Shank it? or Crank it? Only the Billy knows
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BackofBeyond
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Glad I’m not the only one that saw that…
EYJONAS!
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Alright before this thing gets going into some weird Diddy zone of the universe let's get to it.....
Full disclosure:
While I was planning on bow hunting I took a rifle as well and with the opportunity that was presented I wasn't passing it up.
Full disclosure:
While I was planning on bow hunting I took a rifle as well and with the opportunity that was presented I wasn't passing it up.
EYJONAS!
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About a week before the endeavor into the land of goats I took the family out for a little glassing session. My son was not upset but bummed I could tell in the fact that he wouldn't be able to come on the hunt. It would be too much for his little legs and the last thing I want to do is burn the little man out. Everyone in the family has been really excited about this opportunity and knows what this really ment to me. Having him along for the majority of this entire adventure besides the actual trip has been such a blessing and I can't wait to hopefully share these full experiences with him and my daughter in the field. 
EYJONAS!
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I've been thinking about how to tell this story and it'll make a little more sense if I run it back a bit to say 2014....
I started to really want a new adventure and new challenge in my approach to hunting and the outdoors. I hadn't ever backpacked much or hunted really any of the higher alpine stuff when I was growing up. I had always had a burning desire to chase sheep and goats in the alpine but, we hunted elk and mountain mule deer. I never really back pack hunted at all. So when 2015 came around I decided I wanted to hunt Unlimited Sheep. Little did I know at the time, this would totally change my entire life as I knew it as a not only the hunter but my outlook and view of a lot of things in life changed as well.
The lessons learned and the friendships that have been created can all be attributed too the desire to hunt sheep and goats. The way I approach things is different, the feeling of overcoming a tough physical and mental challenge is more rewarding even if you don't come away in the end with the total prize. My friendships made through this adventure are hands down one of the greatest things that happened in my life. They've made me a better person, father, husband and hunter. They've pushed and inspired me to do more and be better. It was on full display on this trip with two absolutely incredible buddies that ultimately share the same love and passion I have for this sport. Without Andrew and Isaac this wouldn't have been. The series of events that unfolded over those 4 days in the alpine wouldn't have happened and too both of those guys I am forever indebted to them.
I started to really want a new adventure and new challenge in my approach to hunting and the outdoors. I hadn't ever backpacked much or hunted really any of the higher alpine stuff when I was growing up. I had always had a burning desire to chase sheep and goats in the alpine but, we hunted elk and mountain mule deer. I never really back pack hunted at all. So when 2015 came around I decided I wanted to hunt Unlimited Sheep. Little did I know at the time, this would totally change my entire life as I knew it as a not only the hunter but my outlook and view of a lot of things in life changed as well.
The lessons learned and the friendships that have been created can all be attributed too the desire to hunt sheep and goats. The way I approach things is different, the feeling of overcoming a tough physical and mental challenge is more rewarding even if you don't come away in the end with the total prize. My friendships made through this adventure are hands down one of the greatest things that happened in my life. They've made me a better person, father, husband and hunter. They've pushed and inspired me to do more and be better. It was on full display on this trip with two absolutely incredible buddies that ultimately share the same love and passion I have for this sport. Without Andrew and Isaac this wouldn't have been. The series of events that unfolded over those 4 days in the alpine wouldn't have happened and too both of those guys I am forever indebted to them.
Have you considered writing online recipes, or at least the prelude portion?
In any event ... I'm in.
EYJONAS!
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Sorry guys I had to post a few preludes for Rachel Ray Recipes and edit a story for Country Living Magazine.
In June excitement was in the air, a Beartooth Billy Bonanza was in the early stages of planning. A couple great buddies would make the drive to the Big City and we'd have dinner and beers discussing potential plans. Access routes, attacking different portions of unit. Does a guy come in from the North? East? or West? How many days? Where are the nursery zones? Where does one think the unit will hold billies? Is there an opportunity for a old mountain warrior? So together that night over a burger and some gin and tonic we begin to draft the plans for the '24 Beartooth Billy Quest.
i reach out to Shawn and we discuss the unit, talk to numerous others who've either hunted fished or backpacked the unit over the years. It kept coming back to one point though.... no one could really pinpoint where the Billy lived or where he would come from. "They are where they are" throw a dart at the map and there could very well be one right at the point of impact.... so I'd begin to breakdown the unit with the conversation of others and formulate some different plans and ideas. In which I'd put into action over the summer scouting with the family and other close friends.
About a month before the hunt I had reached out to a buddy that I've met through this site. Andrew and I over the past few seasons had talked a lot about mountain goats, hunting them, sharing adventures and stories and jokingly had always said "Hey, when you get a tag I want in on the adventure" well wouldn't you know that this would be Jonas' season to cash in his 22 Montana goat points. Without a hesitation Andrew immediately sends a text. I'm in.... just tell me when. I tell the boy that we will plan on a trip tentative of October 5 or so...... we discuss the routes I share some scouting reports, he has a great deal of knowledge of not only hunting the unit but also hunting goats in general. I believe this was his fourth straight year of accompanying other hunters on their Billy quest. Truly a great guy, as unselfish as they come and was a real pleasure to have him along.
And now you have the beginning of what is ultimately one of the greatest adventures of Jonas' hunting career......
In June excitement was in the air, a Beartooth Billy Bonanza was in the early stages of planning. A couple great buddies would make the drive to the Big City and we'd have dinner and beers discussing potential plans. Access routes, attacking different portions of unit. Does a guy come in from the North? East? or West? How many days? Where are the nursery zones? Where does one think the unit will hold billies? Is there an opportunity for a old mountain warrior? So together that night over a burger and some gin and tonic we begin to draft the plans for the '24 Beartooth Billy Quest.
i reach out to Shawn and we discuss the unit, talk to numerous others who've either hunted fished or backpacked the unit over the years. It kept coming back to one point though.... no one could really pinpoint where the Billy lived or where he would come from. "They are where they are" throw a dart at the map and there could very well be one right at the point of impact.... so I'd begin to breakdown the unit with the conversation of others and formulate some different plans and ideas. In which I'd put into action over the summer scouting with the family and other close friends.
About a month before the hunt I had reached out to a buddy that I've met through this site. Andrew and I over the past few seasons had talked a lot about mountain goats, hunting them, sharing adventures and stories and jokingly had always said "Hey, when you get a tag I want in on the adventure" well wouldn't you know that this would be Jonas' season to cash in his 22 Montana goat points. Without a hesitation Andrew immediately sends a text. I'm in.... just tell me when. I tell the boy that we will plan on a trip tentative of October 5 or so...... we discuss the routes I share some scouting reports, he has a great deal of knowledge of not only hunting the unit but also hunting goats in general. I believe this was his fourth straight year of accompanying other hunters on their Billy quest. Truly a great guy, as unselfish as they come and was a real pleasure to have him along.
And now you have the beginning of what is ultimately one of the greatest adventures of Jonas' hunting career......
EYJONAS!
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The plan is to go in October 4th and come out the 11th or so. We've decided to head back into an area I've scouted in the summer and located a handful of Billies hanging around. Not certain to what we'd encounter or if the Billies would even still be in the general area this is where our journey would begin and if we needed to regroup or press on we would make that change in there. It held two Billies I thought that would be potential shooter goats. I've stated before that I wanted to take an old goat, the horns were not that important too me. I wanted something atleast 8 to 10 years old or better, something that looked like a white gorilla while walking across the cliffs on the mountain. This guy appeared to check those boxes for me a hundred times over.... he was at the top of the list for me. I wouldn't settle for anything less once I saw him.
Keeping in touch with FWP on the harvests that had taken place so far in the unit I had known that one nanny was taken by a lucky hunter on opening weekend and since that nothing has been harvested and no reports of hunters being out in the unit..... this kept some high hopes coming into the hunt. Still unsure of if the goats I'd left on the mountain over 40 days prior to this trip would be in the area or remotely even close to it. We'd take our chances....
Keeping in touch with FWP on the harvests that had taken place so far in the unit I had known that one nanny was taken by a lucky hunter on opening weekend and since that nothing has been harvested and no reports of hunters being out in the unit..... this kept some high hopes coming into the hunt. Still unsure of if the goats I'd left on the mountain over 40 days prior to this trip would be in the area or remotely even close to it. We'd take our chances....
EYJONAS!
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The morning comes with high hopes and anticipations of the journey ahead probably the more so thought of how in the eff am I gonna get my fatass up 14 miles back into where I left the goats in August. One step at a time .... this is what I keep reminding myself.
First things first we gotta get there. I take the kids to school to help momma out and give them a kiss goodbye. My daughter made this for me to wear in for my trip. It's good luck she says and the little lady might be on to something....
I pickup Andrew and off we go into the sweet solitude of the Goat paradise.
First things first we gotta get there. I take the kids to school to help momma out and give them a kiss goodbye. My daughter made this for me to wear in for my trip. It's good luck she says and the little lady might be on to something....
I pickup Andrew and off we go into the sweet solitude of the Goat paradise.
EYJONAS!
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The pack in is..... a bitch. I did my best to try and maintain some form of level of "goat shape" it turns out I was about as in shape as a watermelon.
I packed way to much gear going in. It's been awhile since I've embarked on a backcountry backpack hunt. As I've seemed to take a liking to chasing the Prarie bulls these past few seasons. My pack is embarrassing. It's got more shit hanging off of it than a Christmas tree. It's packed to the gills. Andrew is looking at me like "Did I make a mistake?" Giving me a little ration of shit along the way. It was well deserved though on my end.
The hike is long, hot, windy AF but scenic as well. We make it in about 8.5 miles and climb 3500 ft and decide to call it for the evening and make camp. We still have a few miles to go on in the morning and some terrain to cover as well. A hot meal and a little evening glassing session was just right and what a guy needed to end day 1 on a high note.
We're now officially Goat hunting and it's a dream come true.
I packed way to much gear going in. It's been awhile since I've embarked on a backcountry backpack hunt. As I've seemed to take a liking to chasing the Prarie bulls these past few seasons. My pack is embarrassing. It's got more shit hanging off of it than a Christmas tree. It's packed to the gills. Andrew is looking at me like "Did I make a mistake?" Giving me a little ration of shit along the way. It was well deserved though on my end.
The hike is long, hot, windy AF but scenic as well. We make it in about 8.5 miles and climb 3500 ft and decide to call it for the evening and make camp. We still have a few miles to go on in the morning and some terrain to cover as well. A hot meal and a little evening glassing session was just right and what a guy needed to end day 1 on a high note.
We're now officially Goat hunting and it's a dream come true.
EYJONAS!
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The first night the wind is absolutely rocking.... so bad that I thought my tent wanted to shank itself and just be done with this trip.
I'm not sure what was recorded but I had heard that some guests were recorded at over 90mph that night across the state.
We awaken to what used to be a crystal clear view from camp. The smoke is so thick you can taste it. Me and Andrew are looking at each other like is this thing right below is or where is it coming from? I get some messages out and some details before we break camp and head on down to our next point of camp. Life is good for the boy up on top of the Beartooths.... smokey or not..
I'm not sure what was recorded but I had heard that some guests were recorded at over 90mph that night across the state.
We awaken to what used to be a crystal clear view from camp. The smoke is so thick you can taste it. Me and Andrew are looking at each other like is this thing right below is or where is it coming from? I get some messages out and some details before we break camp and head on down to our next point of camp. Life is good for the boy up on top of the Beartooths.... smokey or not..
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EYJONAS!
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Once to our next check point a few miles down the trail we drop our packs and get water. We take a break and visit about a camp spot and turns out right where we're sitting is the perfect spot. Not sitting there for even 5 minutes we get a sign from the ancient hunters that hunted this same area probably a 1000 years ago. Andrew picks up a piece of an obsidian point. We look at each other in disbelief..... this is a sign for us to camp here.
After we get hydrated we bust out the glass. Beginning to pick apart the mountain in front of us that I had laid the eyes on the Billies in August we catch a glimpse of an odd white shape behind a Boulder patch.
We make a move to a nob that gives us a better vantage point of the face. After a 20 minute hike up and in high spirits we can make out that the odd shape turned out to be 3 goats bedded down.
Could it be..... the same ones from August on the same ridge not even 300 yards from where I left them 40 days prior.....
About an hour in Andrew picks up a 4th goat below the 3. We can tell he's a younger billy right off the bat with a nasty scar across his eye. We dubbed him Scarface for the trip. Waiting patiently to get better ideas of what the others are we can tell two of the goats seem to be much larger than the third. We waited for hours for them to get up and move around. Only having 30 second glimpses of them get up to turn and lay right back down. They look the part of a big goat. They have the characteristics of Billies, large front ends and one of them has very pronounced glands. The excitement is building but we're calm. We don't want to jump to any conclusions and rush anything.
Isaac is en route to camp and we decide to head off the nob back down to camp and share our findings with our fellow goat hunter.
After we get hydrated we bust out the glass. Beginning to pick apart the mountain in front of us that I had laid the eyes on the Billies in August we catch a glimpse of an odd white shape behind a Boulder patch.
We make a move to a nob that gives us a better vantage point of the face. After a 20 minute hike up and in high spirits we can make out that the odd shape turned out to be 3 goats bedded down.
Could it be..... the same ones from August on the same ridge not even 300 yards from where I left them 40 days prior.....
About an hour in Andrew picks up a 4th goat below the 3. We can tell he's a younger billy right off the bat with a nasty scar across his eye. We dubbed him Scarface for the trip. Waiting patiently to get better ideas of what the others are we can tell two of the goats seem to be much larger than the third. We waited for hours for them to get up and move around. Only having 30 second glimpses of them get up to turn and lay right back down. They look the part of a big goat. They have the characteristics of Billies, large front ends and one of them has very pronounced glands. The excitement is building but we're calm. We don't want to jump to any conclusions and rush anything.
Isaac is en route to camp and we decide to head off the nob back down to camp and share our findings with our fellow goat hunter.
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EYJONAS!
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Moral is high in camp that night we have a great spot, the weather is amazing and we have 4 Billies about 1800 yards from camp that we can now fully see from camp feeding down off the cliffs. Two of the goats definitely needing a second look in the morning.
I'm not doing anything or getting excited about shooting any goats until we've got confirmed clear vision of what they actually are. My ultimate goal isn't a Billy, it's a old one. I could care less about the horns I wanted a big mature old goat and Andrew and Isaac both understood that.
The next morning we awaken to frosty tents and a smoke filled valley. Visibility is terrible at first light but quickly improves as the cold air started to leave. We immediately find the goats. All 4 of them feeding together just a couple hundred yards up on the mountain. We make a move to get in on them. Coming in from below I was certain they'd see us. And not knowing how far they were things were probably gonna unfold real quick. I have my bow with and Isaac is brandishing my rifle.
I can't thank him enough for packing that extra in for me ......
Before we come around the corner, we talk, we're all on the same page that nothing is happening until we know who is who on the ridge.
And at 275 yards we see this......
We're in awe, I shit you not I don't even think once about shooting one of these goats. We just sit there and watch them. Feed and work their way up the cliffs back to the perch from the day before. For 2.5 hours we watched em. Admiring and taking em in. I've been around a lot of goats but have never really had the pleasure of watching 4 Billies 2 absolute studs just hang in front of me at 300 yards for a couple hours.
We watch them go to bed then back out and sit for the afternoon...... at that point I started thinking to myself.... Jonas, why didn't you just shoot one of those older Billies that was just right in front of you.
We wait for the evening to come..... lots of thoughts go through my mind.
I'm not doing anything or getting excited about shooting any goats until we've got confirmed clear vision of what they actually are. My ultimate goal isn't a Billy, it's a old one. I could care less about the horns I wanted a big mature old goat and Andrew and Isaac both understood that.
The next morning we awaken to frosty tents and a smoke filled valley. Visibility is terrible at first light but quickly improves as the cold air started to leave. We immediately find the goats. All 4 of them feeding together just a couple hundred yards up on the mountain. We make a move to get in on them. Coming in from below I was certain they'd see us. And not knowing how far they were things were probably gonna unfold real quick. I have my bow with and Isaac is brandishing my rifle.
I can't thank him enough for packing that extra in for me ......
Before we come around the corner, we talk, we're all on the same page that nothing is happening until we know who is who on the ridge.
And at 275 yards we see this......
We're in awe, I shit you not I don't even think once about shooting one of these goats. We just sit there and watch them. Feed and work their way up the cliffs back to the perch from the day before. For 2.5 hours we watched em. Admiring and taking em in. I've been around a lot of goats but have never really had the pleasure of watching 4 Billies 2 absolute studs just hang in front of me at 300 yards for a couple hours.
We watch them go to bed then back out and sit for the afternoon...... at that point I started thinking to myself.... Jonas, why didn't you just shoot one of those older Billies that was just right in front of you.
We wait for the evening to come..... lots of thoughts go through my mind.
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Hate to interrupt but before I forget, what pack is that? I’ve been browsing a little, just curious
EYJONAS!
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Stone Glacier Sky Talus
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Can’t believe you didn’t shoot this big boy the second you saw him. 
EYJONAS!
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Now that we've had a confirmation of what is actually in the group the discussions begin. Erich
Which one..... there's two absolute stud Billies in this bunch. One we dubbed Peach Rings because of his pronounced glands and then we have John Wayne. In which I'm 99.9 percent certain is the giant August Billy I had the encounter with.
I typically don't name stuff but what the hell.
We go back and forth, they're both about the same size, similar horns, both walk around like a big brown bear walking down a beach. They dwarf the other two goats. We need to just make damn sure that whenever it happens that we have the Billies correctly identified.
We study the videos compare and contrast and I really like John Wayne. Given the encounter in August he was the one I wanted to take but would ultimately be over the moon with either him or Rings.
So we sit...... and wait..... for 6 hours. They never come off the perch. Until 30 minutes before shooting light is up. We're moved in close to get a good visual and possibly make a move. We ultimately just waited and watched. They put on another show for us moving up and down the cliffs feeding into the night. We pack up and head back to camp a couple miles down in the dark. On the way out I'm think about the shots passed, wondering if I've made the right choice. Are they gonna do it again? What if they move? Isaac has to leave tomorrow, would be awesome to do this in the morning.... I come to the conclusion that given where we are and what we have in front of us. If I get a crack at either of the two big Billies I'm taking one. I'm not messing around.
The night is quiet, plans are made, we ate some dinner, and some messages to the wives and turn in for the night. A Beartooth Billy could be in the crosshairs in just a few hours. It was honestly one of the worst nights of sleep I've ever had tossing and turning thinking about what could've been and what might happen tomorrow..... excitement is on another level.
Which one..... there's two absolute stud Billies in this bunch. One we dubbed Peach Rings because of his pronounced glands and then we have John Wayne. In which I'm 99.9 percent certain is the giant August Billy I had the encounter with.
I typically don't name stuff but what the hell.
We go back and forth, they're both about the same size, similar horns, both walk around like a big brown bear walking down a beach. They dwarf the other two goats. We need to just make damn sure that whenever it happens that we have the Billies correctly identified.
We study the videos compare and contrast and I really like John Wayne. Given the encounter in August he was the one I wanted to take but would ultimately be over the moon with either him or Rings.
So we sit...... and wait..... for 6 hours. They never come off the perch. Until 30 minutes before shooting light is up. We're moved in close to get a good visual and possibly make a move. We ultimately just waited and watched. They put on another show for us moving up and down the cliffs feeding into the night. We pack up and head back to camp a couple miles down in the dark. On the way out I'm think about the shots passed, wondering if I've made the right choice. Are they gonna do it again? What if they move? Isaac has to leave tomorrow, would be awesome to do this in the morning.... I come to the conclusion that given where we are and what we have in front of us. If I get a crack at either of the two big Billies I'm taking one. I'm not messing around.
The night is quiet, plans are made, we ate some dinner, and some messages to the wives and turn in for the night. A Beartooth Billy could be in the crosshairs in just a few hours. It was honestly one of the worst nights of sleep I've ever had tossing and turning thinking about what could've been and what might happen tomorrow..... excitement is on another level.
EYJONAS!
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Patience.
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