I had gone in the Sunday prior to the opener to scout the area for the goat tag I was fortunate enough to draw. It was an easy five mile hike to the hunt area boundary, with little to no elevation gain. The trail was heavily used and well maintained, so I knew getting in there wouldn’t be the problem. From what I had heard, from buddies who had been back there, finding goats wouldn’t be a problem either. As always, it was getting to one that was recoverable would be the issue.
Luckily I had a good friend, along with one of his friends that said they would help with the pack out, if I harvested a goat. The weather all week was sunny and cloud free, and it was supposed to last through the weekend.
I had spotted a bunch of goats on my scouting trip, so I had an idea of how I wanted to hunt the area. I would be headed in with enough rations for four days, and a pack raft to take me to a point that was three miles from the parking lot.
Friday finally rolled around, and the season had already been underway for four days. Thinking about your upcoming hunt and trying to work are not a good combination. I kept watching the clock and counting down the minutes until I could make the short drive up the highway to start the hike in.
The time eventually came and I was ready to go. I quickly changed and made my way to the parking lot and sent my wife a message from my InReach that I was headed in. I made my way inside the park office to pay my parking fee and let the ladies at the counter know what my plans were. Just in case.
The trail I would be heading in on is part of the Historic Iditarod Trail, and everyone from weekend adventurers to serious hunters are back in the area at any given point. I looked around at the vehicles, but there was no way to discern if any other hunters were already back in there. I loaded up and headed out for the five mile trek.
The hike in was uneventful, except for the good looking bull moose I came across and got fired up with some calling and brush thrashing. After my brush thrasing and calling, I realized how close he had worked towards the trail and was second guessing my decision. But, I guess he figured I wasn’t another bull once he saw the bright yellow paddles sticking out of my pack and he headed back into the woods with the cow he had swooned.
I had gotten on the trail later than I wanted to, mostly because some people at work wanted to talk about hunting and fishing instead of letting me get on my way, but I was not in any rush and didn’t plan to hunt that evening anyways. I eventually made it to the area on the river where I wanted to cross and got the pack raft ready to go. This was my first time using a pack raft, but I was not new to being on the water by any means. Either way, I knew it would be a learning experience.
I got the raft loaded up with my gear and made it across the river without incident. Well, besides getting my sleeves a little wet when I went to hop out of the raft. I found a decent area to camp and dropped my pack along with the pack raft. As I took a look around at the river bank I noticed bear tracks all over. They were smaller black bear tracks, but none the less they were still bear tracks.
As I set up camp I took a look at the surrounding mountains and spotted a lone Billy feeding along a small area. I started coming up with a game plan as I finished setting up and sat down on the raft to watch him as I ate dinner. I sent another message to my wife and buddy that I was in position from the InReach. The Billy I spotted was accessible and recoverable, but it would be some work to get to him. As the light started to fade I noticed another Billy pop out of some brush and feed in an area directly above my camp. He was very accessible and recoverable. He slipped out of sight as the light disappeared behind the mountains and I figured I should probably get a good fire going just in case. If not for just a piece of mind. I set my alarm and settled into my EE quilt to get some sleep before the morning light crept over the mountains.
I still hadn't received a response from my wife or my buddy, and I was beginning to worry that my InReach wasn't working properly.
Luckily I had a good friend, along with one of his friends that said they would help with the pack out, if I harvested a goat. The weather all week was sunny and cloud free, and it was supposed to last through the weekend.
I had spotted a bunch of goats on my scouting trip, so I had an idea of how I wanted to hunt the area. I would be headed in with enough rations for four days, and a pack raft to take me to a point that was three miles from the parking lot.
Friday finally rolled around, and the season had already been underway for four days. Thinking about your upcoming hunt and trying to work are not a good combination. I kept watching the clock and counting down the minutes until I could make the short drive up the highway to start the hike in.
The time eventually came and I was ready to go. I quickly changed and made my way to the parking lot and sent my wife a message from my InReach that I was headed in. I made my way inside the park office to pay my parking fee and let the ladies at the counter know what my plans were. Just in case.
The trail I would be heading in on is part of the Historic Iditarod Trail, and everyone from weekend adventurers to serious hunters are back in the area at any given point. I looked around at the vehicles, but there was no way to discern if any other hunters were already back in there. I loaded up and headed out for the five mile trek.
The hike in was uneventful, except for the good looking bull moose I came across and got fired up with some calling and brush thrashing. After my brush thrasing and calling, I realized how close he had worked towards the trail and was second guessing my decision. But, I guess he figured I wasn’t another bull once he saw the bright yellow paddles sticking out of my pack and he headed back into the woods with the cow he had swooned.
I had gotten on the trail later than I wanted to, mostly because some people at work wanted to talk about hunting and fishing instead of letting me get on my way, but I was not in any rush and didn’t plan to hunt that evening anyways. I eventually made it to the area on the river where I wanted to cross and got the pack raft ready to go. This was my first time using a pack raft, but I was not new to being on the water by any means. Either way, I knew it would be a learning experience.
I got the raft loaded up with my gear and made it across the river without incident. Well, besides getting my sleeves a little wet when I went to hop out of the raft. I found a decent area to camp and dropped my pack along with the pack raft. As I took a look around at the river bank I noticed bear tracks all over. They were smaller black bear tracks, but none the less they were still bear tracks.
As I set up camp I took a look at the surrounding mountains and spotted a lone Billy feeding along a small area. I started coming up with a game plan as I finished setting up and sat down on the raft to watch him as I ate dinner. I sent another message to my wife and buddy that I was in position from the InReach. The Billy I spotted was accessible and recoverable, but it would be some work to get to him. As the light started to fade I noticed another Billy pop out of some brush and feed in an area directly above my camp. He was very accessible and recoverable. He slipped out of sight as the light disappeared behind the mountains and I figured I should probably get a good fire going just in case. If not for just a piece of mind. I set my alarm and settled into my EE quilt to get some sleep before the morning light crept over the mountains.
I still hadn't received a response from my wife or my buddy, and I was beginning to worry that my InReach wasn't working properly.