I drew this tag on year 20! Short story is I got my Billy! The details in-between, well...... I guess this is why we bow hunt. Peaks and valleys, suffering both physically and mentally, questioning our decision on how we got in this spot........ Ingredients if I'm truthful is why I do it.
Last year I drew my CO Moose tag. Not much of a story other than it ended up being a solo archery hunt that on Day 1 at 2pm I had filled my tag. It was over. Goat, turns out, in Chicago basin was going to be much the same but way different!
I read that goats can be hard to find in Chicago Basin. Like anything in life timing makes or breaks the experience. Like hitting a baseball, you're either on time or you're not. I've spent most of my archery life not being on time! I'm extremely thankful and humbled when those special times happen.
I planned for 11 days in the basin. Choosing Oct 13 - 23 would give me a nice 5 day cushion on the end of the trip if needed and the timing I thought would allow for less traffic in the basin and good chance for the coat I was looking for.
This was high risk choosing those dates. Weather could have ruined my 20yr wait before I even set foot on the trail. However, the weather window we got could not have been better!!! Mornings where cold, freezing my 10L camp water bag. The days didn't have a cloud in the sky and would warm up to base layer temps when in the sun. Winds also were very calm for the most part. Up on top and on the ridge lines could be gusty but I'd say winds were typical thermal driven events.
I planned for 11 days in the basin. Choosing Oct 13 - 23 would give me a nice 5 day cushion on the end of the trip if needed and the timing I thought would allow for less traffic in the basin and good chance for the coat I was looking for.
This was high risk choosing those dates. Weather could have ruined my 20yr wait before I even set foot on the trail. However, the weather window we got could not have been better!!! Mornings where cold, freezing my 10L camp water bag. The days didn't have a cloud in the sky and would warm up to base layer temps when in the sun. Winds also were very calm for the most part. Up on top and on the ridge lines could be gusty but I'd say winds were typical thermal driven events.
Stepped off the train and put on the 75lb pack. Food, optics, bow and all the "maybe's" for extreme weather add up quick. We did a steady pace for the 7 miles to the top of the basin. Took us 4.5hrs to reach our goal. We did see two different groups of backpackers coming out. They had said that they were in for several days and never saw goats. Lots of deer but no goats! Of course this got my head spinning. All the same I figured they were not "looking" for goats and the low hanging fruit was not available.
As we got into the bottom of the basin we bumped into another group who were climbing 14ners and enjoying this unbelievable basin. They too had not seen a single goat in 4 days. They were leaving the next day. They did mention another guy in the basin who was hunting goats. This man "Craig" from Steamboat had been in the basin for I believe 5 days. We saw him coming off the mountain to the west and were able to talk.
Craig said he had worked his butt off climbing and looking all week. He had finally found some goats and on this Friday made his last push. He was crushed. He had finally got his shot which turned out to be 70yds on top of the ridge. He watched as the wind took his arrow over the Billy's back. He had to leave the next day.
At this point after talking to 4 different groups I thought this is exactly what I signed up for. I couldn't get camp set and to bed fast enough.
Going to have to let it ride.
I had heard and read from many people that most the time goats can be found on the west side of the basin. I was told this year that it was a waste of time and energy to go up towards Columbine pass. I trusted my resource greatly as he had got his goat 2yrs ago in Chicago Basin. But there was something I couldn't shake. From the bottom of the basin it's hard to see the whole west side. A lot of it was simply hidden from sight. I choose to make the climb on day 1 up to bottom of Jupiter Mtn to glass that basin first. For several hours we glassed not seeing anything. Mid morning we bumped higher. Taking the trail up towards Columbine pass. As you clear treeline there is an almost perfect place to see the majority of the basin. Yes, there are many spots you can't see but for the most part we could see west, north and east from this vantage point. It was also now in the sun which made for cozy warm glassing.
From here I was able to glass a large bear ripping across the west side of the basin. My video was horrible as the bear seemed to have been spoked. He was in 6th gear and covering ground quick. My buddy had walked up the ridgeline a bit to get a different angle. Doing so he had picked up a family group of 7 all the way to the north, close to Twin Lakes. He had also found a large solo living Billy on Jupiter Mtn! We had our first customer on really our first day of the hunt!
Being that it was 3pm (sun set roughly 6:35pm) we choose to spend the next several hours watching and learning.
The next day was going to be the day for the effort.
This was the day! 20yrs of waiting! All the training for endurance and strength. Doing hill repeats with 75lbs in the pack. That and today Oct 15th is my birthday. Being able to arrow a goat on my 47th birthday is something I couldn't have drawn up.
We got to our spot to glass early in the morning. As soon as I sat down I put my glass up and found him sitting in his saddle. We had not been to the north side of the basin, so I couldn't tell you what it looked like. I can read topo maps and from what I could tell this saddle is what a Billy enjoys. Plenty of feed and water on one side and cliffs on the other.
I had 3 choices. Right, middle, left. I picked going right as the raising sun could be a benefit coming over our backs. Ultimately after being on top your greatest advantage is going left as you would have cover for 90% of your ascent. But, not knowing that I did what I thought was best.
We dropped some gear at the bottom and started the grind. It would take us over 2hrs to reach our destination.
Congrats in advance and thanks for sharing.
As we climbed or I should say paperboy'd up the slope I'd go 10-15 steps and stop to look. Of course my luck would have it that during this process I sky-lined myself to the goat! He was 120yrds directly across from us sitting in the saddle. Looking right at us. I thought well done dummy! Way to mess this up!
I got out of view, dropped the pack and worked my way to what I thought was 70yds.
Here is where the lowest part of my archery life happened. The Peaks are high but the valleys are dark.
I had moved around the slope and got pinned down in a rock slide. He was 42yds from me doing what curious goats do. I laid on my right side in the rocks for 45mins. My left eye had a clear view of the Billy but my right eyeing (shooting eye) was abstracted by a boulder.
He had moved into 30yds and began feeding. He was relaxing to the point where the stare down was coming to an end. He would feed and look. Spin around and look. Then finally he would put his head down for 20 secs. Figured there was not a better time. I got to my knees and spun around.
Drawing my bow, anchoring I saw 2 goats!!!! I shoot with both eyes open and after sitting behind the rock and getting up I was disoriented!!! Felt like I had been kicked in the head. One eye had the goat floating off in the horizon several hundreds of yards away and my other eye had him at touching distance!!!
Knowing he was at 30yds because I had ranged him over 10x I closed my left eye, settled my pin and pulled through the shot. For the first time in my life I hit the knuckle on an animal. It stopped my 515gr arrow going 285fps like I'd just shot a granite boulder.
I was helpless watching him run off to the west and to the cliffs.
I move away from the edge a couple steps and nocked another arrow. This time it landed true. The Billy jumped out of his bed and took two bounds down. From my advantage it looked like he went left into the tundra.
Satisfied with that arrow I turned around and climbed back up to meet my partner who had grabbed my pack. I thought it was over. Naming the Billy "47" because I had arrowed my Goat on my 47th birthday at 13,000ft. It was hard, but I figured day 2 my hunt was over and we would stay on the mountain for a couple days eating tenderloins, flatirons and backstraps.
Shaking my head the only option at that point was to climb down the mountain and come up from the bottom. Took us several hours to traverse this nasty ground. I figured he was somewhere in the chute, hoping he has gone to the bottom. Climbing up from the bottom and checking every possible spot I got to the part that was inaccessible. I turned the corner looking up and saw 47!!!
We were back on top of the world!!!! Sadly this only lasted for 20mins.
I was back in the dark valley questioning my decisions and how the hell I got myself into this mess. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to say screw it and go for it. Each time I was about to make that step I could hear my wife screaming at me!!!! Do something extra stupid and my wife and boys would not forgive me. I understand that. But it was hard not to make the stupid effort.
Now y'all don't know anything about me or who I am. What I can say is I trained for this. Shooting, lifting, rucking and doing the Leadville 100 the last 3yrs. I don't take this lightly. I don't know mountaineering and this was my weak spot!! I made a horrible mistake in this regard.
As soon as my foot hit the ground from taking that first step away I lost it! Last time I cried like that was in 2012 when my father died unexpectedly. This stuff matters.
Walking off the mtn to the valley I felt like a quitter. Not only in what I had caused but also in not preparing myself with some basic mountaineering knowledge and know how.
That night was long...... But the next day is where I started to climb the peak again with the help of a friend in town. Hope started to shine.
It sure does.
thanks for sharing.
In the end we did not quit. In the end we worked the problem, blew the budget all to hell, did what was needed to be done regardless of the outcome.
47 was in horrible shape. Shot on Sunday, fell 800ft, ravens got to his eye and lips, damn pine martens got to his shoulder, broke off both horns (will never know score, Bases where 5.25" and aged at 5yrs old) and recovered Wednesday evening. All that and he is perfect to me.
Ultimately I was not able to keep the meat. Worked with CPW while on the mtn and was given permission to leave it. He was very bad. And for that I feel horrible. It was 80hrs before I could get my hands on him. I do feel we did everything possible with what was presented to us.
I caped him. Took the whole cape off the mtn. We don't know if it is salvageable yet. Again I did everything regardless of outcome. Packed the cape and head that was 42lbs off the mtn. Pack out to the train for me was well over 100lbs.
Chicago Basin is different for everyone. We were on the mtn for 7 days. We saw goats everyday with the exception of our hike into the basin and the day we left. When we were looking we saw goats. I will say for the most part they were unkillable. They would be in the upper 1/3 of the mtn in that nasty cliffy stuff that only goats and ravens occupy. However, they are there and with patience, good vantage point to glass (not in the valley) and the physical ability to climb there would be an opportunity over the course of 7 or more days.
I understand 7 or more days is a long time......... Waiting 20yrs is much longer.
Hope this helps someone out there. It's hard to imagine that 47's post will not be occupied next yr by another Billy. It was too perfect of a bedroom. Prepare, train, take chances and work the problem regardless of outcome. I believe you owe it to the beast.
You say would I change things........ Of course I would. And it starts with my first arrow. Never dealing with or experiencing that eye disorientation is something I could have never planned for. I now know what I would do if I find myself in the spot again.
Thank you for reading and for the comments. Happy to help anyone doing this hunt with what I know. Run what you got and get after it!
I spent 10 days in the Needles goat hunting nearly 40 years ago. My hunting partner had an experience similar to yours on that trip. Was a bit of a downer to not recover the billy but the rest of the trip was outstanding.....including the lady skinny dipping in the icy lake and visiting with her on the train ride out!
That's a great adventure.
If you’re inclined a good taxi can fix those horns up just fine. Thx for posting.
Ed - I thought 20yrs of waiting was long. 30yrs is WAY too long!!!!! I hope you are blessed with 2 tags next yr!
Great persistence of not giving up on the retrieval, I admire you character...
Hope your hide is salvageable, and the skull and horns could make a great European type mount via beetle cleaning...
Had that tag in 2019. Recognize a lot of the places in your pictures. And makes my lungs burn just thinking about it…
I gave it hell in the Chicago basin, the surrounding basins, and several other places further to the north but had hell finding any goats! Finally found a few a long way off on the last day… figured it would take at least another day just to get to where they were so pulled out.
I was pretty disappointed in the goat opportunities but loved being in that country and the experience.
Being a rock jock and ice climber from way back, I say I'd have had some climbing gear up in there, but alas, I've been on two mtn goat hunts with others and have never thought of bringing any of my climbing gear and would have been in your same boat :(
Sorry it didn't work out as planned, but thanks for the write up and reminder to have some of that gear closer at hand if needed for my mtn goat hunt if it ever happens.
Cheers, Pete
The crazy ideas you have when working the problem makes me laugh. My partner and I went through so many stupid ideas on how to close the distance. Tying ourselves together with 550 cord (Partner weights 235ish). Which would have been rich because our dead bodies would have been attached at the bottom making it easier for S&R. Talked about building a ladder system. Hauling logs to wedge between the chute and climb. Filling the chute with evergreen branches to try to build traction........ On and on. After catching the horn twice with para cord and not being able to get the right leverage I was also able to catch the smaller of the 2 rocks pinning him in. We pulled and pulled hoping to dislodge it. In some weird state of confusing I thought I could pull the smaller rock off and get to the bigger boulder. That smaller rock was lodged into place and had to weight north of 75lbs. The bigger boulder was extra extra heavy.
Having someone that is current and competent with mountaineering skills on the trip is the best idea. Maybe leave all the gear stashed next to the train if needed. That someone could be yourself for sure.
Talking with our guide this was a 1 man job and he was amazing. If the Goat had stopped anywhere above of where he was he said it would have become a 2 man job.
Truth is if I had a good first arrow or if he would have zigged instead of zagged none of this would have happened. Still, I'm responsible for not having basic mountaineering skills and equipment. My partner and I have talked and are interested in learning those skills to be better prepared.
Most depressed/distressed hike I’ve ever done.
Needles aren’t to be trifled with after September. They’ll bite you and it’ll hurt
These things don’t matter compared to lives and wives and sons and futures. You made great decisions in tough conditions
Just for my edification, you mentioned a couple times hitting him in the knuckle. What is that on a goat?
Congrats man,
Robb
Other than not recovering your goat quickly, I’d say every other aspect of your hunt was a success, the most important one being you made it home safely to your family. Congratulations, sir!
Looking foreword to the next hunt!
Looking foreword to the next hunt!
Looking foreword to the next hunt!
He accessed it where I had climbed to. Being that I'm absolutely scared to death of heights and standing over anything more than a curb gets me nervous I choose not to go back up there. Figured I was paying a good fee for the pro to do it so I'd stay out of the chute and kept my feet on the steep mtn side grade instead.
I do kinda wish I would have gone up there to watch him, but I chickened out.
However, he was able to do exactly that. Set up a rig and was able to lower him rear end first until the very bottom where he got wedged and slowly flipped over. This guy was amazing and did such a professional job!!! I was highly impressed.
What was also very very cool is this was his first ever goat recovery. He was having a great time with this event. For me it's fun to watch someone with a special set of skills I don't have do something out of the box for the first time. He nailed it for sure!
