Got an OIL permit long before I'm due.....

[jstone]

EPIC HUNT

[idaho guy]

Well done been fun following this hunt

[Rainier10]

Great write up and you nailed all the highpoints.

I was pretty excited when Josh asked if I wanted to go on this hunt but had no idea how awesome it would be.  I am not sure I can put it into words just how amazing it was.

He is right, we had a plan and stuck to it.  I think I was so laser focused on the plan and I don't think it really sank in at the time what had happened.  I still can't believe it.

Picking our way across the hillside through the cliffs to get to the spot we had seen from so far away was no easy task.  My heart sunk when we couldn't see the goat and Josh is right I have no patience for sitting and waiting.  I am more of a "make it happen" guy.  So off I went to try to bump the goat.  He stood up at 40 yards looked me over for about 5 minutes and then just laid back down.  At that point I turned to go tell Josh that I found him but had second thoughts about walking away from the goat.  I decided I better keep eyes on him until I knew he was out where Josh could see him.  I just needed to make sure I stayed out of harms way and the path of any shot that Josh might take if he saw the goat.

At 17 yards the goat stood up and moved out to where I could see his whole body, Josh posted the pics already.  He stood there and peed and there was a bit of mist out his back side and I thought that maybe it was a nanny.  I'm not a goat guy and have never seen a goat pee.  Anyways at that point I thought, "man I should be taking some photos".  So I snapped a couple of photos and great video of him actually bowing his head to show me the horns.  Kind of a "if you come any closer you are going to make the evening news" kind of thing.  He slowly walked away and I figured Josh must be able to see him so I hiked back up to where I could see Josh.

That's when the long talk about peeing went down and lots of discussion about billy's and nanny's.  I think we talked for like 20 minutes while this goat just laid there at 100 yards.  Josh was dead set against shooting a nanny and I was really thinking that we going to walk away from this goat.  After he showed me the diagram of the billy standing to pee and the nanny squatting I said I am 100% sure that he stood just like the billy diagram.  With that confirmed Josh decided to shoot.

He made a great shot.  I mean an amazing shot, I have never witnessed anything like it, the goat just flexed and it's head tilted to the side, dead goat.

There are so many things that I take away from this hunt but here are a couple of the biggest ones in mind.

Josh never gave up, he went way outside of his comfort zone to make this happen.  That hillside and cliffs were no joke but you have to shoot them where they are at and that's what he did.

Josh was steadfast that he was not going to shoot a nanny.  From a conservation standpoint this was an absolute deal breaker for him, billy or eat the tag.

I think both of these say a ton about who he is and what he stands for.

I will never forget this hunt and don't think I can ever put into words how much I appreciate being allowed to participate.

Congratulations Josh on a great goat.

[jackelope]

Thanks man.

You’ve never seen a goat pee?


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[Rainier10]

Thanks man.

You’ve never seen a goat pee?


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Well now I have.  I'm kind of a "goat guy" now.

[Timberstalker]

This is so awesome.  Congrats Josh.  I can only imagine the emotions you went through on the side of that hill.  Unbelievable.

[Rainier10]

A little more info on what type of guy Josh is.  I had never been back country hunting.  He provided everything except my clothes and sleeping bag.  He brought me trekking poles, a sleeping pad, a sitting pad, the tent, the stove and the water filter.  He even gave me his "puffy" jacket to use as a pillow.

That first night Josh spent on the ground as his sleeping pad didn't hold air.  I think if the tables were turned I might have taken my pad back.

[Rainier10]

Oh and the bacon cheeseburger and steak fries at the Blue Spruce in Packwood were awesome.  I may have just been exhausted and famished but it sure hit the spot.
@Naches Sportsman met us there for a bite to eat as well.  Nice to meet up with another member and shoot the breeze.

[jackelope]

Headed to WDFW office in La Conner to have him checked by the bio’s.


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[jmscon]

Awesome write up, both of you!

Thanks for taking us along on an adventure that most of us could only dream about!

[throttlejocky20]

Nicely done CONGRATS!!!!

[Rainier10]

Gaiters too, I forgot he gave me gaiters.  I was a complete rookie for this kind of thing.  Just dumb enough to think we could traverse that mountain and get to that goat.

I was so motivated to get to that goat we did whatever it took.

Now on the pack out the roles were totally reversed.  I was beat for the hike out and going crazy slow, having to stop every 25-30 minutes to give my shoulders a break.  I was not impressed with the tenzing pack that I borrowed from a buddy.  I should have taken my Bullpac in, it really handles the weight well.  The tenzing pack did great with weight up to 45 pounds but at 70 it really was tearing me up.

Josh was super patient and stopped plenty of times with me so I could give my shoulders a break.  He even offered to switch packs.  I am sure it was tough to go out that slow, he was really looking forward to getting a good nights sleep after the previous night with no sleeping pad and was a little bit anxious to get a couple of texts out with the good news.

I think he could have run all the way to the trail head if he didn't have to wait for me.  He was on cloud nine.

[archery288]

Atta boy Josh!!  So pumped for you! 

[Katmai Guy]

Headed to WDFW office in La Conner to have him checked by the bio’s.


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How old is that thing Jackalope?  That's an awesome goat,  Congrats!

[lokidog]

Great wend to the tale.