Goat Stalking

Glensman · 12-01-2011 01:14PM #1

This happened during the first snow, but I never got a chance to post pics- I was gutted when the original pics were lost/deleted by my technophobic shooting partner!

We decided we were going to take another goat for the pot- I'd taken one before and it tasted fantastic so off we went again to the same glen.
We sat in the jeep for a good while scanning the cliffs, hills and woods with the binos to see if we could spot a herd to stalk up on- unfortunately no joy.

We decided we may as well to a bit of leg work so we took a lowish line in the forest (Very steep) and started to hunt down the glen. There were goat tracks Everywhere! So much so that there was no point in trying to track as they were going in every direction and the snow had been down for about 4 days.

As we stalked our way down we seen a number of woodcock, a hare and a huge rat. The walking was very going as the face is very steep sided, soft under foot and it's fairly think wood- even in winter (perfect for goats!)

We worked our way down for about an hour- but no sign of our quarry.
We then doubled back towards the jeep and took a line about 80yards higher in the forest, stalking our way back again.

Although we'd already technically covered this ground, and we weren't that hopeful; goats move around a lot and they're so quiet they could be beside you and you wouldn't see them.

After about 15mins stalking I noticed movement, I tapped Ollie on the shoulder and pointed the line. There was a Massive beast standing on his back legs eating moss off a tree.
Ollie got a bit excited, and had his ear defenders on and was taking aim in a matter of seconds- I wanted him to wait so we could select a young kid (although not currently visible, they had to be somewhere).

The shot rang out, and the beast crumpled. 4 females then broke and legged it thru the cover. I lifted the ear defenders off Ollie's head and took the rifle. I then let a shot go at a young, pure black kid.

Here's the result. I cannot emphasise how big the buck was, he was over 6 1/2 ft from nose to rear hooves.

If anyone's ever shot goats in cover and terrain like this they could tell you that shooting's the easy part. The weight in them is unreal, it's like tryin to draw a calf up a cliff.

The original pictures were MUCH better as the rifle was in it and the goats looked much better than when hanging!

Rifle was Howa 1500 in .270 130gr soft points.

poulo6.5 · 12-01-2011 01:27PM

Good going.
I am hoping to get out after a few goats at the weekend.

Vegeta · 12-01-2011 01:28PM

Nice work and great post. The older goat looks like a seriously powerful animal.

4gun · 12-01-2011 01:49PM

I was out on one of my usual stomps yesterday and I saw about 12 goats, two of them were smaller kids than your one, walked up to within 20 ft of them and took a picture, I didn't want to shoot them for shootings sake, and also have a full freezer of venison.

People say the kids taste like lamb, how true is that ?

I would have taken one for bigger lads head for a trophy but I found the carcase of a dead 12 point red so brought that home instead( its the only way to get one in Kerry)

Glensman · 12-01-2011 02:40PM

4gun wrote: »

I was out on one of my usual stomps yesterday and I saw about 12 goats, two of them were smaller kids than your one, walked up to within 20 ft of them and took a picture, I didn't want to shoot them for shootings sake, and also have a full freezer of venison.

People say the kids taste like lamb, how true is that ?

I would have taken one for bigger lads head for a trophy but I found the carcase of a dead 12 point red so brought that home instead( its the only way to get one in Kerry)

In an Irish Stew the kid tastes like beef, only better maybe. I made an irish stew and a Mediterranean with the first one. Ollie roasted his leg and said it was Better than lamb. His sister roasted a leg this time and everyone agreed it was better than lamb.

Off this one, I froze the 2 legs because I was Way too busy to be cooking and used the loins in Game pie (it was excellent).

Glensman · 12-01-2011 02:47PM

Vegeta wrote: »

Nice work and great post. The older goat looks like a seriously powerful animal.

He was a MONSTER, I'm 6'3" and as you can see in the photo he's Way bigger than me!

He actually turned out to be a good animal to cull he only had one tooth left in his head, I'm surprised he was able to survive. He was from a small herd and there are 3 kids left in that herd. I'm pretty sure from the time of year, and the other kid I shot that he had served the other 3 already.
There are a good few goats in that glen and I would hope another powerful buck would move on to cover those kids in the future...

sean raff · 12-01-2011 02:48PM

excellant stuff there

dev110 · 12-01-2011 03:17PM

Great shooting!!

You won't be hungry for a long time

mallards · 12-01-2011 03:34PM

Fantastic shooting Glensman, you should get the BBQ out and the beers and mates in for all that meat!

Mallards.

meathshooter1 · 12-01-2011 04:00PM

jamacian curried goat is beautiful finger licking stuff.got a taste for it in birmingham.was there much of stink of them shot one years ago and he was minging the weather was much warmer.

Glensman · 12-01-2011 04:04PM

meathshooter1 wrote: »

jamacian curried goat is beautiful finger licking stuff.got a taste for it in birmingham.was there much of stink of them shot one years ago and he was minging the weather was much warmer.

The kid didnt smell at all really. The big fella smelt fine when he was shot- but everytime I opened the door of the garage it hit you.

I thought they didn't really smell, but everyone else was choking- when I walked in the house mum was choking from the smell from Me!.. Maybe I have a high tolerance!!

Tackleberrywho · 12-01-2011 04:21PM

Glensman wrote: »

The kid didnt smell at all really. The big fella smelt fine when he was shot- but everytime I opened the door of the garage it hit you.

I thought they didn't really smell, but everyone else was choking- when I walked in the house mum was choking from the smell from Me!.. Maybe I have a high tolerance!!

Or you just like the smell of Musk

sikastag · 12-01-2011 06:31PM

meathshooter1 wrote: »

jamacian curried goat is beautiful finger licking stuff.got a taste for it in birmingham.was there much of stink of them shot one years ago and he was minging the weather was much warmer.

Never had the chance to try any goat yet but hope to do so in the future.

Just when you mentioned jamaican curried goat, saw Hugh FW from River Cottage highlighting it. Cant remember what series or episode but it really looked fantastic. Heres a link about it:

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/curry_goat_p_1.html

Nice shooting Glensman.

MACT1RE · 12-01-2011 07:21PM

Great story, fantastic animal. Well done.

landkeeper · 12-01-2011 08:01PM

buck goats don't smell!!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D i shot a few big old billies a few years ago that someone dumped in with our sheep they smelt that bad you could taste it :eek::eek:
still kid goat is nice bit more 'herby' than lamb but tasty and tender

Victor · 13-01-2011 04:11AM

Is that the most hygienic place you have for slaughtering. Yes, I realise the hide is probably manky to start with.

garv123 · 13-01-2011 04:34AM

Victor wrote: »

Is that the most hygenic place you have for slaughtering. Yes, I realise the ride is probably manky to start with.

most people do it in their sheds. they dont have a special designated area for it.

the dirt adds to the flavour;)

Tackleberrywho · 13-01-2011 12:07PM

sikastag wrote: »

Never had the chance to try any goat yet but hope to do so in the future.

Just when you mentioned jamaican curried goat, saw Hugh FW from River Cottage highlighting it. Cant remember what series or episode but it really looked fantastic. Heres a link about it:

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/curry_goat_p_1.html

Nice shooting Glensman.

Victor wrote: »

Is that the most hygenic place you have for slaughtering. Yes, I realise the ride is probably manky to start with.

What is Hygienic ?
The most important part to be clean is your equipment and the prep area.

I have a table that I douse with Milton before I cut anything up on.
I wash all my knives in the dishwasher.

The shed, is a shed. It holds lots of shi*e.

I keep the carcass in a fridge which I clean with Milton.

When Butchering I trim off any meat that is blood clotted or fridge hardened.

I've seen Hugh Fearnly Whittingstal eat meat that was not even cook, just trimmed off a lamb!

I see people eat Meat that I would consider almost RAW:eek:

Keep Hands clean
Keep Knives clean
Keep storage/Fridge clean
Keep butchering Table clean
Bag in Zip locked bags

Once I have seen all the meat has no poop or hair on it, or stale blood I am happy.

mayfly36 · 13-01-2011 01:04PM

good going mate, now this i have to try when im up again.:) but wouldnt fancy draggin em back to the jeep, ive seen the terrain LOL

Glensman · 13-01-2011 02:42PM

Victor wrote: »

Is that the most hygenic place you have for slaughtering. Yes, I realise the ride is probably manky to start with.

Frankly, yes!

The goats were gralloched in a Very steep forrest- then dragged closer to the road... Once in the shed, you might be able to see that I lifted the buck with a 3 tonne engine crane by his back ligaments.
If you know another way of getting an animal of that size into the air- I'd love to hear it!

After that, the goats hung for about 5 days (buck) and 7 days (kid) in sub-zero conditions (at night, not much higher during day).

Ollie has a full set of butchering knives (real ones) which are sharp as hell and very clean, I keep a roll of new industrial bin bags for the purpose and these were used to lay the meat on.

Between us we have 10 dogs, over the course of a week they got the buck goat, I used the spine to bait for foxes.

The Kid goat went to the pot, although we still have a leg each in the freezer, I might lift it out and roast it this monday though...

I'm glad people like the story- I wish the first pics hadn't been lost, they were Way better :mad:

Glensman · 13-01-2011 02:45PM

mayfly36 wrote: »

good going mate, now this i have to try when im up again.:) but wouldnt fancy draggin em back to the jeep, ive seen the terrain LOL

You haven't seen this terrain! Ollie was getting it tight, and he's like a goat himself. Sub-zero temps and the sweat was lashing off us. When I got home I took the clothes off at the back door and went straight for the shower!

We plan to go for another kid before the weather gets much warmer, you're more than welcome to come. It's from a completely different area and we've arranged with the farmer to get keys of gates etc in advance.

You really need to get the jeep as close as possible!

mayfly36 · 13-01-2011 02:51PM

Sounds a lot better, you know what im like with the dodgy back. IM SURE WE WILL SORT SOMETHING out, you didnt arrange anything with ollie about coming down here for the evening.

Glensman · 13-01-2011 04:09PM

mayfly36 wrote: »

Sounds a lot better, you know what im like with the dodgy back. IM SURE WE WILL SORT SOMETHING out, you didnt arrange anything with ollie about coming down here for the evening.

Job interview tomorrow mate and 2 more next week, have to prepare for them and all so it would have to be the week after... I'll let you know...

welsummer · 14-01-2011 03:49PM

well done.. i think i can smell you from here.. is that charger working in the background. Are you selling it, Boss

Glensman · 14-01-2011 04:54PM

welsummer wrote: »

well done.. i think i can smell you from here.. is that charger working in the background. Are you selling it, Boss

That charger actually isn't! I only kept it for the croc clips... If the camera was pointed slightly to the left you'd have seen my good one!

transit260 · 15-01-2011 10:49PM

Ive been known to take a few myself and I must say they taste superb.

where i am theres dozens of them wandering about and eating anything they feel like.As said before the weight of them is unreal and in rough terrain its hard sloging to get it back to the car.

The smell from the billies is nausiating and I try not to shoot them unless I need meat for the terriers and lurchers.The ground I cover is brutal and rough. Below are a small few raping the farmers field of good grazing

my son with 2 kids for the table

A few we too

k last season

Glensman · 15-01-2011 11:25PM

I think you have a WHOLE lot more than me!! They're Very big horns on the smaller goats. Goats that size would have horns of 6-10 inches here. They seem to be thriving where you're at them!

transit260 · 15-01-2011 11:56PM

Im not joking when I say theres well over 100 here in 3 seperate groups,
heres another few ive had of late

I better stop here,lol

welsummer · 16-01-2011 08:42AM

are you in australia .that dog looks very like a dingo

transit260 · 16-01-2011 06:56PM

southern Ireland mate and the dogs a 1st x kelpie/greyhound.You were a bit out,lol.

monte · 16-01-2011 07:32PM

transit what caliber do you use on the goats nice work;)

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Goat Stalking

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