Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 03:55:15 AM
I thought some might like to see a trip report and a few photos.
Ready to hit the mountains-
Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 03:58:09 AM
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Next day I left that camp at 8:30am and started the ascent up the creek. While having lunch a young bull tahr came out of the bush just below me and stood there looking at me for a little while.
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Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 04:00:00 AM
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I made it to the campsite I used on a previous trip back in 2012 at 3:30pm (7 hours). Total of 1200m (3937ft) of elevation gained over about 2.5kms (1.55 miles) horizontal distance. This chamois buck was on the ridge next to camp when I got there.
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Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 04:02:07 AM
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Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 04:04:17 AM
The following day the weather cleared and I got out and started looking around. First order of business was finding water as there was no close source of water. I descended a ravine not far from camp and found where the creek started to show water and filled up the water bladder. I saw a few chamois on nearby faces and could see a buck running back and forth keeping all his nannies in check and warding off rivals.
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Tahr country on the south side of the range I was on. The tussock faces on the north faces were more typical chamois country.
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Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 04:06:19 AM
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I hunted for a few days and saw both tahr and chamois but none were in locations favourable for getting close with a trad bow.
Then the weather turned on a Friday night and it started raining with fog enveloping the tops. It kept raining until sometime on Sunday night. Weather had cleared by Monday morning and I was relieved to be able to get out of the tent for the first time in 60 hours.
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Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 04:08:17 AM
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I call this camp Machu Picchu as it bears a striking resemblance. Camp site is circled in red.
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Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 04:09:15 AM
The chamois proved to be very hard to approach. In both locations near camp where I was regularly seeing them it was very wide open tussock faces and they were nigh impossible to get to without them seeing me from afar. They have incredible eyesight and spot movement very well.
I did get one opportunity for a stalk on a chamois that was bedded facing downhill and I was able to use a large boudler as cover and approach from above. In spite of the noise of moving through the tussock I popped out from behind the boulder to see it standing and looking back at me. It was a longer shot for me, around 30-35m and I missed. It ran off to stand and look at me from about 100m and watched me leave and head back up the slope to my backpack. That was the only chance I had for the trip. They are a tough proposition with a trad bow. There are a lot of factors that need to come into alignment for success to come to bear. A rifleman would have shot multiples of each species this trip.
I enjoy the challenge though and when success does come it is a feeling of great accomplishment that makes it all worthwhile.
Post by: shick on June 03, 2024, 05:33:28 AM
Shick
Post by: Pappy 1 on June 03, 2024, 07:26:27 AM
Pappy
Post by: supernaut on June 03, 2024, 09:11:35 AM
:campfire:
Post by: Orion on June 03, 2024, 09:24:38 AM
Post by: Wudstix on June 03, 2024, 09:55:37 AM
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Post by: rastaman on June 03, 2024, 11:16:41 AM
Post by: LoneRanger on June 03, 2024, 11:30:26 AM
Post by: Terry Green on June 03, 2024, 11:40:05 AM
Great pictures thank you so much for sharing them along with your story.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Post by: Michael Guran on June 03, 2024, 12:51:36 PM
Post by: Kodiak Fan on June 03, 2024, 04:27:29 PM
Post by: ozy clint on June 03, 2024, 05:25:31 PM
Amazing, thanks for taking us along. Did you see any Hobbits?
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
No Hobbits sighted. I think parts of LOTR or the Hobbit were filmed in this valley though.
Don Thomas said that hunting here was to hunt middle earth.
Post by: Wudstix on June 03, 2024, 05:30:12 PM
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Post by: Shinken on June 04, 2024, 03:20:32 PM
That is some beautiful country - and there was even game animals evident!
Oh yeah....
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Post by: Herdbull on June 04, 2024, 07:57:49 PM
Mike
Post by: Terry Green on June 04, 2024, 08:06:53 PM
Amazing, thanks for taking us along. Did you see any Hobbits?
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
No Hobbits sighted. I think parts of LOTR or the Hobbit were filmed in this valley though.
Don Thomas said that hunting here was to hunt middle earth.
On one trip they were filming LOTRs one valley over from where I was hunting, but I had no clue what it was about at the time. Crazy when it came out and I found out.
Post by: ozy clint on June 04, 2024, 08:30:25 PM
Post by: awry on June 04, 2024, 08:54:52 PM
Post by: Hud on June 04, 2024, 09:05:58 PM
Post by: Thierry WALICKI on June 05, 2024, 04:47:09 AM
Magifique endroit !!!
Quel poids de flèche aviez-vous envisagé pour ces tirs éloignés ?
Merci
Post by: Wudstix on June 05, 2024, 12:34:19 PM
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Post by: Terry Green on June 05, 2024, 01:43:00 PM
Post by: BRONZ on June 08, 2024, 10:50:02 AM
Post by: memo on August 02, 2024, 08:49:41 AM
Been a while since I've been here, but very happy to see you're still hitting the NZ Alps.
Stunning scenery, great pics of camp and Tahr and Chamois. Tough on missing the Chamois but I feel your pain, as I shot over a Moluccan Rusa up the Cape the other week at 30m.
Keep up the inspiring hunting.
Memo
Post by: Terry Green on August 02, 2024, 09:17:35 AM
Post by: elkken on August 02, 2024, 12:25:07 PM
Post by: MnFn on August 02, 2024, 03:41:40 PM
Thanks!
Gary
Post by: Jim Wright on August 02, 2024, 07:40:43 PM
Post by: ozy clint on August 04, 2024, 03:36:15 PM
Hey Clint, how's it going mate?
Been a while since I've been here, but very happy to see you're still hitting the NZ Alps.
Stunning scenery, great pics of camp and Tahr and Chamois. Tough on missing the Chamois but I feel your pain, as I shot over a Moluccan Rusa up the Cape the other week at 30m.
Keep up the inspiring hunting.
Memo
Cheers mate. Please....tell us more about the Moluccans. When I lived in Weipa I went up to Possession island just to see if there was any on there but didn't see any sign at all. I dreamed of getting over to Prince of Wales island but never had the contacts or the boat needed.