I'm leaving in about 1/2 an hour for the trailhead and will hunt 'up' it and then bushwack out once first horizon shows me some goats!
Got the rifle hunters in there of course but I plan on staying on the 'backside' and hope most of the rifle hunters stay on the ATV trails side of the mountain!
Good luck, Robb
I heard a shot or two as I worked my way around to the face thru the snow and cliffs.
The rifle hunters had the goats scattered and I just kept plugging along looking for something to put the stalk on.
Did 1468ft elevation gain...... had a ball and filmed some good goats.
Back up this morning.... outta here in 1/2 an hour...
Good luck, Robb
Started to come into her and she mover her head so I back off.
Another 30 minutes, and decided to try and come in from above and put another arrow in her.
I slipped in the shale and went about 25-35 feet down the mountain and she got up and went over into the sheer cliffs!!!!
I was shacking with fear... I'll admit it... another 25 ft and I would have gone over the cliff face 500 yards down the mountain!
I came back up and around and she had died right about 30 ft down the cliff.. I had no rope so....
I am back up this morning with about 100 ft of rock climbing rope and will tie off to a krumholtz tree and work my way down to her....
It is raining now and most probably snowing up there.... damn the luck!!
I had to kinda 'white lie' to the Mrs. or she will have a fit with my 'plan'...
Good luck, Robb
Here's an idea Robb. Get a good four wheeler, drive up to cliff. Make sure it has a good winch on it, with a long cord switch. Then you can lower youself down, and winch the two of you back up. Easy after all!
The weather seems pretty warm today so hopefully it rained up there rather than snow.
Best wishes to you and complete a great bowhunt alive! BB
I hope your recovery effort is going well. I hope you were able to take someone with you to recover your trophy. Goat country is dangerous country for us two-legged creatures.
I killed a billy here in Colorado two weeks ago today on my opening day. The first shot was great and heavy blood flow started immediately. I had an opportunity for a second shot and I took it, having heard that goats are very tough animals to kill. The second shot was a good one also drawing lots more blood, but niether was right through both lungs and were too high for the heart. The goat bedded right away within 10 yards of being hit but wouldn't die. Finally after waiting over an hour I dispatched him with a good pass-through double lung shot and he died instantly--without falling into any crevices or off of a cliff. I and my two hunting partners were then able to pack him off the mountain without falling as well. Thank goodness for a walking stick and an unstrung longbow.
Mike
There was another thread posted (I think in the Colorado forum) where someone needed to recruit a rock climber to recover their goat. Maybe taking a rock climbing class isn't a bad idea for a goat hunter.
Mike
I was expecting a report this morning. What happened on the recovery effort? Maybe it's a multi-day task--especially if you went in alone. One person packing out four quarters and a hide and horns can take a lot of time and effort. I'm interested in how you made out.
Mike
We are getting your yesterdays weather here right now, I'm hoping you are out of the high country and busy fleshing out your goat.
Scottie
Congrats and hope all is well.
Hope to see some pics soon, C.B.
Can't wait to see some pics, and your goat recovery story.
Went up monday and it was a dagerous mess... backed off and went back up on tuesday..
Had some contact with a couple game warden's working the unit and met one at the trailhead at 8am on tuesday...
He was very concerned that it being dead for two days the meat would be bad and he wanted me to make every effort to recover what I could... come on officer... what ya think I'm up here for!!!
He went with me and the rock climbing kid and we searched for a couple hours... me more central, the rock climbing kid more remote and the officer off on top of some cliffs glassing ect... that goat was long gone... not eaten by scavengers or nothing just gone... the kid with the harness and rope went over the cliff for a look see and nothing in the bottom...
Anyways, the officer felt we all had put in a very honest attempt at finding the goat...
He told me it is a OIL tag and that if I wanted I could continue to hunt...
I explained that 3-4 years ago I arrowed an elk and that I couldn't find it and that I felt 90% certain that elk died and so I may not have 'tagged' an elk I killed an elk so my elk hunt ended then no wasatch front or nothing...
and that I sincerly felt that goat I arrowed would indeed die too and that my goat hunt was done...
So my goat hunt is over....
Good luck, Robb
I sent you a private message.
Mike
Good luck the rest of the year, C.B.
I had a friend this year take a goat in a different unit. It died in a tough area just before dark and it then started to snow heavy. The hunter made the decision not to risk anybodies life and waited until the next day to retrieve it in the light.
At almost 11,000 feet a good portion of the upper front face had been eaten by a fox. Those are very tough critters and they live in deadly areas. Under all the circumstances you made the right decision, and so did he..
At some point in time, with a rifle, with a gun, with a muzzle loader or a bow, one will have something like this happen to them. Don't beat yourself up. Just learn what can be derived from the situation and move one.
You are very well respected here at the Bowsite for very good reasons. There is no one on this board who is willing to give help to others so willingly and as freely as you. I think I'm speaking for a host of guys here at the Bowsite when I say these things, and we are behind you 100 percent.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
The Game Warden did find the arrow in his search with us and it was just full of blood in the blades (ThunderHead 100gr.) a little hair of course but no meat or tendon or fatty tissue...... the rain/snow had pretty much cleand the shaft off of blood ect.......
It doesn't hurt to set an example for the younger--up and coming bowhunters.... that ya just can't wing and fling arrows until ya harvest one...
Plus this weather pattern we are having and the rifle elk hunters will be everywhere with their opener and wearing blaze orange and I feel terrible about it all still......... I'm thinking I am making the correct decision....
Thanks,
Good luck, Robb
Class move, and a very class act. You're a great example to all hunters, young and old.
Jeff
Most important thing is you are safe.
Take care Bill
You are a great example for us all.
If you go back up after work to look again, let me know abd I will tag along.
alan
Good luck, Robb
Not continuing to hunt was impressive, such a rare tag, 99% of guys would have gone back out, that alone deserves respect, good job.
Good job sticking one with a bow too!
Don't look down!! haha
Good luck, Robb
He is a fellow bow siter too!
See ya in September bud!
Good luck, Robb
Alan, you are the Man with the Colorado goat tag. You know I am rooting for you.
As far as the ropes go, I think I'll just call that "Free Climb" champion from Lover's Leap for any nasty stuff that we have to navigate. Can you believe that guy?
Have a good one.
Dave
Ever get back out there in the spring to look for bones or the skull?
That place scared the doo-doo out of me after my slip and fall....
I hiked in from the North Ogden trailhead last friday and saw alot of Mnt. Goats on the Face leading to Ben Lomond Peak.
Good luck, Robb
I will be back up there this year filming for guys that drew.
I do not get to far down or off the beaten path much up there anymore! ha
Good luck, Robb
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