The Bowsite

Goat Hunt '98

Sunday - Day 9
Weather
Overcast - 50's


Goats Seen
3

 

 


Sunday Morning:

Johnnie and I got up early and organized our gear for the remaining days. I sharpened my broadheads and packed my bag. By 9 AM we were headed back up through the jungle to camp 2. We both remarked at how much easier it was this time - both of us were in excellent shape by now. By early afternoon we were back at camp2. Johnnie took a quick nap while I did some stump shooting around camp. The quiet canyon was disturbed by a beaver float plane which flew around the peaks then buzzed down into the lake. My first reaction was disappointment that there may be other hunters dropping in but we soon realized that Taquan Air had a communications break and did not get the message that we postponed our pickup until Monday. Luckily Johnnie was able to contact the pilot on the marine handheld radio and the pilot was out of there.

We suited up and headed back to the cliffs where I shot my billy. Three hours later we were moving quietly through the cliffs. I spotted a goat and stalked closer but soon noticed a kid. No shot opportunity here.

They winded us and moved up into the cliffs. We followed and worked our way along the top - now near were we lost the billy. Several ravens were spotted 30- 50 yards below where we lost the trail and I now had a good idea where my goat ended up. We both knew that if we had continued tracking - we would have been killed. The goat was hung up in a patch of trees directly above the 1000 foot fall on a vertical shoot.

I wandered the cliffs alone, looking for that lone billy in the crags. I never found one but there was plenty of sign.

We headed back to camp and discussed the weather. I had two hunting days left and a marine forecast was calling for a low pressure system to sock into the area over the next two days. I did not want to hear that.