Sagitarius
18-03-07, 11:38 PM
I finally re-blooded Johnno's old Grizzly, I've got heaps with the stick but this was my first blood with a compound.
This was my 3rd hunt with the Reflex bow and few hunting buddies, chasing a few mobs of Goats around a mates property near Bathurst. We were dead keen and up at 05:30 to stalk their bedding grounds high in the hills. At first light we saw a big Billy with what we thought were a small mob just under 80m on our side of a small ridge line, we crouched down and I finally got the nod to go forth (we take turns on the stalking).
I moved to be down wind and behind what little cover was available, mainly the rocky outcroppings of a ridge, and begun my approach. It took a long time to get to what I had previously guessed to be 40m, a few times I stopped to not make any noise for a while & found I had lost sight of them. Looking back at the lads gave no indication the quarry had moved so I continued.
Upon reaching the forked tree at the 40m I halted and peered between the trunks. I saw the 4 or so smaller dudes and the big guy with a 30"+ spread who had his head up having a good sniff. With the wind in my face the goat was not having a easy time making me out, so he moved closer for a look, straight towards me!
At 30m he stopped & began getting edgy & snorting, so I set my sight for 30m and knocked a arrow then drew. In this time he had moved another at least 10-15m closer with a big herd of 20+ following him over the ridge.
I felt I was to close to too many sets of horns but didn't lose sight of my target. I aimed just left of the goats brisket armour & let loose, there was any audible clap and then a softer one following but the goat gave a big snort as it retreated with the mob quickly to near the ridge which they slowed & crossed.
The big Billy had closed the distance and I had left the sights at the further range in the worry of being stampeded, the resulting shot glanced of his big horns leaving him unharmed. This was not to be so for one 1 smaller fella over the ridge though.
I gave the signal for the group to move round without me & move forward when they meet the ridge. They did so while I moved up to the ridge 80m or so down from them, getting to the high ground first gave me a view of what looked like goat paradise. There must of been about 100 of them over the ridge and as the 20 or so had slowed to crossed over they were not spooked by my previous failing.
This huge mob was unbeknown to the lads walking round, the goats got wind of them and began the bolt to greener pastures. I had no time to pick out the biggest but sighted a small Billy within range. I still had an arrow on the string so he only made 10m on the run taking him out to 30m as I calculated the shot to hit as a quarter. The goat and arrow kept their courses and meet in the predetermined fashion.
It made a fair distance for being quartered and fell about 15m from where he was hit. Although small his hide and head were taken as trophy for the effort it took to get one at last. I will be back for the big fella soon.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/stemcellcloning/Hunting/Goat1.jpg
This was my 3rd hunt with the Reflex bow and few hunting buddies, chasing a few mobs of Goats around a mates property near Bathurst. We were dead keen and up at 05:30 to stalk their bedding grounds high in the hills. At first light we saw a big Billy with what we thought were a small mob just under 80m on our side of a small ridge line, we crouched down and I finally got the nod to go forth (we take turns on the stalking).
I moved to be down wind and behind what little cover was available, mainly the rocky outcroppings of a ridge, and begun my approach. It took a long time to get to what I had previously guessed to be 40m, a few times I stopped to not make any noise for a while & found I had lost sight of them. Looking back at the lads gave no indication the quarry had moved so I continued.
Upon reaching the forked tree at the 40m I halted and peered between the trunks. I saw the 4 or so smaller dudes and the big guy with a 30"+ spread who had his head up having a good sniff. With the wind in my face the goat was not having a easy time making me out, so he moved closer for a look, straight towards me!
At 30m he stopped & began getting edgy & snorting, so I set my sight for 30m and knocked a arrow then drew. In this time he had moved another at least 10-15m closer with a big herd of 20+ following him over the ridge.
I felt I was to close to too many sets of horns but didn't lose sight of my target. I aimed just left of the goats brisket armour & let loose, there was any audible clap and then a softer one following but the goat gave a big snort as it retreated with the mob quickly to near the ridge which they slowed & crossed.
The big Billy had closed the distance and I had left the sights at the further range in the worry of being stampeded, the resulting shot glanced of his big horns leaving him unharmed. This was not to be so for one 1 smaller fella over the ridge though.
I gave the signal for the group to move round without me & move forward when they meet the ridge. They did so while I moved up to the ridge 80m or so down from them, getting to the high ground first gave me a view of what looked like goat paradise. There must of been about 100 of them over the ridge and as the 20 or so had slowed to crossed over they were not spooked by my previous failing.
This huge mob was unbeknown to the lads walking round, the goats got wind of them and began the bolt to greener pastures. I had no time to pick out the biggest but sighted a small Billy within range. I still had an arrow on the string so he only made 10m on the run taking him out to 30m as I calculated the shot to hit as a quarter. The goat and arrow kept their courses and meet in the predetermined fashion.
It made a fair distance for being quartered and fell about 15m from where he was hit. Although small his hide and head were taken as trophy for the effort it took to get one at last. I will be back for the big fella soon.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/stemcellcloning/Hunting/Goat1.jpg