I've been dreaming about hunting Mountain Goats since I read an article in Bowhunter magazine by Dwight Schuh about hunting them in Idaho during my junior year in high school. I was in study hall and had slipped the magazine inside my text book so the teacher couldn't see I wasn't doing school work. That was 19 yrs ago but I can still see the picture of Dwight sitting in front of his tent, caping out the head of the goat like I read the article yesterday.
When I logged into the Idaho Fish and Game website in May to check the results and saw the word "Successful" you'd have thought I just shot the biggest buck of my life the way I was shaking. Not many people understand that, but I think most of the group here gets it.
Before I get too far into the story I need to give credit where credit is due. I'm a member of the Professional Bowhunters Society. This group includes some of the most experienced bowhunters around, bowhunters willing to share their experience and knowledge with their fellow members. So the first thing I did when I found out I'd drawn was to post on the PBS website asking for any insight into the area I'd drawn and mountain goat hunting in general. The response and help I received was amazing. Guys I'd never met before were messaging and calling me to help out in any way they could. Some had intimate knowledge of the area I drew, some knew nothing of the area but had hunted mountain goats elsewhere and shared what they'd learned, some had other contacts that they referred me to that might know something, others offered up their gear and even their house as a place to stay on the trip out. The help I received from this group was instrumental in my hunt.
Now let's get on to the hunt. I'm going to start from the beginning. The hunt itself is only a small part of this story. The preparation and planning was a much lengthier process and I enjoyed it just as much as the hunt itself, well almost. I know there are a lot of guys out there that dream of hunting mountain goat and may never get to. Maybe they'll never draw a tag, maybe they can't / won't pay the money to hunt them guided or maybe they're past a point in their life where they're physically able to make it a reality. Whatever the reason I'll try to share as many details as possible so hopefully you can get an idea of what the experience is like. If you're not the type that likes to read all the details I get that too, check back in a bit and you can see the highlights.
Cool...
:campfire:
I've been applying for most of the states that offer mountain goat tags for about 12 years. They've always been my number one dream animal to hunt. For a lot of guys it's wild sheep but for me it's always been mountain goats. Maybe it's because they're not flashy like sheep. Their horns aren't much to look at, only a couple inches separates an exceptional goat from an average goat. Maybe it's the terrain they live in, as I've read goat country begins where sheep country ends. Maybe it's their beautiful white hair with long chaps and goatee. Or maybe it was just the thought of the adventure. Whatever the reason they've always stood out to me as the pinnacle of bowhunting.
I had a few requirements for the units I applied for and the hunt / experience I wanted. I wanted my hunt to be a true backpack hunt. I didn't want a unit that held goats in highly traveled recreational backpack areas. I didn't want to hunt goats that were at all conditioned to seeing humans and I didn't want to see numerous people daily on my hunt. I wanted truly wild goats and I wanted them remote and alone. The unit I drew offered all that!
By mid-summer I'd spoken with the area biologist, wildlife officers and the previously mentioned PBS members. I felt like I'd spoken with just about everyone willing (and a few that weren't) to talk to me about the unit I drew and goats in general. I'd spent hours looking at topo maps and aerial photos and I'd narrowed my areas of interest down to two main areas. One area really stood out, as it would require backpacking several miles, ascending a mountain and dropping into a basin below that had no trails leading into it. From there, if need be I could top over at least two more mountains into further basins all historically known to hold goats. It would be my number one focus.
Season would open for my hunt on August 30th and I could hunt all the way through November. I wanted to hunt late enough to allow the goats to have their winter hair but not so late that I risked snow in the high country which would make spotting them extremely difficult. I decided I'd start my hunt around the second week of September. I also planned a 4 day scouting trip in mid August.
Although I spent a lot of time looking at the area on the computer, the magnitude of the terrain really set in when I saw it on paper.
(https://i.imgur.com/Zitbi2t.jpg)
Keep it coming.... :campfire:
Once I had my area picked out I felt a little guilty, like I should be doing more. From 1,700 miles away there's only so much I could do though. I focused on getting my gear ready, getting in the best shape I could, and practicing with my bow. I've been doing Crossfit for about 5 years and felt like I was already in great shape. I continued to do Crossfit 4-5 days a week and added running 5-8 miles 2-3 days a week. I knew nothing would truly prepare me for the type of mountains I'd be in but I certainly intended to do all I could to help. I took advantage of a small cool front at the end of July and took the kids out to a local mountain to train with a weighted pack. It's a total elevation gain of about 1,000' in 3/4 a mile. I found their pace to be just about perfect for me with a 50lb pack and the climb felt great.
(https://i.imgur.com/Xi2hFmM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MxdW74g.jpg)
Great read, I'm in! :coffee:
:campfire:
This is going to be good. :campfire:
Perfect timing for a good hunting thread, Aaron! Bring it on and don't be bashful with the pics...
I planned my scouting trip for August 24th – 27th. I'd fly to Idaho, rent a car and drive straight to the trailhead and pack into the basin for a long weekend scouting trip. I was excited to finally lay eyes on my first mountain goat. Unfortunately a last minute business trip I couldn't get out of got scheduled for the 24th and 25th. So instead of eating a freeze-dried dinner high in the mountains of Idaho I was eating in a restaurant in New York. For some that may not sound so bad, for me it was a giant punch in the gut. With the season opening only a week later and only about 3 weeks until I planned on starting my hunt I decided it would be best to just add a few days to my hunt and scout with my bow in hand. My brother Mark would be joining me on the first 10 days of my hunt to help glass, hopefully help with packing chores, and just enjoy the hunt together. As luck would have it, he drew an Idaho moose tag this year as well so I planned to go out with him the first week of October to help him on his hunt. We planned to fly into Idaho on September 13th to start my hunt.
As the last couple weeks until my hunt approached I finalized my gear list. Most of the gear didn't differ too greatly from what I typically pack for an elk hunt with the exception of adding a spotting scope and tripod.
All my gear loaded into 2 checked bags and a carry on ready to fly out the evening before my hunt.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZvT8U8j.jpg)
We landed in Idaho a little after noon on September 13th. After picking up the rental car and making couple stops to pick up fuel for the stove and other last minute items we headed toward my unit. It was nearly 5:00 pm by the time we reached my unit and it took almost an hour after turning off the pavement to reach the drainage we planned on going up. By the time we got all our gear loaded in our packs and started walking it was around 6:30. I knew we wouldn't make it all the way into the basin that evening so we planned to get as close as we could to where we planned to climb over the mountain and set up camp. We'd save the climb for early the next morning. After setting up the tent next to a creek and filtering some water we quickly downed a couple Mountain House dinners and hit the sack, tired from a long day of travel. Despite my excitement for what the next day held, sleep came easy.
We were up before daylight the next morning and after a quick breakfast we started breaking down camp and getting everything loaded in our packs. It was just getting daylight as we had everything packed up and ready to start climbing when Mark looked up on the mountain directly above us and said "that looks like a goat". I quickly pulled out my spotting scope and sure enough there were 4 goats above us. We watched them for about 15 minutes and I determined it was a couple nannies and kids. Then another goat crested the top of the mountain and came down toward the others. I wasn't entirely sure what it was but guessed him to be a billy, although he didn't appear to be an old one. I put on my digiscope adapter and snapped a couple quick pics.
(https://i.imgur.com/kmBVsvS.jpg)
This is gonna be good.
Since the goats were on the mountain we had to climb anyway the plan didn't change. We loaded the spotting scopes, shouldered the packs and prepared for the climb. Knowing there were goats above made the packs feel a little lighter, at least it did for me.
Spotting scopes set up from Camp 1
(https://i.imgur.com/dmRscKD.jpg)
Loaded and ready for the climb ahead
(https://i.imgur.com/B1sxJFk.jpg)
The climb was steep and once we were about ¾ way to the top we started hitting quite a bit of loose scree, which only made things harder but by about 9:30 we reached the top.
Mountains never seem to look as steep in pictures, but you get the idea
(https://i.imgur.com/y3U9ilh.jpg)
The view from the top was worth the climb
(https://i.imgur.com/osKIgIF.jpg)
This is getting good! Keep it coming!
As soon as we reached the top we sat down and started glassing the basin. Within a couple minutes I spotted what I immediately knew was a very large billy. Although I've never hunted goats before and am far from an expert at judging them in the field, I quickly learned like most other species when you see a large one, a truly large one, you don't need to be an expert, you know immediately. This billy dwarfed the other goats we'd seen. His body was absolutely huge and you could just tell by the way he carried himself he was a fully mature animal, even from over a mile away. In picture above he was in the middle of the bowl in the center of the picture (the one with the very small patch of snow). He bedded in the middle of a rock field almost all the way at the top of the mountain with absolutely no cover with 500 yds in any direction. I wanted him badly, but even with a rifle he'd have been untouchable. All I could do was hope to locate him again later in a better position.
After glassing for a couple hours, no other goats were spotted within the basin. We talked over our options. Our original plan was to drop down in the basin and set up camp next to the lake since it was the closest water. We decided since the only goats we knew of that were in a stalkable position were on the same mountainside we were already on we'd stay up top for the afternoon. We had enough water to last us the day, then we'd drop down to the lake that evening if nothing panned out.
We started working our way around the mountain toward where we'd seen the goats come over earlier in the morning. We hadn't gone far before we were cliffed out.
(https://i.imgur.com/vO2vtGW.jpg)
I decided to drop down the spine to get a better angle back in the cliff edges to make sure no goats were bedded there.
(https://i.imgur.com/AfZ3zVB.jpg)
Mark was content to sit at the top and wait for me to make my way back up.
(https://i.imgur.com/Wl281jY.jpg)
:thumbsup:
Getting good, keep it coming!!
:campfire: :campfire:
This is great!! Keep it coming!!
With no goats spotted in the cliffs, we had to climb back up and over the top to the opposite side of the mountain and side hill around. That side was entirely covered in scree and trying to side hill was slow and frustrating.
(https://i.imgur.com/3npvUAp.jpg)
Eventually we made it around the cliffs and started approaching the area we'd seen the billy earlier that morning. Mark stopped and I eased ahead slowly. As soon as I crested the rise I immediately spotted him about 100 yards ahead standing at the base of a rocky peak.
(https://i.imgur.com/BBvzky3.jpg)
As soon as I looked at him through my binoculars I knew he wasn't a goat I wanted to kill. His face was very short and his horns thin. He was a beautiful goat, but he wasn't mature. I was content to sit there and watch him show off.
(https://i.imgur.com/Y5HHDOP.jpg)
As we were watching the young billy it started raining. Once he'd moved out of site we quickly put our rain shells on and started moving forward towards a point that would allow us to glass the area we'd seen the other 4 goats earlier that morning as well as the opposite side of the basin. We hadn't gone far when we looked down the ridge and spotted the 2 nannies and kids crossing an open hillside headed for the peak of the mountain in front of us. A few minutes later we spotted 2 more much larger goats further down the mountain following the same path.
:campfire:
:campfire: :coffee:
A dream hunt , I'm in...
,,Sam,,
The goats were coming up the side that we'd climbed earlier that morning headed toward the top. They were moving quickly, much too quickly to allow us to get ahead of them and they were soon out of site. Between where we stood and where the goats went out of sight was a small saddle in the mountain. At this point the rain was starting to pick up and we quickly decided it would be best to set up the tent in the saddle and spend the night there. We'd try to work in on the goats we'd just seen that afternoon, then glass from the peak the next morning and if nothing worked out we'd drop down to the lake and set up camp later the next day. We had about a liter of water left in each of our bladders and another liter left in our reservoir from the night before. We could make that last for half a day. There wasn't really any level ground for the tent but we found an area up against a few trees that was good enough for one night and quickly set up the tent and dumped our gear inside.
(https://i.imgur.com/J5Z0hzf.jpg)
With shelter set up and our gear in the dry we wasted no time heading toward where the goats had topped the ridge. As we crested the ridge I could see the hillside they went onto was covered sporadically in small trees and had numerous small cliffs and boulders throughout, perfect stalking terrain. Mark eased up above me to a point to watch and I slipped slowly ahead, side hilling about 100 yards down from the peak. By now the intermittent rain had stopped and it was dead calm. I'd gone maybe 150 yards and just crested a small rise when I spotted the goats bedded down maybe 80 yards in front of me. All I could see was white hair so I had no idea if I was looking at nannies or billies. Above me about 10 yards I could see a few small trees lined up with the goats that would give me cover to move in closer so I backtracked a bit, climbed up in line with the trees and slowly started advancing. The loose gravel and rocks made it difficult to be quiet but I moved slowly and within about 30 minutes I'd closed the distance to about 30 yards, although all the goats were still completely blocked by trees.
I looked above and could see the head of a goat sticking out from behind a group of boulders. Instantly, I could tell it was a large nanny. She was facing the other way but would periodically turn my direction. I decided if I tried to move any further forward I'd spook the goats and my odds were best to stay put and see what unfolded. Maybe 15 minutes went by and I could hear rocks sliding and could tell a goat was moving toward me. I readied my bow, but when he stepped in the clear at 25 yds I could quickly see once again it was a young billy. Not what I was going to put my once in a lifetime tag on, so I sat there and enjoyed the show. After a few minutes he noticed my form and wouldn't stop looking at me. Like the previous small billy, he climbed up on top of the boulders and stared a hole through me for what seemed like an hour, in reality probably another 15 minutes. The other goats paid him no attention.
I'm enjoying this!!
Keep on....
Tim b
QuoteThey've always been my number one dream animal to hunt. For a lot of guys it's wild sheep but for me it's always been mountain goats. Maybe it's because they're not flashy like sheep. Their horns aren't much to look at, only a couple inches separates an exceptional goat from an average goat. Maybe it's the terrain they live in, as I've read goat country begins where sheep country ends. Maybe it's their beautiful white hair with long chaps and goatee. Or maybe it was just the thought of the adventure. Whatever the reason they've always stood out to me as the pinnacle of bowhunting.
I know the reason.
It's; because they're there.
:campfire: :coffee:
This is great!
Great writing, this is excellent!
While the small billy was standing on the boulder staring at me, I could hear another goat down the hill walking toward me in the rocks. It was moving slowly and it sounded like it was feeding because it would move a bit then all was silent for several minutes before it moved again. It was blocked from my view by the tree between us so once again I couldn't tell what it was. After about half an hour the nanny bedded at the base of the boulders stood up and started feeding away from me. The small billy followed. The goat down the hill feeding was getting closer and closer following the same path as the small billy directly toward me. I began to see white hair between the branches of the tree. My right hand gripped the bow string.
The goat moved forward and was now at about 25 yds but the outer edge of the tree's branches were still preventing a shot. I needed him to take about 3 more steps forward to be in the clear. At this point I could see he was a nice billy. Not as large as the huge billy we'd spotted across the basin earlier, but a nice mature animal I'd be perfectly happy with. I put tension on the string anticipating him to maintain the forward progress he'd been on for almost an hour. As too often happens in bowhunting, instead of taking those last 3 steps forward, he turned directly away from me and started feeding away. When he finally stepped in the clear I hit full draw but my brain quickly said "too far". It ended up being 48 yards. The goats were now up and moving in the open and I decided rather than pushing forward I'd back off. With only about an hour left until dark we headed back toward camp to finish the day glassing from the saddle.
The goats were bedded in the trees on the far ridge above the small peak the goat is standing on. Camp was in the saddle between the two ridges.
(https://i.imgur.com/84okzr6.jpg)
Back at camp, we inflated our sleeping pads, pulled our sleeping bags from their stuff sacks and organized our gear. We decided since we were low on water, instead of eating a freeze dried dinner that required boiling water we'd just eat lunches we had ready for the next day and eat the freeze dried dinner for lunch once we reached the lake. By the time we finished eating it was close to 9:00. It had been a long but great first day and we fell asleep to the sound of a gentle rain hitting the tent.
I woke up sometime in the middle of the night and the sound of rain hitting the tent had changed to the sound of snow. It was my biggest fear and I had a hard time going back to sleep. I knew spotting goats was about to get infinitely harder and just hoped the snow would stop and not enough would stick to completely cover the ground. It didn't stop. When my watch alarm went off the next morning snow was still falling. I unzipped the tent door and not only was everything covered in snow but the fog had set in so thick visibility was limited to about 20 yards
(https://i.imgur.com/xPi2m3z.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VpOR0CE.jpg)
With snow continuing to fall and virtually no visibility, our options were pretty limited. We damn sure couldn't spot goats and trying to make it to the lake seemed foolish so we did what I've read so many other goat and sheep hunters do in these conditions. We sat in our tent. We used the last of the water in our reservoir for breakfast and now had about half a liter of water between us for the rest of the day. Luckily I'd brought a titanium wood stove so we were able to melt snow. Most of the day was spent with me sitting in the tent feeding the stove small branches and while our small 3 cup titanium pot sat on top filled with snow, slowly melting into water. Mark was outside bringing me branches to feed the stove and filling the pot with snow. All the while snow continued to fall. I was amazed how little water you got from a pot full of snow. Each full pot yielded maybe 4 ounces of water. By dinner time we had melted enough to fill a Gatorade bottle for each of us to drink and enough for each of our freeze dried dinners. When we went to sleep that night snow was still falling and had been for at least 18 hrs straight.
(https://i.imgur.com/4VEwvwG.jpg)
At one point I looked down at our empty Gatorade bottles and saw this. Ha, no kidding!
(https://i.imgur.com/HHgDnV9.jpg)
Why do u guys keep saying its getting good? Its already great!! Best thread in a long time. Whats ur bow of choice for this adventure?
Before going to sleep that night I had checked the weather on my inReach and it called for 2 days of clear weather followed by at least 4 days of snow / rain. The snow stopped sometime in the middle of the night and when we woke up the next morning and unzipped the tent everything was covered in snow but the skies were clear. After a quick breakfast Mark and I headed out in different directions to glass. I'd go toward where I'd stalked the goats the afternoon before and glass the lower end of the basin and he'd go toward where the small billy had stood on the peak and glass the upper end. We'd meet back at the tent around 10:00 and move camp down to the lake if nothing was spotted.
(https://i.imgur.com/x3OJwxX.jpg)
The morning was absolutely beautiful but despite my best efforts I couldn't find a goat anywhere. The snow wasn't helping and I could only laugh as the rolls had now been reversed. The goats now had the camo and I was the one that stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb. I hoped for a warm sun to melt it as quickly as possible.
(https://i.imgur.com/gqmC2zH.jpg)
I walked the entire spine of the ridge stopping to glass and making sure I wasn't missing any small pockets a goat might be hiding in, but by 10:00 I'd turned up nothing.
(https://i.imgur.com/3f4W57C.jpg)
When I met back up with Mark at the tent, he had seen exactly the same amount of goats as I had. Time to pack up camp.
We packed up camp and made the trek around the side of the mountain again toward the lake, this time fighting the scree and the snow. It wasn't fun but the thought of the fresh lake water and a flat spot to sleep was enough to keep our spirits up. It took an hour or so but soon enough we were at the lake and had a camp spot with much better accommodations.
(https://i.imgur.com/7T0pVHH.jpg)
We wasted no time filtering some fresh water
(https://i.imgur.com/poJYjnM.jpg)
It was already around noon so we ate a quick lunch, grabbed our packs and headed down the middle ridge to glass. Mark would glass back toward the mountain we'd just come from and where the goats had been the previous day, I'd glass the opposite mountain, the one where we'd spotted the huge billy on day one. There was also an entire new section of mountain open to our view that we hadn't been able to see until now. By about 2:00 the sun had started melting off most of the snow on the exposed slopes and I was hopeful we'd soon spot some goats. I could see trails in the snow where the goats had come out of the basin and crested the ridge into the next basin. The ridge line was the border of my unit, so anything on the other side was off limits. All I could do was hope they came back over. I must have looked at the peak 100 times waiting to see a goat crest the ridge, but none appeared.
Elk were bugling throughout the drainage and a very nice 6x6 was pushing cows in a lower meadow below me. For someone who was missing their first elk season in 18 years it made me wish for an elk tag, but I knew I couldn't afford to waste any time or burn my legs out packing one out. Still, every time a bugle let out I jerked my head around and had to remind myself I wasn't elk hunting.
By dark neither Mark nor I had seen a single goat all day. I tried to keep a positive attitude and told Mark they'd be back tomorrow, although I was trying to convince myself more than him.
Now with unlimited water supply we boiled enough for 2 dinners. A warm meal has never tasted so good. With a flat place to lay and not sliding down hill all night we both slept like logs that night. I was a bit anxious the next morning. I knew it was going to be the last decent weather for several days, possibly for the remainder of my hunt. I hoped to make it count.
Oh man, I've been following this thread all day. It's got the makings of a classic! Thanks for taking pictures every step of the way. It makes the story that much more enjoyable.
:campfire: :campfire: :campfire:
Great read his far!!
I'm waiting for more :campfire:
PS I don't think Dwight could've told it any better.
This is a fantastic read! Can't wait for more!
Outstanding story, well written. Aaron, when Mark told me you had been successful in the drawing for this tag I knew it would be an epic hunt. Thanks for taking the time to document and post your once in a lifetime goat adventure.
Chris
This is awesome Aaron! Love the great pics to add to the good story telling!! Thanks for taking us along!
Kenny
Thanks for this post, this is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Awesome story! will be waiting for more. :campfire:
This is great, I've enjoyed reading every bit so far, can't wait to hear the rest!
Great stuff! What an adventure!
We both went back to the same glassing points that morning hoping something had moved back into one of the drainages. A fierce wind hit me in the face from my position, Mark was shielded by the side of the mountain. By 10:00 I'd seen nothing but elk. I walked across the ridge partly to see if Mark had seen anything but mostly to warm up a bit. Mark wasn't there so I assumed he'd either moved further down the ridge for a better view or went back to camp for some food. Suddenly something caught my eye cresting the saddle exactly where our tent had been 2 days before.
I ran back to the other side where I'd been glassing, grabbed my spotting scope and ran back over. When I got is set up and focused on the goats I could see it was the same 2 nannies and kids from day one. A few minutes later the billy I'd come so close to getting a shot at crested the saddle behind them. My excitement immediately spiked. I watched them through the scope until the bedded in nearly the exact same spot I'd stalked them earlier the billy bedded behind the group and was in the best stalking position.
(https://i.imgur.com/QZ3mxzN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/j0e4kTb.jpg)
Not long after they bedded Mark came down the ridge. It didn't take us long to decide they were our best option. Hell, they were our only option. I wasn't looking forward to climbing back out of the basin and side hilling around the ridge again and knew it would take me several hours to reach them. They were 1.3 miles as the crow flies from us, my route would make it more like 2.5 miles. Still, I was excited to see goats again and with bad weather coming and the goats in such a good position I was ready to give it a try.
We started walking down the ridge back toward camp and hadn't gone 20 yards when Mark looked toward the mountainside the big billy had been on the first day, the same one I'd been glassing all morning, and said "is that a goat" pointing 2 drainages over from where the billy had originally been. I put my binoculars on the spot but it was just a light colored rock shining in the sun. "Nope", but then something caught my eye in my left field of view. I pulled the binoculars over and there he was, standing in the middle of another wide open rock field about ½ a mile from where we'd seen him the first time and 1-1/2 horizontal miles from where we stood. There was no mistaking him.
My plans changed instantly. I set up the scope and started watching him. Willing him to get out of the rock slide before bedding down.
Zoomed in at 30 power
(https://i.imgur.com/tXrJtXU.jpg)
Zoomed in at 45 power with 3x zoom on my camera
(https://i.imgur.com/BdQZXdW.jpg)
The billy finally made it into some trees and I breathed a sigh of relief, I may still have a shot at a stalk. He stayed on his feet for 2 more hours, slowly feeding along in the trees. I didn't dare take my eye off the scope for fear I'd miss seeing him bed down. Finally, at 12:30 I saw him extend out his front feet and start raking the ground. "He's pawing out his bed" I said. Then he flopped down at the base of a small spruce. He was barely visible through the scope. I left the scope on him and directed Mark exactly where he was so he could keep an eye on him while I planned a stalk.
When I took my eye away from the scope and looked at it with my naked eye, I realized just how far away he really was. I'd have to climb down the mountain we were sitting on, cross a creek and climb a near vertical chute to get above him. My path would be at least 2 miles, but I was pumped.
I studied the terrain carefully through my binoculars planning my route. Once I crossed the creek at the base of the mountain there were two chutes up the mountain he was on. The second chute would put me in the best position. I'd climb it until I hit a vertical cliff about 7/8 of the way up the mountain. From there I'd sidehill over against the base of the cliffs until I got to a small cluster of dead trees on a point. Once there he should be 75-100 yards below and to the right of the dead trees. Or at least that's how it looked from 1-1/2 miles away. Simple enough!
I set off down the mountain, gobbling up the down hill portion with what felt like a race horse's pace. Once I reached the creek things slowed substantially. The base of the chute was covered in downed trees from an avalanche the previous winter and crawling through it took some time. Once I broke free from the tangle of trees I hit the near vertical portion of the chute it was much steeper than it had looked from my glassing pad. There was a small dry ditch where the rain waters ran down the middle of the chute that I used as a staircase to climb. Portions required digging my trekking pole in and pushing myself up, other times I had to hold my trekking pole and bow in the same hand and use my free hand to pull myself up using the rocks above. The entire time I climbed I could feel the stiff wind hitting my back. I knew the thermals would carry my scent up the chute and with the goat being over the lip from me he wouldn't be able to smell me. Things were looking good.
After 2 hours of climbing I finally reached the cliffs, my first landmark. I collapsed my trekking pole, strapped it to my pack and started side hilling very slowly along the cliffs edge knowing the goat was now within a couple hundred yards. The ground was covered in salad-plate sized loose rocks so I chose my footing carefully. Once I got close to the dead trees the salad-plate rocks changed to loose pea gravel with intermittent patches of bare dirt and only a few larger rocks scattered sporadically. The areas of bare dirt were the quietest and where I tried to plan my steps. As I eased my head over the point at the dead trees I immediately saw the billy, right where I left him and right where he was supposed to be.
The billy was below me and to my right about 80 yards away. I scanned around looking for a way to close the distance undetected. Going straight toward him wasn't an option. There was about an 8 foot ledge between us that was still out of bow range. If I backtracked about 20 yards and dropped down in elevation about 15 yards below the ledge there was a small rise that would hide me. Just past the rise was a small spruce I could keep between us and use for cover as well. I slowly backed up and keeping a low profile dropped down the hill. Once at the right elevation I dropped my pack and started easing ahead extremely slowly. I knew this wasn't the time to rush. The loose rocks made quiet footing difficult. From the time I dropped my pack on, I timed my movements only when a gust of wind would pick up. When the wind stopped, I stopped. It probably took me 30 minutes to cover 30 yards and as peaked my head over the rise he was still laying there. He was on his side with his back to me. With the next gust of wind I took one more slow step to give me a clear view.
Unfortunately the size of his body and the slope of the hill had made me misjudge the distance. He was still 45 yards out. I need to gain about 10 more yards to feel comfortable with the shot. There was nothing between me and the goat so once again I backtracked, this time only about 5 yards to get on the other side of the rise. Then I dropped to my butt, laid my bow across my lap and slowly start crab crawling down hill toward the spruce tree. The ground was nothing but pea-gravel now so I inched ahead trying to remain silent, again only moving with the wind. 15 minutes later and I'd gained 9 yards. The small spruce was directly between the goat and I. Still on my butt, I needed to scoot about 3 more feet to the right for a clear shot. With the next large gust I moved my right foot over, then waited for the next to shift my weight and move my left foot. He was now in the clear at 36 yards. I decided this was where it would happen.
With the goat laying on his side with his back to me he still offered no shot and showed no indications of moving. I decided instead of standing for what could be several hours I'd just remain sitting and let him make the next move. I used the time and cover of the wind to slowly grind my heals through the pea gravel and into solid dirt to give me good footing when I finally stood for the shot.
After about 15 minutes of sitting there, the billy rolled up onto his belly, raised his head and looked directly down the hill away from me. His body language told me he was about to stand. With him looking away, I slowly came to my feet. Somehow the goat sensed the movement and snapped his head around and looked directly at me. I didn't know how he'd react. Maybe he'd blow out of his bed, or stand up and look at me or maybe just stay bedded and try to figure out what I was. But I knew I wasn't going to find out. He was now on his stomach with his vitals fully exposed and inside my comfort zone. I'd practiced all summer for this shot and dreamed about it for 20 years. The instant our eyes met I hit full draw. All I remember once I hit full draw was thinking "take your time he's still bedded, you have a couple seconds". The next thing I knew the most beautiful shot of my life slipped from my fingers and in an instant the arrow smashed into his shoulder and buried over halfway into him, the bright orange fletching contrasting against his white hair. The billy exploded from his bed and ran toward the rock slide we'd first spotted him in. After about 80 yards he stopped and lowered his head then started walking again. I expected him to fall but he stayed on his feet. I watched him go into a group of trees and never come out. I kept my binoculars on the trees for several minutes with no movement then went and grabbed my backpack.
The billy was bedded on the small hump just past the light colored rock in the center of the picture, just to right of the small tree
(https://i.imgur.com/yrwgsmC.jpg)
He ran into the trees in the center of this picture just downhill from the small opening. The rock slide beyond is where we first spotted him
(https://i.imgur.com/GRjhWjK.jpg)
I was confident in the shot but decided to give him an hour anyway; I probably needed it more than he did. I'm always a pessimist after a shot and don't like to get my hopes up until I lay my hands on the animal, but deep down I knew I had just killed my mountain goat. Suddenly a lot of emotions hit me all at one time. I just laid back in the rocks and tried to enjoy the moment.
After an hour I messaged my brother letting him know I'd made a great shot and we should have a dead goat. Then I slowly started easing ahead. I didn't worry about the blood trail, I knew I'd spot his white hair on the open hill side. I hadn't gone 50 yards before I spotted him.
(https://i.imgur.com/26c6j1z.jpg)
I sat down and looked at his sides through my binoculars to make sure there was no movement. I slowly lowered them from my eyes and just sat there looking down the hill at him in disbelief. I had just killed a mountain goat with my long bow.
I slowly walked down to him and laid my bow across him. I couldn't believe how big his body was. I ran my fingers through is hair, it was much thicker than I imagined. I messaged my bother letting him know I'd found him and he quickly messaged back saying he was on his way. Then, frankly I didn't know what to do so I just sat there for a few minutes looking at him.
(https://i.imgur.com/0lBe9sl.jpg)
I took a few pictures and notched my tag, but wanted to wait for Mark to see him before I started caping and butchering him. I knew it would take him quite a while to get to me so I ate a quick bite and spent some time getting everything ready to clean him and pack him out. Mark showed up and took a few pictures.
(https://i.imgur.com/yKFHqRG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3tNxob4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8XvxuCc.jpg)
After the pictures we quickly went to work caping him out and boning out the meat.
It took about two hours to finish the work and soon everything was loaded in backpacks ready for the long pack ahead.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZWKuSeS.jpg)
:notworthy:
It was 7:00 pm by the time we shouldered the packs. We decided instead of packing back up the mountain to camp then over the next mountain out of the basin, it would be better to drop down the drainage and follow the creek out about 2-1/2 miles to where it crossed a trail. From there we could take the trail another 1-1/2 miles back to the truck. What followed was 4-1/2 hours of bushwhacking and cussing in the dark with heavy packs. I'll save you those details but you can probably imagine. We stumbled off the trail just after midnight, dumped our packs in the back of the rental car and made the hour and a half drive to the nearest town with a hotel. I'm not sure my head even hit the pillow before I fell asleep.
The next morning we woke up to rain. We ate breakfast at a local restaurant and found a cooler to hang the meat in. Then we headed back to pack back in and get camp out. The rain held off for most of the pack in but once we were about half way to the top of the mountain the snow began to fall and the winds picked up. With empty packs and empty legs we reached camp about 3 hours after leaving the truck. We wasted no time breaking down camp and loading it in our packs as the snow continued to fall. As we climbed out of the basin for the last time and reached the peak, I turned around for one last look. I knew this would likely be the last time I'd see it in my lifetime. The snow and cold wind slammed into my face. It was if the mountains were angry I'd taken one of her prized possessions, I smiled and promised it meant more to me than it ever could to her.
(https://i.imgur.com/XKMoBW9.jpg)
Outstanding Aaron! Congratulations on making your dream hunt happen successfully. I could almost imagine myself along for the hunt.
Chris
Great story and pictures! Thanks for sharing the hunt with us.
I just got back in from a business trip out in Bingen, WA and Hood River, OR. And this was my first real chance to catch up on Trad Gang, and Wow, what a story!
Being in the mountain the last few days and reading this story has got me pumped :thumbsup:
Great story and a beautiful Goat to boot!
What a great story. Congrats and thanks for sharing!!
Outstanding! Thanks for sharing.
Congrats, great story and experience. This is what I love to read on TG.
Great story and awesome animal! I've always been fascinated with goats too. They are a tough animal living in a harsh but beautiful environment. Congrats on your success!
Your writing skills are excellent as your bowhunting skills!!
Thanks for taking to time to put that all together and congrats on a hard earned accomplishment
Tim B
That was one Helluva story! Congtrats!
What determination and what a reward! Wonderful and glad it was a successful as well as beautiful country. Great read--thanks for taking us along.
Fantastic. Congrats.
I truly love to read stories where the hunter earned the kill through hard work. What a hunt!!
Ok.. I have goosebumps. That was an amazing story and my dream hunt also. Congratulations and I'm quite sure that one won't be topped.
Congratulations! That was a great story! :clapper:
Congrats on achieving your goal and thanks for sharing your well written story.
Great sorry and adventure! Thanks for sharing. Would love to hear about your bow and arrow set up.
Wow! Im pumped sitting here in my treestand. I hope u get a full body mount. That monarch desrves it. Looks like ur Caribow came thru! U have an awesome brother like me and a best hunting partner. Congrats to both of you!!
Wow! such a great story!congratulations and thanks for sharing
What a story! Congratulations. I think a lot of guys just experienced a hunt we would, otherwise, never get to experience. Thank you for that. I, too, would like to hear about your bow and arrow set-up.
When you said 36 yards was within your comfort zone, I thought, I'm not good enough yet, I need to change my aiming system. I really like shooting instinctively, but past 25 yards, I'm just flinging arrows.
Well done! Thanks for sharing with us.I Know my Mt.Goat hunt will always be etched in my mind.
Incredible... Absolutely amazing :thumbsup: :campfire:
Awesome adventure, thank you very much for the well documented story!
Well done, fantastic hunt and story!
What a great story, well written and the pictures are excellent!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Fantastic! Superbly written! Congratulations all around! :campfire:
Thank you again for sharing this with us!
Your the real deal sir , Congrats on a epic adventure...
,,,Sam,,,
Absolutely incredible story! Thanks for sharing!
Best story I've read in a long time. Congratulations on a great hunt and your trophy.
Congrats on a great hunt and story.Thanks for sharing.
Awesome!!!
Holy smokes what an adventure. Congrats on a awesome goat.
Truly an amazing hunt you got too share with your brother you will relive that moment many times over!! Thanks for bringing us along.
Respectfully
Cecil
One helluva hunt. Thanks for taking us along. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
:thumbsup: :archer2:
Congratulations.That's a beautiful billy and a very tough hunt.Great writing and photography as well.Thanks for sharing it.
Great pics and a story well told. Congratulations on not only attempting such an ordeal, but also for holding it together and making the shot count. Surely a hunt of a lifetime. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us.
Best story I have read in a while, Well done.
That story should be published in a magazine, best thread on here in a long time. Congrats on a well deserved trophy, you earned it, that's for sure!
One helluva of an achievement, congratulations! How does the draw system work, if you didn't fill your tag are you able to apply again?
QuoteOriginally posted by KSCATTRAPR:
That story should be published in a magazine, best thread on here in a long time. Congrats on a well deserved trophy, you earned it, that's for sure!
I second this!!!! Congrats
Thanks guys! The bow is a 64" Caribow Silverfox longbow. 58lbs at my draw. Shooting 4" 4 fletched 300 spine Black Eagle Rampage arrows with stainless inserts and 250gr 3 blade VPA broadheads. Total arrow weight is 615 gr. I've had a couple questions on my gear. I'll just copy and paste my entire gear list for those that are interested.
Here's my entire list. It was in a spreadsheet with weights for each item but it won't copy correctly so I just included the items. Total weight for everything including 5 days of food was 43lbs.
GEAR
Stone Glacier Sky 6200 Pack
Seek Outside Cimarron Tent
Lite Outdoors TI Cylinder Stove w/ 7' Pipe
Tyvek Ground Cloth for Sleeping Pad
Marmot Helium 15 deg Sleeping Bag
Granite Gear Air Compressor Sack for Sleeping Bag
Exped Downmat UL Winter
MSR Pocket Rocket Stove
MSR Titanium Pot
Small Bic Lighter
MSR Fuel Bottle (1 Large - 8oz)
Long Handled Titanium Spoon
Green Plastic Mug
Pur Hiker Water Purifier Pump
Source 2 Liter Hydration Bladder w/ Hose
Evernew 2 Liter Water Bladder
28 oz Gatorade Bottle
Zebralight Headlamp - Lithium Battery
Petzl E-Light Backup Head Lamp w/ New Battery
Garmin Oregon GPS w/ New Lithium Batteries
DeLorme In Reach
Cell Phone
Canon Power Shot Camera
(3) AA Lithium Batteries
Slik Sprint Mini Tripod
Jim White Tripod Head
Outdoorsmans Bino Adapter w/ Quick Release Plate
Leica Televid 62 Spotting Scope w/ Quick Release Plate
Phone Skope Adapter for Spotting Scope and Shutter Release Cable
Swarovski SLC 10x42 Binoculars
Thermarest Glassing Pad
Havalon w/ 6 Extra Blades
Benchmade Folding Knife (in pocket)
DMT Folding Diamond Sharpener
Leatherman Squirt
T.A.G. Game Bags (2 for Meat, 1 Large for Cape)
Goat Tag and Hunting License & IDG&F Testing Kit
Allen Wrench for Limb Bolts
Bow Stringer
Finger Tab
Arm Guard
Misc Items (see separate list)
Clothes (see separate list)
Food (see separate list)
MISC ITEMS
Contractor Garbage Bag
Stuff Sacks for Food, Cloths, & Misc Items
Toilet Kit
Small Wash Cloth
Tooth Brush
Tooth Paste - 1/2 Tube
Chapstick
Sun Glasses
Ibuprophen
25' Parachute Cord
Wind Checker
Topo Map
Suunto Compass
Adventure Medical First Aid Kit
Mole Skin & Leuko Tape
Adventure Medical Space Blanket
Matches
Fire Starter
Wistle
Lighter w/ Duct Tape Around It
Suunto Watch
Paper Towels (3 half squares per day)
Sanitary Wipes in Ziplock Bag - Dehydrated (2 per day)
Bow Repair Kit
Braded Serving
Spare Arrow Rest Material
Super Glue
Spare Blunt
Spare Nock
Spare String - Set Up
Small Tube of String Wax
Spare Finger Tab
Easton Trecking Poles
CLOTHES
(2) Smart Wool Boxers ( Wear One)
Minus 33 Lightweight Merino Bottoms
Fleece Pants
Sitka Timberline Pants
Cabelas Space Rain Pants
Ice Breaker Half Zip T
Sitka Core Midweight Zip T
Marmot Down Jacket
Sitka Jetstream Jacket
Cabelas Space Rain Jacket
Sitka Hat
Fleece Stocking Cap
Outdoor Research Stormtracker Gloves
Minus 33 Wool Liner Gloves
(2) Smartwool Medium Hiker Socks (Wear 1)
(2) Smart Wool Liner Socks (Wear 1)
Sitka Ascent Gaiters
Lowa Cevedale Boots
This needs to get published in a magazine. Well done, great patience, great plan, and great shot!
And this folks is how you tell a story. Great hunt bud.
Aaron,
Congratulations on a exceptional hunt and taking a fine critter. Your recounting is excellent and brought back a lot of memories from my goat hunt over twenty years back.
You done good...really, really good!
Thanks for sharing.
A fine adventure well told, congrats to ya !
Sensational! Agree this story is well worthy of publishing. Goosebumps for sure, Thank you!!
Rusty
Thanks for sharing! That is an amazing story. Congrats on a great goat!
Great read!! Congrats on your beautiful billy, great shot also! Thanks for sharing with us.
Wow! Really great story-well done and well written.
I greatly enjoyed it. One of the best this year for sure.
Great hunt and well written, congrats.
That was intense...Awesome story-telling and great pics to remember the hunt of a lifetime. Congrats on a true trophy, (the experience as much as the animal)
What a great read. Congrats on your success. Thank you for taking us along for the ride. :notworthy:
I have goose bumps too Aaron!!! WOW, WOW and Double WOW! What an amazing experience!!
I dropped down in a creek bed to get back to my truck once in Sunlight Basin in Wyoming on a elk hunt. Seemed like a good idea at the time. :knothead: Will never do that again! Between the woofing bears and the thickest willows I ever went through..... not good.
Again congratulations man!
Wow. Just...wow. What an awesome story.
Thanks for sharing your success with us that only dream of such a hunt. Huge congrats to you, Sir!
About half way through your story I noticed that my body was tense and my breaths were short and shallow. :notworthy: :notworthy:
:campfire:
Well done on every level Aaron! Great read on a great adventure. :shaka:
Congrats. I can't imagine a bowhunt much harder than that one. I also Can't remember reading a better bowhunting tale than this one in a long time - you clearly planned ahead with your photos. It has it all and this format, which allows the inclusion of so many excellent photos, is even better than a magazine article. Well done!
The only thing missing, which i was expecting, was you sitting in front of your tent caping out the head.
I hope your brother got that picture for you, obviously not in front of the tent, but at least you caping the head :thumbsup:
"I know there are a lot of guys out there that dream of hunting mountain goat and may never get to. Maybe they'll never draw a tag, maybe they can't / won't pay the money to hunt them guided or maybe they're past a point in their life where they're physically able to make it a reality. Whatever the reason I'll try to share as many details as possible so hopefully you can get an idea of what the experience is like."
I'll never have the chance, thank you so fricken much for putting in the effort,cost and work but most of all sharing this
Rusty
Awesome story....and congrats on your hunt of a lifetime!! Loved every second of the read! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
WOOOOO!!! What a great story, one of the best I have ever read!!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!! My heart pounded through the whole thing and I had to catch my breath several times!! You definitely put in the work and got your reward!! Congrats on a once in a lifetime hunt!!! Something to look forward to someday!!
thank you so much for taking us on that journey. Wow, is all I can say...
Amazing story! Congrats on the hunt of a lifetime and awesome Billy!
Just plan incredible!! Congrats. Thanks for sharing. . .
Dan in KS
QuoteOriginally posted by goingoldskool:
QuoteOriginally posted by KSCATTRAPR:
That story should be published in a magazine, best thread on here in a long time. Congrats on a well deserved trophy, you earned it, that's for sure!
I second this!!!! Congrats [/b]
Yeah it needs publishing, problem is my Grandsons will be reading it in class tucked away in a math book!
Thank You for sharing. I made a promise to myself lying in the hospital bed after a injury to go after them. I need to start planning to make it a reality.
:thumbsup:
Man what an adventure! Congrats!
What a great story, makes me want to do an adventure hunt in the mountains.
Congrats!!
Fantastic reading on a Sunday night. Well done Sir!
That's an amazing story and adventure! Job well done all around
Great gear oust as well!!!
Wow wow wow wow!!
My dream hunt as well and easily one of the best threads I've ever read on here. Congrats and thanks for taking us along.
QuoteOriginally posted by 23feetupandhappy:
About half way through your story I noticed that my body was tense and my breaths were short and shallow. :dunno:
You my sir can tell a story, I felt like I was watching over your shoulder!!!!!
X2!!!
Amazing hunt; well prepared for, well executed, and well told. Congratulations and thanks so much for sharing.
Awesome adventure and done properly! Congrats on a well earned Goat.
What a hunt and some awesome story telling!
Congrats
Well done in every way. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Thank you for taking the time to take us along. Great read.... Congrats :clapper:
Congratulation! Awesome hunt and storytelling. Thank you for taking us along.
Incredible!!! Congrats and well done writing this up!!
Great recount of a great hunt. Many congrats.
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing!
As others have said, that was simply amazing! Great story telling and congrats on a trip of a lifetime!
Thank you sir. That was an amazing adventure. Thank you for taking the time to share it.
God Bless.
Congrats on an amazing hunt. Thanks for taking us along. Well told, I agree with others, this should be published.
Wow. All I can add is wow and thank you so much for taking us along.
Great story. Congratulations on your success! Like others, thank you for taking the time to share it with the Gang.
So glad you were able to draw the tag and even more happy for your success! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely outstanding.
Congratulations on a great goat and thanks for sharing!
Fantastic story! You have a gift. Thanks for taking us along!! Congrats on the goat
Great story, great pics. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your harvest.
Darren
What an experance I just had on your hunt felt like I was there thank you
Great story and adventure, congrats
That was a heck of a story, awesome that your brother shared in it! Congratulations on the incredible memories and animal.
:clapper:
Congratulations, an amazing hunt and some great story telling! Thanks for sharing.
Great story and pics.
Dark timber where in Arkansas are you located?
Thanks for the nice comments guys. I appreciate them.
"How does the draw system work, if you didn't fill your tag are you able to apply again?" If you don't fill your tag you must send the tag into IDF&G. You are then eligible to reapply for mountain goat. If you fill your tag you can not reapply.
"Dark timber where in Arkansas are you located?" I'm in the Little Rock area.
This was such a great read and journey to "tag along virtually" through your story. Thanks and kudos on the Goat.
Aaron,
Great hunt a long. You really brightened my day with the InReach message of your success. I'm glad I can say I was a small part of your hunt. Great job, that is an effort to be proud of :thumbsup:
Congrats! I very much enjoyed following along as you wove the story with pics. Being from Idaho I sure enjoyed the scenery. Great hunt and no doubt you'll have memories that last a lifetime. :thumbsup: