Cabinet Mountains Wilderness goat hunt (attempt)

A good friend of mine drew a MTN Goat tag for the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in NW Montana. I went up on Monday and we backpacked in to a camp location he had scouted. A month earlier he saw a 9-10" billy in there. The weather looked like it was going to turn nasty on us. I just hoped the visibility would not hinder us. Snow is okay, but we need to see.

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Got in and got the tent up just as a snow-storm hit us.

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Woke up to an additional 10 inches or so of snow on the ground. Already had a couple when we left the trail-head. Visibility sucked! Most of the time could not see 50-100 yards.

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Thought we should get out since conditions just made it impossible to see anything.

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After not being able to hunt for two days, we went back in Friday. Conditions better, but we would only have good visibility at times every couple hours or so, and then it would not last long.

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Man it was pretty and very rugged country. I had never been back there before. I enjoyed the heck out of it.

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I sure hope my friend makes it back in before he gets snowed out. I have a special mule deer buck tag I drew that I need to worry about so I am not sure I'll be able to get back with him again. I really would like to though. We saw a Pine Martin on the way out on Friday which was pretty neat. I have not seen them in the wild very often.

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On the way out at about 4200 feet less elevation. Whole new world here.

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Got my first turkey at my buddies place. I was pretty excited about that. As I write this it is smoking on my smoker using apple wood. Should be great!!

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to top it off I saw a few bighorn sheep just east of Thompson Falls on the highway. Pretty cool trip.

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Sounds and looks like a good adventure. congrats on the Turkey.

that is awesome 6mm, I dont want to make you sound old, but when I am your age, I hope to have the grit you do to pack deep in like you have done these last couple years. My hats off to you sir.

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Originally Posted by Drhorsepower

that is awesome 6mm, I dont want to make you sound old, but when I am your age, I hope to have the grit you do to pack deep in like you have done these last couple years. My hats off to you sir.

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Thank you Dr.horsepower! I take that completely as a compliment.
David

Nice pics, I hope he gets his goat.

Wow, awesome photos and really enjoyed reading along. Great adventure!