Hunting tahr in a wilderness area is a unique experience and a rare opportunity for many hunters.
The tahr ballot was established to enable hunter contributions to tahr management. While tahr can be hunted year-round in New Zealand, the ballots provide access to helicopter landing sites in remote wilderness areas that are challenging to get to by foot.
The decisions we make as hunters while in the mountains are important. Tahr ballot opportunities are only available because of the contribution that hunters make to conservation through their hunting activity.
Looking after New Zealand’s game animals requires looking after the habitat and ecosystems that support them. This requires knowledge of how game animal herds work and how the choices we make while out hunting have an impact on them. Learn more on looking after our game animals here.
On this page:
- How the ballot works
- Tahr management
- Better Hunting Tahr Ballot Briefing
- Tahr rut hunt planning
- Learn more
How the ballot works
Hunters can apply for ballots through the Department of Conservation (DOC) website. They usually open around September for the following year.
Ballots are drawn and successful applicants are assigned aerial access for a specific landing site for one week between April and July.
Hunters are also expected to target nannies and complete accurate ballot return forms to track tahr numbers and demonstrate recreational hunters’ contributions.
Learn more about the tahr ballot process on the DOC website.
Tahr management
In New Zealand, tahr are classified in two pieces of legislation:
- Under the Game Animal Council Act 2013, tahr are a game animal.
- Under the Wild Animal Council Act 1977, tahr are a wild animal.
Tahr are currently managed by the DOC under the Wild Animal Control Act through the Himalayan Thar (sic) Control Plan 1993 (HTCP). DOC prepares a Himalayan Tahr Control Operational Plan annually, to implement the HCTP and its associated limits.
Learn more about tahr management here.
Better Hunting Tahr Ballot Briefing
The Game Animal Council (GAC) with support from DOC and the NZ Tahr Foundation has developed a Tahr Ballot Briefing through Better Hunting, our online hunter training platform.
The briefing is designed to help hunters achieve the goals of the ballot and make the most of this unique hunting opportunity. It covers key information on tahr selection, conservation, safety and more.
Learn more about the Briefing here.
Complete the Tahr Ballot Briefing on Better Hunting here
Tahr rut hunt planning
Hunters head to alpine areas for the tahr rut from late May to mid-July. To make the most out of your hunt, proper preparation is crucial. To help you plan a good rut adventure, we’ve put together some information and links to useful planning resources such as:
- The 5 P’s of hunt preparation.
- Better Hunting.
- Pick the right animal.
- Sharing the backcountry.
Read more on our Roar, rut and bugle page here.
Learn more
- Follow the NZ Tahr Foundation on Facebook
- Guidance for hunting in kea habitat
- Tahr management
- Where to hunt tahr and hunting tips (DOC)