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Hard Yards for Tahr: Part Two

A well camouflaged Bob Schiefer with his bull tahr.

Pete and Bob had headed further up the same creek and after bush bashing through some really gnarly country, came out opposite a feature called the Pyramid. A big bull sighted and ranged at 260 metres was let go by Pete because it was a skyline shot. At least we were having chances.

Two fairly tired hunters returned to camp in the dark, radioing in as they were coming down, "Could we see their lights?" In the clear frosty air it wasn't a problem. A cracking frost set in as we had tea. Quite light heartedly Pete said he was up to seven layers (polar fleece and polyprops). Bob was up to the occasion and went for eight, with a few warming mountain water whiskeys.

With the dawn, Bob and Pete were determined to go back and have a go at some of the animals they had seen the previous day and as it turned out, after bashing their way to the back of the Pyramid there was an opportunity of a shot that only a left hander could take. Lying uphill and shooting at moving animals 373m away, Pete took two shots at a nice bull with a group of nannies surrounding it, before they went over the top and disappeared. Damn!

A few beers, tea, and mountain water whiskeys were well appreciated by very tired and cold hunters. "I'm up to eight layers!" said Pete.

Day four was agreed to be a camp day, and while a late start and fully cooked breakfast was in order, Bob launched a reconnaissance down stream to see if he could find a place to cross the river that wouldn't break any thermometers (over knee deep. Ah, you have to allow for the splashes). A suitable place was found only just over thigh deep, and a plan to explore Percy Creek hatched for the following day.

The Mountain Radio Service is brilliant with sched's, weather forecasts, and relay messages service - a must take for anyone seriously heading into the NZ back country. We called in that we would like uplifting on Sunday, 10.00am. "Okay, no worries."

Heading across the Landsborough early morning saw those under six foot almost break their thermometer without splashes, and a chilled group of three headed up to the tops. I took one look at the climb and decided I was camp boy for the day. Mikey, with his hockey training, almost ran up the first third of the mountain, crashing up through the bush. A bull and two nannies were spooked and ran past within metres of the hunters. Double gosh! No chance of a shot.

Coming out of the bush and looking up, the 9 and 3/4 inch bull wasn't so lucky as Bob cranked up his scope to max 24 power and with one shot to the neck, dropped it stone dead. The spectacular 100 metre drop unfortunately wasn't recorded on video, which was back at camp!

The fantastic weather that had seen us togged out in eight layers of clothing, broke on the sixth day to reveal rain, mist, warm temperatures and difficult flying conditions. The 10.00am pick up turned into 4.10pm and just marginal, with two choppers making sure we got out with the right gear.

We enjoyed our first tahr hunt and will be back next year to do the 'hard yards' again. In the meantime, the exercycle is out, the walking shoes are on as more training is needed. The crick in my neck from looking up there is nearly gone and Pete's toes have almost thawed. What an experience!