Thread: 2 for 3

First time back to the goat spot in a while, and after chasing deer and not gettting any the freezer was getting low. So I went all out and did a full day.

Morning stalk was stuffed up by a 180 wind change which put me well out of positon, so I headed back for lunch and kicked off again with the wind in my face. While I waited I let them bed down for a bit, get hungry and start moving about a bit.
I ninja'd down the hill to where I'd seen 3-4 earlier in the day, sneaky sneaky. Heard a few twig snaps then some flapping ears... definately goats. Snuck down a small gut on my ass to stay out of sight and got within 20m. But I was totally blocked in by gorse and onga onga, only way out was back up the hill which I wasn't gonna do as I'd now be in full view of them. So I settled in to a position where I wouldn't cramp up, boot sides cutting tiny foot hold on the face of a clay slip.... and waited.

10-15mins later they started to move across below me, still hidden by scrub and shit..... then I got a sight of fur about 15m away through small 20cm gap in the branches, was it enough? yep.
I came to full draw, brought the bow up, then leaned out past a gorse bush while not loosing my toe holds, lined up the sight through the bushed aimed and let fly. Whack!
Off it went in a scramble to the right 10m then came back left to its mates just below where it started gurgling and coughing. thats as far as it got. complete lung pass-through and it was down before it knew what was happening. a perfect eater which I dressed and dragged it back to a shady spot cool.




It was only 1pm and I still had a leave pass for the day so I planned the next wee walk.

Down the valley with the wind in my face, wasn't expecting much as I'd already bagged one, but as I made my way down to the valley floor 500m below I began to see a few. After going on hands and knees through the trails in the gorse and manuka I spotted one down on the stream flats.... hmmmm. looked good. The I spotted 3 more. ok this is good. I was across from them and fully secluded in the manuka and had a shooting ally through the trees lined up.
Ranged at 35m and downhill which ended up being about 31m (love the new rangefinder!) lined up a 1yr kid. whack it went down arrow passed through and burried in the ground. Mum looking very concerned wandered over to see what jr was doing having absolutely no idea what was going on. I was so well hidden she didn't even know I was there, I drew again and let fly. Mum took the hit, bolted a meters across the stream and then she was down now too.

3 down and the freezer was looking in better condtion.

I wasn't gonna carry these 2 out whole so I did the legs and straps and hiked the hill. It was a bit of a mission, hot, sunny and no water so by the time I got to the top I was feeling it a bit... one foot after the other...

managed to try out the new hanging fridge.... worked a treat. can really dial in tha aging with temp and humidity.
Test the back straps on the bbq after 2 days aging. was still a bit chewy.
4 days, getting better.
7 days, melt in your mouth tender.

Now everyone in the house prefers goat to lamb!