Once in a lifetime Mtn.Goat...

4

4finger

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LAST EDITED ON Jun-02-10 AT 05:43PM (MST) by Founder (admin)[p][p align=right]Thread Views Counter....[/p]

Thought that since this is only going to happen once, that I'd maybe share a bit as I get ready to start preparing for my Goat hunt, Hope that you'll accompany me as I work my way thru getting ready for something I've never hunted before and the challenges it presents...stick around as I add to the thread as time progress's...you may get a chuckle or two...4finger
[IMG]http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/4486canyon_035.jpg
I've flyfished underneath their home for years, yeah, the things I hear while fishing are most likely laughing coming from them...:)...4fingerhttp://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/5181100_3359.jpg

Snow's still heavy but spring will come...4finger[/img]
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-03-10 AT 10:21PM (MST)[p]Told you you'd probably chuckle, hope I get this system down soon...
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Snow's still heavy on the Mtn. but Spring will come...4finger
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-11-10 AT 01:38PM (MST)[p]OK, here's goes...This hunt adventure has to rewind back a year...2009 when I opened my draw results from the Fish and Game and found a Utah Henry Mountains Archery Deer tag. This was gonna be THE year...FINALLY!...
 
Started in late May and I made 5 trips to the Henry's, as I watched the Mountain come to life and wondered what I was going to do with the rest of my life after chasing the Giants of the Henry's. Fast forward to July 14th, I'd just returned to my luxury camp(sleeping bag in the back of the truck) and was still trying too process the sight of 2 bucks that had me wondering if I should have held out for a rifle tag, the typical was easy pushing 30-32 wide, deep forks and well just incredible. the Other buck I had been watching since the first trip, he was easy to locate among other bucks with his heavy main frame 3x3 setup but since the 4th of July weekend when I had last scoped him, all the "3's" had split and he had grown 5" hooked cheaters that also had forked, making him an 8x8 pushing past that mid 30" magic mark...and it was only July 14th with still a few weeks to grow...4finger
 
I jumped up thinking I'd just broken my shoulder, I hurriedly walked over to another upright tree and smacked my head against it for doing something so dumb! After a pretty sleepless night, the truth began to sink in...The Henry's would have to happen on another year...4finger
 
Gathered in my Trailcam's loaded up and headed home...know a good Doctor? Visited with my Vet on the following tuesday and got the news, we'd be scheduling surgery. With some luck I'd be drawing the tag next year. The Folks at the Fish and Game thought I'd lost my mind turning my tag back in, somebody out there was gonna be VERY HAPPY when they get the call. Mtnbiker here on MM brother got the call and ended up shooting a very good buck. Glad it went to a good guy...4finger
 
As I prepared and filled a bowl with my gourmet dinner (cottage cheese)I've got to admit my mind wasn't focused on my surrounding, thinking about the bucks and being a "Non-Typical" myself aka 4finger:)that 8x8 buck had me spinning. In the outer ring of light from my headlamp, I spied a perfect fallen Aspen log bench to place my hiney on...in that 1/100thousandth of a millisecond my brain screamed "NO", as I stepped over one log twisting my body and committed myself to plopping my butt onto the log. Well that Aspen Log bench turned out to be a Teeter-Todder log...flipped be backwards and down with all the weight of my body landed squarely onto my left elbow which was holding dinner...remember the sound from when you cut and spin the front leg off a deer? Yeah, you know the sound...well that came from my left shoulder...Dang!...4finger
 
Wow! That story's messed up! But then what would expect from somebody nicknamed 4finger:) Maybe I need to just delete this whole thing and start over...how do you delete? Hopefully from here on out the storyline will follow correctly with the proper pictures in place. Here's the photo of the notorious Teeter totter log with cottage cheese in it's final resting place...4fingerhttp://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/2034100_4895.jpg
 
Disclaimer: WARNING-WARNING!!!Old Man's Body Photo, WARNING-WARNING!!!lol...The Thursday before Thanksgiving I went in for same day surgery, my Doc said "oh, an hour and a half and you'll be on your way home"...after the surgery when I focused my blurry vision on my wife, she simply stated "it's the next day and it was BAD"...great...

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As far as to what they did during surgery, just know that everything that holds your shoulder ball joint into the shoulder socket and keeps it there, was torn out, 6 posts and a bunch of handy work by the Vet and they got everything except the main Bicep tendon hooked back up, it was nowhere's to be found. What? no Bicep I asked?...great...
When I got to meet with the Doctor, I asked how long before I could shoot my bow, he rolled his eyes and said "maybe a year"...great...
This just goes to show you should never leave me unattended...and never tell me I can't, lol...

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Shooting a couple arrows that night was my Christmas present to me...doesn't take alot to keep me entertained but when the Wife found out, she told me I was grounded...oh yeah like that was the first time!...:)

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New Years came and went and it was time to put in for the draws...The nagging question kept chewing on me, that Henrys tag would be mine if I put in again but would the shoulder be ready?
Every morning brought new hope as I'd work doing my rehab...BUT...being 14 years from 70 and still having legs that worked, I made my decision to put in for my Goat. If the odds of the past played out I should draw with the points I had and being a "any weapon" tag, I could still push for shooting it with a stick but there were "options" if the shoulder wouldn't comply...
Putting the thoughts of those big bucks of the Henry's out of my mind wasn't easy, Time to focus on the White Wooley's of the Wasatch...
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During one of my seemingly daily trips to my Physical Torturest, I kept pushing for when I could "shoot my bow"? Some would think I'm obessed a bit...well yes I am a bit...but as the saying goes "if I have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand" never rang true-er...

Regardless, my Vet finally asked if I was going to "Hound him till he said yes"...I nodded my head and grinned...he said OK BUT only 1 arrow...Yeehaww!!!

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Three months since the surgery and way ahead of the timetable...Remind me...Did he say 1 arrow a day?...At a Time or what?...40lb limbs and 1816 arrows, felt GOOD!...lol
 
As the rehab progressed, I realized that even though the head/heart is willing, the reality is that it was going to be slow.

My Vet told me not to wear a pack yet for my hikes as the pressure on the shoulder wasn't good for it...the pressure on me NOT doing it isn't good for me!

Christmas came for me in April, the draws took place...Awh yes, a Goat tag arrived...GREAT...

Now before anybody starts cussin and thinking I'm the luckiest old geezer walking or that there has to be something shady, let me explain...The Henry's Archery tag is the first serious tag that I had ever drawn in Utah that wasn't undersubcribed and I was 55...now the Goat tag did happen due to the preference points I had accumulated but back in the mid 1970's our local Archery club, BWB or Beehive Wasatch Bowhunters along with UBA (Utah Bowmans Association) made a push before the Utah Big Game Board to see if we could get them to issue just 1 Mtn. Goat permit to sportsmen, as up to that time there was none given out. Well, due to the efforts of alot of people(sportsmen) the DWR issued the first Goat tag thru a draw...now...except for 4 years (as I recollect) since that time, I have put in for Mtn.Goats in our draw...Yep, I'm a lucky cuss!, I finally drew a tag while I could still walk, you do the math, lol...

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OK, I've gotta trust you on this one, if my wife finds out she'll ground me again...my weighted packhikes started the 3rd weekend in April, 3miles-3times a week-35lbs PLUS the FAT on my body which I'd gained doing NOTHING!...

Gotta watch my blood pressure...

Is it bad to wish for the snow to melt in April?...
"Patience Grasshopper"...
I resolved to expand my shoulder therapy workout...and wait...

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Therapy comes in all different forms :)

The weighted packhikes continued thru the last of the spring snowstorms, which hung around a long time this year. Looking at the rugged outline of LonePeak and Box Elder during those hikes, keep my mind pushing this old body for the things to come, when the snow does go and the on the ground scouting starts...

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The month of May went by as the Packhikes/Therapy/and my lack of Patience continued.

Planning of equipment was pretty basic and would continue to be so until I could put a foot on my unit and see what it would require.

Shooting was sketchy...12 arrows at a time was about max, if hitting the lawn counted as accuracy...I was deadly. I was starting to wonder if I'd be back shooting my 60Lb limbs on my old Takedown by the hunt...just keep swimming, just keep swimming :)

Bare ridges were starting to show on the peaks...

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June hit with a change-up on the packhike routine, another 25lb bag of lead shot into the pack...60lbs,(I've been very impressed with my Badlands Hypervent that I bought when I drew the Henry's tag. It's covered alot of miles with 35-60lbs and no problems during my training hikes) back to the routine, 60lbs on the 3mile route but went from 3 days a week to 4. I'll stay at 60lbs now, last year during my Henry's routine I bumped it a bit more(70lbs) but found the knees felt the difference so I've settled at 60.

Snows almost gone and July 4th will be my first trip to the unit...
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Went with 2 of my sons on a weekend trip during June, I asked them "Who's cooking dinner?"...great...

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July 4th weekend...Left the house right on time as planned...another in-the dark trip...but then my wife says I spend most of my life in the dark, lol..so it's all good...

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I stayed at the "DodgeInn" that night and woke early to find alot of people/camps, well I can't blame others for loving the outdoors like I do.

Pointed the truck up the road and drove...I really enjoy seeing new country, more like exploring than scouting.

The backside of the unit/road, that had been snowed in 2 weeks earlier, was now really quite good. The Mountain was just starting to come to life, a few wildflowers were show'n their stuff...
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Reminders of winter around every bend...good to be out...

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Goats...Must be on the right Mountain...

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Dropping my pack to dig out my binos for a look...I realized the binos were home on the kitchen counter...great...

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At least I had my spotting scope...

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The country is definitely "Goaty" if that's a word,lol...

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Spotting scopes make a short walk of distance...

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There were still a few wind blown Cornus drifts along the ridges, I walked out onto one and a big chuck broke out from under me...won't do THAT again...

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I really feel that if you took a Mtn Goat off the mountain and put him on flat ground...He'd fall over, lol...

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LAST EDITED ON Jul-21-10 AT 09:16AM (MST)[p]Seems that this old tree and me must be kindred spirits. It appears in our elderly state that both our bottoms have gotten bigger, we're getting grayer and going bare on top, Yep, a bit "twisted" also ;)...

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Picked up a few "Woolie Flowers", they were everywhere. I'll utilize it this fall/winter tied into flies for my river therapy...

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The herd on this unit appears to be very healthy, I saw alot of new kids and yearlings and a few long horned old biddies...
Goats are truly Unique Creatures...

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Younger Billy's..

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As this was my first exploring/scouting trip, I was interested on the availability of area's to set a base camp up and hunt from. This area had a severe lack of semi level ground. With just me, myself and I on this trip, I'd brought a bivy sack instead of a tent which turned out to be a good choice. Here's my Hotel room...

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After digging my "recliner" bed and wedging between these two old giants, I was set for the evening...now where's the room service menu?...

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View from my room...

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The movie selection was excellent...

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LAST EDITED ON Jul-21-10 AT 09:48PM (MST)[p]The country is rugged but do-able as long as it doesn't get any steeper or turn into sheer cliffs, I think I'll be ok...

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YIKES!!!

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A good friend of mine, "twoshooter" here on MM, gave me some great advice when I asked him what he learned with his Goat tag, he said "when you get comfortable jumping up and jumping down these rocks/cliffs and crawling along the sheer rock faces...you need to go back down to the valley for a couple of days"...I'll keep that in mind...

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If that snowdrift stays there thru the summer...I'm putting up a treestand...

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My first trip was very educational, headed this weekend for round 2. Thanks for wandering with me.
There was this rockchuck, would have been a really cool picture but my camera battery went dead...great...
 
I'd hoped to be somewhere other than by the side of the road but hey! I'm on the Mountain, so that's gotta count a little.

Set up my tent and just "sucked it all in"...

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Speaking of "sucking it all in"...time for dinner

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Poptarts are the best breakfast food IMHO...
Grouse are next best...when in season...:)...this ones safe.

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Dropped into a few different basins...Lungs/legs protested!...

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With fully charged battery's for the camera and phone, I headed to the unit hoping to re-charge mine.
I headed in from a different direction this trip and got a look at the backside of some of the mountain.

Bumped into "Mater's" Grandpa...:)
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Decided that the next trip I would come in from this direction for a look see, I headed back around the Mountain hoping to get onto the mountain and set camp before dark...

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Being the Pioneer Holiday here in Utah, there were alot of folks on the Mountain road and the road was pure dust...
As I came up thru this stretch of road I saw a person laying in the road and somebody running down the road towards it...not good...

Well the next hour or so was spent getting help for a Lady who had rolled her ATV and munched herself in the process, along with trying to ease her pain, we got her stabilized and waited for the EMTs to arrive, it appears she'd cut/broken an elbow, collar bone, knee and seperated a shoulder, possibly other injurys that weren't apparent, we spent most of the time trying to keep her from trying to get up, shock does weird things to the human mind...luckily she had a helmet on, I'd advise helmets for all your family/kids riding of ATV's...Hope she recovers fully

I loaded my gear back into my truck and headed up the mountain.

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Plans change and that's part of life...was a GREAT sunset though...

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After spending a bit of time going up and down thru these basin's, I've decided that my hunting pack will only contain a pocket knife and water...:)...I must be getting old, lol.
I crossed into several different basins Saturday morning and ran into this family reunion party, since I was below them, I leaned against a tree to keep from falling off the mountain and just watched...

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Some decent Billy's in the group...

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This half pint pine squirrel entertained me for a bit, battling with his "almost larger than himself pine cone" and also taught me a good lesson of life..."anything can be accomplished with the right amount of enthusiasim"...
or a BIGGER gun, lol...

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Yep these share the same Mountain as the Goats, don't let my wife know though, she's already scared of the dark...

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Why is it when you hike back out from some basin/area, then look back, you always see an area you wished you'd checked out while you were there?...is it just me?...

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These are to prove to my wife, that I'm a "sensitive kinda guy" and that Mother Nature is a Hippie...

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The morning was well spent, with a few Goats sighted and a better understanding of this section of the unit, the afternoon was a more hurried affair as the shortened trip made me push this old guys body I'm trapped in, just to see the backside of another part of the unit...

One thing is for sure, flatter ground=fewer Goats, mainly Nannies and kids but you never know when "Papa" may return home...always good to know where he lives...

Set up for the night and started glassing...

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On 60x thru the scope this billy looks good, probably the best one to date...
Peering thru a spotting scope it just looks too "Easy" but I know better...

Darkness settled in, I ate dinner, streched out in my bag with the image of that Goat in my head, in that instant of starting to doze off...I remembered the "track"...
...great...

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That was the last thought I had, next thing I knew my watch was beeping telling me it was time to look for Woolies. With the Morning sun, it was easy to pick them out among the rocks...

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A couple more before I pack up...

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If you come upon my "summer cabin" back on the ridge, your welcome to use it, just sweep out the Grenola crumbs. We'll be back using it again in a couple of weeks so there's no sense hauling it out then back again...yeah I'm lazy...


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Came upon that Rockchuck again, he thinks he's a Mtn.Goat too...
Looking forwards to the next trip back, Thanks for wandering with me...

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Google earth is a very useful tool...pay attention...Goggle earth is a very useful tool...A pretty rugged hike from a different direction brought me into spotting scope distance of some definite "WOOLIES"...:)

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The distance and the light didn't work for the best of photos thru the spotting scope but you do with what your given right?...

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Being a "Goat Newbie" I'm just guessing...but if the Body's BIG...the head is BIG...I'm betting the HORNS are decent ;) What do you think?...

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Next trip I'll allow a full day getting into these guys, then we'll see what they look like "up close and personal":)...

So...just wondering...HOW BIG do they look when they get LONG HAIR? lol...
 
Well it's been a few days past 7months from when I had my shoulder surgery and last night was the night. I took "Fred" my old Bear T/D recurve and reattached my 60lb limbs to him...shot 3 arrows...yep just 3 but it was 3-60lb propelled arrows! I'm still pushing hard to be back hunting with my friend, someday I'll tell you the story of "Fred".

I'm headed to Idaho tommorrow to do some "River Therapy" for the shoulder and soul. We'll keep an eye out for those Wooly Buggers but they'll probably be PMD's :)...

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I always look forward to this time of year, the river monsters are waiting and times with good friends make the best of memories...

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Paul's first fish on a flyrod, our guide "Aikmed Nofishes" in his countrys "Traditional" garb...

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Mama Moose was NOT happy we were so close to her twins...

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Snake River ATV...

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Whats any trip without some weather?...

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"Biting off more than you can chew"...comes to mind...

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Mtn.Goat?...nope...


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The River was good to us, Cutty's on the riffles and Browns working the banks...I'm a lucky man...

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Caught this "DorkFish" on a Corndog...:)

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River Therapy is good for all ages...Smiles Stay a LONG time...

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Yep...I could seriously live there...

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As with all good times...they end...for a while at least :)... Heading home and getting excited for my final countdown to the hunt...

I should have known by the looming clouds that Saturday afternoon would be "Interesting"...

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My wife says I imagine too many things and that I believe the Anti-Hunt Gods conspire against me. Am I paranoid? Is my every move really being watched? Is it just me?...

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Wait...It's just fireworks right?...I've got to stop eating pizza late at night...


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I should have stopped at 4 arrows Saturday evening...

...great...

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...great...

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...great...

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...OPTIONS...there's always options...:)

3 Days after drawing a Limited Bull tag back in 2004, my son Justin broke his back Skiing...we weighed our options and decided to have him keep his tag, hoping that he'd somehow be able to hunt that year. The Doctor released him to shoot/hunt with a week left to hunt...this bull came in the first evening and Justins arrow put him down in under 60yds...ya gotta have faith.

...promised the Doc that we'd do the surgery after the hunts...had him put some Magic Juice in, so we're good to go...kinda :)


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The Mountain called so I obeyed:0 Here's a few pics...

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"Goat Wallows" :)...

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If this Nanny's horns were any longer, she'd start to look like an Ibex...

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Huummnnn...if I'm as big around as I am tall, probably not a good idea to fall...

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The 24th of July weekend, I'd hiked down to get an idea where the Goats went to bed, I'd found several pretty good trails worn into the ground from their daily travels. I'd put up a Trail cam to see what time they'd pass thru this section of timber as it would be a great spot to ambush one and to hopefully see what kind of goats were using this trail...close up....The batteries on my camera had gone dead on Aug 3rd according to the last pic (mental note-Lithium batteries next time) so I've missed a few days of pictures, I did pick up quite a few good pictures of alot of different goats...hope this brusier gives me a chance, I will take him...Time to change sim cards/batteries and get back up and out before it gets too dark...Batteries?...back in the truck...great...

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Got the batteries from the truck. Hoofed it back as the moon laughed at me...

Wildflowers...and when I love my pack the best...:)

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Well a week has passed since the Magic Juice was infused, some relief has come, going to give it a couple days more, then give my stickbow a try.

Without an archery deer tag this year, I was kinda "Mopey" till the boys said I could tag along as long as I don't spook the critters...Huuuhh?

Saw these below the house last night, not often you see a split beamed buck AND a drop horned buck running together...I'm Being TAUNTED!!!!!

Have a safe hunt folks, talk to you in a couple days!...4finger


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Made it to the top alive and headed for camp...

Question for all of you...If...your walking on one, does that make you a Roadhunter?...just wondering...:)

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Loading to go hunting is ALWAYS better than loading to go home...

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Yep, They're STOKED!...

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Saw a few elk driving in...

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Right on time as usual...

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Bite to eat, then sack time...

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Tomorrow it Starts!...
 
Wolf it down buds, it's starting to get light...

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Brady, my youngest son lost the coin toss, so I would be tagging along behing him, he's a good sport and stopped fequently to let me catch up.

Opening morning is always a rush, even without a tag in hand...

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We spotted a deer slipping thru the pines, Brady closed the distance to about 25-30yds...turned out to be a doe, was a good stalk though...yeah like that's never happened to you? lol...

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10:AM and we'd glassed a few does and had a herd of elk go by past us but no bucks, we stopped to take a breather, I shouldn't have looked up. The loop down and around we'd hiked, had taken us thru some great county but now we had to hike back up out...great...

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We decided to sit for a bit to formulate a game plan...

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After a brief "meditation" time, I dug thru my daypack to see what I had that would help get me out to the top...PAYDIRT!!!...a ziplock bag of Cherry licorice bits and an energy Gel, yeah, that should do the trick...

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After reading the directions on the Gel pack, I sucked it down then drank plenty of water as per the instructions, (yes, I ate it as I had carried it in my pack and I'm agely challenged) I handed the Cherry bits to Brady and he popped one into his mouth and about broke a tooth! This stuff was more like Cherry Jerky!
Brady asked me how long I'd had this stuff, so I started to try and rememeber, last year maybe?...I looked at the expiration date on the Gel pack thingy...best used by 27 SEPT 2004...great...

mental note to self...rotate pack stock. lol...


I recieved this look often as we hiked out...oh and the comment of "would it help you out to just shoot you now?"

Really though, Brady's a great son...

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Brady says I need to put a photo of me in here so you'd know I was there and not making this whole thing up...such a thoughtful son...

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Arriving back at camp, Forrest my 4th son had set up a new "Tree stand" for me, he said considering my aged state, he wanted me comfortable...told you I had Great sons!...

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Why is it that life just seems better in the Mountains?...

The boys took a snooze as I protected camp from Chipmunks and such.

Brady once told me "that I like Hunting...sleep, eat, hunt...repeat..." Yeah I agree... ok, time to wake em up.

Brady and I traveled the edge of this rim down until the wind changed then we cut back across the end, to still hunt the timber edges as the bucks head for the tops to fill their belly's...

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I just wish the scenery was better...:)

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We spotted a tall, heavy 2x3 buck across this meadow next to the timber. We played cat and mouse with this buck until the the Sunset said the game was over.
We closed the distance several times to around 70yds but with his meanderings, that was the best we could swing. He never knew we were ever there...

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I learned along time ago that there's more to a Bowhunt than putting an arrow thru a critter.

Brady and I headed back towards camp, with another Great memory of Hunting...and Us...

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Talking with Justin, he'd almost ended the mousing days of a Coyote that came past his stand, other than that he'd only seen a few flatheaded does.

As Forrest was Tagless like me, he was just tickled to be camping...We're Gillette's, it doesn't take alot to keep us entertained :)...

Last Thursday before we'd left home, Brady had recieved a message on his phone telling him to call the DWR. As the office was closed for the day and Friday the offices were also closed, He didn't find out what the call was about until Monday morning.
Seems someone had turned in a LE Archery Antelope tag and he was next in line...:)

Looks like we'll be chasing Antelope on the next trip...HEHEHEHEHE!...
 
"Options"

Well it doesn't look like I'll be shooting "Fred" my time machine T/D at a Mtn.Goat this year, or anytime in the future(never say never:0) attempting to pull it back, I could feel the "Grind"...great...


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I was whining to a Good friend of mine about the situation and he stopped by the house with his "Old Man Bow", Blake is a Rep. for Parker Bows and they make what they call an EZ Draw bow, the bottom wheel is huge! it looks like the rear tire off a Rokon motorcycle, in fact maybe there's a way to rig a motor up somehow...anyway, Blake dropped this bow by telling me that it feels like your pulling 10lbs lighter than you'd think and spits an arrow pretty good...I mean for an Old Mans Bow.

We set it at 60 lbs, gritted my teeth and gave it a tug...whoa! This just might work, the roll over was very smooth and letting down didn't yank the shoulder out of the socket...I pulled it again...yeah this is gonna work...it truely felt like 50lbs drawing back.

A quick trip to the Local Proshop for a few accessories and we were in business...Old Dogs can Change right?
 
..."Rokon"...:)

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Old Dog training...

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I was suprised as I touched the trigger and there wasn't a earshattering roar like when I shoot my .338 win mag...lol

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Brady's a better shot...for now :)...

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Fridays workday is done, heading South to the Parker Mtn Plateau...

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Amazing light show with lightening in the distance and stars overhead...think we saw some "UFO's" also but we're not telling anybody that, 'cause they'd think we were nuts...maybe we are...

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We were excited to be going back to the Parker, 3yrs ago, my 2nd son Justin drew a tag and the amount of good Antelope bucks and the fun we had had our hopes high...with good stalking cover abundant:)...we headed out.

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We headed for alot of the waterholes we'd visited and scouted during Justins hunt. At first we thought maybe we'd taken a wrong turn somewhere during the trip, there were 2 things strangely missing...Antelope tracks...and Antelope...great...

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The Mountain has changed dramatically in 3 seasons, the herds of 'lopes across the Mountain were absent, the turned in tag was beginning to make sense...

Deciding to head to a section that I hoped would hold a few animals away-way-ways away from where most hunters would go (most waterholes had some kind of blind on them) we took our trusty putt-putt and about 45 miles later found the one we were looking for...hope nothing happen's to her...it would be a long walk back to camp...

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Sunday morning found us packing for home...oh yeah, we'll be back here in a week or so, plan on waiting for the weather to turn hot and the winds to die down...as for the scarceness of Antelope, yep they were very few...BUT...considering we saw a few bucks along with the fact we only need...one...this will work:)

Just a couple pic's around camp and stuff...

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"Bummer Birthmark Quakie"...was hard on arrows...;)

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As I walked thru the Aspens, I was kind of slapped in the face..."First sign of fall"...focus bud focus...

Sept. 1st will be my 14th year from being 70yrs old celebration...

Maybe my Birthday present to me will be peering thru my bino's at a Billy...no problem...just gotta figure a way to sell the idea to my Sweety...:)

...begging again?...great...

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A few small bands of critters were seen as we approached the waterhole and tracks around it were enough evidence to put up the blind...oh did I mention the 60-70 mile an hour winds?...:)

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We swear we heard someone scream "SURF'S UP"...lol

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Common sense would tell a person that the odds were stacked against us...heavy winds, heavy rains during the past week and a lack of Antelope...and what Antelope we did see, were as spooky as if the rifle hunt had been on for a month...but hey it beats sitting home on the couch watching the tube...

"Guess the score"...awe just kidding...

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My stories of past hunts and the adventures of my life had Brady on the edge of his seat...man I was just getting to the good part too...:)

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You can see the eyelids on the birds that come to water...didn't I tell you it doesn't take alot to keep us entertained?...

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After 7hrs in an Antelope blind...you start to imagine things...

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Now, I've got to admit that besides being dreamers...we're realists also.

We figured that with Rain-Hurricane winds and spooky Antelope, maybe this wasn't the best day or the best LE tag on the planet.

So we packed up old Putt Putt as it was getting dark, pointed our trusty steed to the west and we headed out.

I was pretty impressed with my navigational skills and nighttime/no landmark driving until we came upon the sign that said...Hwy 24 or something...13miles...great...

Guess I took a "right" when it should have been "left"...I dug out my GPS and couldn't believe I was wrong, maybe the GPS needs new batteries, I pulled them out...nope, they're good...I swallowed my pride, turned the wheeler around, hit "routes" entered it and followed the line back to camp...arriving 10 minutes to midnight...see I knew where I was...:)

Dinner of Brady's "last year deer" softened the fact "I was a bit turned around"...what worries me is this story's going to be told "over n over n over n over again" around Gillette family campfires, with more exaggerations of Dad being LOST as the years progress...great...

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-10 AT 09:02PM (MST)[p]You folk's lives ever feel like a balancing act?...me too.

Raced to the Uinta's after work to set up our family camp for the LaborDay weekend, rules require you must stay overnight the first night...ooookkay...

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Woke up at 3:20am. Drove to my Goat Unit arriving well before daylight. Unloaded PuttPutt and headed off in the darkness.

As the sky started to lighten in the east, I approached my trailcam and knew the batteries would be dead as I'd place them during the 24th of July weekend. Anticipation was high, hoping for some good pictures. I opened the front cover with trembling hands...what?...what?...the dial was on "setup" instead of "auto"...suprise, the batteries were dead, along with NO pictures..."Happy Birthday to me"...:0

Did see a few Goats thru my tears, as I climbed back to the wheeler...

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So what Flavor of Lichen do you think Goats prefer more, Lime...Orange...Lemon...or Black Licorice?...I'm betting Black Licorice...

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Racing to get back to a meeting, I noticed a few "New" things...

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LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-10 AT 09:00PM (MST)[p]This was new...and I don't like the looks of it...

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This white stuff was new but the Grouse didn't seem mind it...

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This appeared to be the tracks of an elusive, though stinky "4finger"...:)

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Possibly the most Stealthy of all creatures...the sha-DOE...:)

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Ok...a lack of sleep makes me weird...er

Traffic was smooth and made the meeting in time...it was a good way to start the day...

Hope your was good also...:)
 
With the Goat hunt approaching at "Hyper Speed" the balancing act between what "needs to be done" and "what wants to be done" can at times become conflicting...Labor Day Weekend was a mixture of Family, camping, fishing and hunting...in that order... :0
When your a Grandpa you'll understand why these outing aren't really "relaxing"...BUT...are truly rewarding...Remember Family is what counts the most...

I got to spend some time enjoying all of them...here's a few pic's.

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Now being a Grandpa requires the passing on of wisdom, knowledge,compassion and correct education of this world among other things...

Take one young mind that is open to "learning"...
This is Grandson #3 Jackson, he'll be our "student"...

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After extensive discussion of methods and placement of "Midget Bear" bait stations...it pays off...

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Advanced Boy Scout Training...

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These are not Cows with Antlers...

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Even when there are tents to sleep in...Grandpa will sleep under the stars...:)

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It's great when someone else "rows"...

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We are Blessed to live in the Greatest Country in the World...

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when Camping...home rules don't apply...:)

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"Open Bar" = Water cooler...

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Chopping wood is for the big Kids...

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Grandparent's LOVE their family's...

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Enjoy the times as they come...they're worth more than "Stuff"...

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Here's a few hunting pic's from the weekend...

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First freeze of the year...I hear Goat Hair GROWING...lol

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...This morning as I trudged along in the dark on my routine packhike, I thought about my upcoming day...with the Goat hunt starting tomorrow, most if not all the folks I know, think I'm a bit crazy for not going...it probably is true.

I'd decided at the beginning of this adventure, that I was not going to let the aspects/pressures of having to shoot a Goat-a BIG GOAT/gotta get a Goat-blurr the experience and deminish the enjoyment of my hunt...my once in a lifetime hunt...remember this is "just me" talking and whatever anybody else wants to do is their choice and it's all good. :) I personally just don't want it to be over in the first few hours of the first day...if you understand, well that's good, if you don't...well that's good also. I'm sure the remainder of my hunt will be as successful as it has up to this point...

I'll be going with my sons Brady and Justin back chasing Brady's Antelope. Justin will be looking for a lost buck to hunt...me...I'm just glad they let me tag along with them for a few days. :)...I'll chase Mtn Goats next week...

Today though, I'll go say "Goodbye" to a young friend...Brady Price...who was taken from us last weekend in an ATV accident while bowhunting...Life has it's swings of ups and downs...a great adventure that is seldom "Fair" but it has it's ways of making us glad we're all able to experience it...with all it's ups and downs...Brady was/is a fine man, taken too young as many are. I'll miss my friend...Rest well Bowhunter...Rest well...

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With the truck loaded up with gear, we told the family "goodbye"...my Grandson Jack had that look of "I want to go too"...I've seen that look many times in the eyes of my sons when they were very young...his day will come, as did theirs...off we go...

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I'm a sucker for "Sunrises n Sunsets"...lets me think "what can I do with this one today...and...wow, another day of my life gone"...

This weekend won't be wasted :)...

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Justin headed towards the Plateau rim looking for Deer, while Brady and I headed for "Birdslide" blind...aptly named for the birds that would attempt to land on our sagebrush printed nylon blind, then promptly slide down the side and land with a soft "thud" in the dirt and look around like "whoa! what the?"...we should have had popcorn, it was great lol...

Now I do have to tip my hat to ANYBODY who shoots ANY BUCK ANTELOPE on the Parker this year...they are few and far between, the absence of Antelope made me wonder why they even were holding a hunt.
Compared with years past, I'm afraid it will take the Parker Years to recover to the rate it was just a short 3 years ago.
I"m no widlife expert but I'd personally recommend at least shutting down the late season Doe hunt for this year...

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Keeping our Attitudes positive, we patiently waited for Mr.Prairie Ghost...

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.
 
Just a few hunting photos from the Parker...

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"Shed"...

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"Dead"...

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This wide buck was coming into the waterhole, this pic he's still 300-400yds out...coming in...what's that sound Brady?...guess what a buck antelope does when someone buzzs them with an airplane 60 feet above the ground. Yep you guessed it..great...

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Wow! Time flys by...back to some hunt stuff...

We did discover thru highly scientific testing...that...
Yellowjackets prefer Gatorade over Yogurt...6 to 1...:)

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Brady and I set up on a different waterhole for our last day on the mountain, despite our best efforts to contain the blind, the winds flapping our portable blind spooked two different bucks that where coming to water...but we were entertained but the 30-40 sage chickens that flew in just as it got dark...

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We sat in the darkness and listened to the grouse purring and twettering to each other...then I turned on the video camera...I whispered to Brady that when I said now, we'd both scream to the top of our lungs!...ok now...the picture is black on the video but the Thunderous sounds of flapping wings as these B-52 bomberbirds were trying to get elevation in the blackness was hysterical! LOL...told you it doesn't take much to keep us entertained!...GREAT!...

Tomorrow we'd pack up and head for home...time for Mtn Goats...:)
 
Amazing that just above our "city lives" dwell these creatures of the cliffs.
To our DWR and others who in years past pushed and did what it took to get them there...Kudo's Folks, Kudo's...

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Mother Nature's starting her Fall fashions show...

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The process...:)

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Our "Bivy" camp...ok, Base camp...

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How do you start what was probably the BEST experience of my life?...4finger

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Leaving tonight to go follow Brady on his Elk hunt this weekend...talk to you next week :)...4finger
 
Only have opening day but Great to be out...

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Sorted out 8 elk on this hike from among the trees but all were cows and calves...

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We covered alot of miles using motorized and non-motorized quad transportation...

The day presented us a great 340 class 6x6 bull, numerous Cows/calves, grouse and 1 Spike bull that melted into the shadows of the underbrush as darkness fell...Good trip...Good memories :)...

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My plan on the first day was to re-visit the areas where I'd located Billies during the summer and see how much the opening week had effected them...4finger

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The opener had them moved alot and the ful moon wasn't helping things. The Goats would feed all night and be bedded on the dropoff edges at daylight, then would drop into the cliffs as soon as the sun hit them to bed for the day...

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Oh I'd decided to carry "Fred" my old T/D recurve...hey, he'd waited as long as I had to do this hunt...besides I'd told you before I'm a little "off" lol...

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Goat flowers were still blooming in the high country...

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Took a hike to Ben Lomond Peak, saw a few Goats...and no people...:)

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Spent the day Glassing and wandering...

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Slipped into 55yds from this Goat...was a fun "First" stalk...

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I still contend Mother Natures a "Hippie"...lol...

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The wildfires by Camp Williams created havoc for some families who lost their homes to it...but the smoke filled air made for some fantastic Sunsets...along with the Beauty...Mother Nature can be mean...

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Back at my "Spaceship" did a few chores and settled in for the night...

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I'd be hunting solo for the first few days, then 3 of my sons would be joining me at different times...I enjoy hunting by myself but the companionship of ones family and friends can't be beat...it had been a Great 1st Day...

I sat and stared into my "Caveman TV" anticipating tommorrow...:)

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Morning found me working the edges and glassing...

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I sat looking thru my spotter for about 20 minutes, deciding to head to another spot, I packed up my tripod/scope onto the Badlands pack, swung it onto my shoulder and looked up when I heard rocks moving...what the...where'd that come from?...I stood dumbfounded, as my brain tried to make sense of what my eyes were seeing, this Goat had appeared from no-where...I knew that behind it was a sheer cliff and somehow it had just climbed over the edge to where it now stood...35yds...if anybody EVER calls you a Mtn.Goat, take it as a compliment ;)...it just turned and walked back over the cliff edge...great...

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Swung down onto the timbered ridge to pull my trailcam, the last picture was taken the day before the season started, it held some good photos of Goats and even a decent muley...

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A couple of things about spotting scopes...one...they make it easy to see Goats...Two...it makes it SEEM they should be easy to get to...lol

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After lunch I shot a couple of arrows and grabbed my pack to go check on my tent that I'd set up during the summer...with some luck it's still standing...

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Found it still up, then looking past it thru the trees...I spotted the Goats...

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I backtracked and slipped out of my pack, set up next to a big rock and some deadfall. As I was crouched in the shadows I heard crunching over the hill to my right, I quickly slipped up and peered over the edge, a Billy was standing 10yds from me...behind a tree...great.
With the swirling wind on the rim, the Goat bolted and another one joined him as they dropped off the edge...CRAP!...
I heard crunching coming from where I'd been so I crawled back to where I'd been and got ready...the tips of Goat horns appeared...and they were headed straight at me...I told Fred to Calm down cause he was shaking!...
The head and remainder of a young Billy with maybe 7 1/2" horns was looking thru me as he came on, realizing that he didn't see me and that in about 2 seconds he'd be in my lap, I twisted Fred with my bowhand moving my Broadhead about 6" to my left...Best to have the Goat walk into my Broadhead than having him personal greet me :)
With the movement of the Broadhead the Young Billy stopped, stretched out his neck and tipped his head like a dog, with the look of "what was that?"...at that moment the Billy's nose was within 2" of my Broadhead and about 2 1/2 feet from me...GREAT!
He stood there for what seemed like a minute or two but probably was seconds...turned and walked away...pretty neat experience...

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The cruching of dry grass brought me back to my senses...

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A herd of young Billys/Nannie's/kids worked their way past me...23 in all from about 7yds out to 35yds...they were everywhere, it was fun to have them so close...

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The herd worked into the closest basin feeding as they went and in no real big hurry. I was totally suprised on where the Goats were spending the day, not what I'd consider Goat country but I'm guessing the Pressure from the opening weekend/week had been enough to move them hard. The full moon and pleasant weather didn't help, although I'll take the good weather verses snow on the cliffs...:)

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I glassed them until the sun started to set...kind of mesmerized by these unique animals...

Not wanting to push them out of the area, which in turn makes this old man cover MORE ground to locate them and others, I headed along the ridge from where they'd come, once out of sight I crossed over the top of the ridge and headed to camp...

My 4th son Forrest would be arriving late tonight, which I was excited about but the 2 days solo held some very special experiences for me...
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Forrest pulled in late...up early and we hiked back into the basin from the previous evening to see if we could locate the Billys that had bolted when they winded me...new day...new possibilities...:)

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Got to stop for Blue Grouse...right?

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Having been born with a keen eye for the obvious, I was a bit shocked when Forrest said, "Dad...there's Goats!"...I whispered "Where?"...he pointed and said..."everywhere!"...great...lol

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They were...mental note...visit eye Doctor...

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We didn't spook the Goats and they could have easily traversed around the cliff edge but being Goats, they climbed a chute up and out the top...Different animals indeed...

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Guess I'd best back up a bit and explain a few things...I'd talked to my sons about wether or not to continue the story...they said yes "do it"...so I will attempt to finish it...

I worried about goofing up the contest somehow, so I waited until the deadline had passed, then I PM'd Brian, aka Founder about finishing the story, he gave me an enthuisatic go ahead! Thanks Brian...

Being an Hunting/Outdoor family and the fact that the bulk of the hunts all happen at once here in Utah, I decided to not pursue the story's end but instead join my sons on their hunts until my shoulder surgery that was scheduled for Nov. 4th 2010 would stop me from going anymore...for this year...:)... Being right handed, which also was the shoulder they were going to work on, along with the fact that my typing skills lack when I'm using both hands and having only four fingers on the left hand...I could see nothing but a typing train wreck trying to finish the story...:) Well it's now been almost 3 months from the surgery, so I'll attemp to finish it...

My Congrats to all the folks who took the time to share their adventures and for taking us to places that alot of us possibly will never get to visit. I read and re-read all of them more than once...GOOD STUFF! Congrats to my Good friend Bill (who has more true stories, that others would call B.S. on. than any human should have the fortune to enjoy!!!) on a great story...My congrat's to the other finalists also but I also agree that there are/were so many that deserved something more, so I'll add what I can for you all...WELL DONE!!!

Lastly, Thank You to all who have PM'd me with well wishes, along with concerns...like the old quotation..."the tale of my death has been gratly exaggerated" lol...Thanks again...4finger

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How do I start this part of my story?...Guess it's just to tell it...

There was one part left out of the story I'd related earlier...right after the young Billy that was 2" from my broadhead walked off, I saw horns just cresting off to my left...a very good Billy appeared broadside...my focus went to a spot tight behind his front shoulder...the next instant my yellow fletching was sticking out of his side, as he bolted off the rim...I quickly had another arrow on the string as he came into view and stopped to look back at around 65-70yds...I took another shot but it dropped just under his chest...as the arrow clattered thru the rocks, he did too...

I'd hit him centered up and down but just right of his shoulder crease...on a deer it would be a back edge double lung/liver but on Goats where everything is pushed way forward...well lungs were out...livers shots are deadly...but they can cover alot of ground...and he did...

I glassed him as he worked across the rock basin and went past the other Billies he'd been with...he worked his way up the ridge paralleling it until he worked his way out of sight...

I worked my way down the ridge trying to keep him in sight but no cigar...I was stunned watching him and kept thinking he was going to tip over any second...not good...

Forrest arrived that evening and we spent the next day tracking him into the cliffs...most animals will bed and watch their backtrail...not Goats, they head down into the only area they know is safe...the place that others can't follow them...

As the day progressed, Forrest and I had been on his bloodtrail for almost 4 hours working our way thru/down the cliffs...we'd get to spots where we'd have to back out and come in from a different direction to get back on the track...meanwhile the Goats had simply walked thru/across/down/up areas where...simply put...we couldn't...

As evening approached we reached a spot that just stopped us cold...couldn't go up/down/forward without risking our necks...Forrest looked at me and whispered "if Mom knew where we were...She'd Kill us!"...I took my GPS out and marked the spot again as we had so many times during the day...we worked our way back out arriving where we'd left our packs, as dark hit...It was not the way we had hoped the day would end...

The next day Forrest and I worked the tops in from other directions trying to relocate/get close to the bloodtrail/spot where we'd been stopped by the snow chute/cliffs...to no avail...I'd like to say that we worked hard and it payed off...but it didn't...sometimes in life, all you can do...is your best...

Forrest left that evening as his work required it...I spent the next day crisscrossing the ridges, glassing for birds or white spots in the cliffs...anything/anyplace that could hold my Goat...Zero...

My sons Justin and Brady arrived that night and we spent the remainder of the hunt...glassing...hiking over/around and thru the mountain in an attempt to somehow recover whatever would/might be left...no luck but it was good to have their support and companionship...

Sitting around the campfire reflecting/discussing the hunt and the circumstances. My sons asked me if I wished I have just shot one with my rifle? I can honestly say that ANY Goat with ANY weapon is a memory to cherish...I'm glad I spent my time chasing it the way I'd always dreamed of...Only get to do it "Once in a Lifetime" I reminded them...

I came to the conclusion that my biggest mistake was in the instant of the shot...the mental lapse that the Goat was walking hadn't figured in when taking my shot...

The hunt had been/continues to be probably the best hunt I've ever experienced...The Willard unit has a very healthy/large population of Goats and speaking with the local DWR officer he noted that a few are loss every year due to the inability to retrieve them...still didn't/doesn't help though...

I did shoot a Goat the last evening of my hunt with my rifle...
was it a Big Billy?...awe No...there are alot more Nanny's than Billies and I'd had my chance on the Billy and he's mine regardless...She too will hold a special spot in my mind/wall...

Hope you enjoy the pictures to follow...4finger
 
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The determination and stamina of a mortally hit Mtn.Goat defied my imagination. Half the time it looked as he would just lay into the rock face and slide himself down the chutes...I never witnessed a spot that would suggest he ever "stumbled"...every hoof placement was so deliberate...this was his last hoofprint before he entered the snowchute that stopped us. The crumbley/poor rock stucture eliminated the hope of technical rockclimbing by someone who could...with my shoulders I knew I was out...




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