New Zealand Hunting Report- When the shoe is on the other foot

Good day Gentleman,
It gives me great pleasure to write this report on a recent trip I undertook to New Zealand. The trip had some business purposes, but thought that this was a great
opportunity to experience the huntng industry of another country. I feel it is important to learn these new experiences as it refreshes the mind to different hunting cultures, which gives me new perspective and fresh ideas of running an outfitting business in South Africa.
I was collected by my host, and now very good friend, Craig Feaver, who owns a magnificent ranch on the South Island of New Zealand, operating under the name of Rata Peaks. The ranch is an approximate 2 hr drive from the city of Christchurch. The drive seems very short, once you get totally mystified by the beauty of this amazing country. Craig and his partner Jan , ultimately farm with velvet, which they obtain from the Red Deer.
I, however, was after an animal that has prickled my mind for a while, namely a Tahr.
The Tahr is a type of a mountain goat, which for some odd reason seem to find it necessary to inhabit near vertical rock faces, displaying their balancing skills in ledges only a couple of inches wide. I stood for some time, just admiring how they mock fight and play on these rock faces, with one false step, ultimately meaning an end to their existance.
The first day on arrival, we headed over to the local taxidermist to borrow a rifle. Since I would be travelling quite a bit, I found that it would be too much of a hassle to take my own rifle over, and decided to use whatever they give me. I was supplied with a neat little .300 WSM. What an awesome calibre, which shoots flat and hits hard. On the first day, we checked the rifle, which needed a couple of clicks to set it to my shooting style. Craig wanted to head out immediately, which I was fine with, but after getting to the first look out point, I could feel something was not right. The jetlag has caught up with me, since there was also an 11 hr difference between South Africa and New Zealand, and as many of you know sleeping on a plane is not the most comfortable.
I decided to call the first day, without even as much as a sniff at a stalk. At 5 pm local time, I was in lala land, trying to get some rest for the next day of hard hunting.
The next morning brought a lot of excitement, as we could see some Tahr from the house on the mountain side. After fuelling ourselves a great breakfast the morning, we headed out in our pursuit of a Bull Tahr. We spotted a group against a mountain side about 500 yds away, but they were accompanied by a group of Red Deer. The Red Deer, which are a lot more skittish than the Tahr, would surely make the Tahr bolt off if we pushed them too hard.
We did allow the Red Deer to see us, but just enough to make them uncomfortable to move off without disturbing the Tahr too much. The Tahr were feeding away from us at the time, and the plan was to give them enough time to feed around the hillside, giving us an opportunity to put a stalk in.
After approximately two hours, the animals had moved out of sight and we closed the gap. We spotted them on the other side of a hill, which was ranged at 207 yds. Childsplay for a .300 WSM.
After sitting on the hillside for a while, a mature bull presented himself, standing on a rock above all the other.
I decided to take him. The bullet broke the shoulder and stopped just under the skin on the otherside. The Bull was not happy after the shot, and took two steps before rolling a fair way down the mountain.
After reaching the Bull, some photos were taken, after which we did a full mount cape on the animal. It will most probably not turn out into a full mount, but this leaves my options open once the animal gets back to South Africa.
The scenery of this hunt was magical and a true treat to me, who have only been exposed to South African bushveld. The ranch is situated in the same mountains where the movie of Lord of the Rings were filmed and the one photo I have posted here actually shows the location of where they built the castle for the movie.
All in all, I had an eye opening experience that will live with me for the rest of my life. If any of you are looking for a great or a new challenge, give yourself a chance at a Tahr Bull.
Hope you enjoy the photos.
Best Regards
Marius Goosen
KMG Hunting Safaris

Congratulations Marius. NZ is a superb destination for the International hunter. Looks like NZ are going to have succes in the World Cup too :P

Originally Posted by Code4

Looks like NZ are going to have succes in the World Cup too :P

Thanks mate,
Really hope they can do it against the French. Was lucky enough to be at Eden Park for the AB vs AUS game.
"Sweet As"

Congrats Marius, glad you enjoyed the Land of the Long white cloud.

Marius, isn't New Zealand magnificent? I lived for 6 1/2 years just a few hours south of where you hunted, and I still miss it. Seeing your photos and reading your hunt report brings back fond memories. Beautiful Tahr, too, congratulations!
I will of course be cheering for the Kiwis on Sunday (and won't all my Aussie neighbors hate me!).

Originally Posted by timbear

Marius, isn't New Zealand magnificent? I lived for 6 1/2 years just a few hours south of where you hunted, and I still miss it. Seeing your photos and reading your hunt report brings back fond memories. Beautiful Tahr, too, congratulations!
I will of course be cheering for the Kiwis on Sunday (and won't all my Aussie neighbors hate me!).

As long as the French don't win......sorry Jerome....LOL

Originally Posted by timbear

Marius, isn't New Zealand magnificent? I lived for 6 1/2 years just a few hours south of where you hunted, and I still miss it. Seeing your photos and reading your hunt report brings back fond memories. Beautiful Tahr, too, congratulations!
I will of course be cheering for the Kiwis on Sunday (and won't all my Aussie neighbors hate me!).

Thank you for the kind words fellas.

I cheer for the Kiwis any day of any year, even over the Boks. So , you must imagine how popular I am under my friends and family. Luckily my wife and in-laws who come from Germany are also die-hard All Black supporters. I have a feeling my wife's reasons though, go no further than Dan Carter....

Originally Posted by KMG Hunting Safaris

Thank you for the kind words fellas.

I cheer for the Kiwis any day of any year, even over the Boks. So , you must imagine how popular I am under my friends and family. Luckily my wife and in-laws who come from Germany are also die-hard All Black supporters. I have a feeling my wife's reasons though, go no further than Dan Carter....

"I cheer for the Kiwis any day of any year, even over the Boks"
...now you've ruined some friendship(s)...lol!

Good hunting post / report - enjoyed reading it

Nice Tahr, and thanks for the report.

Marius

Thank for the report and pictures.

Looks like you had a great time...

Marius, nice spring hunt. Beautiful.
Congrats on your Tahr.

Jealous you got to watch that game live.

Congratulations on your Tahr Marius and thanks for the hunt report.

Congrats on the tahr and the great pictures and memories!

Me again,

What is good to read is that you have put yourself in others shoes and learnt from it. Jet lag is a killer and you can imagine what it is like being 12 hours out of sync in a different environment and country and having to 'perform' on safari. All PH's should hunt overseas.

Oh, and with the current performance of the AB's you can only admire them.

Originally Posted by Code4

What is good to read is that you have put yourself in others shoes and learnt from it. Jet lag is a killer and you can imagine what it is like being 12 hours out of sync in a different environment and country and having to 'perform' on safari. All PH's should hunt overseas.

Glad you noticed it. That was the idea behind the report.

Thanks for all the comments.