Right Place, Right Time: A Utah Archery Goat Hunt

By Travis Gross

Nineteen years in the past, I made a decision to use for all of the western states’ species. Over time I’ve been fortunate sufficient to attract some actually good tags, however by no means a coveted, once-in-a-lifetime tag.

The 12 months began the best way they usually do with me receiving a number of dreaded bonus factors for my assortment. Because it acquired nearer to mid-Could, I obtained phrase that Utah had began charging folks’s bank cards. My curiosity acquired the very best of me, so I made a decision to see if my bank card had been charged. Upon opening my account, my eyes scrolled by means of the previous couple of days to seek out nothing from Utah. I logged off and requested myself, “Why am I losing cash on Utah, as a non-resident?” As I stated that, I believed to myself, “You didn’t verify the present costs.” This gave me one other glimmer of hope, so I logged again on and took one other look.

Going For Goats

My eyes couldn’t consider it, I used to be gazing a cost from the Utah Division of Wildlife for $1,518.00. I instantly screenshotted my account and texted it to my buddies. This plan backfired horribly; all of them requested questions on all my different costs, after all. This meant I drew a once-in-a-lifetime tag, however I didn’t know which one I drew for one more week or so. I lastly acquired the outcomes and I had drawn the coveted Ogden/Willard Peak mountain goat hunt.

Over the subsequent 4 months, I watched each related YouTube video at the least a dozen occasions. I talked to as many individuals as I may which have hunted Mountain Goat with a bow and arrange a hunt with a few buddies that dwell close to the mountain vary. Because the months ticked by, my willpower to reap a billy with a bow kicked into full gear. Tremendous-tuning my bow setup and mentally making ready for the daunting process forward had develop into an obsession. Training religiously out to 100 yards and specializing in excessive cardio exercises have been my on a regular basis routine.

The day earlier than my hunt, my finest good friend and searching accomplice Matt Anderson and I flew to Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. Upon our arrival, we met up with Ryan Kendall and Robby Weber. The 4 of us loaded up our gear and headed to the mountain. As we acquired nearer to the mountain, the conclusion that we’re going to hunt a mountain goat with bow had lastly set in. Base camp was assembled, and I let a pair arrows fly to ensure my bow was on.

A Moist Begin

The alarm went off and we acquired dressed, although we may hear that it was pouring rain exterior. We packed up, and the 4 of us jumped into the side-by-side. The rain was coming down so onerous that we determined to show round and wait to see if it will clear. The rain lastly began to loosen up round 10:30 AM, and we determined to cost it up the mountain. We went so far as we may go on the side-by-side and hiked the remainder of the best way. A few hours later we had lastly peaked out at near 10,000 ft, however we couldn’t see 30 ft in entrance of us as a result of the fog was so dense.

We determined to hike down at the least 1,500 vertical ft alongside a backbone to lastly be capable to see to the valley flooring. The 4 of us saved following the ridge down, and, to our shock, we noticed 4 good billies under us. The 4 of us couldn’t consider our luck, and we hunkered all the way down to assess the group and decide. The choice was made, in lower than one minute, to capitalize on the chance. I ranged the lead billy at 178 yards, then I ranged the tallest useless snag subsequent to him at 148 yards for steerage. I closed the gap extraordinarily rapidly and located myself sitting proper subsequent to the useless snag very quickly. The wind was good, and I began creeping ahead on my knees. I quickly discovered myself gazing a billy lower than 9 yards away.

Spoiled For Alternative

Fortunately, he was on the opposite aspect of the backbone and he didn’t see me by means of the duvet. He was extraordinarily rubbed-out and the opposite three weren’t, so I slowly superior excessive sufficient to look over the backbone. As I seemed down into the steep bowl, I used to be shocked to see a billy slowly strolling, broadside, 13 yards away from me.

Dying mode set in, and I nocked an arrow, slowly rose onto my knees, and drew my bow again. I settled the pin on the massive white billy and commenced my capturing sequence. The shot broke, and my arrow zipped by means of him so quick that he didn’t even know what occurred. It was an ideal shot, proper behind the shoulder, so I rotated and hiked again as much as my buddies as quick as I may. On my hike again up, I used to be in a state of shock. My once-in-a-lifetime hunt was over, and we acquired it carried out on the primary day, first stalk.

Emergency Brake

I lastly made it again to the place we initially noticed the billies and couldn’t discover my buddies. That they had walked down the backbone to try to discover me. As soon as we noticed one another, I walked down and so they walked as much as meet within the center for our celebration. They defined to me that my billy barrel rolled about 500 yards down the tremendous steep bowl and squared the one tree standing. If it wasn’t for that one small pine tree, he would have rolled proper off the cliff and fallen a couple of thousand vertical ft.

We slowly walked down the steep slope and gathered across the majestic animal, wedged up in opposition to a tree. My feelings acquired the very best of me once I crouched down and touched my billy for the primary time. We proceeded to do a full cape, and I had the pleasure of hauling out a particularly heavy pack with my finest buddies.

I need to say thanks to my spouse Susie and my two youngsters, Jacky and Brett. Matt, Ryan and Robby, thanks for this superb expertise. I’ll always remember it!