Post by: bucksnort on October 25, 2018, 05:51:13 PM
We headed up the first weekend in October and headed out from Norway Pass trailhead for the 3 mile hike to the hunt boundary. 2 miles in we saw a huge goat and were treated to elk bugling like crazy! What a spot with Mt St Helens and Spirit Lake below you and Elk bugling like crazy. We watched and enjoyed the show for a while and headed on our way. We put a lot of miles in on Saturday but just didn't have the right goat in the right spot show. It was weird to be up on the trails and run into people mountain biking, running and sight seeing with dogs running loose. On the way out we saw a good goat we thought we could make a run at in the morning if he was around. It was good to have a plan and we headed back to camp.
The next morning greeted us with good weather and another hike up the hill. We found the goat we had seen the night before and put the glass on him to make sure he was "worthy". Just as I was getting ready to put the spotting scope away my son looks to our right to another peak and says "hey there's another one". I swung the scope and knew he was a much better goat right away. My son and his college roommate who came along to help(thanks D we never could have done it without you) looked and agreed he was the one. So we packed up and started the 2 mile trek to him. Did I mention the country they live in? We went straight down for half of it and straight up the other half.
When we got to where we thought he should be we couldn't find him. He had to be there but we thought we should see him by now. Well, when you look from a position higher than him things look different. I walked around a tree snag and found myself in a stare off with a Goat about 30 yards away. Can you say pants around your ankles? I motion for my son to move up to me and the goat says I've had enough and takes 2 steps and literally disappears off the side of a shear cliff. I'm cussing up a storm and kicking myself for being so stupid. We walk up to where he was bedded and look around and down the cliff when I look to my right and he's standing there looking at us. Fire drill! We take a quick look through our bino's while my son gets lined up and he says what do you think? I know he's a good one but he is standing on a 6 inch ledge and a very large drop. I said drill him and we would figure it out after the wool flew. My son made a good shot and the goat shuddered and disappeared aroung the cliff wall. I knew he was hit well and was done. A few hugs and hollers and I said there he goes! he rolled down the hill about 75 yards before stopping just before another drop full of brush that would have been a total nightmare. It took us an hour to go the 75 yards down the "cliff" to him. we took some pics, caped him out, boned him out and packed up for the pack out. It turned out to be 6 miles to the truck and we managed to get out just at dark
This will go down as one of my best hunting memories since I was right behind my son when he shot a once in a lifetime animal. Definitely one of the most demanding hunts physically and mentally I have done and will probably ever get the chance to go on.
Post by: Ridge Hunter on October 25, 2018, 05:56:19 PM
Post by: Widgeondeke on October 25, 2018, 06:07:41 PM
Congrats to the hunter
Post by: jackelope on October 25, 2018, 06:38:05 PM
Post by: High Climber on October 25, 2018, 07:09:57 PM
Post by: Duckhunter14 on October 25, 2018, 07:11:11 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 25, 2018, 07:40:23 PM
Post by: Katmai Guy on October 25, 2018, 07:49:13 PM
Post by: CaNINE on October 25, 2018, 07:56:34 PM
Post by: SuperDave on October 25, 2018, 07:59:33 PM
Post by: lokidog on October 25, 2018, 08:11:17 PM
Post by: Tjv28 on October 25, 2018, 08:19:06 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on October 25, 2018, 08:47:13 PM
Post by: RB on October 25, 2018, 08:49:31 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on October 25, 2018, 09:05:24 PM
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Post by: X-Force on October 25, 2018, 09:06:41 PM
Congratulations. Hunt of a lifetime for sure.
Any more pictures? That country is amazing.
Post by: elkrack on October 25, 2018, 09:08:35 PM
Post by: bucksnort on October 25, 2018, 09:26:24 PM
Great hunt. Looks like he got a little roughed up on the tumble down. Taxidermist should be able to fix that
He did quite a few somersaults. We're calling him scarface now. All but one of his top teeth were gone.
Post by: bucksnort on October 25, 2018, 09:28:24 PM
Epic!
Congratulations. Hunt of a lifetime for sure.
Any more pictures? That country is amazing.
I'll get some more pictures up later. Packing for trip to Hawaii. thanks for sharing the info from your scouting and elk hunt X-force. Much appreciated.
Post by: jackelope on October 25, 2018, 09:29:30 PM
Post by: huntnphool on October 26, 2018, 12:02:13 AM
Post by: benhuntin on October 26, 2018, 10:09:36 AM
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Post by: SkookumHntr on October 26, 2018, 11:13:59 AM
Post by: elkrack on October 26, 2018, 11:26:12 AM
How long are his horns?
:yeah:
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 26, 2018, 04:17:54 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on October 26, 2018, 06:11:16 PM
Post by: wheels on October 26, 2018, 06:11:42 PM
Post by: Falcon on October 27, 2018, 08:48:12 PM
Post by: shootem on October 27, 2018, 08:59:22 PM
Post by: bucksnort on October 28, 2018, 09:57:29 AM
How long are his horns?We got home around midnight and I had to work early the next morning so we only have the biologist measurements. She wrote down close to 9 3/4 on both horns and over 5 inch bases. The taxi was impressed and said he knew a guy and would have him scored after the 90 day drying period.
Post by: Birdguy on October 28, 2018, 10:50:17 AM
Great story and fantastic memories for sure :tup:
Maybe next year you will get yours.
Post by: Rainier10 on October 28, 2018, 12:06:57 PM
Post by: X-Force on October 28, 2018, 01:27:48 PM
How long are his horns?We got home around midnight and I had to work early the next morning so we only have the biologist measurements. She wrote down close to 9 3/4 on both horns and over 5 inch bases. The taxi was impressed and said he knew a guy and would have him scored after the 90 day drying period.
Very nice.
Post by: bucksnort on November 12, 2018, 08:10:05 PM
Post by: bucksnort on November 12, 2018, 08:11:48 PM
Post by: BENCHLEG on November 13, 2018, 07:56:55 PM
Post by: X-Force on November 13, 2018, 08:17:51 PM