Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Couple of old goats

This past weekend in the Kiowa Grassland area of NM.

DF

Nice -

Great photo -

Dirtfarmer:

Congratulations. Nice speed goat.

KC

Great picture DF, nice work. E

Congrats. Details on the rifle/load/shot??

Nice pronghorn! Hope it was cooler up there than it has been here.

Nice pronghorn. A job well done!

You should have seen the one that got away...

My guide very skillfully got me to within 50 yds from an 80+ class goat with a herd of 40 does, quite a stud. I was on the other side of a tank berm, a stony ridge of sorts. I tried to use my Harris bipod and while fighting with that thing, over shot the goat. He ran, then stopped at 300 yds, and I shot over him again, all frustrated by that time, still fighting the bipod.

This one we slipped up on and I shot him offhand at around 80 yds. Now, if I'd just done that with the real trophy goat, the picture would be quite different.

My hunting bud offered me $100 for my HS Precision .240 with McM Hunter's Edge stock... I told him it wasn't the gun, just the shooter. I asked him what use he would have with a 1/2 MOA rifle, anyway...

Lots of kidding in the truck and at the camp...

Oh well...

Still had a bunch of fun...

Guess that's why they call it hunting...

DF

Sounds like you were in a pretty good spot!

Again, congrats.

Congrats, nice one.

Congratulations on a nice antelope and wonderful experience.

The old goat doesn't look too worse for wear either.

Great looking 'lope!

What bullet did you finally decide on? Been following your other thread about your bullet testing.

I've been working on loads for my 240 lately. Horrible groups my first try with 85TSX, but I may revisit those later trying different seating depths. It really likes 85 Sierras, 90NABs are showing promise, and I just got some 85NPT from SPS to try.

In my HS, 26" tube, the 100 gr. NPT's ahead of 53 gr. MRP with Fed 210's were great. This gun also likes 80 gr. TTSX and 85 gr. NPT's. But, I was thinking heavier bullets at less speed may not be so volitile. It also likes 90 gr. Scenars, but they're a bomb inside a WT chest. Once was enough for me.

The 100 NPT at 3,250 fps blew a nice sized exit hole in this goat and will probably do about the same with a WT. It's plenty reactive without being overtly explosive.

Gun is great, just gotta find a good shooter...

DF

This ole goat was a bit stove up after 14 hrs., one way, in an F-250, sleeping on a camp cot for two nights. Nice to be back, sleeping on my Tempurpedic.

DF

Good job on a nice looking antelope! Thanks for sharing.

DF,

I's a bit slow, I was looking for the second antelope picture! .

Nice antelope my friend, and despite the "complications" it sounds like you had a heck of a good time which is what it is really all about.

They are easy to overshoot and are a bit harder to hit than a moose, an adjustment I gad to make when I moved down to the lower 48.

BTW, I like my Termperpedic too!

Thanks for sharing!

Wish I had a picture of that other goat. But, I was too busy missing him to take a picture. He had a real wide spread and the guide estimated he was an 83. They had killed a 90 class goat in that area a few years ago. Good area indeed.

DF

Do you buy Wyoming preference points? If you don't and like to hunt pronghorn you should.

My knowledge about all that is sketchy. Wyoming is quite a drive. My bud and I like to bring back our meat and don't want to mess with the airlines. NM is closer.

DF

The goat I missed had as much, maybe more mass, not as tall as this one. Spread was similar.

Photo shows the outfitter with a handicapped hunter. This goat was taken a few years ago from the same area.

You gotta be good to put a handicapped hunter or an old fart like me close to a trophy antelope. This young man made it happen, I missed...

DF

That is one heck of a pronghorn!

Yep.

And NM, not AZ, WY or MT.

DF

DF, which one was the "old goat?"

As to shooting over, maybe consider a 45-70?

just kidding of course. Good looking old goat!

NM and AZ are good places to hunt large pronghorn. Not familiar with NM licensing. Is it a draw?

WY has some good bucks but in a few areas. Climate is a bit harsher though. For a truly large buck I think NM and AZ are tops.

Yeah, it's a draw, but landowner permits are available thru outfitters. The draw is cheaper, around $350. Landowner permits are around $1,000 to $1,200.

My bud and I have drawn 4 out of the past 5 years, missing out last year.

DF

The guide said this goat had some age on him. So, I related to that and titled the thread as I did...

Just need to hold on the hair...

That bipod messed me up. I don't use them much and didn't use good judgement on "when to hold, when to fold"...

DF

DF, to better appreciate sleeping on a cot, do the first night on the ground.

Nicely done sir.

Ouch...

I'm a bit old and creaky for that. Maybe 40 yrs ago...

The cot was bad enough...

DF

Nice ole goat! Ditto on the bi pods, I have given 2 Harris bi pods away for that very reason.Give me a Levi leg full of beads or sand! Old habits die hard.... very best WinPoor

But, out on the flat ground, taking a 400 yd. shot at a speed goat with nothing to use for a rest, grass too high for prone, they're pretty good.

I was trying to use one on a severely uneven, rocky cattle tank berm. If I could replay that shot, I'd leave the bipod folded, slip up over the rocky berm and be right on that goat. The folded bipod would have proteced the rifle stock from the rocks.

Or, fold it, raise up and take the shot offhand.

DF

Good deal DF. Yeah those bipods on a hunting rifle don't usually work out on my hunts. Shooting sticks for me, if anything. Or throw a pack down.

Very nice pronghorn DF; your performance shows you're still affected by the pursuit! Sounds like an awesome time in a wonderfully game rich area.

I think I need to regroup on that aspect of Pronghorn hunting.

What type sticks do you use?

DF

DF, there are several versions of bungied "shooting sticks" that will allow a very steady, three-point, sitting, shooting position to get you above the grass. I took a goat at ~ 395 yds (pre-LRF, but paced) with one and other game since.

Any specific suggestions as to brand, etc.?

DF

"Shock-corded" is a better description. My originals were Underwoods, but there are Hammer's collapsible, Flambeau Mad Hunters, and I believe Stony Point has one.

The main feature is shock-corded bipod with light-weight aluminum sections that fold down into a 12-14" package, but that fully extended, forms an "x", with the very small section obove the intersection cradling the rifle and fitting into your closed fist anywhere from a foot to two feet off the ground.

You are sitting while your left hand clenches the the intersection just below your rifles forend, left elbow on your left knee (two points of contact). Your right hand is obviously on the pistol grip snugging the stock into your right shoulder (third point of contact).

This can give you a very steady rest where prone and/or a bipod is unworkable. Hope this helps.

That does help and I'll for sure check them out.

Thanks,

DF

DF just a suggestion but if you get a set of Stoney Point stix ( I have 2 - sitting and standing) store them extended and not folded or collapsed. If you store them extended there is less stress on the elastic shock cord. I used to store mind folded but ended up having to replace the cords prematurely.

In my above description I neglected to say that your right elbow (for right handers) is also on your right knee-your two elbows on your respective knees are your two points of contact with the stock in your right (or left shoulder for lefties) is the third, so I misspoke a bit above. At least that's the way I do it.

However, the point stands that this can give you a considerably good rest.

That surely is one heck of an antelope! Now I know what 90" looks like!

To me, it was an amazing feat to get a handicapped, wheelchair bound hunter within shooting range of such a trophy goat. Those animals don't get that big and old being dumb. And they're usually surrounded by a herd of does, many very alert eyes constantly looking for danger.

This outfitter is one of the best guides I've hunted with. And a great guy, easy going, no impatience, seems to love his work. And, he produces...

That's why I'm a repeat client.

DF

Nice antelope Dirtfarmer. Too bad the big one got away but, that will give you something to look forward to for next year.

And he gets to breed those does for another season. He had all the girls.

The one I shot was bedded up all by himself. He stood up, walked a few yards and died. Guess the better buck won the draw.

DF

Congrats- that is a really nice looking buck. Nothing more fun than hunting antelopes- good stuff!!

Nice goat. Congratulations.

I was amazed by the guide, spotting that goat all bedded up at around 5-600 yds from the highway at the foot of a ridge. We drove into the pasture above him, stalked 250 yards to position ourselves right above him. The guide had us exactly even with him. As we eased forward, we could see him bedded down. I crept forward, rifle ready and as he got up, stretched and started walking, I shot him offhand at 80 yds, bang, flop.

I asked the guide how he spotted that goat, driving down the highway. He said he was looking for black horn tips and saw this goat out there in the grass, bedded down all by himself.

Pretty amazing eyes, pretty amazing stalking strategy and sense of position. Wasn't his first rodeo, obviously...

He and his wife also guide elk and deer hunts as well as exotic species in AZ and NM. Great folks.

My hunting bud and I took Southeast Texas Nilgai burgers and grilled them for the camp the night before. Everyone seemed to enjoy them and we all had a great time.

A couple of year before, I met the former Philippine Minister of Agriculture. I knew some folks he knew in New York and we had a great visit. I still email him from time to time and will send him a photo of this goat.

DF

SO, I guess that shoulder is all healed up?

Yeah, good enough to shoot about what I want to.

Haven't yet, but believe I could handle the .375 H&H. I'm 7 mo post op rotator cuff with Mumford and biceps tendon anchor. My PT buddies tell me it's a 12-18 mo. deal and I'm on track at 7 mo.

Thanks for asking.

DF

Nice goat there DF. I hope the one you missed is bigger and you get him next year. Have they had rains in that area to get them in shape for this winter?

BTW, how's the retina doing?

Yeah, rain.

I was expecting drought, having read the reports. The goats were scattered due to rains, everything being green and less draw to a few watering holes. And, in some places the grass was tall, making it harder to spot the goats. Where we hunted it wasn't that bad.

DF

Sounds like I'm falling apart. Growing old isn't for sissies.

Macular hole closed following vitrectomy in April. Macula not back to par, but that can take a while. At least my shooting eye is 20/20.

DF

Dry ice is your friend. Brought a buffler back to Georgia from Wyoming a couple years ago in 4 150 quart coolers on my truck. The meat was frozen already but I covered the packages in towels and dry ice. Was still frozen when I got home.

I was sure sorry to hear of that and hope it settles down ok. Please let me know how it goes, DF. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Praying it will be ok.

DF, I didn't know you had a RC repair and a vitrectomy. Sorry to hear that. You are very right about having to be tough to grow older. As you well know there are only so many parts that can be removed, repaired, or "tuned up."

The inevitable is inexorable,..and that's if all is going well.

But, I'm a tough ole fart, repairs and breakdowns notwithstanding....

DF

Once the meat is chilled, it doesn't take much added ice to make the trip. We drain the water and add some ice maybe once. Meat will last a couple of days, maybe longer.

Once frozen, then dry ice would be ideal. We don't have the facilities or time to freeze it.

DF

Very nice!

This discussion about health stuff reminds me of a herd of steers out in the pasture.

Seems all they could talk about was their surgery...

DF

Ha.

For those interested in the .240, here is a link to a thread some were following. Lots of .240 bullet info.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8315233/8

It seems to me the .240 is a good choice for pronghorns.

DF

It would seem natural DF. I hear that in nursing homes one of the biggest daily topics is of the movements and sonatas of a certain natural process.