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2015 Idaho Goat tag (Most viewed post ever)

Nothing what we were looking for though. Like I said it was hot, in the 70’s easily. It was dusty as well. I have bad allergies. We were in an area that had no easy access to water. There is usually a 1,500-2000 ft drop to get some.

My logic is flawed but I thought that carrying less weight (Water) would help the hike. Lighter is better, right ? They say you learn from your mistakes but I keep making the same ones over and over. So with 48OZ and a 32OZ container and a 16 oz water for dinner, we were off for 2-3 days.

Hiking in being hot I got a great tan as you can see !!!! Problem is when I came home and showered it went away :


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I would have spotted more game maybe if I wasn't taking pictures of Bryce and me looking so FINE. I know we weren't duck hunting, but if we were.....

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Camping is fun. In the whole trip though, this is the only place IDB complained. Something about a small tent, small mummy bag and hard ground. You’d think with his snoring and all I would be the one complaining. I only had to smack him once.

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Dinner came around and you can probably at a coyote crap sandwich and think it was a gourmet dinner. Having a good Mountain house is just that much better. IDB wanted mine so I swapped him. I can’t even remember what it was but I’m not picky when it comes to food. He would tell you other wise…..

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We glassed up some goats but never seen a lone Billie to go after. Always a 2 pair or a 4 pair. The next day was the long hike in to an area we knew there were some goats. We hiked for what seemed like hours in the dark. Note to self, bring a head lamp. I always forget something but a head lamp? I had 2 different backpacks with me and we switched which one I took on this hike and in the top compartment of my first one was the light. Fortunately, IDB had a clip on cap type lamp for me to use.

As the daylight came, we glassed and glassed. Looked over a craw then moved to the next. Finally we came around a corner and POW, goats on the trail. We backed up, got out the bino’s and started looking them over.

There was 5 goats. We figured 2 Nannies, 2 kids and a Billie. They moved off to the left and we worked around with them. There is always decisions to be made when hunting. Do you back off, do you press forward, etc. We played the hold still game and creep when they crept. I’m sure we got busted 2 times when one looked back at usas we were in the open and just “ducked” to look like a rock.

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We worked around a little tree and the one goat came back towards us a little. We were off about 70-80 yards maybe ? Looking it over we had the “I think it’s a Billy maybe a Nannie ?” conversation. I looked at it through the scope broadside and it was a good goat to me. We watched it for a bit and it went back behind a tree. Bryce got out the Video and we decided if it steps out again I’d take it.

As it stepped out, turned broadside I pinned it in it’s spot. One thing about goats is they are near cliffs and high altitude locations. This critter could have ran a few short steps and gone down 1,500’ drop elevation easy.

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As it was, my once in a lifetime hunt was done and the work was about to begin. We took a couple pictures, quartered it up, full body caped it out and off we were. We hiked back to camp, loaded up and made the trip out in the same day.

The hike out is always a time to reflect. One thing I thought about a lot is Roy Roth. I never met the man but always followed his adventures through others and how his life tragically ended this year on an adventure like the one we just took. I thought of great friends that I have and the many animals I’ve taken over the years.


As Sunday was approaching I thought that on Sunday’s, many sit in church thinking about being in the hills. Others, are out in the hills thinking about God.


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Looks a great adventure! Glad you had some good help there to bring missing items.

The OIL tags especially make you reflect once punched.

Good looking coat on that nanny. Now go enjoy some delicious goat meat.
 
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Congrats on a great hunt! Thanks for sharing with us!
 
What a grand adventure and a fine looking goat.

One thing is for sure, when you two team up, critters are in trouble.
 
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