My 2018 goat hunt.
Mountain Goat
Contributors to this thread:
As some of you know I applied for a 2018 Colorado mountain goat tag to motivate myself to lose weight in to get in better shape. A lot of you followed my thread "halfway to goat shape" and watched me lose 45# in 4 months in preparation for this hunt. My wife and I scouted all summer and found some great Billys. We also found out that they move from there summer home in the fall.
We scouted and tried to find these Billys before season but the had left the area. We spent 4 days looking for them.
Hot wings is a scouting essential
Hot wings is a scouting essential
This is a G5 tag ,and with all our summer scouting turning up no Billy's the logical thing to do is to ride the train from Durango into the needleton Stop and Hunt Chicago basin....... This is where it gets interesting because a couple weeks prior we all got notice that the Silverton Durango train would not be making any Wilderness stops for the 2018 season due to the fires and flooding in the area. Without the train running the Trail lengthens by 10 miles one way to get into Chicago basin. Realizing this would be very tough to do by myself I looked for someone to team up with to make the Trek in and out. Dan Reardon the owner of Rocking R Ranch and friend also had the G5 tag for this year. We made a plan and Dan, I, and Dan's wife Katie set out Sunday to make the Trek in.
We made quick work of the first 5 MI stopping for lunch at the river crossing at Cascade Creek. Mypack was 55 to 60 lb going in and I was prepared to stay 6 to 8 days
We went another 6 miles which got us to the bridge at needle Creek that is where we stayed the night the first day. On Monday we awoke early broke camp and started the Steep trek in to Chicago basin. With only five miles to go on day 2 we should have plenty of time to set up camp and glass and Scout in the afternoon. You can see over 20 goats in this pic taken from camp.
There were lots and lots of goats but no Billy's or goats with out kids.
headed back out into the woods. Can’t wait to jump back in after nightfall.
Are opening day morning plan was to get up early, hike a couple more miles deep into the basin, setup and glass until we found what we were looking for. There were so many goats on every Hillside 360 all the way around us. After a while we observed a large body goat all alone we quickly determined it was a Billy and moved closer for a better look. It in fact was a Billy and was one that we decided we were going to take. Since there was two of us a quick game of rock-paper-scissors left me up to bat first. As you guys probably guessed I chose Rock. A steep climb up the hill put us in position and got us within range of three goats one was the Billy we were looking for.
It was a cool Frosty morning and the Billy was actually chasing a nanny around on a small flat area. With his nose in the air and something eles on his mind he ran right buy me and stopped at 15 yards. I had already came to full draw and slid to my left taking a couple steps to square up. Has he stopped moving my pin settled behind his front shoulder and I release the arrow.......
https://youtu.be/ym73CnLJgVE
https://youtu.be/ym73CnLJgVE
Forest bows's Link
Take a minute and play the video over and just look at the surroundings....... It looks like a Fairytale Land to me.
That was cool. Congratulations.
Quick questions. The train stop closure, is it temporary and does it have anything to do with anti-hunting?
Ok... continue on with your story. Ed F
My first thought Ed is it was an anti-hunting ploy but they eliminated all Backcountry access by train for 2018 due to backlogged tickets. The train was closed for 40 some days this summer.
we were on top of a cliff band and of course this Billy had to make his way over to the edge and bound down the rocks to the bottom.
They are so tuff. He was still on his feet when he got to the bottom.
It took me a little while to get down to where he was.
Amazing country. One of the Highest elevation hunts in NA
There was a lot of different emotions associated with putting my hands on this Billy for the first time. I am truly blessed by God on every hunt that I am on successful or not.
It was so steep I had to tie him off to some brush to break him down
Congrats big time! You've earned it, every pound you lost.
Excellent man, congratulations!
My day pack set up with meat hauling capability.
I was back to Camp by 2 that afternoon but I met Dan and Katie Woodstock to another Billy that they had found but had him bust before they could get a shot. We got some more water and a quick bite to eat and got back out glassing looking for a goat for Dan.
Congrats Forest! You earned him for sure. I climbed 3 14rs in Chicago basin. And you are correct it’s so beautiful it’s surreal. When I was there I dreamt of having a bow in my hand. Its great to have remote spots that goats can flourish in. Again congrats on doing it the hard way.
I had seen a billy on my way out so we went back to that area to try to find him and we did Dan Stalked to within 50 yards of him two or three times but never got a shot.
On Dan's third stock of the day he connected with this awesome goat. he put an arrow in his chest as it peered Over a rock ledge at him. Dan's first comment was that was the best stock he has ever been on and the funnest day of hunting he is ever had!!!
What a great ending to your long expedition! Very cool !!
The next morning we got up early deboned all the meat Dan caped out the heads we packed up camp and headed down the hill.
Our packs were over a hundred pounds and we decided to get as far as we could on day one leaving camp around 11.
We headed down the trail took a break at the needleton bridge and got all the way back to the river crossing at Cascade Creek it was a 10 or 11 Mile day and it took everything I had to do it.
Forest- damn I am proud to know you and consider you my . friend. You are one helluva bow hunter and all around great human being. Congrats!
Way to go Forest- your hard work paid off big time! : )
The next morning my beautiful wife who got a text from Dan's in reach got up at 3 in the morning drove 5 hours for the trailhead and met me at Camp to relieve some of the weight of my pack for the last 5 miles. With under a mile left I broke down in tears of joy because of everything that I had done to achieve what I achieved on this hunt. Extreme fatigue might had something to do with it as well LOL.
I want to thank Dan and Katie for being great hunting partners and sharing this week with me. They truly are awesome people and I'm glad to share this awasom hunting adventure with them.
I'm going to post a few more pictures that I thought were cool they're just random I hope you guys enjoyed this adventure as much as I did thanks for sticking with me over the last 5 months. Again I would like to praise God for everything that he has done for me......
Fantastic Forest! Congrats, you earned it...
Congratulations!!! Thank you for sharing your adventure with us. Your preparation and your opportunity met - super happy for you, Forest! Pete
Great story brotha! Congrats to all of you.
WELL DONE ALL AROUND x 10. my best, Paul
Congrats Forest, Well Done Man!! He's a great Billy too, hope you got that cape frozen quick.
Awesome, congratulations on a great hunt and the hard work you and your wife put in leading up to this hunt. Post the mount of that beauty when it gets done.
Cool adventure, congrats. Video is pretty wild too!
Now that is an adventure of a lifetime! Congratulations Forest! As good as it gets!
Great work. Now go take a shower.;)
Congrats, that was awesome! Sweet video too!
Awesome write up. Congrats ??????
Great hunt . Thanks For posting
Awesome! Thank you for sharing. A huge congratulations on many levels for all the work you put in to accomplish a goal.
Best—
Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Thanks for taking the time to do this.
Fantastic.....well earned! Congrats!
Great job Forest. Congrats !
Congrats Forest!! Huge accomplishment:)
Whoot!!!! I knew it....Way to go, big time congrat's to you and Dan!!!
Right on Forest! Congrats! Gittin' er done took some time work and planning, but you got er done..... pretty cool...
The train being down might have been a blessing in disguise...... you didn't have to go to the the hippy camo or patchouli cover scent.... much less dealt with a lot less issues I'd imagine....
Awesome on a stick....
Wow!! Congrats...what an impressive adventure! I guess my next question is what's next on your list of adventures? This might be hard to top.
Really enjoyed this. Thanks and congrats!
Atta boy!! After hauling that goat (and all of your camp gear) out on your back, what do you figure you weigh right about now? I am not surprised one bit that Kelly woke up early and drove to the trailhead....she gets an "atta girl" for that!! Looking forward to seeing you sometime this Fall as I pass through Kansas....
Full mount, shoulder mount, or euro mount? Gonna keep it in Colorado or Kansas?
Awesome, great encounter!
Hard work paid off! Great accomplishment beautiful scenery. Congrats and well done Forest and Dan!
Half body mount. I'm going to hunt elk here then moose and mule deer in Alberta starting the 25th.
Way to go Forest! Congratulations bud. So awesome
So happy for you Forest! Congratulations to you and to Dan as well!
Well done you earned him and they don’t come easy
Good things happen to good people!!!
Thanks for taking us along all thru your training to harvesting.
Congrats
Good luck, Robb
Congratulations and thanks for sharing. God's county for sure.
Love it when a plan comes together! Congratulations Forest!
Great story and a well-earned goat. Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing congrats
Awesome! Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on the goat. Thanks for sharing your story.
Outstanding Forest.
A very huge congrats to you.
Fantastic story! Congrats and thanks for sharing!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your hunt.
Tanks, and congrats. Wish I .wasnt 67 yo or I’d be tempted to hunt goats.
Thanks for sharing....Cool hunt and story !
Nicely done Forest! Thanks for sharing your hunt with us...truly awesome! Kevin
Thanks for sharing Forest. What a great story from start to finish. Nice Billy too. What's he score? Looks like a good one to me.
You're da man!
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing, Forest. Congrats on your hard earned and deserved goat!!
How did you get the goats in the selfie. That is awesome
so good [url=http://ufa007.co/casino][size=1px]??????????????????[/size][/url] :T
Congrats Forest! Those mountains are special for sure.
Inspiring story! Fantastic ending! Thanks for sharing the journey, Forest!
Congrats Forest, great story and goat, thanks for sharing.
Congrats! I enjoyed the write-up as well. Excellent job.
Dude! Thats tremendous. Way to get it done. Huge congrats.
Thanks for sharing, very nice Billy! congrats. ++ Leaf pic
Congratulations all the way around Forrest. Way to get it done!
Great story Forest! Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations Forest & Dan... Forest, brother you are on a roll.
I don't really like the word "deserved" but heck I'm not sure I've seen a guy work harder for something!! You sure EARNED that billy! Such a happy ending to a great story, and thanks for taking the time to include us over these last number of months!
That ALMOST looked too easy after all your hard work!!! CONGRATS Forest! What an awesome trophy!
Absolutely awesome!! I admire your determination and hard work. Way to make a goal and crush it despite the adversities. I love that stuff! Also, congrats to Kelly for being an awesome SHERPA!! Thanks for sharing your story and adventure! BAMF
Well deserved result to both couples
Congrats on an awesome hunt, and a beautiful goat! You more then deserved that one!
Awesome!! Congrats Forest on a hard earned trophy!!!! Thanks for taking us along!
Outstanding. Ya, I don't know of anyone that worked that hard to get ready for a hunt and then make it happen. I'm sure others have done it, I'm just not familiar with it. But dang you put everything into that hunt and came out on the right side of the scoreboard. That's a major congratulations. Heck of a good job.
Congrats! saw the video on FB. Good stuff.
Congratulations, Forest! Well deserved, my friend.
Thanks guys. Kinda find my self wondering now what.......
Ain’t no future in the past! Keep moving!!!
Congrats Forest! Great job on every aspect of the hunt this year!
Awesome job Forrest! Loved reading your preparation thread as well!
Sweeetness! Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS!!!
Way to go Forrest really enjoyed every bit of this adventure thanks for taking me along!
Sweeetness! Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS!!!
Awesome job Forrest! Congrats!!!
Great hunt, congrats to you!
Now that you're in mountain shape, no reason for a fall to go by without doing elk, mulies, etc. Just keep planning! Half the fun is in the planning :)
Awesome goat and story Forest thanks for sharing!
Congrats! Looks like an awesome place!
Wow!!! Way to go man, you did it!!! Congratulations!
Way cool, CONGRATS!!! Thanks for sharing...
What an awesome process and hunt. I love how you take what was a grueling event and are so matter of fact about the very physically demanding process. "We hiked to the top of Everest and set up camp."
Seriously...I enjoyed reading that and your pictures. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for bringing us along from "1/2 way there" to "the finish line". Super trophy. Congrats
Forest, What do you mean, now what?.....don't you have moose and mule deer on the 25th?
One more week of elk hunting the Kelly and I are off to Alberta. Will most likely do a live hunt/road trip thread. I need something to keep me in shape is what I meant!! Any ideas Jake
What a great story! Grats! Sounds like you had a great hunt and I know that pulling that goat off the mountain was a great feeling. Super happy for you bud.
“my beautiful wife.......got up at 3 in the morning and drove 5 hrs For the trailhead to met me at camp and relieve some of the weight ofmy pack for the last 5 miles”'” Now THAT is Best part of story IMHO. Takes a special , unselfish person. Congrats!!
Wow...great hunt tale! All the work paid off big time. Congrats!
Lost 45 pounds..........train was not dropping off hunters so we had to add 10 miles each way to the trip........... Very deserving of your trophy- way to go. And thanks for sharing.
Well done Forest. Really enjoyed the write up and pics/video. Thanks for posting your hunt.
Glad somebody brought this thread back to the top, otherwise I might've missed it.
Congrats Forest.....you are The Man!
Thanks! I'm blessed for sure.
Congratulations on a hunt that will stay with you forever!
that was great--thanks for posting this story!
scott