Warnniklz 2014 Cariboo Hunt

[warnniklz]

Well I have 8 hours of work left tomorrow, then it's my first leg of my journey.

This spring me and my buddy "Hard As F*ck Reid F*cking Fichtner" or RFF for short were on the phone discussing LEHs. We jokingly put in for cariboo ip 6-20A. We joked about how we would get the draw and have to go in on a fly in. Well when July rolled around... low and behold we both got our cariboo draws. My brother and Tranquilizer also applied but didn't get so lucky... maybe they did...

So since we got the draw, we decided not to bitch out and plan the trip. I'll be meeting RFF in Prince George this Sunday afternoon. Monday we'll drive to Tattogga lake and fly in to camp Tuesday morning with Alpine Lakes Air.

This will be my first fly in and RFF's first alpine/fly in hunt. I can say it should be entertaining with the two of us on a mountain side. He claims he's geard up. He's been calling me/texting me every day about what he needs. Now I know what's needed for an alpine hunt... hopefully a fly in isn't much different.

We use to play guns as kids... RFF always had a backpack full of every gun imaginable. So if that's a sign of what he loaded up with for gear... I think I'll be pulling a lot out of his pack.

We're flying in on a cessna 206, so payload is only 850 pounds. Since the two of us are so full of shit, combined we're already at 500 pounds. So we already know some of our gear will have to be disposable if we both knock over critters.

Haven't hunted the area and going in a little blind. But I have read a thread or two about hunting the Cold Fish Lake area. So that'll add to the excitement. From what I understand, hit the plateau and we should see some bouskis.

We'll both take a good poop before we fly out and hopefully shed some pounds putting down some boot rubber.

[Sofa King]

sounds like it's going to be an experience.
can't wait to hear about it.

[srupp]

Hmmm youll do great Warren...get some elevation and use your optics...remember as tough as you guys are caribou feed as fast as you can walk...new word of the day..intercept..
Youll love fly in hunts its addicting..
Cheers
Steven...

Do you have all the gear?

Cheers Bro.

[40incher]

Head up the Black Fox Creek trail and hunt towards Caribou Mountain. There's a reason for the name!

Good trail form the cabins up to the Spatsizi Plateau, and the Caribou should be gathering up there for the rut.

Get a big one!

[kyleklassen]

did you drink my luckys?

[markomoose]

Those caribou steaks are gonna taste better than any of that "Acme Bird Seed" or dehydro slop you'll be feasting on.Bring steak seasoning and garlic.Looking forward to the story apres hunt.Good shooting and have fun! Cheers Mark

[two-feet]

Looking forward to the story, you do a good thread.

[warnniklz]

did you drink my luckys?

Just haven't sent it yet... sorry bro. I'll get that out right away.


Hmmm youll do great Warren...get some elevation and use your optics...remember as tough as you guys are caribou feed as fast as you can walk...new word of the day..intercept..
Youll love fly in hunts its addicting..
Cheers
Steven...

Do you have all the gear?

Cheers Bro.

Intercept... noted.

I'll have to stop by and show off the hat hanger... if im so lucky

As for gear... guess I don't really know.

Pack - Eberlestock J107
Hiking poles
Scarpa boots
Food
MSR pocket rocket stove and fuel
Camp towel
Pepto, caffine and ibuprofen pills
Rub A535
Hand canon and ordinances
Sil tarp
Gloves
Toque
100' of para cord
Spot
Garmin gps
Thermarest
Sleepingbag and wool liner
Spotting scope
Binos
Knife and razors for caping
Tent
Aquatabs and emergen-c drink mix
Hydration bladder
7 pairs of socks (I like dry feet)
Designated thermals for sleeping
Base, mid and shell for clothing
Rain gear
Gaiters
4x8 piece of plastic donated by polaris
Game bags
Head lamp
Spare batteries
Camera
GREEN GOLD BOND
fire starter
Tin of skoal

What am I missing?

[REMINGTON JIM]

Good Luck :-D- expecting a lot of pics and a good story from ya ! :wink: RJ

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Count on another flight for meat.
The 206 is pretty cheap to fly

SSS

[srupp]

Tp...and baby wipes..
Cheers
Steven

[Caribou_lou]

Interested in hearing how your caribou will taste. Seems to be some mixed opinions on time of year to hunt Caribou and still be edible. As you can tell im quite confident you'll get one. Doesn't have to be 5 point up top in the park either. Some big bulls that don't get 5 points on top. I saw a whole herd of them!

[BCbillies]

Warn's the kind of guy that will eat anything . . . doesn't even need to be cooked! Have a great trip, should be a great time and give us some notice once you're back to get the popcorn popping.

Don't see toothbrush, paste, floss and mouthwash on your list? ;)

[HarryToolips]

Your missin a hatchet and a compass..good luck out there

[Buck]

Dress warm gonna be chilly up there.Rain Sun sleet snow ...Repeat

[LupieHunter]

Ibuprofen is an antinflmmatory and will only help with inflammation related pain. If your bringing pain meds for just general pain, headaches, etc, you're better bringing Tylenol. Tylenol is also easier on the stomach

[markomoose]

just haven't sent it yet... Sorry bro. I'll get that out right away.



Intercept... Noted.

I'll have to stop by and show off the hat hanger... If im so lucky

as for gear... Guess i don't really know.

Pack - eberlestock j107
hiking poles
scarpa boots
food
msr pocket rocket stove and fuel
camp towel
pepto, caffine and ibuprofen pills
rub a535
hand canon and ordinances
sil tarp
gloves
toque
100' of para cord
spot
garmin gps
thermarest
sleepingbag and wool liner
spotting scope
binos
knife and razors for caping
tent
aquatabs and emergen-c drink mix
hydration bladder
7 pairs of socks (i like dry feet)
designated thermals for sleeping
base, mid and shell for clothing
rain gear
gaiters
4x8 piece of plastic donated by polaris
game bags
head lamp
spare batteries
camera
green gold bond
fire starter
tin of skoal

what am i missing?
a good kill bottle of your fave beverage!!

[Caribou_lou]

I don't see Grizz tag on that list! Most likely see one for sure.

[decker9]

Just haven't sent it yet... sorry bro. I'll get that out right away.



Intercept... noted.

I'll have to stop by and show off the hat hanger... if im so lucky

As for gear... guess I don't really know.

Pack - Eberlestock J107
Hiking poles
Scarpa boots
Food
MSR pocket rocket stove and fuel
Camp towel
Pepto, caffine and ibuprofen pills
Rub A535
Hand canon and ordinances
Sil tarp
Gloves
Toque
100' of para cord
Spot
Garmin gps
Thermarest
Sleepingbag and wool liner
Spotting scope
Binos
Knife and razors for caping
Tent
Aquatabs and emergen-c drink mix
Hydration bladder
7 pairs of socks (I like dry feet)
Designated thermals for sleeping
Base, mid and shell for clothing
Rain gear
Gaiters
4x8 piece of plastic donated by polaris
Game bags
Head lamp
Spare batteries
Camera
GREEN GOLD BOND
fire starter
Tin of skoal

What am I missing?

Hat hanger???..... Noooooo !!!!!! Lol..... 151 and orange tea, best thing ever for them nights full of wind rain snow and sleet....... 151 vs wiser's, only need to pack 1/2 as much lol. Good luck warn !

[Surrey Boy]

Don't see toothbrush, paste, floss and mouthwash on your list? ;)

I think that's covered under "tin of Skoal".


Hope you do well.

[Husky7mm]

Just haven't sent it yet... sorry bro. I'll get that out right away.



Intercept... noted.

I'll have to stop by and show off the hat hanger... if im so lucky

As for gear... guess I don't really know.

Pack - Eberlestock J107
Hiking poles
Scarpa boots
Food
MSR pocket rocket stove and fuel
Camp towel
Pepto, caffine and ibuprofen pills
Rub A535
Hand canon and ordinances
Sil tarp
Gloves
Toque
100' of para cord
Spot
Garmin gps
Thermarest
Sleepingbag and wool liner
Spotting scope
Binos
Knife and razors for caping
Tent
Aquatabs and emergen-c drink mix
Hydration bladder
7 pairs of socks (I like dry feet)
Designated thermals for sleeping
Base, mid and shell for clothing
Rain gear
Gaiters
4x8 piece of plastic donated by polaris
Game bags
Head lamp
Spare batteries
Camera
GREEN GOLD BOND
fire starter
Tin of skoal

What am I missing?

Whiskey !!

[warnniklz]

I think that's covered under "tin of Skoal".


Hope you do well.

Nailed it!

RFF is packing his swede saw. I never forget the whiskey! That's just a given to be in the pack.

[digger dogger]

Down suit?
It gets damned cold glassing in the wind on the plateau.

[Ambush]

After your goat hunt, I think you can pretty much just start walking in in your underwear and shoot all your food, comfort and clothing needs. And you'd probably suffer less.

You like pain and deprivation.

[warnniklz]

...I think you can pretty much just start walking in in your underwear...

Underwear? Is that what the kids are calling it when they grow out their crotch beard?

[604redneck]

Gonna be alot different gear than an alpine hunt u would be used to.....take very warm clothes! I was in granby on the 12th and it was -10 at night and the spat can be alot colder good luck I hope u get a big bull

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Are your scarpas insulated? I hunted bou this time of year without gaiters and insulated boots and I've never forgot the pain and that was 11 years ago.

[Blainer]

Good luck
I flew the same airline, same plane, same area, same target earlier this month.
We unfortunately didn't have success, but we did have a rewarding adventure.
Tough hunt mentally and physically.
We are still drying out.
As indicated, we seen caribou up the black fox trail at the back end towards caribou mnt.
Go get that big *******!

[warnniklz]

Got gaiters and kick ass socks.

[warnniklz]

First 8 hours of driving down... 9 to go

[warnniklz]

Made it to smithers...

[srupp]

Be safe Warren..
Cheers
Steven

[kennyj]

I love caribou hunting. You'll have a blast. Timimg is perfect. 2 major packloads of de-boned meat per caribou.
Ya hoo...

kenny

[warnniklz]

Well first order of business was getting in some range time with Dolly (vanguard 300 win mag).
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It was hot out and she wouldn't cool down. I couldn't get her to settle down. She was shooting like a drunk child with ADD.

I went to adjust my windage and noticed everything was loose. Bases and rings were both loose. So I had to re-mount the scope at the range. Now I remember why I mount my own optics and don't pay $10 to have it "professionaly" done. Anyways got her re-mounted and bore sighted. Got her shooting tight in no time and ready to go.

So back to RFF's place and it was time to go over gear.
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Before tent and food my pack tipped the luggage scale at 49 pounds
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Reid F*cking Fichtner's pack weighed in at a hefty 61 pounds.
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He couldn't leave fire starter, glow sticks and matches behind. He also likes fresh clothes for every day. He claims he'll leave more behind next time.

[adriaticum]

Ha,ha Mr Pickles, you're in it to win it!
Good luck!

[Sofa King]

lookin' awesome so far.
happy hikin' guys.
go get'em.

[warnniklz]

So in the morning we did a little last minute shopping and we were off. We rocked some solid sing-a-long songs on the way up.
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We made a quick stop in Houston to pick up my food and tent.

By six we had turned off at kitwanga
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I can drive from Williams Lake to Prince Rupert with my eyes closed. But I've never been up this stretch.

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We were getting excited. Almost there, we had cabin #3 booked at Tatogga lake resort.
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We arrived around 10pm or so. Everything was dark and no one was around. So we pulled up and packed the last little bit of gear via headlamp.
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So we made RFF's duramax our cabin for the night. RFF was not impressed with me or his sleep that night for some reason.

[Jagermeister]

You forgot your toenail clippers!

[warnniklz]

So needless to say we were awake pretty early. The squirrels weren't even up yet.
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We made our way down to the lake and were greeted ny our pilot Clay.
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RFF looking over our mode of transport.
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The pilot asked us "so do you guys have coolers and stuff?"

I said "no... just our packs and a half empty rubbermaid tub"

Pilot said "oh! Uhhh ok"

RFF gave me a slightly worried look. I think this is when he started to reconsider what he got himself in to.
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[Buck]

This is going to be good...I bet the weather sucked.

[warnniklz]

So half hour later, the plane was liaded up and ready to ho. We were off! The flight was quite relaxing and had a super smooth landing. We had our gear unloaded in no time and the plane was off. We were greeted by two really nice camp host. Gave us the run down. The old guy kept telling us about hot showers on sight. I think he was trying to keep us from hoing up. It had already been a week since I showered.... so the temptation didn't even phase me.

We dropped what gear we didn't need in the cook house, got geared up and hit the trail.

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We figured we'd get some final shots for the milk carton
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[warnniklz]

So we started down the trail. What bullsh!t that was. Horse trail, marked, no devils club or sting nettle and no bushwacking?

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We were only part way up the trail and RFF was losing his "hard as f*ck" pretty quickly.
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So it was decided we would head up to the plateau.
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[warnniklz]

Two hours later RFF had manned up and wr made it to the top
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[warnniklz]

So we immediately started looking for a place to set-up shop
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It was a gorgeous day for the hike up
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[warnniklz]

I got RFF going on setting up camp.

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We were out of water and needed to find a source. So I grabbed our hydration packs, my binos and my rifle. I figured I could find a snow pack or a creek of some sort. Found out it was pretty dry up top. As I was using my indian tracking skills to find water, I heard a pop followed by a "whoo hoo!". Someone just dropped one. Should be good...

So I figured I'd start heading back to camp and figure something else out for water because the sun was setting. I came over the ridge and from my radio I hear

"I see a dirty squaw belly on the ridge"

So I start looking through my binos down to camp. Before I could come up with a return remark, all I could say was "don't want to get your hopes up... but I think I just gound water".

So I bailed over the ridge and down towards camp. I was thinking it may be just whitr tocks or something reflective. But it was really green all around and it just may be water.

Sure enough I found a spring about 400 yards from camp. It came out of the mountain and dried up rather quickly. I told RFF to get up to where I was and bring our canteens and headlamps right away. It was going to get dark fast. We dammed up the spring a little to get some pools hoing and make spots where we could fill our hydration packs. We dubbed it "WR Waterworks"

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[luckofthedraw]

Excellent thread. Thanks for taking the time to post.

[warnniklz]

So RFF made us some dinner and it was time to retire for the night
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The tent wasn't just tilted head to toe... but also left to right. If you've ever wondered what it's like sleeping next to Yukon Cornelius or an overgrown ewok... it's not the greatest... but it is warm.

Anyways, I was up before daylight and took some coaxing to get RFF out of the tent. Usually it's me that needs convincing and 10 minutes to warm my clothes in my sleeping bag. But I was itchin to go.

The weather was not looking promising. So we geared up and made our way to tge top of the plateau. As we climbed we hit rain. So on with the rain gear. We pushed on and it stopped raining. Only to start sleeting which in turn with the gain of elevation... turned to snow.

As we were hunting along we came across a fox. We named her Foxy Cleopatra. As soon as she spotted us, she b-lined it right to us.
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She kept following us, so we had to throw some rocks at her to scare her away. She bailed and headed straight for our camp. My first thought was she was going to raid our camp and I best knock her over. Better judgement prevailed and all was good...

Except the fog started to cone in heavy and we were a ways down the plateau. I had a good bearing on where our camp was. Reid ****ing Fichtner decided that it would be best to follow the GPS back to camp. The fog had moved in pretty thick. We were close to camp by now, but I figured we'd listen to the GPS instead of my walking us off a ledge.

I thought we were close, but we had been making a steady pace for quite some time. I asked Reid F*cking Fichtndr how mych further we had to go. He insisted we still had a ways to go. I thought that was odd, but NASA wouldn't lie to me... so we trucked on. After a little longer, it seemed like we had done a 180. But maybe because we couldn't see very far, my bearing was off... so I ignored it and we kept on with the GPS. About half an hour later I asked RFF again how much further. He said we still got a ways.

Now I know we didn't walk that far. I asked him what direction the lake was. He told me to our left. Then I asked him what direction north was. He said to our left. At that moment I knew sonething was haywire for sure. I told him to follow me. We did a one eighty and started headung to the lake side of tge plateau. Funally RFF said the camp waypoint was within 600 yards. So we bailed down off the ridge. We came across WR Waterworks and began refillung our water supply.

As we were getting our water, thriugh the fog, two guys with a cariboo rack emerged on the horizon. They didn't end up comubg near, byt it sure looked like a fine specimen to me.

We finished gstgering fluids and headed back to camp for tgh night.
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[markomoose]

Looks cozy up on the hill.I bet bubba lost a few pounds on that hike?Keep it going!

[kennyj]

I'm loving it!
Keep up the good work.
kenny

[Trekker]

Great stuff so far. You sure know how to tell a good story. Looking forward to more.

[Blainer]

Great thread
I took many of the same pictures in early Sept.

[ace76]

Clay is a good guy and a great pilot, he had to rescue us this year in some pretty nasty weather when there was white caps on our lake. Plane was getting tossed around pretty good. Anyway that's a different story and so far reading yours is really good, keep it coming Warren, I'm looking forward to some big bou pics.

[Blainer]

Clay is a good guy and a great pilot, he had to rescue us this year in some pretty nasty weather when there was white caps on our lake. Plane was getting tossed around pretty good. Anyway that's a different story and so far reading yours is really good, keep it coming Warren, I'm looking forward to some big bou pics.sounds like an interesting tale.
hope you elaborate or start new thread

[warnniklz]

I was hoping that it would pour rain that night to knock down the fog. Boy did it pour that night! I'm guessing about 3am-ish, the rain decided to start waterboarding us. It was a cold wet night.

So we were up early. I got my wish for rain and then some. But the fog was still thick in the morning.
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The fog kept teasing it would break. It would just start to lighten up, then a breeze would roll some more fog like a chipped cummins rolls coal.
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So we hung our stuff out to somewhat dry.
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[warnniklz]

Late in the afternoon the fog finally lifted.
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RFF decided to watch camp while I bailed up the hill. I think he was still feeling it from the day before. This is when he told me that the next time he heads on a backpack hunt, he's not going to smoke a pack of captain blacks and drink a beer just before he hikes... I spent the last hours of the day trying to find life up on the plateau. With no luck...

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[warnniklz]

The next morning I got us going early. A high pressure system moved in and she was frosty. I knew it was going to be a gorgeous day.

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We started up the hill. We hadn't made it in visible light to the far end of the plateau and RFF had barely seen any of it.

As we were pickung our way up the hill I stopped and asked Reid F*cking Fichtner which way he wanted to go. He pointed in one direction and said "this way looks nice". Wrong answer. This hike and searching for cariboo has been too easy.... physically that is. So I made him go straight up a small rock face. Then we were on top.
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[warnniklz]

We spent the day hiking and glassing every nook and cranny we could. Hunting the plateau reminds me of where I hunt mule deer. Looks like it's all open country, but in reality it has plenty of hiding spots.
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[warnniklz]

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[warnniklz]

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[warnniklz]

I figured it was getting later in the day. My watch was dead and it had been bothering me. So we started working our way back to camp.
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[Getbent]

Great Thread man...cant wait to see some horns!!
Hurry up!!!

[warnniklz]

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We got back to camp and asked RFF to turn the GPS on and tell me what time it was. He informed me it was only 2pm.

I told him "we have lots of daylight left, let's go"

That's when I seen the fear and sadness come over Reid's face. He was spent. He told me he was ready for a dry place to sleep and a hot shower. So against my vote we packed camp and headed back to the cabins.

Reid putting on a brave face on the trail back down.
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How he really felt
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When we got to the cabins, Reid went and got our cabin all set up. I went and made friends with the Fitzsimons from Prince Rupert. The kid had got a fine specimen of a cariboo. Talking to them, they were seeing them everywhere... I was thinking Satan... I mean Santa had taken them all back to the north poll.

[warnniklz]

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Cabin #2
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So we spent the night talking to the Rupert boys. They were kind enough to cook us some cariboo steaks and rice for dinner.

All that night all I could think of was
- still two days until the plane arrives
- didn't hunt hard enough
- didn't hunt far enough
- I'm better than this.

So I spent the whole night looking out the window looking for some hint that the sun would rise. Finally I grabbed my headlamp and started packing up my gear.

Reid asked "what are you doing?"

I told him I'm headed back up the hill.

[sherpa-Al]

TSN turning point.

[Quesnel Kid]

Yeah you did. i was worried for a minute that you wimped out and bailed early. Sooo.........

[warnniklz]

I grabbed my rain gear, knife, water, rifle and some powerbars. Tossed everything into my pack and slung my binos around my neck. Then I was off up the hill. I was so antsy to get up there, I had to keep myself from running up the hill. I was up on top of the plateau in an hour and a half.

The wind was so bad. I felt like mother nature was trying to remove me from her face like a zit the night before prom.

Every time I tried to glass, the wind would rip the tears right out of my eyes. I marched strauggt into fhe wind. If the critters winded me.... they deserved to live. I was looking in every dip, around every knoll and over every ledge.

I spotted some goats. So obviously I started watching them. Looked like a nanny, a kid and youngin. To my right was what I was sure was a billy. Big and alone.
Should be able to see the three to the far left of the picture.
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I spent the rest of the day on the plateau.
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Made it right to the end and then worked my way around the backside. I felt defeated. I finally made my way off the mountain.

[warnniklz]

I'm going to apply next year but I'll definitely do it differently. I'll be in there harder, further and longer.

Reid said he'd be better prepared next time. But he's already said he's not going next year.

So now it's time to smash some deer another goat.

[NorBC]

But then....

[Getbent]

tough hunt man...hope you knock over a cranker buck

[Salty]

Uber thread niklz! Felt like I was right there with you buddy.. Awesome pics and write up and a good read for me cuz its lookin there might be some similar silliness in my 2015 calendar :mrgreen:

[digger dogger]

Awesome thread warnniklz. There is always another hunt up there, and you know what your in for.
Have a great deer season:-)

[markomoose]

Good read there Warren.I love the pics.Sounds like you gave it everything you had.

[d6dan]

Warren, Great pics and story telling, but get your asses south of the lake next time. Better country for what you want.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

You always learn the most the first time you hunt a new area.

Best of luck on your return trip!!!

SSS

[warnniklz]

There's a stone sheep in this picture. I can say this is the first alive stone sheep I've seen.
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Spotted a whack of these guys on the far side of the lake.

Here's some more pictures.
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[warnniklz]

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[warnniklz]

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[835]

First 2 pics ( doubles )in post 78 are awesome!

[pnbrock]

ah yes remember walking down the trail to water feeling like my legs were gonna fall clean off.good story and great photos.

[Brambles]

ah yes remember walking down the trail to water feeling like my legs were gonna fall clean off.good story and great photos.

If I had a caribou like yours on my back I woulda been floating on a cloud of pillows off the mountain.

[kennyj]

Great thread! Thanks for sharing your adventure and awesome photos.
kenny

[Ambush]

Yeah, I heard your pard got tired of packing you around like a papoose.


But you had fun and that's nice.

[Drillbit]

Thanks for taking us along!

Instead of paying for taxi work, you can buy another plane ride!

[Caribou_lou]

Great thread! That's hunting for ya. Beauty pics

[180grainer]

Great thread. Next year...:)

[ElliotMoose]

Great thread and some fantastic pictures. Would even be cool to have seen those guys coming out of the fog with a rack on the back. Thanks for takin us along!

[Fisher-Dude]

This thread is what it's all about!

[Blair]

Hey I really enjoyed reading your tale and seeing the great scenery. I was planning to go to Spatsizi this year. We have had caribou success up there in previous years but an injury has kept me sidelined for the 2014 season. I have to admit I felt disappointed when you came up empty, but then I thought that is what happens a lot. Like my brother and hunting partner says "it's hunting, not shopping". Just being out there is a great experience. Thanks again.

[warnniklz]

Yeah, I heard your pard got tired of packing you around like a papoose.


....

Overgrown ewoks make allright sherpas


...
Instead of paying for taxi work, you can buy another plane ride!

I mentioned that to Reid. My taxidermist budget is still intact this year

[Drillbit]

^You need a sponsor.

Stories like that are the best entertainment going.


Cheers Buddy, good luck on your next adventure!!

[warnniklz]

^You need a sponsor.

Stories like that are the best entertainment going.


Cheers Buddy, good luck on your next adventure!!

That's quite the compliment. Seriously, thank you very much.

[Ambush]

You have the tag still. Hop a horse with The Rancher and give us some more adventure?!?

[cas-has-cars]

This was a great read for a Saturday evening in March, I just received a sheep tag for this area for the 2015 hunt. Hope to get back up there as the area is worth more than just 1 visit. Thanks for bringing me back with all those nice photos.