Tom and Bill from the USA joined us for a hunt in March and left with huge smiles and feelings of satisfaction going by what Bill had to say.

“My hunt with Mt Cook Trophy hunting was truly a hunt of a lifetime!!  Neville and Nathan were awesome guides and hosts.  We hunted hard but were rewarded with some exceptional trophies.  I highly recommend hunting with MT Cook Trophy Hunting and Neville Cunningham if you want a true New Zealand adventure.”

Below are some photo from their time here including  a great shot of Tom with his big, heavy timbered European style Red Stag trophy head.  This Red Stag had been called ‘Phantom’ as he had eluded hunters for 3 years and was eventually taken this year in the early roar.

They also got to hunt chamois as can be seen in the photo with guides Nathan and Neville and assisted by Rob Kitto and Way to Go Helicopters.

Tom with Phantom	Tom and Bill with Nathan and Neville
Bill (USA) with his chamois	Another successful chamois hunt in mid March. The smile on Bill's face says it all.
Tom (USA) Red Stag - March 2012 hunt

March and the hunting season brought a couple of new hunts to the  fore, and don’t forget that ladies are welcome too.

A lovely looking Tahr - and not a bad looking girl!

Huge Black Bull hunted in March.

Nathan Askew from Bullet Safaris in the USA and Africa spent a month with Neville and as well as helping guide some hunters at Mt Cook Trophy Hunting, he also got in on the act too. Below are some random shots from during his visit. [click to enlarge]

Our free range  2011 Tahr Hunt raffle held during the Reno SCI show has been drawn.

The Winning Ticket is 185

Congratulations to Perry Sakelaris from  Raton, New Mexico

Tahr

If there is any animal that can be truly awe inspiring in the mountains of New Zealand, it is the Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus). To see a bull tahr traversing precipitous rock or snow at speed is the sight of a life time. The first animals arrived here by ship via an English game park (Woburn Abbey) and they have thrived ever since, albeit within a restricted range.

The tahr is considered vulnerable by the IUCN (1996) in its Himalayan home. New Zealand is the only place in the world where this magnificent animal can be freely hunted although there are populations of tahr in South Africa, New Mexico, California, and Ontario.
Tahr inhabit the main mountain ranges of the South Island of New Zealand between the Arthurs Pass and Haast Pass highways.  Mostly they live at an altitude above 4500 feet and below 7000 feet. While there are plenty of places to find tahr on public land, research and preparation are a must when planning a trip. A high level of fitness is mandatory, as is the proper equipment to survive in an alpine environment.