Himalayan Tahr - NZ Mountain Monarchs

Customer Reviews

Australian Hunting Net Review by Karl Houseman

DVD Rating

With stunning scenery and brilliant footage, Himalayan Tahr makes compulsive viewing.

Although not a hunting film, the film was made for hunters and other outdoor lovers with an interest in Tahr.

Ken Tustin’s dedication to filming and researching Tahr and their behaviour is evident in this easy to watch and very professionally edited documentary.

New Zealand’s stunning Southern Alps are just spectacular and this film captures the rugged beauty of their snow-capped peaks and the unique hunting to be had there.

If you are planning to hunt these majestic animals, I could not recommend this film enough. If you hadn’t planned to Hunt Tahr, this film might just change your mind or at very least, have you ringing your travel agent just to see the scenery! (Posted on 12/10/10)

"NZ Truth Weekender", October 8, 2010 Review by Tony Orman

DVD Rating

"Ken Tustin, wildlife biologist, moose tracker and wildlife enthusiast - along with Steve Couper - has put together an absorbing DVD about tahr. Tustin has added his strong background knowledge, giving an in-depth insight into the social structure and seasonal life of tahr.
The footage features families of tahr and bulls fighting for the right to mate and against the visually stunning backdrop of the Souther Alps.
The filming is virtually flawless, the music score ideal and the commentary expertly delivered yet relaxed.
This is a must, not only for the keen tahr hunter but for anyone who loves wildlife and mountains".
(Posted on 12/10/10)

"What a fantastic video." Review by Andrew Rowland

DVD Rating

"Steve what a fantastic video, the clear footage and all the info Ken talks about is so helpful plus the extra footage of the Tahr in there home land, it doesn't look right ,Tahr look better in New Zealand than in the Himalayas .
Hunting Tahr you don't get to see a lot of what is picked up in the video, top marks to you and Ken.
I feel this video is one to make any Tahr hunters blood start boiling, in my case it did, I was meant to do a Tahr trip this year but due to having to move so that my son who has autism, can get into a special needs unit at collage next year, as we need to be in the zone.
Four years ago I said that I wanted to get a Bull Tahr and Chamois trophy for the wall before I am fifty. (I have four years left to do it)
I hope next year will go well and I will be back in the beautiful Southern Alps, but I don't need to tell you, over xmas I will be getting my maps out to start the planning for my Tahr trip and will be playing the video in the background.
Thanks again and look forward to your next video to add to my library."

(Posted on 7/10/10)

"This is the most outstanding footage that I have seen." Review by Tim McCarthy - NZ Hunting & Wildlfie magazine

DVD Rating

"After many years of Tahr hunting, this is the most outstanding footage that I have seen.
It is an excellent description of how Tahr fill in their days amongst some of the most spectacular
landscapes in this country.

The many hours spent up in the mountains braving the sometimes harsh elements have certainly
paid off for Ken Tustin with this comprehensive view on the social behaviour of Tahr in their rutting
season and beyond.

I would expect that this DVD would be of immense value to anyone who is interested in venturing out to
seek these magnificent animals, either hunters or photographers.
The information in this DVD is invaluable for identifying age differences of the mature
bull Tahr compared to the juveniles and where to locate them at different times of the year.

The rare footage of rutting bulls, fighting to dominate is something most of us never see.

Kens narration is easy to follow and the background music has been very well selected.
I have rated this DVD highly and consider it a must in everyone’s hunting library." (Posted on 7/10/10)

NZ Outdoor Hunter Magazine Review by Martin Askes - Editor -

DVD Rating

Himalayan Tahr
Understanding Tahr Behaviour by Steve Couper of Stealth Films.

Stealth Films is well known for their magnificent trout fishing productions such as “The Dead Drift” where monster Brown and Rainbow trout are caught in NZ’s gin-clear back country rivers. The footage quality is superb and some of the advanced techniques shown made these a “must-see” for any keen trout fly-fisherman.

They also produced a hunting DVD called “NZ Trophy Quest” that showed some excellent hunting footage with some nice stags shot in the Rakaia River area and Fiordland. A good bull Tahr is shot too and again, the footage quality by Steve is superb and this, his first DVD released, put Steve “on the map” as a professional film maker in NZ.

This DVD, “Himalayan Tahr” is different in that there are no animals shot or even hunted. It focuses on Tahr social behaviour, especially during the rut. It is at this time that the bulls move their range and come out to play! Steve Couper has joined with Ken Tustin, the “Moose Man”, better known for his books and studies on the NZ Moose, to put make this Tahr production. Together they reveal an insight to some unique features of the Bull Tahr and how nature has designed their behaviour so the best bull does most of the mating. It shows you seasonal changes in the Tahr behaviour as they move altitude and you will hear some of the unique noises that Tahr make too.

One of the most interesting parts for me was the part on Tahr in Nepal. This bonus section of Tahr in their native habitat shows how the last 100 or so animals are struggling for survival. The Himalayan National Park was set up to save the Tahr, such is their international importance. You will see massive old bulls caught, studied and ear-tagged in an ongoing intensive study to save this majestic animal. They have an interesting situation over there where another endangered species, the Snow Leopold, is making a come-back after decades of extremely low numbers. The Leopold is preying on the Tahr, especially the young, who are not accustomed to the stealthy big cats and so the dynamics of the Tahr population is changing drastically.

One cannot help but make a comparison with how the majestic Tahr is being treated in this country.

If Tahr are your “thing” this is a must see DVD. Running time was well over an hour.

For a copy or more information see: www.stealthfilms.co.nz

Available at hunting stores throughout the country RRP $39.95.
(Posted on 6/10/10)

Wild Deer & Hunting Adventures Magazine - Oct / Nov issue 2010 Review by Daniel Blair

DVD Rating

Australian hunters have long held the South Island of New Zealand and its craggy peaks as a kind of Mecca and almost certainly the Thar would be the trophy most desired.

There is probably no animal more majestic than a mature Bull Tahr perched on a rocky outcrop hundreds of metres above a sheer drop with a gale force wind ruffling his golden mane as he seemingly surveys his domain.

The mental fortitude and physical effort required by a hunter to successfully climb into this country and take a Bull Tahr amplifies the worth of the trophy on the wall.

In a trophy room surrounded by many animals a visitor will always be drawn towards the story behind the Tahr.

This DVD is not a hunting film, it is a documentary on the lives and habits of the Tahr in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, from the first releases of the animal for sport to the current management system endeavouring to maintain a healthy viable herd of around 10,000 animals within a defined area.

A fascinating study by Ken Tustin filmed by himself and Steve Couper of Stealth Films in the famed Godley Valley.

Ken's scientific observations taken over more than 30 years of hard physical effort are presented in a laconic easy to listen to dailogue and contrary to many modern productions the laid back background music blends in perfectly until towards the end of the film music and dialogue ceases and you are held entranced purely by the outstanding photography and majesty of the animal.

The second part of the film moves to Nepal showing a scientific study of the Tahr within their original range and the increasingly difficult problem of maintaining a viable population of around 100 animals in the protective environment of a National Park, even to the extent that another animal with a fragile population, Snow Leopards, have recently moved back into the Park area and are taking a severe toll on the younger Tahr leaving their future breeding hanging in the balance.

In one word as a documentary this film is BRILLIANT, clear photography and informative.

DANIEL BLAIR - EDITOR (Posted on 1/09/10)

NZ Hunter Magazine ( Issue 18 ) Sept / Oct 2010 Review by Greg Duley

DVD Rating

Ken Tustin & Stealth Films

This film is a must see for any would be Tahr hunter. Ken and Steve have done a wonderful job of documenting Tahr behaviour throughout the seasons and you’ll learn a lot that will make you a more successful hunter.

Some of this stuff is absolutely fascinating and I picked up plenty of pointers that I know I’ll put to good use next time I am in the Alps.

The camera work and photography are superb as we’ve come to expect from Stealth Films, with a lot of two camera work nicely edited into a world class wildlife documentary.

The interesting Himalayan interlude showed how highly valued and differently they are managed over there.

The time will come over here ….

GREG DULEY - Editor

(Posted on 1/09/10)