Author Topic: West Mt.Baker Black Buttes 4-4 Scouting (Read 9421 times)

BillyG · « **on:** August 17, 2009, 08:24:27 PM »

Hey everyone, We spent the day scouting the Black Buttes area of 4-4. This was by fare the hardest hike I have ever made, A real tree grabber! The scenery was awesome and the weather was great. We spotted 42 goats on this trip,two of them being mature Billy's. I have decided not to get to close to these goats so the pictures are from some distance. We are able to get a good idea how big they are with our optics. We did see one exceptional Billy on this trip but not very accessible. I talked with a 70 year old gentlemen who harvested the last Goat from this unit back in 80's. He spent some time scouting with us and shared some great information. I was really impressed that a 70 year old could make it up that trail. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to this scouting trip! No luck adding photos tonight, will try again soon.

shanevg · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2009, 08:49:43 PM »

Good to hear you were able to get in there. The trail certainly is a lot of work, but it is well worth it! Can't wait to get out with you for the archery hunt!

Bearhunter · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2009, 09:00:11 PM »

Ill post a bunch of the pics I took tommorrow. Maybe some video if I can get it uploaded.

buckman · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2009, 09:17:03 PM »

From the sounds of it you definitely have your work cut out for you. Good luck.

BillyG · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2009, 08:12:09 AM »

I figured out how to compress photos for download and plan to add them tonight.

Bearhunter · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2009, 03:43:03 PM »

Sure was great country for glassing in!

shanevg · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2009, 03:50:18 PM »

Quote from: Bearhunter on August 18, 2009, 03:43:03 PM

Sure was great country for glassing in!

I glassed from that very rock before!

Bearhunter · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2009, 03:54:47 PM »

We counted 13 goats in this first meadow

Maligator · « **Reply #8 on:** August 18, 2009, 03:59:00 PM »

Those are some really GREAT freaking pics!

Bearhunter · « **Reply #9 on:** August 18, 2009, 04:01:10 PM »

Heres, Kevin and Bob making there way off the Glacier.

Me standing on the Glacier near some scary chit!

28 goats in this picture way out in the distance

chevysquid · « **Reply #10 on:** August 18, 2009, 04:02:39 PM »

beautiful country. Did you see anything else up there? Or on your way in or out?

Bearhunter · « **Reply #11 on:** August 18, 2009, 04:13:53 PM »

These worst part about the whole trip was after about 45minutes of heading down the trail, I relized I left my Leicas sitting on the trail back up in one of the meadows. I dropped my pack and took off up the trail 30 minutes of running back up the trail and 15 back down and we were on our way back to the truck again, I sure got a workout that day. This is pretty much it for me Kevin lets see some off your camera!
Several goats in this picture

Looking back across at sisters

jstone · « **Reply #12 on:** August 18, 2009, 05:52:53 PM »

Awesome Country

BillyG · « **Reply #13 on:** August 18, 2009, 08:58:59 PM »

Thanks James for posting your photos! I'm working on mine right now and will download soon with any luck!

BillyG · « **Reply #14 on:** August 18, 2009, 09:29:07 PM »

Welcome to the Black Buttes!

BillyG · « **Reply #15 on:** August 18, 2009, 09:37:57 PM »

Maybe this will work?

BillyG · « **Reply #16 on:** August 18, 2009, 09:54:04 PM »

Veiw looking east to High Camp.

BillyG · « **Reply #17 on:** August 18, 2009, 09:58:38 PM »

Black Buttes, James in out cropping.

BillyG · « **Reply #18 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:01:25 PM »

Looking across Wallace drainage to Marmot Ridge. 26 goats near center.

BillyG · « **Reply #19 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:03:46 PM »

This was the nicest Billy we spotted but not very accessible.

shanevg · « **Reply #20 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:04:35 PM »

Awesome... can't wait to get up there again!

BillyG · « **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:06:00 PM »

Same Billy and James filming.

BillyG · « **Reply #22 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:12:56 PM »

I'm looking across the Middle Fork at the ridge we scouted last weekend. I did spot the same Billy in the same area.

Looking forward to next weekends scouting trip!

BillyG · « **Reply #23 on:** August 18, 2009, 10:18:22 PM »

At least I figured out how to compress these picture's. Sorry it took me a day to get it right.

zackmioli · « **Reply #24 on:** August 21, 2009, 08:41:33 AM »

great pictures! im sure with the amount of work you are putting into that tag it will pay off handsomely! good luck!

BillyG · « **Reply #25 on:** August 21, 2009, 10:26:54 AM »

Planning the next scouting trip right now!

Bighorse · « **Reply #26 on:** August 22, 2009, 02:49:06 PM »

Those Billies are hawgs. My wife shot a 9.5 yr. old two weeks ago. The meat bag alone boned out and trimmed extensivly was 68.2 Ibs. The back cape was heavy too but I didn't weigh it. So if your looking for an estimate of weight I think I've got you really close with that number. If you score on the big one.

I've killed and helped kill a few billies. Your onto something. When you find a big boy in a happy place like that it's very likely he'll stay there unless harrassed extensivly, weather or rut changes things.

Summer goats are great eating. You'll really enjoy it if you get the skin off quickly and pack clean boned out meat into a dry bag and shove it in one of those snow banks overnight. Just plan on staying an extra night up there after your kill.

Here is photo of my wifes Billy from SE AK. It fell down a hole and she couldn't get to it. I nearly couldn't get to it. One of the horns broke and she don't care. I get one tag a year and so does she and we just enjoy eating the buggers. I went and got a Dall sheep the next week for horns.

And trust me.....putting that meat in a dry bag is JUST FINE! Keep it clean, get it cold, butcher right away, and it's great. Just avoid and contamination and keep it cold. We just keep the back skins to throw over our couches and chairs around the house. It costs us $100 to have em tanned here in town.

Good luck on your hunt and if you shoot a nice three year old billy you'll have the finest table fare around. Its right up there with the Dall Ram I just shot.

Bighorse · « **Reply #27 on:** August 22, 2009, 02:52:21 PM »

opps I posted the same photo twice......my bad.
This is the one that shows how deep that hole was. I sure am glad I've practiced sport rock climbing over the years.

shanevg · « **Reply #28 on:** August 23, 2009, 09:06:13 AM »

That's pretty awesome Bighorse! Too bad Alaska doesn't come up with a way to let residents host some non-resident hunters from time to time. You would have a list of Hunt-Wa members about 4000 people long!

I may have to try to hit you up for one of those goat rugs sometime if it only costs you $100 to tan them!

PacificNWhunter · « **Reply #29 on:** August 23, 2009, 08:22:48 PM »

Awesome pictures...looks like you are going to have a blast hunting up there.

BillyG · « **Reply #30 on:** August 24, 2009, 04:53:03 AM »

Thanks for the info Bighorse!

Wanttohuntmore · « **Reply #31 on:** August 27, 2009, 09:12:28 PM »

Awesome pics guys. I love that country up there.

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Author Topic: West Mt.Baker Black Buttes 4-4 Scouting (Read 9421 times)

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