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Photo credit: Dylan Higgison.
Tēnā koe,
As you are a current hunting permit holder, you are receiving this update regarding the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Himalayan tahr control programme in the central South Island.
Thank you for the positive and constructive feedback regarding these emails. We appreciate it and we will continue to keep you informed.
This update focuses on:
- Bull tahr observations (recorded on maps).
- What DOC is doing to ensure there continues to be plenty of hunting opportunities.
- The results of recent control operations.
- An update on the Tahr Control Operational Plan for 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
Bull tahr observations:
While DOC is not targeting identifiable male tahr outside of the national parks Management Unit, we are recording sightings or observations of bull tahr and publishing these on the DOC website as a useful tool for hunters planning their next hunt.
Last month’s High Court decision allowed DOC to undertake up to 125 hours of control inside of the feral range while we consulted with tahr stakeholders on the Tahr Control Operational Plan for 2020/2021. We have now completed 118 hours of aerial tahr-control.
The uploaded maps to the DOC website show more than 1000 bull tahr observations that have been recorded on public conservation land located outside of the national parks Management Unit.
The area flown to date (where these bull tahr sightings were made) represents less than 15% of 425,000 ha of public conservation land available to hunt outside of the national parks Management Unit.
Remember you can contribute to tahr management by recording the results of your hunting using the Tahr Returns App - Visit the Game Animal Council website to download the app.
What DOC is doing to ensure there continue to be plenty of hunting opportunities:
Since control began in mid-July, outside of the national parks Management Unit we have focused on:
- Only targeting high densities of tahr and leaving smaller groups of tahr for hunters.
- Leaving all bulls for hunters.
- Mapping the locations of bull tahr observed across 425,000 ha of public conservation land.
- We have tried to avoid controlling tahr in popular hunting spots.
- We have generally controlled animals at high altitudes.
The results of recent control operations:
Since mid-July DOC has flown 118 hours and
controlled approximately 4,700 tahr on public conservation land.
Tahr controlled to date include:
- 2,750 female and juvenile tahr that have been controlled across less than 15% of 425,000 ha of public conservation land (this is the public conservation land located outside of the national parks).
- Outside of the national parks Management Unit, DOC is only targeting high densities and is not targeting identifiable males. Group sizes have generally ranged between 10 to 30 animals. Smaller groups of tahr are being left for hunters in these areas.
- 1,950 tahr that have been controlled from Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini Management Unit to protect these special places.
- Management Unit 4 (national parks) is the only location inside the feral range where DOC is targeting all tahr. We are not targeting identifiable males anywhere else.
I would like to again remind you DOC is interested in control, not eradication, and DOC will ensure there will continue to be thousands of tahr for recreational and commercial hunting now and into the future.
An update on the Tahr Control Operational Plan for 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021:
Since my last email, we have analysed oral and written submissions received from members of the Tahr Plan Implementation Liaison Group and other stakeholders.
We expect to make a decision on the reconsidered Tahr Control Operational Plan for 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 by the end of the month and will update you directly.
Thank you again for your interest. I encourage you to visit the links below and take advantage of the maps of bull tahr observations when you are next hunting Himalayan tahr.
More information:
If you missed the previous two tahr control updates (emailed on 14 July and 14 August) I have linked these below. The updates included information on the recent High Court case, some key tahr facts and links to earlier tahr control maps.
Previous tahr updates to hunting permit holders:
If you have further questions about the control programme, I encourage you to visit the Himalayan tahr webpage which has been recently updated and includes helpful information and research documents.
Visit the Himalayan tahr webpage
See the observations of bull tahr and other maps
Ngā mihi nui,
Dr Ben Reddiex
Operations Director
