New Zealand Red Stags are on the move. It’s March 2021 and the red Stag rut in the central South Island is in full swing. The Hinds (females) are starting to show up on our trail cameras which has seen increased activity up in the forestry as the temperatures start to cool down these sees animals starting to move more looking for new grasses and a partner, or two. The first roaring of our Red Stag in this area is typically in February as unlike many places around the country its alot cooler up in the trees the Stags tend to rub off their velvet earlier and wallow causing a shift in their hormones. Most of our deer are left with a natural breeding programme, we cull out stags that do not have trophy potential and make sure we have out minerals over the year to maintain good health. Excess females are lured out in winter down onto the farm where they become part of the the farming operation which makes sure we have a good balance in our hunting area as well as maintaining feed through the colder months.
Bull Tahr would have to be pound for pound one of the toughest big game mountain animals to bring down.
The bull tahr is difficult to bring down for two reasons, the long hair over their body and their bone structure.
Pre-rut some of the Bulls in their prime will weigh in excess of 300 pounds especially on private land where they are typically not hunted during the summer months. Due to the lack of hunting pressure tahr will come down to the lower country and graze in sheep and cattle country on fresh spring clover grasses. This is where you must use larger centre fire calibers such as the magnums or 30 caliber with bonded bullets to hunt these amazing animals ethically. The hair in winter is thick and matted, with extremely tough skin up to 1/2 inch thick making this combination very tough and shot placement becomes critical.
The shoulders of a tahr are well muscled and larger than their back end, you are shooting into the power house so take your time as you line up your shot placement as you will only get one vital shot, the rest will be just throwing lead. When Tahr hunting ideally you will have an experienced professional guide or spotter with you that has extensive knowledge of these animals. This will allow you the hunter time to concentrate on the proper set up of the rifle and the shot with the guide ranging distance, body angle, and ideal shot placement. You need to break both shoulders and puncture lungs, or at least one shoulder both lungs, yes they are just that tough. A shot back into the green lung (stomach), missing the vitals and or only hitting the shoulders will result in a wounded and lost Bull.
Take your time aiming small and steady, reload and get ready for a follow up shot this is not the animal to chase. On a mature Bull Tahr, 6 years or over older the hair in winter can hang 9-12 inches down over the leg, 6-9 inches over the bottom of the chest, and 3-9 inches on top of the shoulder.
Last December, I was interviewed by the crew at the Sportsman of Colorado Radio Show in the lead up to the International Sportsman’s Expo. Have a listen! (more…)
