have evolved into species found nowhere else in the world and it’s many of these endemic species the Tahr graze upon posing a huge threat. Their tendency to form large herds mean they can create considerable amounts of damage to an area in a short amount of time. This has lead the New Zealand government to take action in the form of controlled culls. Recreational hunters also play a large roll in controlling numbers and they remain a favourite species for many, being hunted for both meat and trophy year round.