Looking for Unit G5 information
Mountain Goat
Contributors to this thread:
I drew a Mountain Goat tag for Unit G5 in Colorado. I have been reading a lot of old threads, plotting out the areas of the past kills, spending a lot of time on google maps. I have a few general questions about the area, and would love to talk to anyone who has hunted that unit before. I have a chance to get in that area later in June also. Anyone willing to help, let me know. Thanks in advance
Hunted it many times... patience laddy patience... make that July this year is my guess, meanwhile put duct tape over your mouth and take a fillet knife to your belly...and maybe strap some rocks to your back??? its not lack of scouting or knowledge that will do you in, more likely lack of conditioning!
Its a bit rough according to the rumors I've heard. Going alone?
Squirrel is spot on, hunted it for a month straight for goats. Its a crazy hard emotionally draining hunt! Or you can go into the Basin and tag out right away. I found billies on most peaks that were in the 13k and up range.
Scouting in june is kinda early, I still had snow in spots when I was in a few years back.
Get prepared for wind if it is like G7. I got in pretty good shade and the altitude slowed me down a little but man the wind howls on those high ridges!
Squirrel and wifishkiller I do know being in shape is big. I'm 58, and like to consider myself in ok shape for my age. I still do a couple 14ers a summer with my kids. I may just take a little longer to get there.
I know it will be early in June to hike in. I live in Loveland and my daughter is moving here from Flagstaff Az and I'm driving down to help her move. So I thought if anything I could drive around the area a little and just get a feel for the unit.
I do have some more specific questions, if you don't mind I'll send you PM's.
Thanks
Franzen's Link
Here is a good thread for you KC. I enjoy following these G5 hunts. It is probably one of the most demanding hunts in the L48.
Listen carefully to what wishfishkiller said, he is spot on.
Thats Cbasin at its norm. that being said the rest of G5 is really an amazing place. I'll add some pics.
Goats move a fair amount from June until season.
Wierd, not my picture..........this is the one
These guys were passed on early, hard to tell in the pics but I figured them to be under 9 inches
These 3 were my goal, I don't even want to think how close i came to doing a Peter Pan off a cliff chasing them giants.
These two hung around most of the season. (Silverton area)Later on the little one died, I could have killed the nanny towards the end of season but it just didn't seem right so I let her walk.
I can't say enough the difference in this unit from going into the Basin and hunting the remainder of the unit! This little clip still makes me smile! I can tell you this is how you'll feel each and every day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RgJUYWiyz4
Going to have to copy and past that linc, I guess.
on my way to mount windom in G-5 late july up by the lake . great adventure lots of goats.
Scouting in July last year.
I found two exceptional billies, and plenty of decent ones.
Opening morning I had this billy at 40 yards straight down. I about fell trying to get a shot at him. I was on a narrow catwalk and couldn't get my butt far enough back to counterbalance the vertical shot. Looking back, we did some foolish things.
I did get my shot at the #2 billy on my hit list. A heavy old broken billy. I waited patiently for him to stand. I missed ......... twice.
Preseason scouting was really just as fun as the actual hunt.
I did finally take a shot on a billy at 18 yards. I was able to recover the arrow.
We found some basic climbing gear helpful to access some of the billies perches. Rope, harnesses, ATC, webbing, and biners, only weigh an additional 20 pounds. :)
be ready for rain and working your butt off getting in. Then be careful coming out. The extra weight of the goat can send you over the edge. I would never go back by myself again. Going in didn't bother me to much as far as safety, but coming out with the weight of the gear and goat was dangerous in spots. Unlike deer and Elk hunting if the heavy pack causes you to lose your balance you probably are a goner?
Goat hunter fell in Maroon Bells last year. He had his goat and was packing out heavy with one trip when something happened. Fell 60 feet or so. Hiker found him next day but hunter died. I have been on two goat hunts. On the first I cheated death twice and was caught up in the adventure. A couple of days after that hunt ended I realized how lucky I had been.
On the second goat hunt, I never put myself in a position to have a bad fall. I fell. I slipped. I tumbled. But no bad situations where could go over a ledge. There were some electric thunderstorms passing overhead in the afternoon that week which was dangerous to be out in the open though above treelike you are in the open. Stay safe and good luck on a memorable adventure.