Mt Gaot with a Contender
#163206
09/21/2015 12:33 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145
PistolHNTR
OP
member
|
OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145 |
Just got home from my Goat hunt in Alaska
I used Lonesome dove outfitters, Dennis Zadra. Great operation. This hunt is a REAL hunt. No boats, no horses, no way to get there except for a big pack and a grueling hand full of days. My Guide was Bryan Galager.
I chose my 358 JDJ contender with a healthy load of RE 7 and Barnes 180x's. Chronoed this load at 2400 fps+ and about 3/4" groups at 100 yards.
i'll keep it simple...flew to a small coast beach about an hour from Cordova. Set up a decent base camp at 4 pm...then filled our packs with spike gear and climbed til dark...and I do mean climb...cramp ons and ice ax in hand, through waterfalls at times straight vertical...it was incredibly brushy and entangled. Rain fell continually. I was soaked from sweat when I finally got into my bivy
Next morning at light we continued almost 2000 more vertical feet. My watch showed an altitude of just over 3000' after the goat was down. If my wife knew the rocks, cliffs and terrain we went through, im sure she would not be happy.
The shot was 160 yrds. First shot broke the left sholder, goat spun. Second shot broke the right sholder...goat headed for the downhill cliff...got another round in him high above the sholder..then he went over. Hike down and around to him...probably 400'+ down...He was tangled in some big rocks and still alive...had to put one more in the vitals,,,,
I shot as well as I could. the shots were perfect. Exactly where I aimed them. Recovered both sholder bullets in the opposite off sides...both weighed 178 grains....
My conclusion is these Billies are one of the toughest things ive ever hunted. I believe I had enough gun, but more would not be a bad thing.
We got down late that day to base after collecting spike camp. Spent two more days in bad weather before a float plane could pick us up....Mt house and a little whisky and cider were a comfort though.
On a side note. If anyone wants a great gear list for a hunt like this...just pm me. I only carried 37 pounds for a potential 6 day spike out. Everything I used worked as it needed to. The Goat measures 9 7/8 and had 5 3/8 bases...not sure how it will end up, but Im curious if it stacks up well in SCI
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163208
09/21/2015 12:40 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
A hearty congratulations, and thanks for sharing. I am afraid a hunt like that has passed me by in age. Glad you made it safely.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163209
09/21/2015 12:40 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 730
Mark Hampton
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 730 |
Congrats on a great hunt -- and great adventure! Those memories will last a lifetime. Well done
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163212
09/21/2015 12:53 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
Congrats! Post some pics when you get a chance.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: KRal]
#163213
09/21/2015 12:57 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145
PistolHNTR
OP
member
|
OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145 |
I posted some pix in the bragging board
Thanks Guys
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: KRal]
#163214
09/21/2015 12:58 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
|
Distinguished Expert
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669 |
Congratulations! That sounds like one heck of a hunt!
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: Mark Hampton]
#163215
09/21/2015 1:01 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145
PistolHNTR
OP
member
|
OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145 |
Thanks Mark Great to hear from you.... BTW I liked the last mag I read with your input on the HS and the 50gi
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163217
09/21/2015 2:11 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861
Franchise
Distinguished Expert
|
Distinguished Expert
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861 |
Mt Goat with one of my handguns is definitely a dream hunt. Congratulations!
The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163219
09/21/2015 3:22 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920
billa
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 920 |
Awesome hunt - congratulations. What a fantastic handgun trophy. It is great to see someone else using the 358JDJ Contender. What a great gun. Its my go to gun if the big game shots are 100 yards or more.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... " Matthew 28:19
Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since! HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: billa]
#163223
09/21/2015 4:22 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 818
sixshot
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 818 |
Congratulations on getting one of the toughest animals on the planet & you did it with a handgun, great job. I too waited too long, the mountains are too steep now even though there are goats within 50 miles of where I live, might as well be on the moon. In the winter they come right down to the highway to lick salt off the road when the snow plows come by. I love to watch them. Takes a dedicated hunter to tag out on a Mountain Goat, you did good! Some people may not know it but there are some Nannies in the record book.
Dick
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: sixshot]
#163224
09/21/2015 9:26 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209
REDHAWK1954
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209 |
Great hunt but with two bad knees and age catching up with me I am like others here who can only live it thru your story. Thanks for sharing.
Last edited by REDHAWK1954; 09/21/2015 9:27 AM.
Michael Joe Moore
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: sixshot]
#163229
09/21/2015 12:20 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359
SChunter
Shooting Expert
|
Shooting Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359 |
Absolutely fantastic! A hard earned trophy with any weapon, and stellar with the short gun...
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: SChunter]
#163233
09/21/2015 1:16 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725
500WE
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725 |
Outstanding! Hearty congratulations!
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: 500WE]
#163238
09/21/2015 3:07 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378
Darrell H
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378 |
I enjoyed the hunt details, thanks for sharing! Huge congrats on your success!
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: Darrell H]
#163253
09/21/2015 7:32 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
Another excellent trophy to your very impressive list of animals taken by handgun.... GOOD FOR YOU....
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#163266
09/21/2015 11:27 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556
junebug
Gun Slinger
|
Gun Slinger
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556 |
Way to go! Beautiful animal and the scenery makes it doubly so. Congrats on doing it the hard way .Chrnoed my .358 JDJ Sat. at 2309 fps with Re 7 and a 200 gr Rem.sp. sweet round!
junebug
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: junebug]
#163316
09/23/2015 12:45 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 97
Dekker
journeyman
|
journeyman
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 97 |
Congrats on a great hunt and billy, I enjoyed the read and the pics. I am curious if the bullets you recovered had mushroomed much.
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: Dekker]
#163320
09/23/2015 1:20 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145
PistolHNTR
OP
member
|
OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145 |
I posted a picture of the recovered bullets.
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163321
09/23/2015 2:37 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048
wvhitman
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048 |
Way to go. Sorta like winning the lottery several times over!
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: wvhitman]
#163323
09/23/2015 3:05 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145
PistolHNTR
OP
member
|
OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145 |
thanks for the great comments and interest guys
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163331
09/23/2015 4:07 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 220
freedom475
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 220 |
Awesome story! Thank you for sharing and congrats!!! The Mountain Goat is my most favorite trophy. Probably no other animal on earth will test you like the the goat can is his high domain.
Mister, why do you carry a 45? "Because Sam Colt don't make a 46."
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: freedom475]
#163333
09/23/2015 5:04 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 300
rickiesrevenge
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 300 |
Congrats on your goat!! I'm getting my gear ready for my Mt. Goat hunt next week.
Aaron
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: rickiesrevenge]
#163345
09/23/2015 12:41 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145
PistolHNTR
OP
member
|
OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 145 |
Good luck AAron on your hunt...where you headed
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163347
09/23/2015 1:39 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 300
rickiesrevenge
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 300 |
South end of Kodiak. Really looking forward to it. Should be a good time, because I'll be hunting with a good buddy who is also a handgun hunter.
Aaron
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: rickiesrevenge]
#163357
09/23/2015 2:58 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
Distinguished Expert
|
Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155 |
Awesome hunt and congratulations on a fine trophy!
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163367
09/23/2015 4:04 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 211
Sam86
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 211 |
congrats!! tough animal!!
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: Sam86]
#163470
09/25/2015 2:26 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 271
dvan
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 271 |
Congrats on the mountain goat. Got several preference points with hopes of drawing someday. I agree I will feel like I won the lottery when that time comes.
T/C's~Ruger's~Striker~XP~S&W & the Quest Continues
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: PistolHNTR]
#163620
09/28/2015 12:31 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 109
rugernut
member
|
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 109 |
Congrats. Thanks for sharing. Nothing beats mountain hunting!
|
|
|
Re: Mt Gaot with a Contender
[Re: rugernut]
#163656
09/28/2015 8:30 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 310
Snyd
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 310 |
Good for you. That's a hunt I haven't done yet. I've been on many Dall Sheep hunts and was able to get another one this year but no goat hunt yet. And yes, you are right about them being tough to kill. I've talked with several goat hunters about just that.
|
|
|
|
0 registered members (),
54
guests, and 0
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|