the goat cave

[ozy clint]

i've been busy lately and i haven't been able to do any hunting for a while but i was able to get away this weekend for an overnight backpack hunt for some goats. besides the freezer is getting empty and it needed restocking.

i planned to head deeper into the back valley this time to see if the goats are that far back or if they only like the hills beside the river. i didn't get far from the ute when i stumbled into a small mob. they were happily feeding when as i snuck into 15m. i then proceeded to miss a nanny by shooting over it. they scattered but quickly resumed feeding in the same place. again i missed, to the side this time. same thing, run away then came back to the same place and start feeding. 3rd time lucky.....nope, over the top again. this time they'd had enough, they were gone, leaving me shaking my head. i was using my heavy 69#'er this trip as my 54# limbs are out of action at the moment. being winter i don't get home from work till just before dark and my practise sessions have suffered greatly. as evidenced by my shooting. i never have shot as well with my heavy bow anyway....i only bought it for buff.

i spent the rest of the day exploring new country and there are goats back there! i came across a few mobs but i wasn't able to get a shot. they either feed away from me and i couldn't catch up or the wind gave me away.

as i was heading to my campsite at the death of daylight i was able to get close to a nanny. she feed towards me a little and stopped broadside. i sent an arrow an inch over her back. again i was disappointed with myself.

the next day i was in a basin that i know holds goats and i was trying to get close to a mob that i could hear. i sidled across the hill trying to sight them but they gave my the slip.
i headed towards the ute along a creek and found another mob. i managed to have a really close encounter with a nanny. i was in a little gully, hidden by the topography. i could hear her coming my way. i knew she was going to be close when i saw her  so i nocked a stone pointed arrow, hoping to get my 1st stone killed goat. as she came over the crest she was at about 6m. i was drawing but she bolted instantly. the stone point goat will have to wait.

after she fled another nanny came into the area. i could hear her coming so i positioned myself to try and intersect her path of movement. she appeared out of the creek at about 20m then feed towards me to about 12m. the 1st shot took her a little low, she stumbled a bit then the 2nd shot hit her right on the spot. she headed for the creek, expired on the edge and tumbled down the steep embankment. finally, some meat! as i went down to her i realised i was at the entrance to a cave in the creek bank that i had found on a previous trip. i thought nothing of it. till i heard something.....i looked into the cave and right before my eyes was a nanny, deep inside happily licking the walls of the cave, blisfully unaware of the danger she was in. a well placed hard quartering away shot was called for. at 10m that's where the arrow went. she exploded out of the cave past me and soon expired. more meat!

that was the end of the hunt. luckily i managed to get some meat in the last part of my weekend hunt.

just thought i'd post because of the bizarre circumstances of the cave goat. i certainly wasn't expecting it!

   
 

the goat cave
 

big enough to stand my bow in. it goes about 5m into the creek bank.
 

[excelpoint]

Good one mate. The nannies were probably getting some sort of minerals out of the cave.

[Dogboy900]

Cool write up. I hate that too dark to practice thing! Really makes an impact on my accuracy too.

Well done on sticking with it and getting the results.

[ozy clint]

exelpoint- that is my reasoning too. all the nannies have very young kids at foot at the moment. they must be lacking something that they get out of the dirt and rocks. they probably only do it while they are lactating???

[GrayRhino]

Good stuff Clint!       I enjoy reading your posts, and good pics too!

I had some goat curry last week and it was top notch!

[Killdeer]

I miss my Pakistani neighbors. They had goat curry quite often, and would bring us some. Great hunt, Clint. The cave looked like a good hideout and camp, but would likely be dangerous in the rains, eh?

I sure love seeing all the different places that archers hunt. I must admit that Australia and New Zealand intrigue me the most. Still so close to their ageless, indigenous history.

Killdeer

[Mudd]

Thank you Clint for taking us along.

We always want that 1st arrow to be perfect huh?...lol

Congratulations on getting a good start in refilling your freezer.

Your photos are awesome too!

God bless,Mudd

[cacciatore]

Clint,I am glad you had fun.I like to hunt goat because they move on daylight.
Killy you had to learn the recipe before let them go!!

[Killdeer]

Amazing how stupid a human can be, Felix!
I will learn, or craft my own recipe.    

Killdeer~looking for a fat, belly-rubbing gremlin to click on!

[Claym]

Neat hunt! Congrats on the goats    

[Hooper]

You never know what going to happen on a hunt. Enjoyed reading your story. Nice shooting!

[LONGSTYKES]

Thanks , Enjoyed the read. Awesome you  have some great meat for the freezer.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Good on ya, Clint!

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

Very cool,Clint.

[Bonebuster]

Thanks Clint! Great pictures!!!

Are the nanny`s better eating than the billy`s?

[Doc Nock]

I'm always out of breath reading Clint's stories as I have to hustle to keep up with his strong young legs on these adventures!  

[owlbait]

Clint, thanks for the pics and story. Kinda made me think of that scene in Glory Hogs when the pigs come bolting out of the hole they were in. Miss me some good goat curry too. Had some great stuff in Trinidad years ago. Time for some recipes to be shared!

[ozy clint]

bonebuster- the older billies can be a bit rank but young billies are generally good.

[bowtough]

Thanks for sharing Clint,great picts. At least you are getting some good action!  

[DHR]

Nice hunt Clint, sounds like fun.