2013 Sheep Hunt

[Tuffcity]

After last year's “no tag cut” sheep hunt, Helen and I once again pointed our noses north in search of her first ram.

1000 km of pavement, 400 ‘clicks’ of gravel (complete with one flat tire), 130 km in a 185 on floats, 10 km on foot to a base camp and we were at it again!

We picked up a horse trail about 4 km up the drainage (came in from a side valley) that made the pack in a bit easier.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/hikein-s_zpse23d2f7f.jpg

We set up a camp at about 6000’ and headed out in different directions each day...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/glassing-s_zps7897148c.jpg

… except for this day…

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/snowday-s_zpse756310a.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/snowday2-s_zps3c60e3cc.jpg

[Tuffcity]

We searched high and wide…

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/exploring2a-s_zps6ebbb7b7.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/Panorama2-s_zps3e0463b1.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/Panorama1-s_zps537174d6.jpg

… but not a sheep did we find.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/sillohouette-s_zpsd05e2ea1.jpg

[Tuffcity]

So in the last few days of our trip we turned our attention to goats, somewhat accidentally as I was glassing a side hill and spotted a Billy as he moved out of one hollow to the next. Helen had a tag so an hour later we were creeping down the side of the mountain to where I was sure I had correctly land-marked his location. Much to Hel’s surprise I was right this time and, after initially freezing for what turned out to be a large white rock, we saw the top of a goat’s back, its hair rippling in the wind.

We made ourselves small on the side of the mountain.

The goat disappeared behind the rise.

“What’s the plan?” queried Helen

“Wait”

“What?”

“Wait” I said again. “It will probably feed its way out in a minute”. Surprisingly that’s what happened. A few minutes later the Billy strolled out from behind the small hump and without so much as a glance our way, stood and surveyed the valley below. Being right twice in one day was indeed a big accomplishment for me but I didn’t dwell on it too long.

He was 75 yards away.

I watched him through my bino’s and Hel had him lined up in the scope of her muzzleloader.

“Is he a good one?” she asked.

“Not too bad” I said. “Looks bigger than your last one”

“Should I take him?”

“Up to you”

“ShouldIshoothim!?”

“Your call”

I thought for a very brief moment she was going to let him walk, but then a roll of thunder and a cloud of smoke let me know she had sparked the powder in her Knight .50.

For once I was on the right side of her cannon and smoke didn’t obscure my view of the goat. He hunched up like he was hit hard, looked up the mountain at us, looked back down at the valley, turned and took 3 steps and fell over stone dead.

Hel had taken her second muzzleloader goat.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/Hwithgoat2-s_zpsff122b76.jpg


The pack out to the lake was one of the tougher ones I’ve done.

I realized it was going to be trouble when we had all our camp divvied up and loaded, and I also had most of the de-boned goat and the whole hide, and I went to stand up with my pack on. I tried to roll forward to get up… nothing budged. I tried to roll from one side to the other to get the weight under me… nothing budged. This wasn’t going to be good.

I got Hel to come over and lift the pack and push me forward at the same time and finally I staggered to my feet.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/Rloadedup-s_zps27b6e681.jpg

Once upright, the 150+ lb pack (I weighed it when I got home) didn’t feel too bad… for the first 400 yards. Then my hips started to protest this injustice. At 51 my bumper to bumper warrantee has long since expired but I figured if I might need “after-market” replacement parts this was going to tell me, so I was happy it was only my hips that were ticked off- they’d get over it. The “you’re too old for this shite” side of the brain kept piping up with that statement but then the optimistic side said “hey you’re still able to do it!” 5 km in the “too old” side was starting to win the argument. We might have to bring the kids next year.

The 10 km pack out to the lake was fairly uneventful, except for a terrifying moment when I stepped off a small bank and a rock rolled out from under my back foot. I pitched over to my left and managed to plant the trek pole into the rocks of the creek bed to stop me from going over. My back leg was stretched out and partially bent (like doing a lunge) and all the pack weight was on my rear leg and pole. I looked down and the Leki pole was bent like one of my strung recurves and at the angle I was at I couldn’t stand back up. I was really hoping that pole would hold and not snap and pitch me into the creek bed.

“Ahh, Helen!” I believe there was a tone of urgency to my voice.

Was I ever glad to see the lake. There were a couple of airline sized shots of whiskey in the “lake bag” and 40 Creek and hot chocolate never tasted that good. That and a couple of fresh trout for dinner put a happy stamp on the end of our trip.

Tim and the “Fresh Air” Cessna picked us up the following day and we had a beautiful flight back.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/Goat%20hunt%202013/P1010095_zpsf9cb29f8.jpg

So strike two on the sheep but another goat for Hel and a fine adventure regardless.

[warnniklz]

beauty man

[Buck]

Really enjoy these late night sheep threads.Congrats

[LeverActionJunkie]

That is one of the best stories I've read on here in awhile! Thanks for taking us along with you and congratulations!

[Duk Dog]

Great write up and pics. Congrats on the goat and trip.

[Apolonius]

I hope you know how lucky you are.Great looking country ,good company and a very nice goat.Fiftyone years young is not bad ,but i know the weight ,did it myself at 55 and no company.Good story for both of you.Thanks

[ace76]

Nice goat, great pics, thanks for sharing.

[coach]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing your story and pictures. Looks like amazing country up there. Congrats on the billy.

[Darksith]

Thanks for sharing, crazy snow, it only lasted a day? Looks like you guys had a lot of fun and managed to bring something home. Quite the adventure, beauty goat.

[Blainer]

Thanks for the share!

[d6dan]

Great story and hunt. Nice billy for the wife. Thanks!.:-D

[Hillbros_96]

Thanks for sharing, agree that it is a well written story.

[Krico]

Congrats on the billy. Well written too, which was refreshing.

Cant imagine my wife sheep hunting. "Oh no, I got blood on my new lululemon hoodie. And what do you mean you didn't pack soap?"

[yama49]

Very nice pics, to bad on the sheep aspect, but that's a nice billy..

[kennyg826]

Great story, beautiful pics! Congrats on the goat!

[big game chaser]

Great story! congrats on the goat! those hills look very familiar bring back good memories!

[decker9]

That's some beautiful country! Great wright up and congrats to you both on the billy! Good lookin goat!

[3006pg]

thats a dandy congrats !

[ydouask]

Congratulations to the wife and yourself. Thanks for sharing.

[gbear]

Looks like you guys had a great trip!

[blueboy]

Sounds like you had a good time ,and got a nice goat congrads

[kennyj]

Good for you! Sounds like an awesome trip. Thanks for sharing your adventure and photos.
kenny

[Trekker]

awesome, thanks for sharing!

[cyalatte]

Tuffcity, that is quite the feat taking your pack out at 150 lbs!!! What was your pack weight going in? Interested as we are planning to take off on our alpine hunt soon.

[Fred1]

Love it!! !

[avadad]

A great read! So nice, thanks for sharing your story.

[nature girl]

Your sure lucky to have Hellen that likes to sheep hunt and goat hunt. Way to go Hellen on a muzzeloader goat. Thumbs up to her.
Next year will be your year to get a sheep.
Awesome story and pictures. I really like the picture of your wife standing infront of the plane.
And by the way how is the hip feeling now?

[Tuffcity]

thanks for the replies! I really enjoy hunting with my wife. :)

Darksith: snow lasted about a day and a half.

Krico: Hel actually wore a long sleeve lulu lemon shirt the whole time we were up there- one of the silver scent control ones. We joked that we should have taken a pic of her by the goat showing it and sent it to LLL with the caption-"Not just for yoga!"
cyalatte: My pack was about 71 going in- that included my rifle, and my pack is already around 10 pounds empty
Naturegirl: hips are fine now. lol We were home for 3 days then went and did a pack in for the region 3 4 point mulie opener on the 1st. The 90 pounds coming out felt not too bad! :)

RC

[Mik]

Scenery is beautiful, thanks for sharing and congrats to Helen on a fine lookin Goat.

[deadlyshot19]

Great goat, very nice!

[stuffrider147]

Great write up!

[Rackem]

Thanks for the story, your wife is my hero!

[ElectricDyck]

Nice story and pictures, an honest 150lb is torture to any honest person, with a 10km pack you're a beast!

[pescado]

Very cool couple trip. Nice muzzle loader goat to go with it. Congrats.

[Displaced Nova Scotian]

Tuffcity, thanks for the write up. Great story indeed and inspiring!

I've put a lot of research into clothing for my upcoming sheep hunt at the end of September and seeing as how you've hit snow at the end of August I'm wondering what all you brought in this department?

Once again, congratulations.

[MacMtnHunter]

Looks like a good spot you got there! Congrats on a great goat!