TESTIMONIALS

The afternoon hunt where we crawled up the hill to hide behind the rose bush within 12 meters of those three big boys with their antlers turning against the sky still stands out in my mind nearly as vividly as it did that day.  To finally close the deal on a really nice animal really capped off the hunt.  That Joanne could ride along in the truck and gain an appreciation for the beautiful scenery and the animals also greatly enhanced the experience.  (And improved my chances of getting to put another head up on the wall of the den!)

I also really appreciated your positive attitude and sense of humor during our hunts.  Guiding a recurve bow hunter requires plenty of both, I’m sure.  You obviously know well the terrain and the animals we hunted given the numerous chances you gave me to get close.  It may be another two or three years, but I really hope to get another chance for a Gerald Telford bow hunting experience. All my best to you, Sue and the girls.

tgrimes@alohagas.com

After all, I decided to take the chance and I looked for a bowhunting guide and a good place to hunt Himalajan Tahr and Stags or Chamois.

After searching in google, I soon detected www.flyfishhunt.co.nz and the contact was made.

Gerald invested his private time to show me around in December 2008 in his hunting area for Tahr and Stags, for two days . After that time he asked me if I was an experienced bowhunter- only since already 1992 , and foamer of our bowhunting club, www.austrianbowhunting.at (see the web page and photogallery), will make it – and I was hooked by gerald, who is also a bowhunting and fishing guide expert. At that time we could work out several close encounters for a bowhunter- just to take close pictures whith the camera in stead of a bow shot.

More than one year I was dreaming of that wonderful private mountain valley. I used my time to become in good shape, trained mountain hiking as much as possible and trained as a bowhunter to shoot at distances up to 40 meters in the mountains.

In March 2009 the dream becomes true, and I was back in that wonderful valley. 11 hours of time difference gave me a hard time, I had 5 days of hunting time + 3 days as reserve days. To make it short, within three days I was able to fulfill my dream. I could havest a fully free ranging bull Tahr with 12 inch, which scored 40 douglas points, high up in the mountains after a 3 hours climb more than 1200 meters higher up and 1.5 hours additional stalk, with a lucky or good trained 38 meters downhill bow shot and a two blade german cinetics 125 grain broadhead, that Tahr collapsed within 60 meters at a perfect place to make pictures, just meters before a vertical dangerous wall.

The next day we worked out several close encounters to the fully bugling redstags – they had been roaring like in my country, not bellowing high, like elk in the states, and with late shooting light , a perfect quatering away 30 meters bow shot ,brought down a beautiful symmetrical 7×6 red stag within 80 meters with long white tips, which scored 182 CIC points and the dream was over …..

But I will never forget the wonderful time far far away at the other side of the world, the red stag antlers on my wall and the perfect shoulder mount of the tahr will always remind me of that great bowhunting adventure. Everything was perfect ……

ROBERT KÖNIG has hunted at many parts of the world and could harvest with his bow more than 100 hooved big game animals, that NZ hunt was one of his highlights.

If you are a rifle or bow hunter and in normal good shape, you will have perfect chance for Tahr and Red Stag.

Thank`s Sue and Gerald for everything.

robertkoenig@utanet.at

1. Motatapu River with 42 fish landed. The fish were suicidal with 2 of the fish caught after they had been nicked 1 and 2 times but took the next cast nevertheless. To cap it all 1 foot of the rod had broken off after the second fish so 40 were caught with interesting gear. At an early stage I fell head first in the water when I misjudged the depth of the river on entering a pool with 6 fish visible. As a recompense all 6 fish were caught. At one stage I recall I had a fish on the line which was having fun with us as your sunglasses were also caught in the fishing line.

2. The first day at Craig Burn Creek was rather remarkable as all the fish near where the truck was parked were spooked before we started. But then to find a pool where we landed 18 between 2lb to 3lb a further 2 broke off and a further 2 were hooked was a big bonus. Yet there were still more fish left in the pool than we had caught. Considering the small size of the pool it was remarkable that the fish did not twig that something was going on before we had touched 22 of them!

3. The Matarau River this year was again something very special. The first afternoon catching 7 good powerful fish was quite an experience. The next day was a great beat with the terrific benefit that the truck was parked where we were ending the day. Although we only landed 4 and lost 6 it was memorable as the fish were incredibly powerful and one felt each landing was a great success and beating all the odds. The fact that we also saw so many fish that day but most spooked very quickly, often without casting even, meant even a hit while losing the nymphs after a heroic effort was a triumph. On the 3rd day to land 31 with 7 in the Melanie pool was something I had not expected as a second time at a spot which was a great success the first time is not something usually repeated.

So thanks very much for a great holiday and also thanks to Sue for looking after me. The cherries were great this year and good to see that the ‘girls’ still love them.

My intention is to come back next year at approximately the same dates but it is a bit too early to fix dates. Let me know though if somebody is interested in booking what is ‘my’ time!!

Once again ta very much and all the best to the Telford clan.

paul.g.brown@btinternet.com

The abundance of free range wild game in the stag area was really impressive. It was sure nice (a real good thing I assure you) that whenever I messed up or got “blown” out of a stalk that there was another chance not to far in the future to try again. As I recall I think we saw/stalked 7 or 8 stags that first day, and nearly that the second. The Fallow property was equally impressive, rain or shine the bucks were snorting just over the next rise it seemed. That second afternoon when I managed to stalk, blow the stalk (or rather got winded, or seen, or who knows what) stalk again, blow the stalk…well I think 4 or 5 times before the last one headed across the creek at the bottom of the draw, was the most exciting, there were deer everywhere (that was part of the problem you see). Well, let’s think on that, almost being trampled by a heard of fallow does and buck when they came flying over the rise in our faces was pretty darn exciting to, I wish I had a camera shot of those deer when they came up over the rise (and maybe one of Gerald’s and my faces to as we ducked). The opportunity to hunt rabbits and turkey after the main hunt was great fun. Finding the group of boars on the mountain the last day was equally appreciated and exciting for bowhunting. Who would have thought that I needed to go to NZ to get my first, and second boars with the bow? That was a pretty impressive hump up that little hill with the pig on your back too Gerald. The sites way up on that mountain ridge were just about as good as the pigs we found. When time and money permit in the future I will be back to hunt Tahr and Chamios, maybe I’ll give another go at the Fallow to, we left some big ones out there. I’ll do my best on the Tahr in prime season with the bow to, maybe you Gerald will be up for taking your bow to (or you will take a back-up rifle). For Chamios, a rifle might be the best alternative.

We’ll stay in touch, thanks again for all your efforts before, during, and after this hunt.

Cheers!

dblumer@hsrassociates.com

But I must say, the Tahr hunt was the highlight of the trip and I’m so glad that I included time for these magnificent animals. Although I had a good idea what to expect when walking up on the previous stag, nothing quite prepared me for finding the magnificent Bull Tahr! Now I knew why GT got so excited about hunting these great, shaggy beasts! Beautiful animals in beautiful country – truly a hunt to remember!

Our final day’s hunt had us chasing Merriam’s turkeys. Not the traditional hunt that one would have in Pennsylvania, but still loads of fun.

It was a pleasure to meet you and your family, to share some time together, and gain an appreciation for the country where you live. If you are ever in Pennsylvania, you will always have a place to stay.

And please pass on our thanks and appreciation to the staff at the Archway Motel. The accommodations and service were perfect!

jonvernam@yahoo.com