On the second trip in, we spotted some goats feeding in an area that we felt was approachable. After some discussion, we decided to change our original plan and head for the goats we just glassed up.
It was a long and steep climb which took about 45 minutes and fortunately we could still hear the goats in the area. Once in the specific area, we slowed our approach. About fifteen minutes later we spotted the first goat. They were about fifty yards in front of us. A few were to the right of us and a couple were on the ridge line to the left of us.
At that point we decided to split up. Staci took up stalk on the ones above us in hopes that the others to the right would eventually feed directly to her. I looped around to the left, hoping that I could cut of the ones in the lead.
Tired and out of breath, I climbed to a point where I was finally in line with them. I had about four goats near me. I saw one billy, two nannies and one kid. I kept my eye on them as I crept into position. When they fed, I crawled. When they stopped to look around, I stopped and hunkered down. After a game of cat and mouse, I finally closed the distance to twenty yards. The goats were slowly feeding in my direction as I was positioning myself for a shot. Just as the first nanny reached a clearing in the thick brush, she decided to scale the rocky ledge above her. I assumed the others were going to do the same so I had to reposition myself. I moved as much as possible without catching the attention of the other goats. Sure enough, the others followed the lead nanny. The kid passed and following right behind was the billy. As he made his first jump on the ledge, I didn't have a shot. Then he slowly moved his way up. At about his sixth step, I had a small shooting lane between some dead branches. I felt confident and came to full draw. At this point he was quartering away and unassuming. Focusing on the spot, my string hand relaxed and the arrow took off...
Topic: Ended 2015 on a Low Note, but Starting 2016 on a High... (Read 1149 times)
