"Solo" Goat hunt in the high Rockies!

Status
Not open for further replies.
H&H, Again, a great account of an awesome hunt.. I re-checked this string at leat 3 times to get the rest of your story.. I'd suggest submitting the story and pics to Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Petersen's Hunting, etc... Or use it in a book. Might help pay for some of the KENETREK & Sitka gear, or future hunts. (Just glad I got a chance to read about it on THR for free). Congratulations on the Goat.
 
Congratulations. I know that hunt was a lot more difficult than the photos can do justice. For whatever reason they can't capture the scale of the mountains.
 
That is simply an amazing story and I'm sure the pictures hardly do it justice.I know that hunt was a lot more difficult than the photos can do justice. For whatever reason they can't capture the scale of the mountains.
Click to expand...

You guys are obviously speaking from experience. As you say photos simply do not show the true scale of the difficulty involved.
 
Very good writing. It kept me riveted to my seat. I am very glad you're safe and came home with meat. I've never eaten goat meat, to my knowledge, so I don't know how it's best used for eating. Do you use it in just stews, or soups, or chops? Or do you just process it into different sausages, jalapeno jerky, etc.?
 
H&H, Again, a great account of an awesome hunt.. I re-checked this string at leat 3 times to get the rest of your story.. I'd suggest submitting the story and pics to Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Petersen's Hunting, etc... Or use it in a book. Might help pay for some of the KENETREK & Sitka gear, or future hunts. (Just glad I got a chance to read about it on THR for free). Congratulations on the Goat.
Click to expand...

Thanks Cob I have been written about in several hunting mags but I've never submitted an article. Maybe I should?

Hey just a heads up on gear guys and gals. I do not buy new gear for the most part, I look on Craigs list or E-Bay there is a whole bunch of once used hunting/camping gear on those sights that can be bought at a steep discount.

I got my Sitka jacket from a guy who bought it used it once and sold it as it was simply more than he needed for his local area. The boots I bought new three years ago.The pants I had to buy new. The jacket is to big for me at 2XL but what the heck it works for lots of layers underneath and I got it for less than half what they want for a new one. So all I had to buy for this hunt was the Sitka because my old Gore-Tex shell was shot and the pants. So I was all in for like $250 for gear.

But what I do is buy a little at a time so when I do hit the jack pot on a tag I don't need to go out and spend a bunch of money all at once on gear.

I AM going to hit my bighorn tag any year now and when I do I am ready to go. The two things I still need for high country hunting are a better light weight compact sleeping bag and small emergency shelter or a good bivey sack. I borrowed a bivey from my buddy Tim for this hunt. But If I'd have had a small emergency bag with me it would have made my bailout unnecessary as I'd have just gone down to the top of timber line and spent the night.

I surf the mountain area Craigs listings and in another month or two all of the summer one time campers and hikers are going to be selling their stuff off for Christmas money. That's how I collect my quality gear.
 
Very good writing. It kept me riveted to my seat. I am very glad you're safe and came home with meat. I've never eaten goat meat, to my knowledge, so I don't know how it's best used for eating. Do you use it in just stews, or soups, or chops? Or do you just process it into different sausages, jalapeno jerky, etc.?
Click to expand...

Great question!

Here is the deal, a Rocky Mt Goat is not actually a goat at all. They are a member of the antelope species and are in the same class as a Chamois. The meat is mild and tasty much like an African antelope. So to answer your question they can be prepared and eaten just like any other quality game meat. Steaks, chops burger, whatever you like.

I've eaten some back when I lived in Alaska it was very good!
 
Ah, thanks. Pronghorn is fairly gamey-tasting for me and I only process it into hard salami, a little sausage, and my favorite--jalapeno jerky! You say "goat" to me, I'm thinking "gamey" so I would get the meat heavily processed into products. Thanks for setting me straight.
 
What... almost injure or kill himself? Yes H&H, risk your life a little more for our entertainment, would ya?
Click to expand...
:D:D:D:D

I believe that Texas was referring to the nice hunt report and photos when he was suggesting I do more of it!

At least I hope so!!:D:D;)
 
Great story, H&H, I enjoyed all of it. I've been in places like that, and it really is awe-inspiring. Thinking of Lily Lake on the north slope of Mt Blanca.

Ah, thanks. Pronghorn is fairly gamey-tasting for me
Click to expand...
Depends on a couple of things. I've had ones that were chased around for a half hour before being shot that were pretty gamey. The last pronghorn I shot never knew what hit him, and we had him field dressed, skinned and washed out within 30 minutes of shooting him. That was some of the tenderest, tastiest game meat I've ever tasted.
 
While mountain goat tied for last place in my poll [http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=483119], pronghorn was in 5th place of the most delicious game. I've heard it often said that pronghorn CAN BE the tastiest, but like Larry described a poorly harvested prong can also be some of the worst meat. I think the poll isn't quite reflective of true taste as an extreme few have ever even tasted mountain goat. I hope to get a plate of it in the years to come.
 
I haven't tasted mountain goat, but I have had Bighorn, and it's quite good.

H&H, you may have met my son's BIL, Charlie, at my house. (He showed up late on September 1st and had a couple of kids with him.) He drew his bighorn on the Greenhorn (La Cuerna Verde) southwest of here a few years ago. He spent the whole summer scouting one nice ram, and got him in a few days hunting.
 
As was mentioned earlier, tenderizing the meat is the key, and the H&H method of goat tenderizing would be hard to beat... I think there is a psychological link of kill to taste. Seeing the work that went into the hunt, he who made the kill would probably enjoy the feast the most.
 
I just joined the forums last night, and this is the most awesome story I've ever read. I love how much you praise your wife, the way you described the adventure and Tim the mountain man extreme! Thanks for sharing.
 
I love how much you praise your wife...
Click to expand...
I've been trying to make my wife read his post for the past few days now. I know she'll love it, but she thinks it's just another mountain man hunting story. After reading the post, I hung my head in guilt because I don't think I show the appreciation for my wife that I should. I also married one wonderful lady. She's helped me butcher more game than we care to count and she's a great momma to our kids. So we're going on a date tomorrow night!

Thanks H&H for setting the example... in yet another way.
 
Really enjoyed the story H&H. You have a real talent for writing. I can imagine trudging through the wet alder brush, slipping on the snow covered rocks, and having the snow driven into your face.

I believe that most hunters have at one time or another have been in a bad way. Your story not only illistrated your experience but brought back fond memories of hunts not going according to plan for me. Perhaps that is what Ruark meant when he said "you gotta be hurt to be happy". It just makes the overall hunt that much more memorable. Congrats on a nice nanny and thank you for the great story.
 
Thanks guys. We have always had each others back through thick and thin. Thanks for mentioning that in your posts. Without Kim much of what we do as a family wouldn't be possible. I am so very, very blessed to have her in my life!
 
You are a splendid writer H&H ! I've hunted Colorado all my life with my Pop and 2 brothers. We've hunted up on Dunkley and Ripple Creek Pass area for years. Your telling about the snow in your eyes and not being able to see, have had that happen many times too, trying to get a hind quarter back to camp.

Thanks for the write up, give the wrangler/wife a big hug, I also know how we sometimes don't pay homage to those needing it most!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

H&Hhunter
  • Locked
Mt Goat hunt week one report.
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
H&Hhunter
H&Hhunter
H&Hhunter
  • Locked
Scouting for Mt. Goats above tree line..
Replies
24
Views
2K
H&Hhunter
H&Hhunter
H&Hhunter
  • Locked
Epic pack out thread...
2
Replies
43
Views
3K
CoRoMo
CoRoMo
LoonWulf
  • Locked
Muzzy Goats 2021
Replies
15
Views
535
LoonWulf
LoonWulf
S
  • Locked
A Taranaki Goat Hunt (kinda long)
Replies
6
Views
700
Spinner
S
Back
Top