PREPARE
FOR THE HILL.
Your trip begins the day you start training. The notes below are non-negotiable.
A TYPICAL DAY
Breakfast in the mess tent. Pack day kit. Guide brief on terrain and conditions.
On the hill. Glassing begins as colour returns to the basins.
Stalk or hold. If a bull is on the move we push; if not, we glass and wait.
Reposition to evening glassing points. Snack, water, recover.
Final glassing window. The most productive of the day in the rut.
Back to camp. Hot meal, a dram, debrief. Maps for tomorrow.
TRAIN FOR
THE COUNTRY,
NOT THE CALENDAR.
Tahr live above the bushline — reaching them means uphill walking with a load, day after day. Twelve weeks out, hike uphill with a heavy pack two to four times a week, building from 10kg toward 30kg, and add two short strength sessions for legs and core. For the underlying principles, read Uphill Athlete's primer on training for mountaineering.
GEAR LIST
We provide the tents, the mess shelter, cooker and gas, and shared safety kit. Everything below is your personal gear — what arrives in your pack.
CLOTHING
- 01Merino base layers (170—200 gsm), top and bottom
- 02Mid-weight fleece or grid hoodie
- 03Down puffer jacket — add down pants late season for camp and glassing
- 04Gore-Tex shell jacket and overpants
- 05Softshell hunting trousers
- 06Wool beanie, cap, neck buff
- 07Liner gloves, insulated gloves, waterproof overgloves
- 08Spare base layer and socks — expect wet feet
SLEEP & LOAD
- 01Four-season sleeping bag, winter weight (liner + bivvy if light)
- 02Inflatable sleeping mat, R-value 4 or higher
- 03Inflatable pillow or stuff-sack pillow
- 04Hiking pack, ~80L, with rain cover
- 05Pack liner and spare dry bags for clothing and food
FOOTWEAR
- 01Stiff-soled alpine boots, broken-in, durable sides and soles
- 02Lightweight gaiters
- 03Camp shoe — Crocs or down bootie
- 04Two pairs merino hiking socks + Sealskinz waterproof socks
OPTICS & FIELD
- 01Binoculars, 10×42 minimum, with harness or chest pouch
- 02Rangefinder, 1000m+
- 03Trekking pole — strongly recommended
- 04Headlamp + spare batteries or power bank
- 05Sitting / glassing pad — doubles as extra insulation under your sleeping mat
- 06Sunglasses — optional but recommended
- 07Knife and sharpener
EATING & HYDRATION
- 01Water bladder or bottles, 3L minimum
- 02Personal cup, bowl, spork (cooker and gas provided in NZ)
- 03Sports gels and trail snacks — declare at customs, or buy in NZ
- 04Toiletries, toothbrush, hand sanitiser, microfibre towel
RIFLE & DOCUMENTS
- 01Passport and NZ visitor firearms permit (POL 67E)
- 02Travel and medical insurance papers
- 03Personal medication — declare on the arrivals card
- 04Rifle (or borrow a club rifle); bolt stowed separately, ammo in original box
- 05Rifle sling — almost essential on alpine ground
- 06Pull-through, gun oil, cleaning rag
- 07EPIRB or inReach — highly recommended
WEATHER & TIMING
On the hill in May—June. Wind chill far colder above 1,800m. Sun off the snow is intense.
Tents are four-season with a heated mess shelter alongside. Bivvy nights on the Trophy Pursuit week can drop further.
Expect at least one weather day per week. We hunt in everything short of full whiteout.
THE WHOLE PICTURE
LIVES IN THE HANDBOOK.
Twenty-seven chapters on the animal, the country, the rules, the weather, the rifle work, the food, the politics. Free to read, no sign-up, the whole thing in one page.