Practice the daylights out of:
-severe downhill and uphill angles at all of your comfortable yardages. -do this while on one knee, both knees, on your butt and any other uncomfortable and contorted angles you can dream up. -make sure your 2nd and 3rd axis are dialed in -have the best rain gear possible -boots incredibly well broken in on uneven rugged, hilly ground with your backpack on
Mark
Oh, Good Luck!! Have fun and embrace the grind.
Thanks for that! Some of that is going to be a serious challenge living in New Orleans! Hitting the stair climber with my boots pretty hard but there isn't a hill for about 100 miles!! I'll have to see how some of the other Louisiana boys (bigpizzaman, cajunarcher) practiced!
Scott,
I'll definitely embrace the grind! Good meeting you at the Sheep Show. You going to P&Y?
Randy,
We still need to grab a beer some time!
Shoot off 3-5 story roof tops at super steep angles. Not shots on goats, but my Dall was a 61 degree downhill angle and my Bighorn was a 32 degree uphill angle
You just never know what that "one shot" is going to be!
Good luck!!
Mark
"Shoot off 3-5 story roof tops at super steep angles. Not shots on goats, but my Dall was a 61 degree downhill angle and my Bighorn was a 32 degree uphill angle"
and i quickly realize a hunt like this is not for me who is challenged when it comes to heights......
awesome hunt for you, and i hope you post your story when you get back...
congrats and enjoy!
Any tips for dealing with the extremes of goat hunting? Or how to avoid a situation where I fear for my life??
You need to train physically and you also need to prepare mentally. The toughest part of this trip, if you prepared properly, might be the mental aspect. This area receives more moisture that just about anywhere. Granted, I experienced the worst of it, but you need to get your mind right for tent time. The moisture is what grows huge goats, but it also makes for some tough days in the tent. I experienced rain, snow, fog, sun, 20 degrees and 60 degrees in less than two weeks.
If you want an adventure, you will get it and so much more. I wish I was going this year too!
I made a 15 minute (amatuer) video of my trip. If you want to get pumped up for your hunt, you can watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrTSlZkQskw&t=34s
PM me with any questions.
-Jeff
PS.. run a 5k everyday from now till your hunt especially in our Louisiana summers and you will be fine lol
Adam Foss turned me onto these targets at the Sheep Show. It's the Griz Targets Backpacker Superlight and they're made by Arrowpad Archery Targets. It weighs 1 lb 5oz and even has a nice little rope attached to hang from something to shoot. I haven't used it yet but it's definitely some stout foam. Might be a little more than I wanted to carry, but given how rough goat country can be it's probably worth the piece of mind!
I like to hike, so I put 65 lbs in my pack and hiked a berm system for an hour in my yard once or twice a week and then did P90x3 videos a couple days a week. I do this prior to all of my hunts and have been physically fine on all of the trips.
Also, I'm slightly afraid of heights, but I found that the slopes were never an issue for me, it was sitting on the edge of a cliff looking down or glassing that made me feel it.
And I feel the same way about terrain. I've gotten into some pretty steep slopes, but in general I could just keep pushing higher or work lower. I can't think too many times where I've been on a hunt where I really had to watch where I put my foot to ensure I didn't hundreds or thousands of feet! It's the "cliffy" stuff that makes me uncomfortable. I guess the good news is that I have a healthy respect for it and hopefully that'll keep me out of any seriously sketchy situations.
And I feel the same way about terrain. I've gotten into some pretty steep slopes, but in general I could just keep pushing higher or work lower. I can't think too many times where I've been on a hunt where I really had to watch where I put my foot to ensure I didn't hundreds or thousands of feet! It's the "cliffy" stuff that makes me uncomfortable. I guess the good news is that I have a healthy respect for it and hopefully that'll keep me out of any seriously sketchy situations.
So, the intensity and frequency definitely picks up three months out. I usually take the week before I leave off to let my body rest and not risk injury. I also mark the days I work out on a calendar in my hunting room, it helps keep me honest. Heck, I might be able to send you a pic of the calendar...
I am a flatlander as well, and crossfit plus a heavy pack/stairs routine had me physically ready. Crossfit, I think, helped me with the mental part as well. Ask BL for their gear list if you haven't yet. It has everything you will need. After you get your goat, send it to Dennis Razza. He's the best!
Lenny
"Don't fall off the mountain!"
Get is shape, sort out your pack, shoot funny angles and enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in North America!
You may not enjoy some--or most--of the parts of your hunt, but it is something you will want to do again. Good luck!
Your backpack able target will strap on to the bottom (exterior) of most packs. IMHO, it is one of those "must have" gear pieces and it goes with me everywhere on mountain hunts.
Wake up in the AM and shoot 2-3 arrows each day to make sure your rig is still dialed in and to maintain confidence for your opportunity.
Shoot a few shots into the Griz target at home to make sure it will stop your arrows. (The micro diameters...injexion/VAPS can sometimes penetrate and bugger up the fletching).
Mark
I've been going through the Bolen Lewis gear list and cross-referencing it with gear lists I've put together on past backpack/mountain hunts. I thought I'd spend some time sharing what has worked for me, some of the new stuff I'll be trying, and how I pack it all together. Thought this might be a good reference for folks and also an invitation for people to chime in with any feedback or comments.
I plan on breaking this down into a few categories: 1) Gear I'll pack in 2) Clothing I'll pack in 3) Gear I'll wear in. So let's dive in.
The way I categorize gear breaks it down into: 1) Sleep System 2) Cookware/Utensils 3) Electronics 4) Necessities/Essentials 5) Archery Equipment and 6) Pack Sytem
- Two base layer shirts (First Lite Llano Short-Sleeves) - One base layer leggings (First Lite Allegheny) - Three pairs of socks (Darn Toughs) - Three pairs of liner socks (Kenetrek) - One extra mid-layer shirt (deciding to try the Sitka Fanatic Hoody as it is roughly the same weight/material as a Traverse plus the built-in hood/facemask might come in handy). - One insulating layer (Sitka Stratus Vest, which is a little heavier than a Sitka Jet Stream. Lots of people seemed to say a fleece jacket would be good, which is what this is without the sleeves). - One puffy jacket (Sitka Kelvin Lite hoody, for when things get chillier) - One set of rain gear (Kuiu Chugach) - Neck Gaiter (First Lite) - Waterproof gloves (Sitka Stormfront -- just the shell) - Lightweight gloves (Sitka Traverse) - Beanie (Sitka reversible w/ Windstopper)
- Pants (Kuiu Alpine) - Base Layer Shirt (First Lite Llano LS, though I may bring a Chama instead). - Midweight shirt (Sitka Traverse, which has become my go-to "hunting layer", and can be supplemented by the Stratus Vest. This may get packed during the hike-in) - Socks - Liner Socks - Gaiters (Kuiu Chugach or Sitka Stormfront) - Gloves (Sitka Shooter) - Belt (Kuiu) - FHF Bino Harness - Wind detector (on the Bino Harness) - Binos (Swarovski EL 10x42) - Rangefinder (Leupold RX1000) - Boots (Scarpa Grand Dru GTX) - Lightweight Beanie or Baseball cap (one will be worn, one will be packed) - Trekking poles (Leki Micro Vario Carbon) - Quik Clot and Duct Tape (I'll keep these in a pocket in case of emergency)
The only thing you don't see that will be worn on me will be my cell phone, which will go into the Sea to Summit waterproof phone case.
The sleep system in includes the following:
- Sleeping bag (Big Agnes Mystic UL 15 degF, the long version packed in an eVent Compression Sack) - Pillow (I'm testing out a few lightweight versions. I sleep a lot better with one) - Sleeping pad (Big Agnes Q Core SL Long to fit the sleeve on the sleeping bag. This goes in a dry bag with the pillow) - Bivy (TiGoat Raven Omni, given how wet coastal BC can get)
It's not the lightest weight system, but it's not too heavy (everything above weighs about 4.5 lbs). I can't do constricting mummy bags and have found the misery of an extra pound on the pack-in is more than made up for by the comfort the gear provides.
The camp chair is a Helinox and weighs in at one pound. This might be something I decide to sacrifice at the end of the day. It's another one of those items that can go a long way in making the trip more comfortable, but comes at a minor weight penalty.
- My Essentials/Necessities bag which holds 1) Repair gear (duct tape, super glue, zip ties, paracord, allen keys etc) 2) Survival gear (firestarter, waterproof matches, lighter, whistle, signal mirror, space blanket, extra knife, extra headlamp) 3) Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste) 4) First-aid (moleskin, bandaids, cold/flu pills, pain pills, allergy meds, immodium). This whole bag weighs less than two pounds and is contained in an OR Backcountry Organizer.
Also going in this pocket is: - A spare release - Foldable bowl (Fozzils) - Flask with some damn good whiskey (for any excuse you can find!) - Cup (Snowpeak Titanium cup) - Solar Charger (Suntastics s5) - Battery Pack and cables (Dark Energy Poiseden, which will go into the Kuiu dry zip bag) - Tarp (Zpacks Cuben Fiber tarp with lightweight pegs)
While most of the stuff in the main bag will be left in camp, this stuff will stay in the pack while I'm hunting.
- Nalgene bottle - Utensils - Sunglasses (in a case) - Satellite phone with an extra battery (In a dry bag) - Satellite messenger (Delorme InReach) - Camera (Sony RX100) with extra batteries and small tripod - Headlamp (Black Diamond Storm) - Knife (Benchmade North Fork Folder) - Chapstick - Lighter (wrapped with Leukotape) - Multitool (Leatherman Squirt) - Bug Net (Outdoor Research) - Extra Batteries (AA for Delorme, AAA for headlamp, CR2 for rangefinder)
I don't have a picture for it but on the left side of my belt will be a medium Kifaru belt pocket that will hold the inReach and the bug netting) and attached to the bag is a large belt pocket that I'll put the sunglasses and the utensils. I will also lash some extra arrows to the left side of the pack.
There are a few things which I may cutout if I really want to reduce weight:
- Helinox Chair (1 lb) - Tarp (7 oz) - Delorme (10 oz) -- the outfitter will have one on him for emergencies and I'll have a sat phone - A pair of socks (3 oz) - Pillow (8 oz) -- may just stuff clothes in a dry bag, though I much prefer some kind of actual pillow, preferably a compressible one - Whiskey and flask (12 oz) -- chances are I'm taking this! - Sitka Status vest (1 lb)
That is 4.5 lbs of stuff right there. I'm hesitant to get rid of some of the clothing given how wet it is, and as I mentioned before some of those items will make 8 days in the backcountry a lot more comfortable. That's the trade-off though.
I'm curious to hear what has worked for other folks. I've done a lot of research on previous threads and much of that has inspired this list, along with my own experience. Hope some of you might find this useful one day, and like I said, looking forward to any feedback!
I've got an arrow tube and I'll certainly be traveling with it to base camp. I'm torn as to whether to pack it in as it weighs a pound. I'm hoping to get away with just lashing the extra arrows on the pack. I was planning on running a piece of duct tape around the arrows to keep them together. I also planned up running a piece of duct tape around the arrows in the quiver as well to secure them to each other and keep a single arrow from getting ripped out. Anybody have any experience doing this?
Duct taping your arrows into the quiver is a good idea as you are climbing up into the alpine, I lost one arrow out of my quiver on the decent to change mountains. The next trip up, we duct tapped them in and they held better. I have a Tight Spot and the one I seem to lose the most is the one that unloads toward the back of the bow, not sure if I've ever lost any of the others.
Just a couple of suggestions from my experience hunting the north's mountains. There is no choice but to pack for both weather extremes; from way too hot to very cold and wet. You can suffer through heat, but wet\cold can end that part of your hunt. Your rain gear must be readily available and MUST be easy on and off. If not, you may put off putting it on until it's too late. Stay dry!
Keep your feet dry. Damp or wet feet are soft feet. Soft feet get damaged easier. Take your boots and socks off if you are sitting for extended glassing sessions. Wash and dry your feet everyday.
If possible, keep your arrows below the bow cam. If you are using trekking poles [you should] put them on your pack as an arrow guard, with the end a little higher than your shafts. Do that while clawing your way through the tangle where you can't use the poles anyway. I also use a spare bootlace tied around the shafts and quiver to keep shafts in place. Then even if they pop out of the holder the heads will still be in the hood and you'll likely hear the shafts clicking each other if they are loose. You can still easily get an arrow out with the bootlace, not so much with duct tape.
Be honest with yourself and your guide about your capabilities and comfort level. Those guys are like goats themselves and are comfortable in that terrain. You don't want to use a sat. phone to call in a chopper rescue. You probably already know that you can climb up what you can't climb down.
My "comfort pack" consists of antibacterial wipe packets, baby wipes in a zip-loc and the half-sheet paper towels in another zip-loc. All this in one bigger zip-loc. Toilet paper does not stand up well when damp or to wet fingers. Not the "breakthrough" you're looking for on a hunt. Anti bacterial wipes are too harsh for anything but your hands.
When you're slogging up a super steep hill, scratched up by alder and Devil's Club, wet snow in your face and worn down from lack of sleep, just remember: those are the very conditions that grow big goats. Lots of green feed, a long growing season and very few hunters with the grit to kill them. There could easily be the next P&Y world record billy lying just over that next ridge!!
Hunt hard and have the adventure of a lifetime!
My bow repair kit is pretty minimal. I'd call it more of a bow maintenance kit than a bow repair kit. I have a portable bow press but don't foresee packing it in. My plan is to have a back-up bow in base camp. I also planning on trying to take every precaution possible to prevent any damage to the bow, including having the strings and sight covered up. Hopefully that'll be enough (knock on wood!).
With regards to sleep accommodations, the outfitter provides the tent. Pretty sure the guide and I will be sharing a Kuiu Storm Star tent for us to share. The tarp and space blanket will stay in the pack for any emergency/accidental overnight stays.
About a month and a half out from heading up to Terrace!
Just remember: you can go up what you went down, but you can't always go down what you went up.
Yes, I have been "stuck" a couple of times.
Big Billy country you're heading into!! I personally believe that goat would be the most likely animal to be able to break the P&Y world record. You just have to kill that 55" with a bow instead of a rifle.
You need to put a board over a corner and Stand ON The BOARD! Then shoot straight down at the target.
This will give you real practice standing on a cliff edge, heights, and the real chance of falling!
