On the South Island of New Zealand
May 15, 2019 14:33:57 GMT -5
paul105, ezekiel38, and 4 more like this
Post by Ken O'Neill on May 15, 2019 14:33:57 GMT -5
New Zealand is a wonderful place, where much of the country reminds me of the U.S. in the 1950's. Quilting Bees, herding cattle, quaint houses, honest people. I've hunted there twice, once on the North Island, and once on the South Island in the rugged Southern Alps. On the South Island, we started most days in a tropical rain forest, and climbed to frozen, often windy, mountain tops. The game is what I'd characterize as wary and exotic. Here is the real prize of the South Island, the Himalayan Tahr:
This one was taken on Mesopatamia Station, a 100,000 acre unfenced ranch, with a Mdl.70 in 270 Win. No handgun hunting permitted in N.Z.
Shown here with Bert How, as tough a mountain hunting guide as I've ever known, who also has a sense of humor worthy of a stand-up comic:
An Arapawa Sheep, taken in the Mount Hutt area, with a Win Mdl. 70 in .270 Win.:
I've been blessed to have hunted Chamois ( pronounced sham-wah everywhere but N.Z., where they're pronounced sham-ee) in Turkey, Spain. Slovenia and N.Z,, and this one has by far the shortest horns of any I've taken. Nevertheless, after 6 days of grueling climbing and straining in the area of Mount Hutt, resulting in about a 220 yard shot from one mountain crag to another, on the last evening of hunting, he ranks as high as any of my Chamois trophies in my mind. Also taken with a .270 Winchester. And yes, in case you're wondering, the "sham-ee"'s skin is what that old-time car drying leather is made from:
Bert How and I finding some well earned libations near Mount Hutt, following the taking of the Arapawa sheep:
This one was taken on Mesopatamia Station, a 100,000 acre unfenced ranch, with a Mdl.70 in 270 Win. No handgun hunting permitted in N.Z.
Shown here with Bert How, as tough a mountain hunting guide as I've ever known, who also has a sense of humor worthy of a stand-up comic:
An Arapawa Sheep, taken in the Mount Hutt area, with a Win Mdl. 70 in .270 Win.:
I've been blessed to have hunted Chamois ( pronounced sham-wah everywhere but N.Z., where they're pronounced sham-ee) in Turkey, Spain. Slovenia and N.Z,, and this one has by far the shortest horns of any I've taken. Nevertheless, after 6 days of grueling climbing and straining in the area of Mount Hutt, resulting in about a 220 yard shot from one mountain crag to another, on the last evening of hunting, he ranks as high as any of my Chamois trophies in my mind. Also taken with a .270 Winchester. And yes, in case you're wondering, the "sham-ee"'s skin is what that old-time car drying leather is made from:
Bert How and I finding some well earned libations near Mount Hutt, following the taking of the Arapawa sheep:
