Thread: Tahr well earned

After buying a NZ Hunter mag for something to read while on holiday 4 or 5 years ago i decided to get back into hunting. I was especaly interested in and intregued by monarcs of the mountain, Tahr.
Because none of my mates or even aquantances hunted. I obsessively researched everything from rifles to boots to hunting grounds and everything in between that i would need to get my trophy bull . After $$$ spent half a doz solo trips into the mountains a foot high stack of NZH mags later and mockery from friends that i have all the gears and always talk hunting but have never shot anything I finally tipped one over.
My origonal plans to go hunting with my cuz fell over but it worked out i could go solo a day later, just missing the rain and striking fantastic weather.
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(Lake Pukaki with Mt Cook in the background. photo doesn't do this justice as people who have seen this view on a blue bird day can attest. A very powerful sight).
I set off up the valley at about 230 wondering how my fitness was going to hold up. After 3hrs i made the first hut and was feeling good so i kept moving to Littles hut glassing along the way. I didnt see anything whilst glassing but saw plenty of hoof marks in the riverbed which gave me confidence. I made the hut at about 830pm had a quick glass before dark still nothing. I don't think i fully appreciate the time you need to spend glassing I'm very impatient.
Next day dawns (well not yet) and i set off for the head of the valley under head light i get about a mile up and realise I've set off a bit too early i get boxed in by the river and cant see shit so i find a comfy spot and have a bit of a lie down.
At last the day dawns (after 1.5hrs) and i can see, so i start glassing. Still nothing!
"Fuck it if i cant see you i will come find you".
So up i went (this is the bit i hate!).
I sidled up for an hour then came to a bit of a gut which made me change corse to directly up luckily with all the rain the fine gravel was solid as which made for easier going.
With every breather i gazed up into the bluffs hoping to see something but not expecting it when shockingly a small group of Tahr were walking along under the bluffs.
ACTION STATIONS!!!!
RANGE FINDER!!!
285!!
HOLD OVER!
2.5"ish minus1" for the angle so not much needed
I started to calm down and rested my 7mmRM on my pack and peered at them through the scope it was what i thought was a group of nannies with some juvys i wasn't sure if i wanted to scare of what could be around the corner for a nanny when the biggest one presented its self for a perfect opportunity. I took it. Bang, flop, roll summersault, roll, slide out of site
WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!
The 200 rounds i spent shooting a little black dot payed off!
After a half hours climb and some scouting around i found it hung on a rock on the scree of doom leadind over a small bluff

I almost left it there but after noticing it was a bull and assessing the danger which was mostly in my head i carefully crawled down took the head and back straps.
"Im a real hunter now" i thought to myself.
All this before 10am so by 1130
i was off the mountain and had what turned out to be painful a 8 hour walk out.
At 3pm i was buggered and 100m from the other hut when out of the river a mob of half a doz jumped up and trotted off up the hill. My gun was strapped to my pack and i was shagged so i let them go. For next time.