Mt Goat hunt week one report.

[H&Hhunter]

After scouting all summer and seeing dozens of goats we finally were able to head into the high country with Kim's tag and rifle in hand on opening morning. We immediately headed to the spots where we had been watching goats. The only problem was that we could not locate one single solitary goat all week long. They have simply vanished from the areas we watched them all summer. What we did have was some solitude, bonding time and new physical and mental tests. Together my bride of 21 years and myself spent a week in high country living in minimalist fashion, discovering new reserves of mental and physical endurance. We shared spectacular sunsets, lousy food, cold, windy nights and brilliant vistas. Overall it has so far been a spectacular experience. Next week we only have 2 days to hunt and will give it our best. Here are some memories from week one of Mt Goat season 2015.

Taking a break on the pack in.


Plateau below the Continental divide and goat country.


Base camp


Headed to higher ground.


Looking for white goats..


More to come after next week.

 

[hoghunting]

Great pictures, thank you. You weren't kidding about minimalist fashion, but it beats lugging in 40 more pounds of gear. Doesn't most hunting seem that way, the day the season opens the animals have gone from the area?

Hope you and your wife have better luck on your return trip.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Great pictures, thank you. You weren't kidding about minimalist fashion, but it beats lugging in 40 more pounds of gear. Doesn't most hunting seem that way, the day the season opens the animals have gone from the area?

Hope you and your wife have better luck on your return trip.

By the time I got to base camp I was wishing I'd have gone even more bare bones.

 

[wankerjake]

Awesome pics, good luck next week. Good stuff.

 

[Geno]

Fantastic post. Thanks for sharing the experience with us. You already have had the best success anyone could have imagined for such a trip...time together.

Geno

 

[oneounceload]

I remember Western CO.......rugged stuff; just like the terrain in northern NV

(Folks who have only hunted from tree stands have NO idea...)

When my friend got his goat, the shot was only about 300 yards.....................across a canyon. Only one way to get him...1500' down a steep shale slope and 1500' up the other side; and then the same thing in reverse with the goat - took him all day to retrieve the goat and he was lucky the goat didn't topple down the slope when he shot him. It was one a very few he did a full body mount with.

Good luck, hope she's successful

 

[Patocazador]

Your tent reminds me of the one two of us got stuck in for 2 days during a rainy "white-out" at the top of the Cascades. We couldn't see more than 20 yards due to the cloud that engulfed us. It was a miserable couple of days. I'm glad your trip wasn't like that.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

H&H-
Aren't you going a little too "bare bones" with that "tent"?

 

[Dave P]

Wow, just wow - impressive in many ways. Be safe and Good Luck!

 

[Fremmer]

Wow, that's some hard hunting. Great pics! Funny how they disappear all at once like that. They must talk shop with the turkeys about strategy during the hunting season.

Good luck next week, maybe they'll be back!

 

[H&Hhunter]

H&H-
Aren't you going a little too "bare bones" with that "tent"?

Dude! I'm old. Ounces matter!

 

[gspn]

You captured so much in that short write up. Great job. Great pics and great read.

 

[buck460XVR]

Looks like not just a hunt, but an adventure. Good luck!

 

[oneounceload]

Dude! I'm old. Ounces matter!

I'm old too, so comfort matters, like an RV, Motel room

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Pretty country. Looking forward to the rest of the story.

 

[gbran]

Connecting with prey, is just the culmination of a usually very great experience. Then the work starts.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

H&H-

Is there a sheep population in that area? If so what kind? Even a remote chance of drawing a tag?

 

[MCgunner]

What's the T post on top of the mountain for? Just curious.

 

[H&Hhunter]

H&H-

Is there a sheep population in that area? If so what kind? Even a remote chance of drawing a tag?

Yes, bighorns and yes there are tags in the area.

 

[H&Hhunter]

What's the T post on top of the mountain for? Just curious.

Those T posts mark the continental divide trail along the ridges.

 

[MCgunner]

Those T posts mark the continental divide trail along the ridges.

Oh, wow, cool.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Oh, wow, cool.

Imagine being the sorry son of a gun who had to haul those T posts up there and pound them into to rocks!!

 

[H&Hhunter]

So just an update here. We hunted Monday all day and got home at midnight. Mrs H&H had to tend to the sick and wounded animals of our home town Tues thru Thursday. We are planning on doing a last day marathon hunt on Friday the last day of season. With any luck (a small miracle maybe) we'll be able to to get on goats. if nothing else we'll get to spend yet another spectacular and challenging day in the high country.

 

[steveno]

if I had to carry all of the posts up to the divide I think they would have to redo the maps. they would have been a couple of thousand feet lower

 

[jim in Anchorage]

H&H Said-

Yes, bighorns and yes there are tags in the area.

I would kill for one of those tags. A bighorn would be the apex of my hunting career. And that terrain looks pretty easy except for the thin air.