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After drawing a Mountain Goat permit in 1977 at age 19, another one finally showed up in the mailbox after 39 years. The Billy I took in 77' was early September, and actually my first taste of true mountain hunting....I've been hooked ever since. Early September goat hair is pretty thin, so this go around I was determined to wait for better hair. My September was shot anyway, spending 17 days trying to bow kill a big bull elk, and four days spent chasing moose.

I'd set aside 10 days in October for my goat hunt in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness. I've hunted this country for elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep since the early eighties and know the country well. My long time hunting pal, Alan Brown had drawn this same permit and took an outstanding goat with incredible hair in October 2015, and was chomping at the bit to get back in there. Alan is a fellow Government Trapper from Miles City, and is one of the finest outdoorsman I know, he's also a hell of a camp cook. My own outdoor cooking abilities end at dumping boiling water into a pouch of freeze dried food...:) We have a very good friend who agreed to take us in on horseback, complete with four of the finest mules I've ever seen, drop us off, and pick us up in ten days. Wall tent, wood stove and real food....we were set.


After a 17 mile ride, and several hours getting camp set up, wood cut, water stocked, and a little glassing from camp, we were anticipating the next nine days like kids waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. This camp was at 9600' elevation, so a little acclimation is always a part of finding the groove. Typically I have a headache and some fatigue for a couple days before being able to really get after it. It's a great spot, and a lot of good glassing is close by camp. There were two goats on the mountain right above us as we unloaded the mules.



When you wait until October to go goat hunting, you risk having to hunt in the snow, and that adds a challenge to finding snow white goats. It's still doable though, and I've learned to glass for tracks on the snow and that will take you to the quarry. After a heavy snowfall, they will usually move a little lower on the mountain until the wind and sun start to bare up the higher ridges. Within 15 minutes after climbing to this lookout point, I had 18 goats located. They were a bout a mile away on the other side of the basin, and about halfway up. Mostly nannies and kids. I kept scanning with the Zeiss, and soon enough I found a lone Billy about a half mile west of the other ones. This time of year the older males will be solitary and pretty stationary. They are also bigger bodied, have a slight yellow tint to them, and will have heavier, longer hair than the females. Another trait is heavier horns with more curve to them. Also, the mature males have a scent gland that protrudes behind their horns at the base. It's black in color, and will give the impression of more mass on the bases.



After several tries, I ended up getting a picture of him through the scope. From over 1 1/2 miles out I could tell he was just what I was looking for, a mature Billy with great hair.

By now it was late afternoon, so I decided to try for him with an early start the next morning, and was content to sit it out the rest of the day and just watch. About an hour before dark I saw the 18 nannies and kids bunch up and start across the mountain towards the opposite side of the basin....something had buggered them, but I couldn't see what it was. The lone Billy also started climbing towards the top of the basin at a good clip....Grizzly? I'd find out the next day.



This is where the nannies and kids ended up. Only 700 meters from where I was glassing from. They kept looking back, and I did too, but never could locate what had spooked them.

The next morning, Alan and I climbed back up to the lookout point to try to locate the Billy again. After glassing for about an hour, I picked him up bedded on a spine ridge that separated the two basins, all alone again with no other goats in view. I've learned over the years, that old Billies will lay in one spot for hours on end, sometimes all day if they are undisturbed and feel secure. It was a perfect opportunity for a solo stalk. I had Alan stay on our vantage point to keep tabs on him, while I made a long, elaborate stalk that took over three hours to complete. We had planned a set of hand signals for Alan to give me in case he got up and moved off to feed, or to find another bed out of the wind. The wind was steady out of the southwest at about 20 mph when I started to close the gap. At one point, I was within 525 meters of him, still bedded in the same place. I decided I didn't want to chance a poor hit in the wind, and crept in closer, and closer. The only problem was, as I was closing the distance, I was also losing elevation, and a good view of him. I decided to get under 300 meters, set up, and wait for him to stand up, then take him. I knew exactly where he was, even though he was out of view. There was no chance he could get up and leave without me seeing him, so the wait began...the rifle was set up perfect, the range was 277 meters(.4 on the turret). Two hours later, I was still waiting him out, when I glanced down behind me to right and saw movement out of the corner of my eye. There stood one of the largest boar grizzlies I've ever seen at 200 meters. He was feeding on roots, unearthing them with his claws. The wind was good, and in my favor, but bears feeding on steep ground usually work their way up the slope, so I knew I could be in a bind if he ended up getting too close. The other factor with a grizzly between me and the goat was the whole thing could go haywire if he got in view of the goat. Now I knew why all of those goats blew out of there yesterday, and the grizzly was still here! For almost an hour my head was on a swivel going from bear to where the goat was. Back and forth. Finally the bear drifted into a strip of trees directly under me, and I lost track of him for ten minutes or so....It was time to make a move on the goat. I was planning to shorten up the distance, working into the wind as quietly and quickly as possible until the goat came into view, then take my shot. When I was about 60 meters from where he was, I looked down the ridge 25 meters from the bed, and saw the Billy standing broadside through some scrub sub alpine trees. I got down and prone, chambered a round, found him in the scope, expecting him to be looking right at me, but he was pawing the ground, getting ready to lay down again. I waited a few seconds, he bedded facing me, and I settled the reticle on his chest and fired. He never saw me at all. He folded up instantly, and stayed there for a few seconds, then started rolling off the left side of the mountain. Immediately I was looking back for the bear, but never saw or heard him leave. I approached the spot where I last saw the goat, and to my relief he only rolled about 40 meters before hanging up in a patch of stunted trees.....



My perch....277 meters from the goat, and 200 meters from the grizzly...

[img]http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp311/patrickgsinclair/patrickgsinclair018/IMG_3593.jpg[/img]

Where he was stopped from rolling down the mountain....We shared a long, humble moment here. There was no hooping and hollering, or shaking my fist in the air. and I'm man enough to say my eyes were welled up for quite awhile. For knowing that in the ebb of my mountain hunting career, that this will be the last one. For being thankful of having a great life of freedom in the mountains, with countless great hunting adventures behind me. For amazing people that have supported me, family and friends that words can't describe. For all of the wild country I've had the privilege to be in and share with others.

[img]http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp311/patrickgsinclair/patrickgsinclair017/IMG_6039%203.jpg[/img]

I managed to pull him back up, and out in the open for a few self timed pictures, before getting busy breaking him down. Alan had a front row seat to the whole thing and was on his way over to help. He arrived just before dark, and shared the load. We decided to try to get all the way back to camp, and not stay out in the bush. It went well with neither of us taking a tumble in the moonlight. When we topped the summit at 10,800' we sat down for a water and candy bar break. The moon and stars lit up the basin below us. Taking it in, we never said a word....we didn't have to.

Excellent all the way around, just excellent

dayum, that's awesome.

As always a great story, and fine photos!!! Thanks for sharing. The ebb of one's career is a sobering moment.. Fine writing.. May you have many more moments like this..

Outstanding hunt and story.

I'm elk hunting this week and realize at 53 I won't be doing this forever. I have more seasons behind me than in front of me.

I always enjoy your posts. Thanks for sharing.

Your posts never disappoint. Thank you for sharing that memory with us. That feeling that you expressed is what keeps us hunters getting up in the morning and strapping boots on and it's something that you described perfectly.

[img]http://i423.photobucket.com/al...atrickgsinclair018/th_IMG_3638.mp4[/img]

A few days later I made my way back up to another divide to look for sheep. I ran into some more goats, and took this little bit of footage with my IPhone....they are amazing creatures.

Goats on top of Moonlight Divide..

Wow! Fantastic stuff.

Great story, Pat! Congratulations.

Epic hunt and nice sentiment on the "ebb of a career" - something we all will come to grips with soon enough.
I assume the griz was thankful too.

Excellent read and pics.

Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Great story and pics, Pat!

Kudos on the success and your attitude in life!

Congratulations on an OUTSTANDING hunt.

Congratulations Pat!

Thanks for sharing

Great story and pictures. Thanks for taking us there!

Absolutely great write up and pictures. I always look forward to reading about your hunts. Great job. Congrats on a really nice goat!

Doesn't get any better than that....

congrats. great story

Congrats, Pat!

Congrats, Pat! That right there is the hunt of a lifetime!

Congrats again Pat !!

Incredible write up and field pics and I can't wait to hear more about it in Nov.

Someday, when I grow up, I wanna be like you Pat!
Awesome story and thanks for sharing. You're a good enough writer that you could have had that one published in Eastmans

Dang Pat, that is just Awesome! Congratulations!

I am waiting for your autobiography... I will pay in advance!! I will be awesome!! Put me down for the first one issued!!

As always, thanks for sharing.

Pat;
Good evening to you sir, thanks again for taking us along on one of your adventures.

I very much enjoy your hunting stories and as usual your photos are top notch.

Congratulations on the nice billy sir, it's a grand trophy to remember an epic hunt by.

Thanks again, all the best to you folks and good luck on your family's remaining hunts this fall Pat.

Dwayne

It truly does not get any better!!

Helluva deal, nice Billy there Pat.

Tanner

Awesome.

Really excellent. Great stalk.

I liked the entire narrative and the grizzly encounter added some drama.

Nice job, great goat!

Great pics. Great read.

Congratulations, Pat!

Congrads Pat! I enjoy your posts,and Pics.always wanted to do a Goat hunt but those days are long gone! Please keep shareing your hunts so those of us that cant, can enjoy yours!

Incredible. Congrats!

Congrats on the billy and thanks again for another well written and photographed story. There's no way to tell you how how much I look forward to your posts, been waiting for this one. What a hunt!

Great story and hunt Pat. Thank you for taking the time to document and share. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the details and nuances. I've sat on a mountain on Kodiak island with one eye on goats and another on a large brown bear ~ 300 yards away so I know exactly what that is like....sans a dead goat. <grin>

Fantastic, and congratulations, Pat! Thank you for "taking us along".

Thanks for taking us along on your adventure & congratulations on a super trophy!! And as always, the pictures sure let is be a part of your hunt - thank you!

Amazing hunt!!

Thank you for taking us along...

Great story and pics- never have really had a mountain goat hunt high on my bucket list until now!

9 inches or so? I can't tell that kind of stuff being a flat lander and such.

Excellent story and goat. Green with envy!

Great write up and many congrats! I can only hope to be so lucky some day, but I believe your words below sum up things so well, precise, concise, that being on a mountain is always reward enough.... sometimes you get icing on the cake though...

Where he was stopped from rolling down the mountain....We shared a long, humble moment here. There was no hooping and hollering, or shaking my fist in the air. and I'm man enough to say my eyes were welled up for quite awhile. For knowing that in the ebb of my mountain hunting career, that this will be the last one. For being thankful of having a great life of freedom in the mountains, with countless great hunting adventures behind me. For amazing people that have supported me, family and friends that words can't describe. For all of the wild country I've had the privilege to be in and share with others.

I only can offer a similar instance some years ago, my first go in AK, and a small caribou bull, but my buddy simply said in very low words, up here, we are with God. Nothing else was said, but my vision did become a bit blurry.

Another Awesome one. Congrats

Pat

Awesome hunt and pictures buddy! A well deserved trophy!! 6.5GAP does it again! 130 JLK?

+1 Pat.

Ive been waiting for this write-up and it was even better than expected!

Wow.
Well done.





Again.

Awesome hunt and write up. Thanks for posting that. Congrats!

Very Nice!
And always a little better with an old friend...

SWEET!! That's awesome you got to share another hunt with Alan... You gotta be running out of room on the wall now.

Great Billy, congrats.

Congrat's to you both!

Scenarshooter: Congratulations on the great trophy and that Hunt in such amazing country!
I have had Mt. Goats spooked by Black Bears but not as yet by Grizzlies!
I am glad it all worked out for you.
My Hunting partner last year had to "spray gravel" on an unafraid Grizzly to keep it off of his in the process of being boned out Mt. Goat (near Livingston)!
Again congrats on the the great adventure and thanks for sharing.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Congrats, Pat!

Simply awesome. Keeping tabs on your quarry and on the grizzly all the while must have really kept the blood pumping.

Very well written and great pictures too.

Thanks!

The pic of you ,the goat and the mountains in back speaks volumes,just grand.
Thanks for one of the best hunting stories I have read in awhile.
Very cool indeed..

Great story, great pix....thanks so much for sharing it with us. But....



How do you ever expect to have your own TV show???? ^^^^^^^^^^^

What a great story and pictures. Congrats on a great trip. I'll never be able to do that, at this point in my life but I appreciate your sharing so I can take in some of the adventure, that your effort created.

Congratulations on the goat, great write up as well. It is amazing how many grizzlies live in goat country, we expect to see them when hunting in the alpine in particular.

Excellent story and hunt. Bittersweet with the mention of the ebb of hunting career. I have a feeling Pat that you will be out hunting most of us when you are 90. Beautiful country you hunt.

G'damn, I respect the hell out of that.
And I think the only thing that rivals your hunting abilities is your keen sense behind the camera.

Good on ya, Pat. And thanks for sharing.

Great stuff Pat -

Thanks for sharing...

I just got time to sit down and read this. Don't know when I've read a better post on a hunt. Great story, great photos. Congrats, Pat.

Thanks for taking the time to write a wonderful hunt report.

Congrats on a magnificent trophy and a great experience.

Hope to see you this fall.

Great pictures and story.

Congratulations on your hunt. That looks like a very nice billy.

Congrats's on a very nice billy, and awesome country.....

Great writeup and photos. Congrats!!!

Wonderful.

Thanks for sharing.

Great goat, great hair, great report and great pics.

Don't think anyone here doubted that would be the result of your goat hunt.

Maybe I missed it but how long was he?

Congrats and thanks for taking the time to put that together, fantastic stuff.

Congrats , Great write up and pics. Thanks for sharing

As always your stories, pics, and experience is amazing.

Congrats!

That was a great read.

Outstanding hunt, and one obviously that will be remembered for the rest of your life! Nothing finer than being in the high country during this time of year.

Thanks Pat!

Wow...great read...thanks for sharing!

Congratulations on your goat hunt & wonderful photographs.

I hope that "the ebb of your mountain hunting career" is long and productive - if only for the sake of those of us who enjoy reading your reports so much!

Great write up. Thanks

Congrats, Pat. Great story of a great hunt.

What a grand adventure told by someone who obviously appreciates the blessings of his life.
Congrats to you Pat, on a wonderful hunt and great write-up.

Congratulations, what a great hunt! Thanks for the story + pics!

Great hunt and even better photos!

Very well done Pat. Great write up and pics of the hunt, very enjoyable to read. Congratulations on the trophy and another fine hunt you included us on.

The Best...

Congrats Pat!!

There is something very special about being in goat country, and you relayed that feeling very well.

Awesome story, hunt and pics Pat. Glad that you were able to harvest a well deserved trophy. The only thing that'd have been better for you would be having the boys there with you. Good friends make any hunt really special. Thanks for sharing with us Pat.

The thing is Pat's had about 50 hunts of a life time.

Incredible story and outstanding goat! Thanks for sharing that with us all!

Most don't have the courage or ability to wait until the snows come and chase goats as early as possible. Well done!

Thank you Pat! You inspire me to work toward my dream hunts!

Great story

Very well done. Enjoyed the trip.

Wow, what an accomplishment! congratulations on doing something guys like me only dream of!

Fabulous hunt, and an exceptional write-up. Thank you for sharing the experience with us Pat.

Damn, I missed this one on the first go 'round. Your writing is great, your knowledge and skill are obvious, and damn, those photos! Thanks for sharing.

I keep putting in for "easy" goat tags, and every time I go on a goat hunt, I swear it's the last one. I can appreciate the sentiment where you start to realize your mountain hunts are numbered.

Unreal great. I wish i had done something like that once- a long time ago.

Congratulations. Awesome story and a great hunt. I wish you many more.

fantastic story and result. attaboy, sir.