THE TAHR 
( HEMITRAGUS JEMLAICUS) 
T HIS animal is found in Kishtwar, Chamba, Garhwal and some 
way eastward along the main chain of the Himalayas; there 
are also a few in the Pir Panjal range, where they are to be met 
with in the same nullahs with the markhor. Although the tahr 
does not live at quite as great an altitude as the ibex or markhor, 
he frequents about the worst ground of any of the goat tribe; 
he loves precipices, especially if there is any timber or scrub handy for 
him to hide in. He is an attractive animal to hunt, and it seems a great 
pity that he does not carry a larger pair of horns. Still, a tahr’s head, 
well set up, with the long hair on the neck, makes quite an interesting 
trophy. 
The tahr is fairly reliable in his habits, and if undisturbed returns to 
the same feeding ground day after day. In the summer-time the old bucks 
are usually met with apart from the females. 
Owing to the nature of the ground on which they live they are very 
likely to fall a long way when shot, but as the horns do not project much 
from the head there is a fair chance of their escaping damage. 
The best tahr I ever shot I watched through the telescope every day 
for a week before a good opportunity of making a stalk presented itself. 
When at length I did manage to get near him the ground was so steep that 
my shikari had to hold me by the legs while I leant over the precipice for 
the shot. 
To reach the tahr ground in Kishtwar the route lies through lovely 
scenery. One of the roads to Ladak runs through Kishtwar and over the 
Umasi La Pass, but the drawback to taking this way is the scarcity of 
coolies and supplies on the latter half of the journey. When after tahr the 
sportsman will probably find red bear and goral in the same locality. 
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