Post by: Todd_ID on March 03, 2019, 03:02:50 PM
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!
Post by: MtnMuley on March 03, 2019, 03:08:43 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on March 03, 2019, 03:12:03 PM
Those goats probably laid down when going down the road right?
Post by: idaho guy on March 03, 2019, 03:37:41 PM
Post by: grundy53 on March 03, 2019, 04:41:15 PM
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Post by: Karl Blanchard on March 03, 2019, 06:06:56 PM
Post by: huntnphool on March 03, 2019, 06:29:30 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on March 03, 2019, 07:31:34 PM
Post by: YellowDog on March 03, 2019, 08:00:53 PM
Post by: Dan-o on March 03, 2019, 08:01:39 PM
Thanks for sharing.
Post by: Machias on March 03, 2019, 09:14:51 PM
Post by: bearpaw on March 03, 2019, 11:28:53 PM
Post by: huntnnw on March 03, 2019, 11:45:25 PM
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.
Post by: boneaddict on March 04, 2019, 06:41:32 AM
Post by: 180-GRAIN on March 04, 2019, 07:27:24 AM
Post by: 2MANY on March 04, 2019, 08:15:58 AM
The goat thing made me laugh.
That being said I totally get it!
Good luck this year!!!!!!
Post by: cavemann on March 04, 2019, 08:24:11 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on March 04, 2019, 09:28:21 AM