My 2018 goat hunt.
Contributors to this thread:Mountain Goat
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
We scouted and tried to find these Billys before season but the had left the area. We spent 4 days looking for them.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
Hot wings is a scouting essential
Hot wings is a scouting essential
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
There were lots and lots of goats but no Billy's or goats with out kids.
From: yooper89
08-Sep-18
headed back out into the woods. Can’t wait to jump back in after nightfall.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.......
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
https://youtu.be/ym73CnLJgVE
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
https://youtu.be/ym73CnLJgVE
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
Forest bows's Link
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
Take a minute and play the video over and just look at the surroundings....... It looks like a Fairytale Land to me.
From: BOWUNTR
08-Sep-18
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
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
They are so tuff. He was still on his feet when he got to the bottom.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
It took me a little while to get down to where he was.
From: wildwilderness
08-Sep-18
Amazing country. One of the Highest elevation hunts in NA
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
He is perfect!
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
It was so steep I had to tie him off to some brush to break him down
From: Russell
08-Sep-18
Congrats big time! You've earned it, every pound you lost.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Heat
08-Sep-18
Excellent man, congratulations!
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
My day pack set up with meat hauling capability.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: altitude sick
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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!!!
From: krieger
08-Sep-18
What a great ending to your long expedition! Very cool !!
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
Our packs were over a hundred pounds and we decided to get as far as we could on day one leaving camp around 11.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: brooktrout59
08-Sep-18
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!
From: Rut Nut
08-Sep-18
Way to go Forest- your hard work paid off big time! : )
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
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......
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: kota-man
08-Sep-18
Fantastic Forest! Congrats, you earned it...
From: patience2spare
08-Sep-18
Congratulations!!! Thank you for sharing your adventure with us. Your preparation and your opportunity met - super happy for you, Forest! Pete
From: tobinsghost
08-Sep-18
Great story brotha! Congrats to all of you.
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
From: Paul@thefort
08-Sep-18
WELL DONE ALL AROUND x 10. my best, Paul
From: AZ~Rich
08-Sep-18
Congrats Forest, Well Done Man!! He's a great Billy too, hope you got that cape frozen quick.
From: tobywon
08-Sep-18
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.
From: INbowdude
08-Sep-18
Cool adventure, congrats. Video is pretty wild too!
From: Eric Vaillancourt
08-Sep-18
Well done!
From: Treeline
08-Sep-18
Now that is an adventure of a lifetime! Congratulations Forest! As good as it gets!
From: Owl
08-Sep-18
Great work. Now go take a shower.;)
From: Marty
08-Sep-18
Congrats, that was awesome! Sweet video too!
From: Eric B.
08-Sep-18
Awesome write up. Congrats ??????
From: HUNT MAN
08-Sep-18
Great hunt . Thanks For posting
From: Duke
08-Sep-18
Awesome! Thank you for sharing. A huge congratulations on many levels for all the work you put in to accomplish a goal.
Best—
From: Lone Bugle
08-Sep-18
Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Thanks for taking the time to do this.
From: Trophy8
08-Sep-18
Fantastic.....well earned! Congrats!
From: bowbender77
08-Sep-18
Great job Forest. Congrats !
From: Hawkeye
08-Sep-18
Congrats Forest!! Huge accomplishment:)
From: Beav
08-Sep-18
Great job Forest!
From: 'Ike'
08-Sep-18
Whoot!!!! I knew it....Way to go, big time congrat's to you and Dan!!!
From: TD
08-Sep-18
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....
From: JL
08-Sep-18
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.
From: otcWill
08-Sep-18
Really enjoyed this. Thanks and congrats!
From: Medicinemann
08-Sep-18
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?
From: rattling_junkie
08-Sep-18
Awesome, great encounter!
From: T Mac
08-Sep-18
Hard work paid off! Great accomplishment beautiful scenery. Congrats and well done Forest and Dan!
From: Forest bows
08-Sep-18
Half body mount. I'm going to hunt elk here then moose and mule deer in Alberta starting the 25th.
From: BigOk
08-Sep-18
Congrats!!
From: Neubauer
08-Sep-18
Way to go Forest! Congratulations bud. So awesome
From: Vids
08-Sep-18
Great story, congrats!
From: Brotsky
09-Sep-18
So happy for you Forest! Congratulations to you and to Dan as well!
From: Bou'bound
09-Sep-18
Well done you earned him and they don’t come easy
From: BULELK1
09-Sep-18
Good things happen to good people!!!
Thanks for taking us along all thru your training to harvesting.
Congrats
Good luck, Robb
From: Butternut40
09-Sep-18
Congratulations and thanks for sharing. God's county for sure.
From: pav
09-Sep-18
Love it when a plan comes together! Congratulations Forest!
From: TXHunter
09-Sep-18
Great story and a well-earned goat. Congratulations!
From: Slate
09-Sep-18
Thanks for sharing congrats
From: Slate
09-Sep-18
From: bhunter
09-Sep-18
Awesome! Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
From: Ken
09-Sep-18
Congratulations on the goat. Thanks for sharing your story.
From: TREESTANDWOLF
09-Sep-18
Outstanding Forest.
A very huge congrats to you.
From: SDHNTR(home)
09-Sep-18
Fantastic story! Congrats and thanks for sharing!
From: DGW
09-Sep-18
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your hunt.
From: Dale06
09-Sep-18
Tanks, and congrats. Wish I .wasnt 67 yo or I’d be tempted to hunt goats.
From: Pyrannah
09-Sep-18
CONGRATS MAN!!!!!
From: Willieboat
09-Sep-18
Thanks for sharing....Cool hunt and story !
From: axle2axle
09-Sep-18
Nicely done Forest! Thanks for sharing your hunt with us...truly awesome! Kevin
From: Quinn @work
09-Sep-18
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!
From: Bowbender
09-Sep-18
Awesome!! Thanks for sharing, Forest. Congrats on your hard earned and deserved goat!!
From: Forest bows
09-Sep-18
Chad He will be 42"+
From: Forest bows
09-Sep-18
From: Bou'bound
09-Sep-18
How did you get the goats in the selfie. That is awesome
From: Forest bows
10-Sep-18
We are ninja like!
From: Bou'bound
10-Sep-18
Good one. Lol!!!
From: Glunt@work
10-Sep-18
Congrats!
From: ufa007
10-Sep-18
so good [url=http://ufa007.co/casino][size=1px]??????????????????[/size][/url] :T
From: brettpsu
10-Sep-18
Congrats Forest! Those mountains are special for sure.
From: ki-ke
10-Sep-18
Inspiring story! Fantastic ending! Thanks for sharing the journey, Forest!
From: njbuck
10-Sep-18
Congrats Forest, great story and goat, thanks for sharing.
From: Rusty
10-Sep-18
Congrats! I enjoyed the write-up as well. Excellent job.
From: SBH
10-Sep-18
Dude! Thats tremendous. Way to get it done. Huge congrats.
From: Stoneman
10-Sep-18
Thanks for sharing, very nice Billy! congrats. ++ Leaf pic
From: Ned mobile
10-Sep-18
Congrats!!
From: BOWNBIRDHNTR
10-Sep-18
Congratulations all the way around Forrest. Way to get it done!
From: mountainman
10-Sep-18
Great story Forest! Thanks for sharing.
From: GhostBird
10-Sep-18
Congratulations Forest & Dan... Forest, brother you are on a roll.
From: M.Pauls
10-Sep-18
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!
From: XbowfromNY
10-Sep-18
Great story, congrats.
From: bwhntr
10-Sep-18
Congratulations!
From: OFFHNTN
10-Sep-18
That ALMOST looked too easy after all your hard work!!! CONGRATS Forest! What an awesome trophy!
From: eaglediegel
10-Sep-18
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
From: Charlie Rehor
10-Sep-18
Well deserved result to both couples
From: Arrowflinger
10-Sep-18
Congrats on an awesome hunt, and a beautiful goat! You more then deserved that one!
From: Chasin Bugles
10-Sep-18
Awesome!! Congrats Forest on a hard earned trophy!!!! Thanks for taking us along!
From: APauls
10-Sep-18
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.
From: jordanathome
10-Sep-18
Inspiring!
From: iceman
10-Sep-18
Congrats! saw the video on FB. Good stuff.
From: EmbryOklahoma
10-Sep-18
Congratulations, Forest! Well deserved, my friend.
From: Southern draw
10-Sep-18
Congrats ! Great story,
From: Forest bows
11-Sep-18
Thanks guys. Kinda find my self wondering now what.......
From: Charlie Rehor
11-Sep-18
Ain’t no future in the past! Keep moving!!!
From: DEMO-Bowhunter
11-Sep-18
Congrats Forest! Great job on every aspect of the hunt this year!
From: Ucsdryder
11-Sep-18
Awesome job Forrest! Loved reading your preparation thread as well!
From: geoffp
11-Sep-18
Sweeetness! Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS!!!
From: bowhunter24
11-Sep-18
Way to go Forrest really enjoyed every bit of this adventure thanks for taking me along!
From: geoffp
12-Sep-18
Sweeetness! Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS!!!
From: Dennis Razza
14-Sep-18
Awesome job Forrest! Congrats!!!
From: Smtn10PT
14-Sep-18
Great hunt, congrats to you!
From: APauls
14-Sep-18
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 :)
From: Bowboy
14-Sep-18
Awesome goat and story Forest thanks for sharing!
From: loopmtz
14-Sep-18
Good work!
From: rjlefty3
14-Sep-18
Congrats! Looks like an awesome place!
From: Nick Muche
15-Sep-18
Wow!!! Way to go man, you did it!!! Congratulations!
From: Zbone
15-Sep-18
Way cool, CONGRATS!!! Thanks for sharing...
From: Candor
16-Sep-18
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.
From: Buffalo1
16-Sep-18
Thanks for bringing us along from "1/2 way there" to "the finish line". Super trophy. Congrats
From: Medicinemann
16-Sep-18
Forest, What do you mean, now what?.....don't you have moose and mule deer on the 25th?
From: Forest bows
18-Sep-18
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
From: IdyllwildArcher
18-Sep-18
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.
From: Forest bows
18-Sep-18
It was awesome Ike
From: IThunter
18-Sep-18
rock on man.
From: Trial153
18-Sep-18
Well done !
From: glidingindian
18-Sep-18
“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!!
From: midwest
26-Sep-18
Wow...great hunt tale! All the work paid off big time. Congrats!
From: Muddyboots
26-Sep-18
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.
From: FlyingArcher
09-Oct-18
Well done Forest. Really enjoyed the write up and pics/video. Thanks for posting your hunt.
From: sticksender
09-Oct-18
Glad somebody brought this thread back to the top, otherwise I might've missed it.Congrats Forest.....you are The Man!
From: Forest bows
09-Oct-18
Thanks! I'm blessed for sure.
From: NY Bowman
15-Oct-18
Congratulations on a hunt that will stay with you forever!
From: W8N4RUT
15-Oct-18
that was great--thanks for posting this story!
scott
