Dakota Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Hey all, Boy, what an exciting goat hunt out in western South Dakota! I saw as many goats in our unit and around Belle Fourche as I did around Gillette when I was out elk hunting in 2006. So many goats, so many BUCKS! We scouted out a watering hole Friday evening and saw several does, a tall 15-16" buck and a smaller 8" buck. Both bucks had separate harems (5 does for the big buck and 2 for the smaller one). The small buck was extremely protective of his two does and stood between our truck and his does protecting them from us the night before opener. We got out to our spot about an hour before shooting light, which was 6:25, and didn't get out of the truck 'til about 6:10. Dad headed onto the BLM land south of the Walk In Area I was positioned on, and Uncle Dave went to the Walk In on the east side of the road. At 6:27 as I sat down above the watering hole, a rifle shot rang out from across the road and Uncle Dave harvested what was probably the first rifle goat of the year at least in our unit for SD. She was a little one that had got separated from the rest of the herd and actually followed Uncle Dave. He said, "I'm not your momma, but I'll take you home with me!" and he shot her at thirty yards with his .243 (after pulling up on her, pulling the trigger, realizing he had not loaded the gun and loaded it while she just stood there looking at him in curiosity :D:D). Ten minutes later I looked behind me and saw a doe pop her head over the hill on the BLM land only a hundred yards away. The wind was in my favor (plus it helped that I had soaped up with some scent away and also had some sage masking scent spray on my boots) as I positioned my rifle on the top of the barbed wire fence. As the antelope (the three from the evening before) slowly made their way towards me, I shot twice and missed. The goats kept coming closer! When they got within 50 yards of me, they paused, noticing an orange blob by the fence line. As their noses twitched, trying to catch my scent, I had reloaded. They noticed and spooked. I blew on my Primos Antelope Buster and stopped them in their tracks. The buck stood broadside and I took advantage of his momentary pause. Boom! The goats ran off about 25 yards and stopped. I had assumed I had missed him until his legs began to buckle and he fell to earth! I immediately swung on the closest doe, she was at about 75 yards. Boom! Down she fell! I shook with excitement at the thought of filling all three of my tags by 7 in the morning and swung on the last doe. Seven shots later, I watched as the doe ran off none the worse for wear! :D:D Unfortunately, Dad didn't have an opportunity at a goat this year like he did last year. Later on in the day, we went on some BLM adjacent to the private land we had hunted last year. Some of our friends were hunting it and, from all the gun shots coming from that way, we assume they all filled their tags. We positioned ourselves where we could pick off any goats that crossed the fence into the BLM. At a hundred yards I could have shot several to fill my last tag, but they just wouldn't commit the few inches to crossing the fence and entering my cooler. :D:D Anyways, we had a blast and enjoyed seeing so many goats! Pics to come soon! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest outdoorgirl Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Congrats Dakota on your goats sounds like a great hunt your family had together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Wow, that certainly was a great time. Congratulations on your fine hunt, Dakota. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted October 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 It was so much fun and the buck, not the tallest in length but with good mass and nice cutters, will look good on the wall! Luckily we had stopped by the brand new Cabela's in Rapid City and had purchased a game cart. That made things easier and we could haul both goats back at the same time. Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted October 5, 2008 Report Share Posted October 5, 2008 Sounds like a great trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Great hunt ... but we need photos ... lol Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 sounds like a good hunt... congrats! looking forward to the pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Congrats Dakota sounds like you all had a great hunt. but you know how this works :p:D:D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Congrats Dakota sounds like you all had a great hunt. but you know how this works :p:D:D:D YEAH what Tod said ... :D CONGRATS !! Dakota can't wait to see some pics ... :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted October 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Okay, my uncle just e-mailed us the pics...how do I post them? Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Okay, my uncle just e-mailed us the pics...how do I post them? Dakota LOL.. all this time here on the forums and you still haven't learned to post a pic .... SHAME on you bud .. :D Here read this .. http://www.realtree.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4561 When I get back from my afternoon hunt I expect to see some goats .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted October 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 Okay, my computer is way too slow...is there any way I can e-mail the pics to one of you guys and you could post it? That is really the only way I'll be able to get them on the forums...help! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davetucker Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Wow sounds like a great hunt!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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