Post by: Gringo31 on October 20, 2010, 05:49:25 PM
First and foremost question in my head is what weapon should I bring? I'm strongly considering taking my bow, just for the challenge. I realize that in a pinch, I could borrow a rifle, but this being my first goat hunt my gut tells me to take my 7mm that I am VERY confident with at anything under 400 yards. I am a fan of "go big or go home" and I suppose I'd risk eating my tag for a chance at an archery goat hunt...
Thoughts?
Also, in the event I'm successful, I lean towards a rug over a shoulder mount. I haven't thought far enough ahead of where I'd take it and all that but the days keep passing by whether I'm ready or not...
Again, any suggestions?
Gringo
P.S. Yes I'll be gone for the big coyote opener....I'll have to catch up later :chuckle:
Post by: MikeWalking on October 20, 2010, 06:07:07 PM
If $$ and Time make a 2nd trip a ways off take the Rifle.. :twocents:
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on October 20, 2010, 06:35:18 PM
if you are planning on leaving the goat there to get mounted if you are going to do that, then I recommend Fur and feather in Anchorage 907-345-8955.
Take the rifle first get one under your belt and then go with the bow.
Joe
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 20, 2010, 06:50:25 PM
Sent you a PM.
Post by: high country on October 20, 2010, 07:03:33 PM
Post by: Gringo31 on October 20, 2010, 07:40:05 PM
It really isn't a spendy hunt. $300 over the counter tags and a $85 licence.....I have air miles for the flight. The only real spendy part is those damn taxidermists should I be successful :chuckle:
Post by: elkhuntindad on October 20, 2010, 08:07:16 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on October 20, 2010, 08:17:39 PM
Post by: boonerboy on October 20, 2010, 08:20:42 PM
I'll be in S.E. Alaska. After reading these posts, I'm set on proving you all wrong :chuckle: :chuckle:so youre telling me that if I know a resident I can go on a goat hunt for $400 and a plane ticket?
It really isn't a spendy hunt. $300 over the counter tags and a $85 licence.....I have air miles for the flight. The only real spendy part is those damn taxidermists should I be successful :chuckle:
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on October 20, 2010, 08:53:05 PM
I'll be in S.E. Alaska. After reading these posts, I'm set on proving you all wrong :chuckle: :chuckle:so youre telling me that if I know a resident I can go on a goat hunt for $400 and a plane ticket?
It really isn't a spendy hunt. $300 over the counter tags and a $85 licence.....I have air miles for the flight. The only real spendy part is those damn taxidermists should I be successful :chuckle:
The resident has to be first of kin - mom - dad- brother-sister, not just anyone
Post by: boonerboy on October 20, 2010, 08:56:41 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on October 20, 2010, 08:59:53 PM
I'll be in S.E. Alaska. After reading these posts, I'm set on proving you all wrong :chuckle: :chuckle:
It really isn't a spendy hunt. $300 over the counter tags and a $85 licence.....I have air miles for the flight. The only real spendy part is those damn taxidermists should I be successful :chuckle:
A taxidermist is only expensive if you let them ;)
Post by: Gringo31 on October 20, 2010, 09:04:24 PM
Quote
A taxidermist is only expensive if you let them
Yeah, but if you do it cheap, you hear em say....Oh, you wanted it to look like it is still alive!
Post by: bucklucky on October 20, 2010, 09:43:21 PM
QuoteA taxidermist is only expensive if you let them
Yeah, but if you do it cheap, you hear em say....Oh, you wanted it to look like it is still alive!
:chuckle: ;)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on October 20, 2010, 10:40:49 PM
QuoteA taxidermist is only expensive if you let them
Yeah, but if you do it cheap, you hear em say....Oh, you wanted it to look like it is still alive!
No they say..... Ohh I thought you wanted it to look like it did AFTER if tumbled down the mountain 750'. :chuckle:
Post by: 10heiau on October 21, 2010, 12:25:18 AM
Post by: Big10gauge on October 21, 2010, 06:21:06 AM
Post by: bowelkin on October 21, 2010, 10:39:02 AM
bowelkin
Post by: Bighorse on October 21, 2010, 01:44:53 PM
The more important questions have yet to be asked............
Where are you hunting in SE? Come on man, it isn't WA and we talk about where we hunt here in a general sense of course. All those tags are over the counter and we got goats, more importantly we don't have too many hunters.
Good luck
Post by: Gringo31 on October 21, 2010, 02:11:30 PM
Post by: klickman on October 21, 2010, 02:41:27 PM
Post by: MikeWalking on October 21, 2010, 04:40:38 PM
SE Alaska will prove Gortex is not waterproof, packstraps and such will push water through. PVC. ;)
Post by: Vek on October 22, 2010, 09:26:42 AM
Bow or rifle decision is probably the least important thing in gearing up for this trip.
Post by: Bighorse on October 22, 2010, 02:49:53 PM
Where and how you harvest has a direct impact on the quality of your anticipated trophy and your ability to retrieve it.
Good luck, it's a hum dinnger of a hunt. I've harvested two brown bears and the goats I've taken have by far been much more scary and dangerous.
Post by: Gringo31 on October 24, 2010, 03:01:13 PM
Post by: Gringo31 on November 01, 2010, 03:45:25 PM
Good hunt, learned lots, saw some awesome country. I have very few pictures (when you start at sea level and hike to 3500 feet, weight is a factor).
More later....
Post by: 87Ford on November 01, 2010, 03:51:56 PM
Post by: Gringo31 on November 03, 2010, 02:45:58 PM
We went up to Haines Alaska, got settled in and hit the field to scout around noon. We spotted some "easy" goats that were up the mountain about 2000 feet. Two and a half hours later we were on em but only saw 2 nannies and a kid. (from below 2 billies could be spotted in a canyon, remember that these canyons/slides/wash/ whatever you want to call em run vertical). Long story short, first day we got into em but due to time restraints, we were only really in them for 45 min and came down right at dark.
Next day, we went up at daylight after spotting a bunch of goats (a dozen or so) way up high just above the snow line. Our elevation at the start is basically sea level and off we went. About noon, we were at 3500 feet. We grabbed a quick sandwich and finally were above the snow, out of the alders and in a spot we had some visibility. While we knew the goats were off to our left, visibility was good to our right and I decided to take a "quick" look. I walked 300 yards or so and spotted a goat about our level and we decided to look it over a bit more closely. It stood there a bit, then bedded down on a rock quartering towards us. I ranged it at 330 yards. My older brother and I decided to put a stalk on it and about 30-40 min later, with him 20 yards below me he says to me "130 yards". The goat is still out of view to me so I dropped down to his level and there it is. I asked him if he was going to take him but he is hesitant. My brother wants the perfect shot and situation if at all possible and was saying how he wished he was broadside and was concerned about him falling off the back side that we couldn't tell what all was there. So.....he says he'll pass. I told him if he didn't want it, I'd take him. So, I drop to my belly, put the scope on him and it gets up and quarters away looking as though it has had enough of us. I told him I'd take a high shoulder shot and touched off.
I still can see that goat's legs bounce off it's belly in mid air and bang flop.....then one kick and down the hill it went. My view was blocked then through an opening I saw it still tumbling, lost sight of it again and was watching WAY down the slide but never saw it. I didn't realize at the time that there was a huge cliff in between me and my goat. You could walk up to the edge of it and look down 80-120 feet and it was only 20 yards across. We tried to find our way down and around with no luck. So we went back up and found a way over and finally made our way to it, 2 hours after I had shot. It only went down hill about 200 yards but did break off one horn at the base, the hide was/is holding it in place. I was kicking myself some when I realized it was a nanny. Granted, I'm happy with it, 8" first goat, but I had thought it was a smaller billy. The bullet took out the top of the shoulders, lungs and spine.
We boned it out, and packed up the cape and meat and started looking for a way off the mountain. THAT was no easy task. One of the locals told us later he always figured those goats in that particular area were "safe". We found our way side-hilling across 4-5 big slides, some of which were damn nasty and long story not so short, came out with head lamps on 40 min or so after dark.
The next day I took off, and sat around feeling sore. My brothers were unable to ever get a shot, had some good Billys they were chasing but the terrain always proved to be inaccessible. They either couldn't get to where they needed to, or the goats in range they didn't think they would be able to retrieve. I still wonder had I not turned right the day I shot mine, if we would have gotten into the whole mess of em and had a real shootout....but, all in all a great trip.
So here a few things I learned.
If you have good weather, you best take advantage of it. You can get socked in for a few days real easy.
You will find out quickly that a rifle makes a good walking stick.
Whatever shape you are in.....it's not enough.
When scanning hillsides, if you see vegetation, that means that it's possible to climb.
And last but not least...... I don't think you hunt goats, you earn them.
Gringo
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi178.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw252%2FDirtydog_pics%2FWildlife%25202010%2Fphoto-2.jpg&hash=913f63fdc5e63da7b0983ff2ee4aa67e0e20063c)
Post by: jackelope on November 03, 2010, 03:02:13 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on November 03, 2010, 03:10:16 PM
Post by: hogsniper on November 03, 2010, 06:06:02 PM
Post by: shanevg on November 03, 2010, 08:21:23 PM
Post by: WDFW-SUX on November 04, 2010, 06:44:20 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on November 04, 2010, 07:01:27 AM
Post by: Big10gauge on November 04, 2010, 07:10:27 AM
Post by: WDFW-SUX on November 04, 2010, 07:43:05 AM
Post by: Gringo31 on November 04, 2010, 09:10:48 AM
Post by: WDFW-SUX on November 04, 2010, 09:46:35 AM
Larry gets some big ones...he's former Russian special forces was over in Afghanistan when they were slain Taliban :o
http://alaskafairchaseguiding.com/ (http://alaskafairchaseguiding.com/)
Post by: bucklucky on November 04, 2010, 12:31:15 PM
Post by: Bighorse on November 08, 2010, 12:15:32 PM
I've seen horns busted off plenty of em.
Way to stick to it and work hard. I know you earned that goat meat.
Post by: Black Ghost on November 15, 2010, 08:23:37 PM