Grouse Arrow and an Elk (Long Story - Derrick Oxnam)

[lt-m-grow]

Very cool.

[ChuckC]

Derrick

What do you do with your pack goats while you are hunting ?
ChuckC

[maineac]

Great story.  Congrats on a great trophy!

[Ragin Bull]

Great story,  Congrats          

[Owlgrowler]

NICE!! Amazing turn of events. I'd like to hear more about the goats also. Congratulations.

[razorsharptokill]

That is so awesome! Your smile tells the whole story.

[razorsharptokill]

[oxnam]

Originally posted by amazonjim:
congrats, great story and ending, I have one question what kind of inserts were you using.

The inserts were just the standard ones that come with Golt Tip shafts.  There wasn't a problem with the insert, but the threaded part of the broadhead is what broke and remained in the insert.

As for the packgoats, I love them.  Mine are propery conditioned and follow me around like puppies.  Sometimes they think they can pass but a swing of a walking stick reminds them of who leads the herd.

My goats accompanied us through the entire hunt from before sunrise until well after dark.  To cut down on noise from the cordura panniers, only one goat carried a set of panniers which was loaded up with extra pannier sets and extra water and panniers were covered with old t-shirts. By the end of the day, the tattered t-shirts made him lool like a bum but it did cut down on extra noise.

They really do just follow me wherever I go and were right behind me when I made the shot on the bull.  The only time I took hold of their leads when when we started following the blood trail.  I didn't want them messing up any traces of the wounded elk.  When we found the elk, they acted as if it were just another log and let us get to work.  While my dad and I dressed the elk they milled around never going more that fifteen yards away.  

After removing all the meat we decided how to divide it up.  One hind quarter went on my dad's pack and the other was boned out and placed in a set of panniers for one of the goats.  Another goat was loaded up with the backstraps, tenderloins, extra meat, and water bottles.  The last goat carried my hip pack and misc gear.  That left the front shoulders for me.  My pack doesn't have the capacity to strap on meat so we tied the shoulders together and I lugged them out on my shoulders.  I won't be doing that again and have been eyeing the Eberlestock X2.  All loaded up, we headed out in the dark with the goats still following right along.  When were finally reached camp after a couple miles, I was worn out but gladly rewarded the goats with ranch flavored sunflower seeds and lots of petting.  Without them, we would have been packing for several more miserable hours that night (more if my dad was unable to make a return trip with me)

I'll start another thread with additional details about pack goats in case others might be interested.

[Anointed Archer]

Excellent      

[BOHO]

great story and pics !!!  congrats !!!!

[Bernie B.]

Wow!  Great story and excellent pictures!  I really enjoyed hearing about your "helpers".  It sounds like you really have them trained well.  Congratulations!    

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[Guru]

[Thumper Dunker]

Thats real cool stuff.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great stuff.  Congrats!

[Tater]

Well done..!... thanks for sharing the story.
     I have talked to a couple of hunters I have encountered in the back country hunting with pack goats. Very low impact and low maintenance.

[redant 60/65]

Very well done  

[rastaman]

Awesome story! Great trophy! I love your pack goats!

[Ryman Cat]

Great story and very good ending and tasty meat for sure. Congrats young man many more thanks for taking us along with you.

[wapiti792]

What a well written dye-no-mite story!!! Love the pics as well. That elk is going to be oustanding table fare! Way to go!!!

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

Good job! Love that elk meat!