Hunting tahr in a wilderness area is a unique experience and a rare opportunity for many hunters. This opportunity is only made available because of the contribution that you make to conservation through your hunting activity. The decisions you make while in the mountains are important.
The Tahr Ballot Briefing on Better Hunting has information to help you make decisions that contribute to positive outcomes for hunting and conservation, ultimately helping to preserve this unique hunting opportunity. The Briefing has been developed by the NZ Game Animal Council with support from the Department of Conservation and the NZ Tahr Foundation.
The briefing is short and interactive, covering key information on tahr selection, conservation, safety and more. You will receive an online certificate once you have completed the briefing.
Even if you’ve been to a tahr ballot block before, we encourage you to complete the briefing and have confidence that your decisions while hunting tahr support positive hunting and conservation outcomes.
Last year’s winner Molly says she found the interactive format of the Tahr Ballot Briefing invaluable for learning more about tahr hunting and the ballot.
“I’m relatively inexperienced when it comes to tahr hunting, so I enjoyed the chance to do some of my own learning. The interactive format definitely added value and made it a lot more interesting,” says Molly.
She also credits Better Hunting for helping deepen her understanding of tahr herd management.
“Going over the principles of herd management, aging animals, and the other modules on Better Hunting has been a good reminder that as hunters, we’re also conservationists.”
Complete the briefing
- If you don’t already have an account on Better Hunting, create one here.
- Once you have an account, complete the briefing here.
If you have any feedback on the briefing content, or need help accessing it, please contact the GAC at support@nzgac.org.nz
View the competition T’s&C’s here.
Apply for a ballot
Applications for the 2027 Hooker-Landsborough and Adams winter tahr ballot are open 9am Thursday 8 October 2026 to 4pm Friday 30 October 2026.
Entries to the ballot can be made online through the DOC website from 8 October.
Learn more
- Information about the tahr ballot
- Follow the NZ Tahr Foundation on Facebook
- Guidance for hunting in kea habitat