Tahr cull- where are we at now?

As you all know the Tahr cull was started last year under the direction of Doc and the personal agenda of Eugenie sage following controversial and contentious population surveys that was initiated by Doc.
The opposition was vast and the calls for unaccountably from various parties with interests in the Tahr herd resulted in a huge response.
The Tahr cull was suspended for various reasons as we all know.

What is happening now??

According to various sources the Tahr cull will commence again shortly
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...ol-operations/

It seems to be accepted that the population is around the estimate of 35000 and that this still breaches the limits of the plan and there will be a dramatic reduction of the Tahr herd in the upcoming months.
This means it will be the intention of the cull to remove 25000 Tahr which will bring it in line with the plan.

This will be significant for the recreational hunter and the population will be at a level never seen before by many hunters of today's times.
Tahr hunting opportunities and the trophies we are seeing these days have probably never been better. Possibly a period of time that may never be repeated depending upon the outcome of this upcoming Tahr.

I would like to hear updates from Nz Tahr foundation to keep us informed??

The debate and the awareness needs to be opened up again.

A timely post, Yogi.

Interesting to read in the link you posted "As part of the Zero Invasive Predators research project, several hundred nannies and juveniles were recently taken out of the Perth/Whataroa."

I wonder if ZIP would be so kind as to join the dots for me, and explain the rationale for the 'removal' of the nannies and juveniles?

Its probably like Japanese scientific whaling, an excuse to get a job done pretending its a science project except I bet none of it was eaten.
Its a cull shooting, females is the accepted method of reducing the populaton.

Since when were Tahr predators?

If you are looking for a male tahr see if you can follow this lead.

All male tahr left during DOC culling operations will be way-pointed and the information published on the DOC website.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets...ional-plan.pdf

Page 11, appendix two, item 4

Funny thing is, it was the National Government in 2016 that introduced Predator Free 2050.

Most people just read the highlights that targets rats, possums etc, however if the read the full document and the ancillary research reports, it's basically a nuclear bomb for all hunting and fishing in NZ. It encompasses everything from Thar, Chamois and Fallow through to Brown Trout, Mallard and Canadian Geese.

Under the current far left Government, expect these type of programmes to be accelerated.

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Originally Posted by KiwiinSeattle

If you are looking for a male tahr see if you can follow this lead.

All male tahr left during DOC culling operations will be way-pointed and the information published on the DOC website.

[url]https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/hunting/tahr-control-operational-plan.pdf[/ur

Page 11, appendix two, item 4

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Sad part about the above document is the part half way down page 6 that still states that hunter kills will not be counted in this years cull target of 10,000 animals.

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Originally Posted by Sauer

Since when were Tahr predators?

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they predate the mountain daisy........bloody vegan mountain goat.........

ZIP were culling tahr to use the carcasses as a distraction for kea, to try minimise by kill in their operation. It was fairly well reported at the time.

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Originally Posted by gimp

ZIP were culling tahr to use the carcasses as a distraction for kea, to try minimise by kill in their operation. It was fairly well reported at the time.

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Correct.

As far as I'm aware, cull still on hold after the helicopter tragedy last year (lose of key staff) and then the Chch tragedy (loss of key tool).

So, I assume, tahr cull on hold until exceptions for semi-autos come through for pest professionals. This situation impacts wallaby, goat, pig, rabbit etc control on both DOC and private land. A few ticking away with semi-auto 12ga, but not as effective as an AR.

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Originally Posted by Dama dama

Correct.

As far as I'm aware, cull still on hold after the helicopter tragedy last year (lose of key staff) and then the Chch tragedy (loss of key tool).

So, I assume, tahr cull on hold until exceptions for semi-autos come through for pest professionals. This situation impacts wallaby, goat, pig, rabbit etc control on both DOC and private land. A few ticking away with semi-auto 12ga, but not as effective as an AR.

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Cut n paste from the tahr foundation:

Here’s an update from Ben Reddiex at DoC on the tahr issue. We’ve had some pretty mixed weather so far for the tahr ballots, but any of you who are getting out there, make sure you shoot a few nannies while looking for that big bull, and keep recording your kills on the website.

The following is a short update on a few tahr matters:
• Recreational hunting
- The Tahr Foundation, NZ Deerstalkers Association, Game Animal Council and DOC are working on a new system to accurately record and verify the number of tahr recreationally hunted.
- A range of publicly available hunting apps have been assessed and reviewed and together we have refined the features required for the new system. We will shortly be moving to a short field trial.
- In the interim, DOC has continued recording and collating hunting returns uploaded to the DOC website and we encourage recreational hunters to continue to log these.
- The recreational hunting returns on the DOC website as at 30 May 2019 are shown in the table.

• Tahr research and monitoring
Key scientists and most Tahr Plan Implementation Liaison Group members were represented at the tahr research and monitoring workshop held at Lincoln University on 9 May.
The purpose of the workshop was to identify key research and monitoring questions for effectively implementing the Himalayan Thar Control Plan 1993.
- The write-up of the workshop is nearly complete and the findings will contribute to the future tahr work programme.

• Tahr control
No tahr control has been carried out within the seven management units this calendar year.
From May to the end of June, DOC is focusing on controlling tahr within the exclusion zones to prevent the breeding range geographically expanding.
DOC is continuing to search the northern and southern exclusion zones for tahr, and will continue searching other areas of public conservation land outside of the tahr management units until the end of the month.
DOC will shortly be fitting new radio collars to tahr as part of the judas tahr programme.
Tahr control will be undertaken across the tahr management units from 1 July to 31 August 2019 (as per the Tahr Control Operational Plan: 2018/19). This will include:
- A request for tender (RFT) for contract control of tahr has been issued (1000 tahr in each of two areas). The RFT closed on 31 May and tenders are currently being evaluated.
- Aerially Assisted Trophy Hunting (AATH) environmental contributions (where 5 females/juveniles are to be culled for every trophy taken by AATH concessionaires)
- Department control

I just hope all the good work done last year by the Tahr foundation and various interested parties have developed a reasonable relationship with Doc.
It would be far better if all interested parties could work together and identify 'hot spot' areas that need targeted rather than the dictatorship form Doc that we were afraid would decimate the Tahr population to low levels.
We need transparency and good open communication through the Doc website, hunting magazines and social media to keep everyone informed.
Going back a few years ago this seemed to be happening quite well with Doc and the Tahr liaison group organizing culls and pointing hunters in the areas that need targeting.
It simply seems to have unraveled with changes in government political parties and various Conservation ministers and their own personal views.

Thanks for the Update, I've been wondering this myself... local sources say its Happening again but how widespread and dramatic is it actually at this point in time and in future is something I'd be keen on hearing more aobut, simple thread like this helps.

i've noticed alot of Aussies heading over flat out even after the ChCh drama, also seeing some BIG Bull Tahr come out from some hills too!


One other question is where are the unspoken Chamois in all of this ? not once seen mention of the animal but in hindsight its in the same class of animal to the DoC.

cheers

the poor chammy get hammered from allsides on regular basis....the waro guys do a run on them from time to time too,you can bet your left nut they take note of where they are during the times they arent targeting them so know where to head when they are. lovely little critters,personally I prefer to see/shhot/eat them to thar any day of the week.

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Originally Posted by Dama dama

Correct.

As far as I'm aware, cull still on hold after the helicopter tragedy last year (lose of key staff) and then the Chch tragedy (loss of key tool).

So, I assume, tahr cull on hold until exceptions for semi-autos come through for pest professionals. This situation impacts wallaby, goat, pig, rabbit etc control on both DOC and private land. A few ticking away with semi-auto 12ga, but not as effective as an AR.

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Yup, that unfortunate helicopter accident certainly wiped that almost permanent smirk off sage's face. She should stick to what she knows best....being a rent-a-mob leftover.

A team of Coasters spent a week up the Rangitata coupla weeks or so back,bad weather, got nothing but found dead Thar scattered here and there..heavy frost must have killed them eh.:)

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Originally Posted by gimp

ZIP were culling tahr to use the carcasses as a distraction for kea, to try minimise by kill in their operation. It was fairly well reported at the time.

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As a mate said....When did Kea do best? When the cullerz were going.
Could doc use that knowledge to their advantage.? Of course. Slip into Kea areas and blow a feed over for them, come back a few weeks later and blow another feed over. It wouldn't take to much I hazard to work out how often it would need to happen

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Originally Posted by doinit

A team of Coasters spent a week up the Rangitata coupla weeks or so back,bad weather, got nothing but found dead Thar scattered here and there..heavy frost must have killed them eh.:)

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Rough for them, where'd they go exactly

Not sure but I'll find out.They were a tad pissed I believe.
Bunch of cockies on their annual Thar hunt.

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Originally Posted by Wirehunt

As a mate said....When did Kea do best? When the cullerz were going.
Could doc use that knowledge to their advantage.? Of course. Slip into Kea areas and blow a feed over for them, come back a few weeks later and blow another feed over. It wouldn't take to much I hazard to work out how often it would need to happen

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Maybe too logical?

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Originally Posted by doinit

A team of Coasters spent a week up the Rangitata coupla weeks or so back,bad weather, got nothing but found dead Thar scattered here and there..heavy frost must have killed them eh.:)

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Why coasters would bother to hunt Canterbury has me stumped unless private land? Must have been frustrating for them seeing dead animals everywhere.

I have just finished 2 and a bit months chasing them here on the coast. Our weather saves them from being decimated more than anything I reckon.

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On the note of dead tahr left lying around, years ago when they first opened up the Macauley River after releasing to crown / public ownership, I was in one of the early groups that went on NZDA organised culls straight after the machines had been on search & destroy. What a bloody sight seeing dead carcasses everywhere, so many that the valley was full of seagulls :sick:

Those look really tasty? Are they any good to eat, or musky tasting?

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Originally Posted by Got Juice?

Those look really tasty? Are they any good to eat, or musky tasting?

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Mature Bull Thar are not very good eating at imo. OK in sausages and salami.
Nannies and juvenile animals are as good as any game meat I reckon.
I always try and shoot a few nannies late summer when they're fat. Great chewing.

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Originally Posted by scotty

they predate the mountain daisy........bloody vegan mountain goat.........

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Has Tahr lead to the extinction of the mountain daisy in any of their range? No!!

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Originally Posted by R93

Mature Bull Thar are not very good eating at imo. OK in sausages and salami.
Nannies and juvenile animals are as good as any game meat I reckon.
I always try and shoot a few nannies late summer when they're fat. Great chewing.

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So mature one's taste similar to mutton>?

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Originally Posted by Got Juice?

So mature one's taste similar to mutton>?

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Dunno about that. But I have never had a good steak off a mature bull.


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Originally Posted by Got Juice?

So mature one's taste similar to mutton>?

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wash your mouth out you heathen you........... if you dont like the taste of mutton either you have no tastebuds or your cook needs the sack. or both. we in our house wont kill a sheep untill its at least 3 years old,far bigger roasts and they have some taste.....you Philistine you!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

wash your mouth out you heathen you........... if you dont like the taste of mutton either you have no tastebuds or your cook needs the sack. or both. we in our house wont kill a sheep untill its at least 3 years old,far bigger roasts and they have some taste.....you Philistine you!!!!!

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hahahaha, I have eggie on my face mate, I can honestly say I am totally out of my depth here. And FYI I make a killer mutton stew :)

Just trying to equate it to something I may have eaten here in the Frozen North. Perhaps like a Dall Sheep?

LOL, Philistine!!! Gdamn, that made my day. Thank you!!!

Emailed doc in April before a tahr hunt and got this reply guessing he meant June 2019?




The last tahr control activity in the Rangitata catchment was in July 2018 and was confined to the true right (Southern Side) and only likely affected the headwaters of Bush and Forest Streams. We will not be undertaking any aerial control within the Rangitata catchment until after June 2018.



Hope you have a great hunt.

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Originally Posted by Got Juice?

Those look really tasty? Are they any good to eat, or musky tasting?

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Old or big bulls are tasty however they are as tender as an old boot.

just finished reading "forgotton years" by Brian Conroy and friends
reading how many thar they shot AND RECOVERED in a day with choppers back in the 70s it struck me how little some things have changed and just how far other things have.
a comment was made how some of the long range guys of today set up with thermal gear could wreck havoc in a straight out CULL type shoot.... then I read how these jokers used to SPOTLIGHT deer from choppers....thermal from choppers at night would just about have to be the absolute ultimate weapon of mass destruction for our game herds... they cant run and sure as shit cant hide... using bolt action rifles might slow them down a bit...but not that much,same with mag capacity.
1080 for possums????? yeah nah shootem out of trees at night,shotgun or .22lr wouldnt matter for search n destroy.

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Originally Posted by Wirehunt

Old or big bulls are tasty however they are as tender as an old boot.

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Sounds like the cast iron dutch oven, or a job for the pressure cooker.

Braise on high heat in the pan first of course, marinate a day in some bourbon, garlic, shallots, rosemary, coriander and cumin and peanut oil all in a big plastic bag. MMMMM....Fry the hell of the outside, then low n slow...

Serve up with some hashed potatoes, reduce the sauce and thicken with some cornstarch, possibly a side of broccoli or brussel sprouts... a bottle of shiraz... damn, if i am not making myself hungry.

Do that with a nanny or juvenile and you've got a meal a vegetarian would eat.

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Originally Posted by Wirehunt

Old or big bulls are tasty however they are as tender as an old boot.

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The back legs make excellent salami.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-heral...hr-cull-target

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Originally Posted by Wirehunt

As a mate said....When did Kea do best? When the cullerz were going.
Could doc use that knowledge to their advantage.? Of course. Slip into Kea areas and blow a feed over for them, come back a few weeks later and blow another feed over. It wouldn't take to much I hazard to work out how often it would need to happen

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Yup, with sage and her cronies making sure kea have plenty to eat in the form of mass butchered Thar, sheep can feel safe.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I vaguely remember reading something about Kea dieing as they had been eating Thar carcasses shot with buckshot and it was found that Kea had digested the lead pellets and died of lead poisoning hence why they were trying to change tactic of rifle shooting them only???

From memory they were planning to buy 100k rounds of Steel buckshot when the cull was first announced, but all the ammo retailers agreed to freeze them out until they'd at least pretended to consult.