Hunters in the Adams Wilderness Area are pulling out of Department of Conservation ballot blocks early after failing to find tahr, a hunting guide says.

Bailey Thompson, co-owner of Snowline Hunting NZ, says some parties have seen only two nannies across five days of hunting this season. He says tahr numbers in the Adams have dropped rapidly under heavy aerial culling, including 1080 operations, unlike the Landsborough.

Thompson says the department has culled about 35,000 tahr across the South Island.

“We are obligated to protect these animals,” he says.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.

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