"This could involve hunters managing tahr populations as well as reporting on tahr numbers and the health of ecosystems. We're excited to see what we can achieve by working together with the group on this opportunity."
DOC's Tahr Control Operational Plan for 2021/22 was developed after engagement with tahr stakeholders, including hunting and conservation groups.
Holborow said a survey undertaken in autumn this year will provide valuable insights for the group to consider.
The survey will give detailed information on tahr numbers in the South Rakaia/Rangitata and the Gammack/Two Thumb management units.
"We have decided not to control tahr in the South Rakaia/Rangitata management unit over the next year, while we analyse the survey data from this popular hunting spot.
"The area is accessible by vehicle, has a range of huts available and is favoured by hunters for day hunts or longer trips. We look forward to seeing recreational and guided hunters play the major part in control efforts."
The new Tahr Control Operational Plan also outlines how DOC will continue to work with recreational and commercial hunters to control tahr on public conservation land in other areas of the South Island.
"We're still working towards achieving the goals of the Himalayan Tahr Control Plan 1993. This year most of our control effort will shift to the West Coast, where high densities of tahr remain in some places.
"East of the alps, our work will focus on places which are difficult for ground hunters to access, but where there are high numbers of tahr."
DOC will continue to target all tahr in Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini national parks, and outside the feral range, Holborow said.
DOC will not target identifiable male tahr over the remaining 425,000 hectares of public conservation land inside the seven management units.
"We will continue to focus on targeting high tahr densities on the West Coast where hunter access is challenging, and hunters and other stakeholders have reported there are still large numbers of animals. We also plan to trial using professional ground hunters to search for and control tahr in forest areas where animals can be hard to spot from the air.
"This year we will be sharing maps showing identifiable male tahr observations, and spots where we have seen high tahr densities in recent surveys. Hunters will be able to find this information on our website and Facebook page to help plan their next hunting trip and contribute to tahr control."
Around the midpoint of the tahr control programme, DOC and the Game Animal Council will review the work undertaken.
Hunters can expect to see control operations under way from early July.
"We want hunters to have certainty they can hunt tahr in the east from early spring, knowing DOC's control there is complete for the year."
DOC's research and monitoring programme is also continuing this year with several initiatives underway to learn more about the tahr population and ecosystems.
"Earlier this year we began remeasuring historic vegetation plots on the West Coast and this work will continue over the coming summer. We're also planning to implement a new programme to look at vegetation condition at different tahr densities," said Holborow.
