Big Game Hunting New Zealand Jul/Aug 2015 | Page 62

Once on the spur it proved slow going with
thick bush and large boulders, so in the end
we decided to pull pin and spend the afternoon
back in the lower country. Back at the river Tim
and I were discussing plans when a 6 point
velvety stag walked out only 10m away.
He wasn’t stupid and quickly made tracks back
the other way again, pausing briefly in the river
bed before being swallowed up by thick scrub.
Only 100m from here we rounded the bend and
there standing on a large boulder was a neat
looking chamois buck. Tim settled in and let
strip, dropping him on the spot. Now we had to
work out how to get up on the boulder which
was around 3m high and not an easy climb.
After some trial an error we found a way up to
be greeted by a very tidy 9inch chamois buck,
they truly are crafty little buggers and the places
they can reach are quite extraordinary.

Day Three:

Breakfast consisting of
fried cheese and salami wraps went down
a treat, we heading off in different directions

but neither Tim nor I had any success for the
morning although we both saw a number
of tahr. The afternoon was much the same
although the rain was back with vengeance,
really bucketing down and I was wet again.
Sneaking quietly along the river edge I spotted
a lone chamois buck up ahead, he was across
the other side of the river which was raging, so
I snapped a few photos then left him alone still
feeding happily. It was only half an hour later
when another velvety spooked off just in front of
me leaving nothing but the distinctive stench of
stag.

Day Four:

As I hit the hills for the fourth
day I decided to hunt one of the creeks close
to the hut. I worked my way up the boulder
filled creek, going was slow but based upon the
map I figured if all went well I would be able to
reach the tops about where we had seen a lone
chamois buck and several bull tahr earlier in the
trip. As I climbed the creek chamois sign was
becoming more abundant and hopes were high.
Nearing the tops I was ducking under a massive
Nick & his Bull Tahr from the trip
which had slightly unusual horns

63 BGHNZ Issue 7 Jul/Aug 2015

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