Post by: frazierw on September 25, 2018, 10:43:29 AM
We got back up there on the next Friday (9/21) and set up camp planning to head up to the same spot in the morning. We wanted to try and get a good look at the goat that was way down the ridge last weekend, and see how big he was, and then depending on what we saw, head in to get a good look at the goat that had moved before we got a good look last weekend. We got up to a good glassing spot with a great view of the ridge the first goat spent the whole day on the last weekend and he was nowhere to be seen. We did spot a goat on a different ridge next to us, when we got the spotter on him, we thought he was dead. Finally he lifted his head a little; he was just zonked out from the night before. We glassed him for a while, and decided he was a juvenile billy, and not the goat for us, so we started the hike to see if we could find the other goat we wanted to get a good look at. About an hour later we had a good view of the hillside the goat was on the previous week, and we spotted 2 goats immediately. We were about 550 yards from them, which allowed us to get good looks at both goats. One was definitely bigger than the other, and the bigger one was definitely a billy (he gave us a view that made it undeniable). All four of us picked him apart in the spotter and decided he was right around 9". My dad wanted at least a 9" billy, so we thought this was the goat for us and we were going to make a move on him. It took about a half hour to get off our ridge line and start the trek to the hillside he was on, in that time the goats had moved and the fog started rolling in. We decided to wait out the fog since it seemed to be moving in and out pretty quickly. WE. WERE. WRONG. The rain started and the fog never went away. We sat in the trees trying to stay dry, hoping the fog would lift until about 4. With no end in sight, we decided to pack up and start the trek back to camp, and try again tomorrow.
Sunday morning we wake up, and the wet ground from the night before had frozen and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. This time we were going to head straight from camp to try and find that goat from the day before. After about two hours of hiking, we could finally see the hillside and that goat was sitting out on a rock outcropping soaking up the sun. He was in a great spot to make a move on, so we figured out a plan and took off. We had a good wind, and knew there was a clearing directly above the goat. We decided to get straight above him, sneak through the trees, to the top of the clearing, and then take a shot. It took about an hour from where we first saw the goat that morning, to get directly above him. We couldn’t see him but we had a good landmark to use so we knew where to start our decent. My brother led us down through the trees, making sure to stay in the dirt as best as possible so we were quiet. After sneaking down this hill for about ten minutes the trees started to reveal a rock out cropping where he was. Using trees for cover as we were sneaking we made our way further down, my Dad peaked around a tree and spotted the goat through an opening. He was still lying down, broadside, looking at us. He took his pack off, used it to rest his .300 win mag, we got in position behind him. The goat was still in the same spot we saw him that morning. I ranged the goat, 103 yards. Dad got settled in and we told him to shoot when he was ready. One pull of the trigger and the goat never moved. He was dead before he heard the sound of the gun. We were all ecstatic. We made our way down there and the jubilation set in. We took lots of pictures, got the goat taken care of and ate some lunch in the warm sunshine. Then we loaded our packs and started the five mile trek back to camp. We measured him when we got back and he was 9 1/4" on his left side and 9 1/2" on his right. Dad couldn’t have been happier. It was truly the best hunt ever. The country these animals live in is amazing, and being able to share that with all of us together made it unbeatable.
Post by: zwickeyman on September 25, 2018, 10:47:01 AM
Post by: X-Force on September 25, 2018, 10:48:01 AM
Im glad your dad could get back in there this year.
Very cool. OIL for sure.
Post by: huntnfmly on September 25, 2018, 10:50:09 AM
Post by: jackelope on September 25, 2018, 10:55:16 AM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 25, 2018, 10:59:45 AM
Post by: Widgeondeke on September 25, 2018, 11:06:47 AM
Post by: jackelope on September 25, 2018, 11:08:51 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on September 25, 2018, 11:10:27 AM
Post by: Katmai Guy on September 25, 2018, 11:22:59 AM
Post by: frazierw on September 25, 2018, 11:27:44 AM
1. Good optics pay for themselves. My brother and I both bought new spotting scopes in the last couple years and they were invaluable on this hunt. Trying to decipher 2 inches from 500 yards is tough.
2. These animals are awesome. So fun to watch they way they move and the amount of country they can cover.
I was glad to spend the time in the mountains with family, bringing home a trophy for my dad made it even better.
Post by: CedarPants on September 25, 2018, 11:32:48 AM
Post by: lewy on September 25, 2018, 11:36:53 AM
Post by: Bushcraft on September 25, 2018, 11:54:04 AM
Post by: MtnMuley on September 25, 2018, 11:59:28 AM
@benhuntin -- Here's your answer to your goat issue. :tup:
Post by: bearpaw on September 25, 2018, 12:01:14 PM
Post by: DeerThug on September 25, 2018, 12:09:30 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on September 25, 2018, 12:21:36 PM
Thanks for sharing.
Post by: Rainier10 on September 25, 2018, 12:45:27 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on September 25, 2018, 12:56:59 PM
Awesome write up, and what a great set of memories. This is something that most of us won't experience, in Washington.
Thanks for sharing.
:yeah:
Nicely done fellas.👍
Post by: coonhound on September 25, 2018, 02:38:37 PM
Post by: Oh Mah on September 25, 2018, 03:24:24 PM
Post by: sjhgraysage on September 25, 2018, 04:20:13 PM
Post by: hunterofelk on September 25, 2018, 04:36:27 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on September 25, 2018, 05:01:41 PM
Post by: elkoholic1 on September 25, 2018, 06:03:08 PM
Post by: shanevg on September 25, 2018, 09:13:50 PM
Post by: Naches Sportsman on September 25, 2018, 09:15:33 PM
Now it's you and your bro's turn to draw.
Post by: bowhunterforever on September 26, 2018, 12:47:20 AM
Post by: blacktailer on September 26, 2018, 08:12:18 AM
Post by: elkrack on September 26, 2018, 08:55:23 AM
Post by: bearhunter99 on September 26, 2018, 09:20:31 AM
Post by: wheels on September 26, 2018, 05:00:19 PM
Post by: Birdguy on September 26, 2018, 08:22:12 PM
Post by: addicted on October 03, 2018, 08:26:48 PM
Post by: bucksnort on October 03, 2018, 08:35:41 PM
Post by: Roobugsdad on October 18, 2018, 02:21:19 PM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on October 18, 2018, 09:06:19 PM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on October 19, 2018, 07:11:27 AM
Post by: starbailey on October 19, 2018, 08:03:16 AM
Post by: Blacktail135 on October 19, 2018, 09:57:02 PM
Post by: frazierw on August 30, 2019, 07:36:19 AM
Post by: boneaddict on August 30, 2019, 07:48:32 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 30, 2019, 07:50:42 AM
Post by: HikerHunter on August 30, 2019, 09:36:42 AM
Post by: hunterednate on August 30, 2019, 10:27:31 AM