Montana mountain goat (pic heavy)

[mtmiller]

I am not much for storytelling, but obviously not afraid to throw out lots of pics.

I feel like crap this morning from the first cold I have had in years, but some lick from Wisconsin had to wake me up at 7, so I might as well post some pics of my hunt.

For those of you that don’t want to wade through a bunch of pics to get the money shot, here is a pic of my 2008 Montana mountain goat on the ground.

More pics to follow.

 

[mtmiller]

Home sweet home for 3 nights. The last night it was very cold. I was pretty dehydrated so filled the water bottle and when I woke up at 2 am and it was frozen solid. After beating the crap out of the bottle and prying on my ski boot like Lowas to get back to the creek I was back in business. Cold, but back in business.

First morning up the mountain. Cloud layer was pretty low and when it did clear from time to time I was not able to find goats where they were in July (go figure).

Visibility, but nothing to see.

Looking the other way. Still no goats yelling "over here, over here".

I started the morning somewhere waaaaay down there.

 

[mtmiller]

Well nothing in this basin, better head up through the saddle and see what is over there.

A little steep at the saddle, but I made it through. Woulda sucked breaking an ankle while trying to beat the 10 second timer on the camera.

Once on top, I found this guy. I didn't really like where he was...or where he could end up. I moved on.

 

[mtmiller]

Only a 1/4 mile further, I spotted a few goats and got down to glass one bedded in an opening. Small white dot above, 1 o,clock of the obvious goat (at the base of the rocks). I was trying to decide whether the one was a billy when this other guy walked out right in front of me.

I am far from an expert on judging goat horn length, but am an expert on knowing when I am having a good time and when I would be happy to take a critter home. This one will fit the bill.

He was probably about 70 yards and had no idea someone was watching.

Alright, enough pictures. Time to get the job done. Last picture before I put the camera away and flipped off the safety.

 

[schmalts]

sweet pictures. See, you had nothing better to do anyway

 

[mtmiller]

I shot this guy at 62 yards. I put the crosshairs low in the chest and squeezed the trigger. He bucked and I lost him in the trees. I watched escape zones for a couple minutes to make sure he wasn't going to give me the slip and then headed down to where I lost sight of him.

Cool, he went about 15 yards and piled up at the base of a tree.

There were 3 or 4 other goats on this mountain that I spotted before I spotted this guy. I lost interest glassing up there after the fact.

Life is good.....but now the real work begins.

Two days and three trips off the mountain and I am shot. Not many pictures taken after this point. Not sure I could have seen much through the view finder anyway with the sweat pouring off.

At least finding a scenic water fountain was not a problem.

One of my most fulfilling hunts, but for now I am very happy to be sitting behind the computer.

Hopefully feeling better by tomorrow as I think Axl is a little pissy for not being invited and wants to chase some ducks this weekend.

This state don't suck.

 

[BuzzH]

Wow, really great photos and a nice goat as well.

Congratulations.

 

[brymoore]

Awesome! Great goat!

 

[T Bone]

woohoo! Nice billy Craig! That guy is in prime condition.

What is his age?

How far of a pack?

 

[The Hedgehog]

Another Wow. That's an awesome goat and sounds like a perfect outing. Congratulations!

 

[JoseCuervo]

Great "Before and after" photos of the goat. You gotta love that.


Congrats on a great hunt and nice job working that hard by yourself to accomplish something most only dream about.

Congrats.

 

[nmtaxi]

Beautiful goat. Congrats.

 

[Dinkshooter]

Great pictures and great goat. SOunds like a great hunt.

 

[Delw]

Craig Congrats , those are great pics

 

[sreekers]

Hunt of a lifetime miller. Who says you can't tell a story, that one was pretty good.

 

[shoots-straight]

Great goat MtMiller!

 

[MNHunter]

Congrats! I am truly jealous!

 

[wyomuley]

That is awesome Congrats!!!

 

[IDHunters]

Nice photo essay, good job on the goat.

 

[elk_hunter]

Congrats, miller! Awesome goat!