New Zealand Tahr Hunt New Zealand offers the hunter a great free ranging Tahr hunt. This South Island New Zealand hunt will take you in by heli into the Southern Alps. Hunting can be done from March to September. Weather is best March April. This hunt is tough and a reasonable level of fitness is required.

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.

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.

NEW ZEALAND TAHR HUNT / HUNTING EXPERIENCE