After hunting three bow seasons with a recurve I finally made it happen on the day after Valentines day. (gotta love a girlfriend who lets you and your buddy spend the evening getting ready to hit the mountains.)
My Friend Ray and I (also an Alaska transplant) spent a total of 13 hours on the ridges and mountain in West Oahu. We saw at least a 100 goats. We stalked in on several only to be busted or have them move out of range before we could get there.
Example of the terrain we were dealing with... Much of it is STRAIT up and down. can you spot the goats?
(http://i.imgur.com/IMO34wc.jpg)
Exhausted and running out of water in the 80 degree sun, me and Ray decided to head down. It was 4:30 pm. walking down the ridge I spotted a small herd lower on the ridge near a rock outcropping that I thought would give me enough cover to get close.... Real close.
The goats, 7 of them were on the right hand side of the ridge. I dropped down on the left hand side and with the wind in my favor moved quietly to the outcropping. I peeked around. The majority of the herd had moved. I thought that they had heard me coming, but after a minute a few were hanging around. We needed to get off the mountain soon. It was decision time.
There were three small goats left. 15 yards away. I sat down. breathed until my heart rate was as close to normal as it was going to get. I knocked an arrow. Slowly I sat up, took a knee and leaned around the boulder between me and the goats.
Kneeling on the rock at full draw I was spotted by one of the goats. It took off leaving two other small ones. One was facing me and the other broadside but with the vitals behind a rock. I took aim for the head... I let it fly and the arrow hit its mark. (well pretty close to it anyway.)
It was awesome. The goat did not move. just reared up and fell over. It was not the largest goat I have taken from this area, Nor the prettiest. But I am most proud of this one. I finally made a good shot with the recurve. (I have missed several). I literally put a broad head through its ear.
So here it is. Shot placement.
(http://i.imgur.com/qDo5qug.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/eanFra2.jpg)
And the final "must have" shot
(http://i.imgur.com/m5nNT4a.jpg)
Equipment: Samick Sage 55# 3RiversTrad only 400spine arrows. 610 grains total weight including the 100grain G5 Montec broadhead.
Yeah its small. But it was damn good eating. it was pit roasted on presidents day. All comments about size welcome. I got my fair share from Ray (who got nothing but swollen knees by the way) on the way down. :knothead: :biglaugh:
Great shooting!
Great job!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!
Congrats brother!
Well done, besides after an exhausting day like that, packing out a small goat would be a welcomed chore. Congrats
Great job!
Great job congratulations! There's nothing like your first.
Congrats
Heck, any one can hit the big ones. good job
Just noticed you were from Hawaii. You know Ryan Sanpei? He's a teacher and over there from your neck of the woods.
Congrats, That pit roasting sounds Awesome!
That's awesome
Congrats to you! Great shot!
Glad it worked out for you, and congrats on your first!
Bisch
Congrats Brother! I'd love to do that hunt one day.
That is nasty/steep country. .. not for the faint of heart. . .nor out of shape for sure. Hit where you were looking. Congrats
That's awesome! Great shot and congrats on your first!
Congrats.
Very cool. Got my first trad animal, a boar, along the Pali Hwy, Oahu, many years ago. Fond memories. Aloha
good job... Aloha...
You gave him an earful.
Nice! I'll have to remember that shot, straight into the ear.
That first harvest with a bow is maybe not the best but it will always be remembered vividly.
Goats will be on my agenda next week when I arrive in Kona for a two week vacation for our horrible winter here.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
They are amazing acrobats on those steep hills. Congrats-could hear your labored breathing from the climb over the internet-been tere...Way-to-go
Congrats on a shot that I'm sure was not that easy! It's not the size that matters but, how good it tastes when eating! :thumbsup:
A great hunt! That's what its all about.
Thanks for sharing the moment!
Wow awesome!!
Nice work! Excellent hit on the small target.
No comment on the size - still not got my first yet. Besides, the "food factor" is way better as you mentioned.
Exotic spot.
Congrats! Great shot. Good eating too boot!!
Congratulations! That is one heck of a shot. I would save that arrow and dub it "the q-tip"
Congrats!!!!
nice , congrats
Nice Going! :thumbsup: :shaka:
Sweet!
Nice. I gotta say though, patience should be the goal instead of head shots with a bow and arrow.
Congrates
:bigsmyl:
Congrats
That is awesome, Congrats!
Wow....what a beautiful place to hunt!! Congrats on your first kill.....
Congrats!! Nice going.
Thanks everyone for all the support!
I will be more patient next time.
I do not have the pleasure of knowing Ryan. Though I would like to one day. I see a lot of his pics are at the Kapolei 3d range and I shoot there from time to time.
Anyway thanks again I am learning a lot from this site!!
Great shot and cool pictures.. Good job..
Congrats on getting it done!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :shaka:
Congrats on your successful hunt, you never forget your first. Good shooting. That girl of yours sounds like a keeper too, by the way.
Bob
Not bad for an Alaska Boy!! :D :D :D :D
A most memorable hunt, congrats! :thumbsup:
Awesome! What a shot!
Good shooting and great country. Congrats.
Nice shot!
Congrats
Congratulations on your success and I'm glad it worked out but more than likely you would have permanently wounded that animal. I've seen a lot of deer with their muzzles blown off because of head shots with a rifle. Please stick to double lung in the future.
I hate to be the buzzkill on this thread but I waited four pages and nobody else was going to speak up.
Again, congrats on your kill and welcome to a wonderful sport!