Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Other Big Game => Topic started by: Vek on September 21, 2011, 01:44:56 PM

Title: Consolation Goat
Post by: Vek on September 21, 2011, 01:44:56 PM: I was after the nonresident triumvirate, but only the goat cooperated. He was a gift goat, only a mile down from the put-in airstrip. Due to the length (or lack thereof) of the put-in strip, we had to haul goat arse 14 miles down to the takeout airstrip. We iced him down nine miles from the kill site for ten days while hunting sheep. The takeout airstrip is being stripmined of griz type bears by the exclusive outfitter and his hired gun, which is fine, but is a bummer for the likes of me. Only a blackie availed himself in the two days at the tail end of the hunt, and I didn't want him.

We failed at getting into the tiny hanging valley full of ~18 rams (3-4 legal, one gorilla) due to the small size of the valley and the preponderance of eyeballs. Wasted four days trying to get that figured out, twice failing to get in at first light.

The hike out was typically brutal, even having taken the goat out most of the way over a week earlier. The terrain is such that you never really recover and strengthen, you only get more and more hurt. Worried about the 12-day-dead goat cape and meat, we pulled the plug four days early.

A little steep: (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0029-3.jpg&hash=23e2c6b79d22b893a230182a471af5d4bcb9839e)

First hero shot:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0033-4.jpg&hash=ea0ce4570b99683bb1b49dc4f996e5f11dada02a)

Result of first hero shot - goat falls rest of way to creek:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0034-3.jpg&hash=d7efed394ed91e8a353b590aac5f8f2d9f065c49)
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: Vek on September 21, 2011, 01:45:50 PM: Easier hero shots in creek bottom:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0041-3.jpg&hash=0ff37b8be01d8aadd3331b6f3d0f40af0c7fe5db)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0055.jpg&hash=e3a854f97104794a89866d5792fe2115200b577c)

Initial 1/4 mile packout to camp:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0058-1.jpg&hash=18e21964c0645789d15b42f8ffc4320f63927c9e)

On ice:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0067-1.jpg&hash=98531b3b161c89040bb2234113dbdf19c2c0b709)
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: Vek on September 21, 2011, 01:47:13 PM: Horns measured 9.25" with 5 3/8" bases, and appeared to show 7 annuli.

Cape squared about 6.5':
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0063-1.jpg&hash=e9441c108858b83989035e727d28f77b1a3b0028)

Useful tools award goes to the axe. We used it as a crush-proof walking aid, a sleep-site prep tool (it does a hell of a job digging out rocks), a tent squeegee, drying rack, and myriad other uses. Special order 100cm "capra" by SMC (factory in Ferndale, WA), as anything shorter is useless for a walking tool on all but steep slopes for me. If they made it 110cm, I'd get it...:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0070-1.jpg&hash=8592ea73deae70221e5c482874f8d9d1becd88f6)

Duct tape snow goggles proved unneeded as a handy cloud sped into position during the snack break prior to the hour of white-ice walking:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0140.jpg&hash=0e30e4a9e8378a4b5423a57ab47bc6738d03a817)

Shangri-la 4+ is the usual castle for two:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0137.jpg&hash=f371d123a05ab91fca283b43a47e54168ac820d8)

One of a number of interesting and dangerous ice oddities:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1198.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa460%2FJ_Vek%2FGoat%25202011%2FIMG_0130.jpg&hash=168079e60f03fc106b42c6fdb59ce46b846ad76c)
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: jackelope on September 21, 2011, 01:56:32 PM: Vek-
Your threads never disappoint.
Thanks for sharing and congrats.
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: Special T on September 21, 2011, 02:00:31 PM: Verry cool. You are absolutly right on the ice ax... you know you are on goat hunt if you have one!
What is the nonresident triumvirate? and where was the hunt?
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: Vek on September 21, 2011, 02:33:25 PM: Dall sheep, goat, brown/griz bear.

Deepest Darkest Alaska (I'm a resident)
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: blacktailer on September 21, 2011, 05:05:35 PM: Jerry, you are truly the Man... Once again, great write-up and pictures and Awesome Billy. You are living the dream..
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: GoldTip on September 21, 2011, 05:34:45 PM: Vek, as always, looks like a helluva trip! congrats on an awesome goat!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: boneaddict on September 21, 2011, 06:29:33 PM: You're a monster!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: PacificNWhunter on September 21, 2011, 06:36:36 PM: Awesome Vek! Look forward to your hunts every year.
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: seth30 on September 21, 2011, 07:01:04 PM: Great job!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: shanevg on September 21, 2011, 07:35:46 PM: Super jealous!! Great job on the goat, go get the sheep and grizz next time!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: Wea300mag on September 21, 2011, 08:05:45 PM: Thanks for another great adventure.
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: JPhelps on September 21, 2011, 08:07:00 PM: Jerry way to get it done. Every one of your hunts is EPIC!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: Jason on September 21, 2011, 08:32:49 PM: Looks like you had a good time, congrats and thanks for the sharing the pics :tup:
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: quadrafire on September 21, 2011, 08:40:40 PM: Livin the life. Love the stories.

That is some steep-arse country!!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: quadrafire on September 21, 2011, 08:47:24 PM: curious what tent you are using?
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: jackelope on September 22, 2011, 06:41:53 AM: Quote from: quadrafire on September 21, 2011, 08:47:24 PM
curious what tent you are using?

Quote
Shangri-la 4+ is the usual castle for two:
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: quadrafire on September 22, 2011, 07:30:22 AM: Quote from: jackelope on September 22, 2011, 06:41:53 AM
Quote from: quadrafire on September 21, 2011, 08:47:24 PM
curious what tent you are using?

Quote
Shangri-la 4+ is the usual castle for two:

:tup: Thanks---missed that
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: high country on September 22, 2011, 07:39:23 AM: Gonna make coming back to the patch kinda hard now tjat you can hunt the good stuff! Nice job. Surprised to see you rockin the Dana pack, you have not been forced into a barneys yet......lol.
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: bearhunter99 on September 22, 2011, 08:18:08 AM: Nice goat and great backup pictures!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on September 22, 2011, 10:49:14 AM: Quote from: Wea300mag on September 21, 2011, 08:05:45 PM
Thanks for another great adventure.
:yeah: AWESOME!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: jager on September 22, 2011, 02:12:11 PM: Awesome!
Love the cooler!
Thanks for sharing the story!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: steen on September 22, 2011, 04:54:07 PM: Beautiful pictures, love the duct tape eye ware!!
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: carpsniperg2 on September 22, 2011, 08:27:48 PM: As always great animal and story :tup:
Title: Re: Consolation Goat
Post by: Ridgerunner on September 23, 2011, 09:28:46 AM: Another year and another epic adventure with a great trophy. Way to get it done up there, you are the man!