Justin And Mike Finally Get Their "Goat"!

I received an e-mail yesterday from my brother Mike, who is a Manager at Seashore Charters in Prince Rupert, on the "Wet Coast". He and my nephew Justin, Mike's son, are avid hunters. They hunt moose, bear, and earlier this year had 2 unsuccessful hunts for a goat. Well, the day before yesterday, they had success! Here is their story in Mike's words, along with some fantastic photos!

To: "Steven Taylor"
Subject: Re: Toughest Hunt I Have Ever Been On
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2005 14:06:28 -0700


Well, our quest for a goat is finally over!!! Yesterday, September 3, 2005 at approx. 1:45 pm, along the mighty Skeena River, my son Justin pulled the trigger on an 8 inch horned Billie Goat at 150 yards. An absolutely perfect double-lunger which resulted in it taking 3 steps and dropping dead. Justin shoots a Ruger M77 Mark II 30-06 and uses handloads (made by me) with 58 grains of 4350 and 165 grain Hornady Interbonds...that gun is a real tack driver! We, being me, Fester, Colin, and Justin, were at 3600 feet. We saw approx. 50 goats in total and had we had 2 tags, would have easily filled them both. What a stark contrast to our first 2 hunts this year which were at 2 different spots. My 15 year old son was really not thrilled to be leaving the house at 5:00 am and quite honestly with the sleep I had, neither was I. It was the toughest hunt I have ever been on and had it not been for sheer will power after already climbing for 4 hours, my son never would have climbed the 5th hour to top the ridge to get above the goats. His resolve to get up there was an inspiration for me and I am very proud of him. We watched the Billie for one hour while he was bedded to be sure he was in fact a Billie and not a Nanny. It is not illegal to shoot a Nanny (as per our "Would You Shoot a Dry Nanny" thread), but we are asked not to in order to help the goats flourish. It can actually be hard to tell them apart unless you see them pee or observe them with their kids, or can really see their horns etc. I gutted it and then skinned it out whole in order to do, at minimum, a head mount. The descent was one that saw us in high spirits...for about the first 20 minutes until my knees started to ache and my "just that day developed" crotch rash from my inner thighs rubbing together became almost unbearable. My wife and daughter are still laughing at me today as I walk around the
house like a bowl-legged career cowboy. It took us 3.5 hours to get down with me slipping and falling no fewer than 8 times (every one took a turn falling). I can't believe the horns were still immaculate when we reached the truck. As a matter of fact the horns could not be more perfect as there is not a chip on them and boy are they sharp. In closing I just want to say that Justin, Fester (Geordie), and Colin are great to hunt with.


The hunters finally reach the altitude of the goats. The "awareness", and also "trepidity", of the goats is evident in this photo........... 


Mike and Justin "get their goat"! 


Justin proudly poses with his trophy......... 


"Skinned-out" whole.......... 


Mission complete, the hunters prepare to slip, slide, tumble, and curse, on the slippery descent down the mountain back to their transportation! 
---------------- --------------- ------------------

Outstanding story and photos, Mike. I'm sure Justin is a proud hunter, and you are a proud Dad! Keep the stories and photos coming, everyone enjoys them immensely!

Till next time,

"Adios, Amigo"...........