The Department of Conservation’s (DOC) new plan to manage himalayan tahr lays the groundwork for hunters to play a bigger part in tahr management in the future, DOC says.

Its new Tahr Control Operational Plan for 2021/22 was developed during five months of engagement with tahr stakeholders, including hunting and conservation groups, and DOC wild animals manager James Holborow says the plan provides opportunities for greater hunter involvement in tahr management within a popular hunting area.

“We have started discussions with the Tahr Plan Implementation Liaison Group (TPILG) on what hunter-led management would look like for the tahr population within the South Rakaia/Rangitata Management Unit,” James said.

“This could involve hunters managing tahr populations as well as reporting on tahr numbers and the health of ecosystems. We’re excited to see what we can achieve by working together with the group on this opportunity.”

Tahr are found in the central Southern Alps between about the Rakaia and Whitcombe valleys in the north to about Lake Hawea in the south. 

They were introduced to New Zealand in 1904 and, as they have no natural predators in this country, populations can rapidly increase without regular control, and they can damage plants which native species rely on. 

Tensions have long existed between DOC and hunting groups seeking to protect the $17M industry. 

See also: DOC in firing line over tahr cull

James said DOC has decided not to control tahr in the South Rakaia/Rangitata management unit, “a popular hunting spot”, over the next year.

“The area is accessible by vehicle, has a range of huts available and is favoured by hunters for day hunts or longer trips. We look forward to seeing recreational and guided hunters play the major part in control efforts.”

Most of DOC’s control’s efforts would instead focus on the West Coast, where high densities of tahr remain in some places. And east of the alps, its work will focus on places which are difficult for ground hunters to access, but where there are high numbers of tahr.

DOC will continue to target all tahr in Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini national parks, James said, and outside the feral range, but it will not target identifiable male tahr over the remaining 425,000 hectares of public conservation land inside the seven management units.

“This year we will be sharing maps showing identifiable male tahr observations, and spots where we have seen high tahr densities in recent surveys. Hunters will be able to find this information on our website and Facebook page to help plan their next hunting trip and contribute to tahr control.”

Around the midpoint of the tahr control programme, DOC and the Game Animal Council (GAC) will review the work undertaken, after which DOC may reallocate resources to other management areas to optimise control.

Hunters can expect to see control operations in areas outside of the South Rakaia/Rangitata management unit underway from early July. DOC will publish an update on the website when work in each area is complete for the season. DOC aims to carry out control as quickly and effectively as practical to minimise the likelihood of affecting hunters.

“We want hunters to have certainty they can hunt tahr in the east from early spring, knowing DOC’s control there is complete for the year,” James said.

PHOTO: Supplied