3 States, 3 Weapons, 3 Animals

[Todd_ID]

I figured with application season upon us again I'd share a few stories and photos from this fall. I was lucky enough to draw a couple easier-to-draw tags and go on a couple OTC hunts.

I started with a solo early season archery hunt in a third-tier unit in New Mexico. The drive from my house to the closest town in the unit was 22 hours which I split into 3 days. I took two of my pack goats in the back of the pickup instead of all 4 of them because I didn't know what the roads would be like in the unit and didn't want a trailer to hamper mobility. I arrived two days before the season started and spent the first 9 days hiking and moving, hiking and moving, repeat. I found a few elk and a couple promising places. I ran into a kid hunting alone from Kansas, out of a Prius, no less. He'd found some elk but didn't know what to do with them. We combined his elk and my knowledge into my calling a few bulls into him with a few missed shots. On the 9th I had him in a meadow with 13 branch bulls that he hit everything that wasn't an elk, but a small 6 point came in the back door that I couldn't pass up. He and the goats helped me pack it the 5+ miles to the truck. We took it to a butcher to buy a couple more days of trying to get one for him. He ended up shooting his first elk with a bow, a big cow about 3.5 miles from the truck, so the goats and I were able to repay the favor.
I made it home 4 days later and spent the rest of the month in Idaho where I called a big 5 point in for my buddy's son for his first bow harvest.

In the first week of October I flew to Colorado Springs for a rifle antelope tag I'd drawn. I'd helped some friends in Idaho elk hunting the previous year, and they'd invited me to antelope hunt their land if I could draw a tag. I spent an amazing 30 minutes on opening morning to harvest a respectable buck and then a very enjoyable 4 days helping them. A finer family would be hard to come across.

I still had an Idaho tag, so I returned to hunt the late muzzleloader elk season with my uncle and cousin. I was lucky enough to harvest a nice cow after becoming indebted to my uncle for a couple half inch holes in his trees.

It was a great season with many days afield in some amazing places!

[MtnMuley]

I can't believe you packed 2 goats literally in the back of your truck over 3 days for a 22 hour drive 

[Boss .300 winmag]

Nicely done, great write up. You and the flat lander made a great team.👍

Those goats probably laid down when going down the road right?

[idaho guy]

Cool story elk hunting in a Prius that’s a first at least for me. Good job

[grundy53]

Sounds like you had a great fall! One to remember. Those goats are awesome. Bet you got a lot of stares going down the freeway

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Karl Blanchard]

Awesome!

[huntnphool]

 

[bowhunterforever]

That's awesome! congrats

[YellowDog]

Where did you get your goats? How old are they? Im getting 4 pack goat kids later this spring.

[Dan-o]

Great looking hunts.
Thanks for sharing.

[Machias]

Congrats on a great season.  That's a lot of hard work. 

[bearpaw]

Right on Todd! 

[huntnnw]

nice job! nice looking Ober's!

We just got into the pack goats this last year. Bought 4 from Dwite Sharp last year they are turning a year old this month.

[boneaddict]

Awesome Todd

[180-GRAIN]

That a great year!