Very recently returned from my British Columbia Rocky Mountain goat hunt.
Hunt was VERY hampered by bad weather.. Fog, rain and snow. I only got to actually hunt 2 1/2 days out of the 10. I decided when I booked this hunt that I would rather take a gamble on the weather and try for a mature billy in full winter pelage. To me, that is as much a part of the overall trophy as the horns are on this species. That decision almost came back to bite me.

Luckily for me, billies are fairly religious in their movements and all we had to do was wait for the weather to give us a break. The outfitter knew of a billy that was extremely religious in his movements and would be there 100%. All we needed was a weather break.
Once it did on lucky day 7, we quickly made our move and went for broke to beat the quickly closing window of opportunity. We found the billy from the spotter in no time in his bed and began the 3 hour climb to get within range of him.

Quickly finding him in his comfort zone. He was perched up there without a care in the world sleeping where no man would dare walk without ropes.



Here is the mountain where he resided. He was on the knoll mid-way up the range, just to the right side of the prominent avalanche chute.


a LONG way up there without a care in the world.


We bombed up the avalanche shoot as far as we could. The bottom 2 hours of the climb consisted of "swimming" through the seemingly endless sea of Devil's club and alder. Good times! I am still picking out the spines in my legs and hands..


Once we cleared the alders and Devil's club, the terrain went to 40-46 degress and began to get quite steep. We pressed on until we had a feeling we were getting near the same elevation of the billy's perch. We then exited the chute and then began side hilling through the slidespruce thickets making our way ever closer.
Once the slidespruce thicket was drawing to an end, we could get no closer. The shot was going to be 281 yards. The EXACT distance where this this billy was missed 4 times the year prior.. in the same location, no less. He was bedded above us at a 20 degree angle without a single care in the world.
I was able to get a good rest on a downed spruce log, quickly dial him in and squeezed the trigger on the .300WSM..
First shot hit him higher in the shoulder than I wanted, but it rolled him over. He was QUICKLY on his feet. 2nd shot was right in the boiler room. He shuttered at the imact and was still comptiplating his escape. He then turned and was facing up the cliff-face when the 3rd shot was placed directly at his tailbone. This one dropped him hard. He slid backwards and pitched off the 120' sheer cliff directly below him. He did several complete rotations in the air before crashing into the alders and snow below. After he hit, he slid a couple hundred yards down the snow chute. Luckily, the alders and snow acted as a cushion and there was nary a hair missing or horn chipped. Whew. I guess the snow isn't was bad as I thought.

He was everything I wanted in a British Columbia billy. He had the body size, the winter coat, the horn length and mass. Perfect goat.





A shot facing back into the mountain face to show the horns a bit better.





I skinned him out for a lifesize mount. Nothing less would do.


Packing him back down.I took this pic as a last enjoyment of the open area of the avalanche chute before "diving" back into the sea of alders and Devil's club.


A few scenery shots of the area.. British Columbia is a breathtakingly beautiful part of North America. It can be awe inspiring when the weather cooperates with you.

Glassin' for goats.



Sunrise on the Columbia River valley..


On top of the world..






Thanks for looking guys.. I hope my luck continues. I am off to Kyrgyzstan in 6 days for ibex with a very good outfit. Hoping for good weather!!

Wow, great goat, congratulations! Stunning scenery!

Truly amazing animal, photos, and experience!! Even though you don't know me, I am very happy for you.

Congratulations again Scott. Super trophy and stunning photos. I thought I was looking at the moon for a moment, that's a neat photograph thru the spotting scope.

Kyrgyzstan awaits.

Arjun Reddy
www.huntersnetworks.com

Congrats on your goat. Excellent Pictures!

Congratulations on your trophy Scott. He is a fine, mature goat you will always be proud of. Glad you got him. Wade

Scotty,
Damn well done. One question, is that sand your sitting in and why the heavy coat?

Great Stuff...huge congrats!

Great report and photos. Congrats!!

quote:

Originally posted by Nganga:
Scotty,
Damn well done. One question, is that sand your sitting in and why the heavy coat?

The white stuff is Zanzibar sand & the heavy coat is to ward off the early Land Cruiser chills.
Both were hauled up those mountains each day to remind me of my upcoming 2012 warm weather hunts with my dear old buddy, Stevie.
Australia and Tanzania await us, old buddy. It's gonna be a great year.

Scottyboy, Outstanding and great shooting.

Mike

Scotty,
Congrats, great goat, great pics, good luck in Kyrgyztan.
Brad

Amazing hunt! Congrats!
Those goats have no respect for tough terrain, do they!?
Great trophy! How are you gonna get this one mounted?

Great story great hunt beautiful photos. good luck on the next hunt.

Tim

Scottyboy,
Well done! The report, photos and trophy are all first class!
ZekeShikar aka Zeke

Zeke

good to see ya on here. You have the mountain hunting sickness as bad as anyone!

Thank you all. I appreciate it.

WOW ! Stunning country and GREAT photos and the goat is lovely !! Congrats Scotty !

Well done in tough conditions.

A well earned and beautiful goat Scottyboy. They sure don't make it easy do they. Steep and thick in that corner of BC.

Beauty of a goat! Has really really nice bases.

Wished I could have full mounted mine but they are bigger than a lot of people think.

Thanks for sharing the story and the pics and again congrats on a well deserved trophy!

Great story great pics thanks for posting. What part of B.C.?

Very nice Goat I am orginally from New Hazelton in Northern BC,every draw that we have ever had to go thru to reach the top is always filled with thoes cursed devil clubs and they are a pain to get thru.

Scotty,

I am glad you had great success. The mountain goat is truly the most underrated North American trophy. It is wonderful you have a deep appreciation of this magnificent animal.

You have the proper attitude as well. The harder it is, the more you like it.

WELL DONE!

Super goat in tough conditions and tougher country.

Well done.

Gents
thank you very much again.. I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to take a billy of this caliber.

I hope this luck streak can continue on into Kyrgyzstan. 3 days until I meet Renaud in Istanbul and then on into Kyrgyzstan. I am looking forward to the adventure.

Thanks again!!

Great looking goat in some spectacular country. Congrats on a beautiful trophy.

Yak at you when you get back from Kyrg.

Scotty
Great billy. You really deserve a great animal when you hunt that hard.

Fantastic.....just fantastic!

Beautiful country and a great goat.

Congratulations Scott those Goats really make you work for them.Good shooting congrates again and good luck with the Ibex. Bill

Guys
thank you for the kind words. I appreciate them.
Thanks!

Well done indeed. Hats off to you for tackling the winter conditions going for the beautiful winter coat. The Rocky Mountain Goat is a spectacular trophy.

Dandy goat and great experience. Well done Scott

Bobby
I remember you saying you were going on a goat hunt as well.
Did you go? If so, how did you fare?

Awesome Job Scottyboy!!
I'll be chasing goats there in 2013.
Congrats again,
W.

Scotty, what a year you're having!!!

I hope work isn't getting in the way of your hunting....

Congrats on a fantastic billy..he's gorgeous!!

Regards,
Scott

Thanks Scott!
Work has long since caught up with me since returning!! I am BEHIND!

Excellent goat Scott!

Congrats!!!

Congratulations on a very nice billy!

Frans

VERY NICE SCOTT!

That's a dream hunt of mine! Congrats again!