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Hi Mark,

Yes, it is open season all the time for Himalayan Tahr about 60 miles west of my house on Mount Taylor. You can see the mountain from my back porch. It is the southernmost of the four sacred mountains of the Navajo Indian Tribe.





For a topo map of the area go to:
http://www.yellowmaps.com/usgs/topomaps/drg24/30p/o35107b5.jpg

But . . .

The story is that the Laguna Pueblo Indians some years ago fenced off their part of Water Canyon (see topo) and released some Himalayan Tahr with the idea of charging sportsmen to go up the canyon to hunt these exotic creatures.

The Tahr apparently paid no attention to the fence and a small breeding population thrive both inside and outside the Laguna Reservation. Outside is National Forest and BLM land.

Look at Water Canyon on the topo, it is pretty steep and there are no roads to get to the upper reaches of the canyon if you can't go through Laguna Reservation land (and you can't). So you are looking at a one, two or five year snipe hunt for very elusive creatures. You might do okay if you get deer, Bighorn Sheep or elk licenses for the area, then keep your eyes open for the Himalayan Tahr.

Some folks say they have seen them, but I am unaware of anyone who has shot one.

It is at 9000 to 11000 feet above sea level, and it is quite difficult to do a lot of heavy hiking if you are coming from much lower elevations (sea-level to 2000 feet). I have some property at 8900 feet in the Jemez Mountains and have no trouble hiking and hunting there, but then again my own home is at 5300 feet so I am not starting at zero.

If anyone is interested in hunting New Mexico, I'm happy to get you more info.