A couple hard earned Goats

[excelpoint]

Thought I would share with you guys a local hunt me and my hunting mate Luke had a couple of months ago. It took 5 outings total to get the end result. It was Luke's first larger game taken with his Tolke Whip and the blooding in of my new Jim Jones Firefly Longbow.    

      As the pain shot through my fingers from the stinging nettle I had just placed them on, I thought to myself, what the hell are we doing out here in the 35 degree heat crawling along a river bank getting stung, pricked, scraped and scratched. The answer was simple, doing what we love most, hunting with stick and string. It all started about 2.5 hours ago as my mate Luke and I made our way along the cliff top glassing for our quarry. They were here somewhere we just needed to find them. No we weren’t hunting monster Red stags in the Brisbane valley or big Sambar stags in the Vic High Country, nor were we hunting massive tusked boars in the top end or big horned billies on the western plains. What we were doing was hunting a small mob of nanny goats I had discovered the week prior, in my rabbit spot. There were no great coats or horns just the promise of a freezer full of great tasting game meat and another trad bow adventure.      

Three other outings over the next three weeks with the same results as above saw us busted at varying ranges. Fast forward another week to the 5th week and we are around 100m from our quarry once again.

     

 I had only gone about 100 metres when I rounded a small boxthorn bush and saw the tan cloured nanny on the cliff top standing guard. Luckily she hadn’t spotted me as I ducked back behind the boxthorn. Not knowing exactly where Luke was I decided to stay put and just see what they did. Soon I could see they were getting nervous and figured Luke must be close when suddenly they bolted my way. I ducked under the cliff face as they stopped directly above me not more than 10 metres away but I couldn’t get a shot as I still didn’t know where Luke was. With the afternoon thermals carrying my scent up they soon winded me and bolted back the way they had come. The goats stopped about 100 metres along the gully face and the standoff began. They were intent on looking back in my direction which must have allowed Luke to close in again as suddenly an arrow streaked down from the cliff top taking the white nanny perfectly through the shoulder on a steep downhill angle. At the hit all three bolted my way again and I was very nearly bowled clean off the cliff face as the hit nanny unexpectantly came low around my box thorn at full tilt. I whipped off a shot which needless to say got nowhere near her and I still can’t figure out if it was in self preservation or actually trying to hit her.

      The hit nanny went about 100 metres before I saw her go down at the bottom of the cliffs. I waved to Luke to come over so I could give him a big slap on the back for an outstanding shot. Watching Luke’s goat expire we saw the black billy turn up and stand over his fallen mate. I said to Luke if he stays put I might actually get a shot on him but wasn’t to fussed. I casually made my way along the cliff top until I was directly above him at about 40 metres. Being too far for me I decided to drop down a level which would put me at about 30 metres with a steep downhill shot quartering away. A loose rock saw me end up on my backside and nearly join my billy below but with Luke laughter ringing in my ears I regained my composure and steadied for the shot. Coming to anchor I picked a spot high up on the billies should and released. The arrow flew true hitting high up and penetrating out the middle of the brisket. The billy bolted back up the cliff and laid down about 50 metres off. Confident in the shot I told Luke to go down and we would get the photos done and the meat taken off his while I waited for mine to expire. With the sun going down I decided to head up to mine and start the butchering process. As I approached he got up and somewhat wobbly, walked off around the cliff face only to stop 30 metres away broadside. With the months of practice I had been doing at home at this range I was very confident in putting a good shot in to finish the job. Bringing the Firefly to anchor I picked a spot mid way up the chest and sent a perfect shot clean through his chest. He went about 5 metres and was down for good. On inspection it seemed like my first shot had only taken out one lung due to the steep downhill nature of the shot hence why he got up when I thought he had expired. A quick photo session and the legs whipped off we packed up and started walk out reliving our shots over and over again. Although there were no huge 40 inch horns Luke and I both agreed that both goats would rival any we had taken in the past in the trophy stakes simply due to the whole process in getting to that moment. Something I would gladly do again in a heartbeat.

       

     

     

[johnis]

you had a good day outdoors,you hunt with your bows and took your game.No huge 40 inch horns
 needed,just pure fan
  Well done mates!!  

[trad_bowhunter1965]

Great story and photos nice goats.

[ozy clint]

great stuff mate

[Mudd]

Thank you for sharing your hunt with us! It was a nice journey.

Congratulations on your goats.

God bless,Mudd

[Over&Under]

That was fun and exciting just reading it!!!

Congrats to both of you!

[DHR]

       

[ron w]

Neat!

[Kenneth]

Great Stuff!!!  Congrats to both of you!!                

[bolong]

       

[Fishycatfish]

Sounds like a blast

[allanburden]

Enjoyed that story. Congratulations      

[Papa]

Great story!  Thanks for sharing!

[Chris Surtees]

   

[excelpoint]

Thanks guys. They are all trophies to me as they all tell a different story.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Very well-done! Many happy returns of the day to you.

[LCH]

Dang that looks like fun. How do they taste? LCH

[rastaman]

Good story!  

[COOCH]

Thats Awsome you guys are hunting and I'm sitting here reading(closed season)You done good mates congradulations  

[Tater]

Well done and thanks for sharing your story,..and oh yea nice shooting by both of you!