jigsaw 11,866 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 headed up the hill wednesday,as I havent been out for a bit.the weather this season was not on the side of the hunter and the trees felled up there has to be seen to be believed.As they are coniferous trees up there mostly with a few scrub trees and the rest is rushes,tall grasses and briars in abundance.I was talking to william the land owner and he informed me he had seen a very large mob of goats earlier that morning.He relayed that in his opinion there were about 30-40 in number. that'll do me fine ,I thought.so with sonic the 1st x saluki and caine,son of lucas,we loaded the rifle,knives and other necessities and headed off.we walked about 1/4 of a mile and up onto the ridges,I realised how out of practice I was then,cause I was well huffing and puffing,kevin was a bit behind me and the colour on his face told me he was working hard also to get his ass in gear.we got to the flat area roughly a little lass than half way up and that distintive aroma wafted up mu nostrils.The honk of goat piss and scent glands. I slowly crept up to the top of the last ridge,peeked over keeping well low as the goats nowdays dont hang about at all to see what the ever present danger is if they hear a strange sound.In front of me were a fine mob of goats,a few billies,a lot of nannys and a lot more kid goats.I couldnt understand how there were so many kids about and it seemed not enough nannys in this mob to produce that many young.I wonder if the mob was a bigger bunch and they split,some going in one direction and some in another with the kids sticking together and possibly meeting up with their mothers at a later stage.I dont know but there seemed to be too many kids to nannys ratio.the kids were all different levels of growth,some were tiny little creatures,some were a few weeks old and some were a bit larger and heading to adulthood. I got the gun reaady,told kev to put the dogs on action stations,that being on slips and ready to let loose if so needed.I put the cross hairs on a fine billy and with deep breating pulled sharply on the trigger.Too sharply it seems as I missed the bloody target completely.the goats broke for road and kevin being kevin slipped both dogs.Sonic was off and running through heather and gorse on terrain even the goats were struggling to keep their footing.they all dissapeared over the far edge and down an embankment,out of sight.In no time a goat could be heard in distress and were were on them in no time as we bith ran as fast as possible when the chase began.We got to the enbankment,almost went head over heels down and ran a few yards through a line of trees and sonic could be seen swinging and bouncing vigorously while still holding fast to a big billys face.Caine im afraid just stood about not knowing what to do and its with this in mind I have decided that sonic will be the only dog to take part in this form of hunting ever again.Im going to keep the rest of the dogs for other stuff other than goats.Kevin ran in and finished the struggle in no time.I have to say,for a young lad hes good to do the dirty with the knife.We got the situation under control and calm came upon us all again,AND THEN IT STARTED POURING RAIN I gutted the big dirty smelly fecker and Kevin asked me in his witty little way if I was shooting blanks,i being JUST AS WITTY,said,no.......I produced you didnt I. for which I was told to shut the fcuk up .I gave kev the gun and we headed down.we hadnt gone far when we happened to come to a strip of trees and we took a short cut and headed directly for base camp,or otherwise known as THE VAN ...I was struggling away pulling the big hairy billy when sonic put his nose to the floor and took off.Now there are a few different reasons this could be and Im told pine martins are making a come back in the area.As long as Im up here,Ive never seen one,then theres the very rare deer about and of course a few hares,foxes a plenty and the smellies.The dog was flying through the trees and we knew at the speed he was travelling there was something very close by.For a moment all was quiet and out of the corner of kevins eye he spotted a half grown goat running for all he was worth and in seconds sonic came on the scene,full speed and hit the poor b*****d like a freight train,the screams of the kid was enough to get us moving and we did the necessary to bring the task to a conclusion.At this point I must add it was pissing rain,I had the camera around my neck but we were soaked to the skin and I couldnt risk getting the camera damaged.The only thing on my mind was getting down and changing clothes in the barn of williams.We now of course had 2 dead animals to carry.So after a long slow pull,we managed to reach the farm yard and met william.He was happy out but wanted me to get back up there as soon as I could to knock a few more. Well we changed clothes and what a great feeling to get out of a set of gear that is stuck to your back and legs,and into dry clobber and off home we went.It was an eye opener to see the dog at work and actually come in contact with the goats before our very eyes,they do have some power behind them when they take hold.i also realise I...1.either need to check the accuracy of the gun,or 2...get some god dam practice in,cause I sure made a balls of shooting that first goat up there.I have a nice kid goat roast planned soon for myself and the big billy is in the freezer for the mutts.heres 2 miserable photos taken the next day of my skinning efforts. 15 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,216 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Cracking as ever mate. You need a house guest? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jigsaw 11,866 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 also,you may have noticed I didnt get round to sorting that fukin ivy yet either.I was told to wait for a dry day before spraying the stuff,the way the weather is,it might be some time yet before I get to it,lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jigsaw 11,866 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Cracking as ever mate. You need a house guest? not as yet,if herself leaves me(and I cant understand how she hasnt yet)you'll be first on my list,lol 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,216 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Hahaha And the more I hear of your lad, the more he sounds like my kind of fella. . . "the goats broke for road and kevin being kevin slipped both dogs" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 I didnt get round to sorting that fukin ivy yet either. Goats Love ivy ....! {Snigger!} Cracking read, Jigs. Would not something like a tarpaulin drag make shifting the f**kers a bit easier? Just to help break that friction. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jigsaw 11,866 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 i got to look that up pete,what exactly is a tarpaulin drag???? ide,I have to say I dont know how hes my son,cause I some times feel sorry for the poor oul goats but that youngfella just dont give a fuk!!!!hes a bit ''hold me back and let me at them'' at times but once his opertunity arises hes straight in and cuts hard and fast like hanibal fukin lecter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ideation 8,216 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 It's how you raise em At least you won't go hungry in your dotage Quote Link to post Share on other sites
norseman 424 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 fookin class Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jigsaw 11,866 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 this is the kind of shit we have to climb and move around when necessary, pure shit country as you can see,lol 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 That's exactly the terrain I had in mind, Jigs. Pulling and dragging a dead weight across that can be no fun. Especially one covered in goat hair. So, what I'd do? Knowing I was doing it on a regular basis; I'd get me a small sheet of canvas tarpaulin. Green stuff once ~ more often ~ used to cover lorries loads. Couple of rings set in it. Attach a rope. Bob's ye uncle. Lay the carcass on that. Involve it in the hauling rope and away ye go. Tarpaulin would slide over the ground, see? You'd be hauling just the body weight. Not the entire f**king drag factor of that tangly hair trying to grip hold of every stem of vegetation ye pulled it across. Think how kids will slide down a railway bank, on an ICI sack ..... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jigsaw 11,866 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 wouldnt it tear going acrooss the rocks etc,strong branches.I was toying with a half blue plastic barrel,cut length ways and 2 ropes on to the front.the goats should fit into them neatly and it would slide easily but be harsh enough to take the jagged rocks protruding through the bracken etc. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tiercel 6,986 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Better still, get yourself a pony. you can then take more than a couple off the hill at the same time. TC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jigsaw 11,866 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 anything that can haul ass out this kind of land would be a very great wellcome its hard on the back..........and legs...........and heart ane every bloody where else too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hedge hunter 107 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 Cracking read mate. I really look forward to your goat posts mate cheers hh Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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