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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Wengerd Bowyer on November 28, 2015, 02:52:00 PM
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First of all let me say I don't post much.....basically I just don't have time. I love coming on here and reading everyone else's hunting stories, but never find the time to post my own. this time I decided I would make time, especially because it was such a rare hunt and I got a lot of tips and advise on where and how from some of you on this site. A big thanks to all of you who answered my pm's and posts!!!!!
Anyway I found out this spring i drew a mtn goat tag for southern Montana. To say I was excited would be a understatement. I could hardly sleep the next night......literally! My first thought was I really wanted to get one with my bow, so I decided to hunt the first 2 weeks with a bow then decide what I would do from there.
At first I was thinking I might be going solo because it didn't look like it would suite my brothers or cousins due to work obligations. My dad said he wouldn't go because he was sure he would slow me down to much. Finally after pressing the issue for a while he said he would go with me for the first week at least. As it worked out one of my cousins was able to go too.
Two days before the season opened I left Colorado to meet my dad and cousin in southern Montana to start hiking in the next day.
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We got to the trail head and started packing and finally left around 2 in the afternoon. Kind of a late start especially because none of us had ever been in this area before, but I felt confident we would be able to make it to our camp site before dark.
I moved from northwest Montana to southern Colorado about 5 years ago so it's been about that long since I've hunted with my dad. And he was a little slower then normal due to a foot injury a few years back and few other things but he did great.
We took are time going in enjoying the scenery and glassing for goats as we went.
(http://i.imgur.com/M9oOjzs.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/KTxoaiK.jpg)
As we were coming up on the last ridge from camp we spotted a group of goats which got us really exicted because they were only a 1/2 mile from where we were going to camp
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Thanks for sharing. Can't wait for the rest
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We set up camp in the dark, got a bite to eat and hit the sack for the morning hunt.
Here is a picture of camp the first morning
(http://i.imgur.com/zOifiVp.jpg)
The next morning I was up before daylight to eat breakfast and start glassing at first light.
So before I go any farther let me just say my goal was to shot any mature goat with my recurve. I talked with the biologist and she said the population was really good and they were hoping some tag holders would take some nannys to balance the herd a little. So I decided with my bow I would shoot a dry nanny if given the opportunity even the first day. One of my motto's is "don't pass up something the first day that you would shoot the last day"
My plan for the first morning was to try and find a lone billy to stalk If I was unable to find a lone billy I would watch the group from the night before and see if they get into a place I could stalk into
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About time you told this story! :bigsmyl:
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After glassing the area and only finding another nanny with kid I decided to focus on the group of goats from the night before.
In this group was 11 goats, 3 nannys with kids, 1 sub adult, and 4 adult goats w/o kids. Of those 4 I think 2 were young - mid aged billys....honestly it was hard for me to tell. At any rate any one of those 4 goats was what i was going for.
After watching them for awhile they fed over a little ridge and into an area that was much better for stalking. Now all I had to do was get past the other nanny with kid and I would be in a good position to close the distance on the target group.
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Ya I know Mark.....Thanks a ton for all your help!!!
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:campfire:
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So we set off to see if we could get it done. Me with my bow and Caleb (my cousin) following close behind with a camcorder. As we snuck past the first goat and peeked over the ridge we spotted white about 80 yards down the hill in a perfect position for a stalk. I was almost speechless I couldn't believe we found goats in such a stalkable situation on the first morning, but it wasn't over yet I told myself.
There was 4 goats bedded on a small bench and the rest where scattered on down the hill. The only thing between me and the goats was a clump of small bushes. With the wind steady in my face I knew my chances were really good if they just stay bedded long enough for me to get to those bushes. I took my boots off and after 15 minutes or so of scooting down the hill I was within 30 yards or so of 2 of the goats that I was after. They were broadside but bedded so I decided to wait till they stand to take my shot. The cliffs were to close, I wanted a good clean shot so I have less chance of lossing my goat in the cliffs. After 10-15 minutes a mature goat stood up about 60 yards down the hill and started working its way up the towards the other goats and me. I watched it as it came up and it looked like a big goat but I couldn't tell for sure if it was a nanny or billy although I was thinking big nanny. At any rate it had no kids following all the way up the hill and it had a big patch of winter hair on it's side that I had marked in my head from earlier glassing that confirmed this was one of the goats I was after. It fed up to the other goats then kept feeding up the hill! All the while facing me I had no shot! I was starting to thinks it's getting to close because I was lossing cover the more it came the hill. Finally at 12 yards it turned just a little but enough to give me a shot I felt comfortable with at that range. Before I could think the arrow had found it's mark and the goat ran down the hill then stopped again at 45- 50 yards and looked back. I knew it was dead on it's feet but one thing i've learned is no matter how good the shot looked you always shoot again if given the chance, but being so excited i shot right over it's back it then ran over a little ridge and rolled down the hill on the other side.
If it hadn't been for this lone rock in this chute it would have kept rolling for a long long ways!! Thank you Lord for that rock!! The picture doesn't near do justice to how steep it was.
(http://i.imgur.com/A17f4iK.jpg)
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Caleb and I were able to get it back up on the ridge for pictures which was great.
54#@27" recurve 250gr cutthrout broadhead on easton axis arrow total weight 540gr
(http://i.imgur.com/EKdML4P.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/1Yo0uaV.jpg)
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It ended up being a 9 year old nanny with 9 1/4" horns. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to hunt these amazing animals, and the fact that my dad was able to go along on this hunt really topped it all off for this one in a lifetime hunt. I do alot of solo elk hunting but there is something special to sharing a hunt with friends.
Here is a pic of the whole crew. Me on the left, dad in the middle, and Caleb on the right.
(http://i.imgur.com/yqtTJuD.jpg)
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The pack back to camp
(http://i.imgur.com/VfuMsrT.jpg)
We moved camp about 40 yards to get out of the wind for the next night.
(http://i.imgur.com/pWmEEAv.jpg)
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packed up for the haul out. 100Ib
(http://i.imgur.com/ehgfezj.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Z73A8Fq.jpg)
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The view back to the truck
(http://i.imgur.com/BxnITqW.jpg?2)
Back in the woods again
(http://i.imgur.com/zNTYD0H.jpg)
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What a great story! That's some beautiful scenery and a great animal. Congratulations.
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Great story and great hunt! Congrats on a goat, I'd love to do that but, I'll not live long enough to draw.
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Great story congrats!
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Tagging out early does have its advantages, not only did I get to visit family up in MT and get to go home early to the wife and kids. I was able get a little elk hunting in before the season closed. I was on a solo bivy hunt, but the elk just weren't talking so I kept going farther back in till I finally got into elk. Long story short I got a young bull over 9 miles from the truck....Thank God for good friends with backs and packs!!
(http://i.imgur.com/vuOnoWl.jpg)
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What a fantastic hunt! Congratulations.
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Well done, congrats on a fine animal !
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Awesome congrats for the perfect hunt.
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Thanks for sharing and Congrats!
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unreal. mountain goat is my dream hunt. I'm way jealous, but wow nicely done! beautiful, beautiful animal~!
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Congrats-awesome hunts-you're living the dream!
Glenn
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Great story! Thanks for taking the time to share it with us! Congrats!!
Steve
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Congrats on a beauty of an animal! I got back from my own goat hunt a couple of months ago. I know how tough those climbs are! Well done on an amazing animal!
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Great story! And congrats on the hunt.
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Congrats! Nice bow too. Did u build it? My brother is moving to Trinidad in a couple weeks for Gunsmithing school.
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:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Great story! I love to hear about back country goat hunts! Thanks for sharing!
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:campfire:
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Great stories congrats
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Great story about an awesome hunt that you got to share with some family members. What could be better than that? Nice bull, too. Congratulations on a wonderful season.
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That is cool! Congrats!!
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:thumbsup: :archer:
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Congratulations. WOW
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Great story and great hunts! Congrats to you!
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Love the pics, Myron...and congrats on the elk as well! What a great year...
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Congrats on two great animals Myron,
Thanks for sharing your story!
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:eek: Holy cow........what a great season, very, very well done. :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Man, that is awesome on both hunts!
Congrats!
Bisch
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those are some nasty wounds on those animals... cutthroat broadheads did that much damage?? i'm way impressed.
congrats on your success!
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Congratulations Myron!
homebru
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Congrats on 2 very nice trophies. :archer:
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Great job!
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:thumbsup:
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Man that's awesome!! Those are epic hunts... You know how to get it done! Congrats and thanks for taking the time to share.
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Fine job!!!
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Congratulations, very nice animals.
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Trip of a lifetime. Even better to have your Father there by your side. Congratulations.
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Way to go! Congratulations on two great beasts!
Thanks for sharing too!
Kenny :clapper:
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Thanks for the posts everyone!!! Had a great time on both hunts. And a great year that will stay with me for a long time!!
Carbonflyr I used a 3blade vpa for the elk. Not the first animal I've got with this head but never had a hole like that before. Got a pass through to so it's not like the broadhead was on the off side cutting as he ran off. Not sure why the hole was so big
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Outstanding!! Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
Chris
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What an animal! Goats have always been a dream of mine, and will most likely remain only that. But I sure love hearing stories about them and you're is fantastic!
Congratulations!
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Congratulations on some great hunting! Thanks for sharing and taking the time. Did you build that bow too? It's a really nice looking bow, whatever brand it is.
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Great hunt, thanks for writing it up. I love the goat pictures, the back drop is beautiful, glad your dad could get there too,all the better. Nice elk too :)
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9 year old.....wow! Trophy critter, trophy hunt.
Great job and thanks for sharing
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Great story and pictures ... thanks for taking the time to share your adventure. Looks like you wear out some boot leather in hunting season :thumbsup:
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Congrats on your successful season!
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One of my favorite threads... Thank you
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Ditto to all the comments, thanks for taking the time for the story and pics, awesome adventure.
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Awesome pictures, congratulations!!!
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That is such an amazing hunt. Congrats on a gorgeous animal.
This will always be my dream hunt
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Simply amazing! Two great hunts with two great trophies! Congratulations! :clapper:
Bernie
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Thanks so much for the story and pics! Great hunt! Great goat!
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What kind of recurve is that?
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Man oh man....awesome. :thumbsup:
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Way to go! One day, wow. :thumbsup:
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Great story and great work! Congrats and thanks for sharing.
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Awesome hunt and pics, glad everything went well! Great bull also, I'm also interested in the bow you used. It looks very nice and wondered if you made it?
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Great job, thank you very much for sharing.
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Logan, thanks for the compliment on the bow. Yes I did build it....one of my many hobbys
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Wow, fantastic hunt. Thanks for taking the time.
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Great story! Congrats.
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Myron,
Congratulations on a fine mountain goat and thanks for sharing the story, it is appreciated. I am fairly sure I have pitched a tent at that same alpine lake on a couple of occasion's.
Oh ya, you done good.... Really Good!
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Congrats! Does not get any better than that!!
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That's an awesome hunt! I'm originally from Utah, and hunting goats is one of my dream hunts. Congratulations!
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Nice story. Thanks for sharing.
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Good story and hunt. Congrats.