Two-Part New Zealand Free Range Tahr Hunt Begins This Sunday on MeatEater
10/25/2012
Acclaimed Author & Outdoorsman Steven Rinella Navigates Rugged Territory All in the Name of Hunting for Exotic Food
New Berlin, WI – (October 25, 2012) “When heading out for a mountain hunt, especially in a strange land, you go with the knowledge that the hills are going to hang on tightly to what you are after – that they will not give you anything easily.” So states Steven Rinella in the opening lines of his two-part Himalayan Tahr hunt beginning this Sunday, October 28 exclusively on Sportsman Channel at 9 pm ET/PT.
Rinella is delivering his most adventurous expeditions for “killer hunts and killer food” in this two-part hunt that is part of an overall four-part mini-series that brings the thrills of New Zealand hunting and its stunning landscape to life for viewers. The conclusion of the New Zealand series ends on November 4 at 9 pm ET/PT.
For the Tahr hunt, Rinella and his guide, Remi Warren, head to “Tahr Country” in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Himalayan Tahr is the long-haired, horned, inhabitant of the alpine and is native to central Asia. In this land, all big game is non-native and has no natural predators. There are no bag limits, no tags and no season, which makes for an extremely good environment for hunters.
Rinella and Warren head toward the mountain glaciers to begin their Tahr hunt. “Our plan was simple. Head up the valley towards the glaciers and glass the mountains until our eyeballs bleed or we find some game,” said Rinella during the show.
After some time, and setting up camp, they are unable to find any game within reach…until Warren spots a group of Chamois on the mountainside. Chamois look like a cross between an American Pronghorn and a farmyard goat, according to Rinella.
They switch gears to go after the chamois, but there’s a large glacial river between them and the herd. The following day, they spot the chamois herd again and attempt to cross the fast-moving, icy-cold stream. But the current is too strong. They move downstream for another crossing attempt and immediately, Rinella spots a chamois buck walking dead at them in the river bed. He doesn’t take long to put that buck down, but then another challenge faces the team: How to get to the animal on an impassable river? “Hypothermia is a real issue here. That water can suck the strength right out of you and leave you dead,” Rinella tells the camera.
The mini-series concludes with Rinella and guide, Remi, eventually creating an ingenious device to slide the buck across the river. But viewers will have to tune in on November 4 to see if Rinella gets his Tahr to make a dish he dreams of trying: Tahr tartar. “The scenery and incredible snowcaps that were our ‘dining ambiance’ was truly amazing,” said Rinella. “This double-episode Tahr hunt is visually stunning and is one of the most adventurous shoots we’ve ever filmed.”
Steven Rinella is an avid outdoorsman, writer, and television personality best known for his ability to translate the hunting lifestyle to a wide variety of audiences. He is the author of recently released book, “MeatEater: Adventures of the Life of an American Hunter.” Other books include: “The Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine” and the award-winning “American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon.” Rinella’s writing has appeared in such publications as the New York Times, Glamour, Men’s Journal, Outside, New Yorker and more traditional hunting and fishing publications like Field and Stream. He is a columnist for Petersen’s HUNTING, has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, CNN’s American Morning and Fox News’ Fox and Friends.
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