Forgive the title folks
I arrived at the Mingoola property about 9pm after leaving work at 2pm , normally it's an easy 5 hour trip but there was a prang on the main road out of Brisbane early afternoon and it banked up traffic for about 20 km . I was less than impressed as I could not detour off the route I took due to roadworks and closed exits . I had hoped to arrive at the property with enough light left for me to poke about the cattle yards with my Browning BL22 and maybe pop a Bunny or 2 , ah well next time !
When I arrived my Bowhunting mates where huddled around the fire Aglow
after several too many Ports and the odd Scotch . I gambled on the Weather , I knew it was going to be chilly but I was not expecting the cutting wind or it to be near zero degree's celius in the middle of October . Thankfully I did have my minus 7 rated sleeping bag so had a snug nights sleep .
Next morning broke crisp and clear minus 3 celcius with a steady Westerly wind blowing . I had only brought my light weight camo gear and due to the steep terrain was not too concerned about warming up . I was using my Rossi M92 .357 magnum rifle this trip and as I did not want to spoil my mates Bowhunting opportunities planned to hunt the 3 hills 2.5 kilometres across the valley from where the boys planned to hunt that morning
The wind was blowing at my back so I approached the base of the hills at an angle hoping that my scent would not be blown up the numerous thickly overgrown gullies that the Goats and the odd pig used as highways . I lucked out and while glassing the first gully I had approached heard a mob of Goats bleating 2/3 rd's of the way up it ,the scrub was too thick to see them .
I set off for the grassy knoll I gambled they where headed for about 1 kilometre away and began to climb the hill in hope of getting to the top and laying in ambush before they got there . As I am hardly the figure of fitness I climbed the very steep vegitation choked hillside in a zig zag pattern in an attempt to make the climb a little easier . I reckon I walked 3 times the actual distance needed to crest the hill but I got there in the end . Not once did I here the Goats bleat or feeding during the climb .
As I cautiously stepped out of the scrub into the waist high grass I spotted a white Goat 50 yards off , feeding towards me . I was not going to ruin so much effort climbing the hill and risk trying for the shade of a tree 15 yards up on the crest and hide behind a fallen log there so I just sat down in the grass where I was and waited .
After about 15 minutes I lost sight of the white Goat . I could hear a Goat feeding towards me that I figured was the white goat very close so I raised the Rossi and waited . Seconds later a white Angora cross Goat stepped up the little rise I was sitting on .
He was walking straight towards me , our eyes where at the same level , he had to see me but my Made To Deceive camo worked and at 4 yards I aimed through the Tang sight at the jucture of his neck and chest and squeezed the shot off - WOW -talk about poleaxed . At the report of the rifle 2 more white Billy's 15 yards downhill milled about confused , 2 more shots tight behind there shoulders - 3 down . Next the bigger bodied black Billy 20 yards running downhill left and slightly behind me , I put a projectile through his shoulders , he fell as if poleaxed as well 4 down , but the bullet had passed right through him and caught the smallest Goat in the mob a young Billy, through the gut .
I quickly put a finisher into him and for good measure a couple of unneccesary shots into the 2 white Billy's . I sat down and had a much needed drink of water and studied the 5 dead Goats all with 20 yards of each other . Later that day when I caught up with my mates Gary said clear across the valley he heard 8 fast shots and thought I was onto a mob of pigs . I did spot a pig on Saturday arvo but the wind gave me away .
This was my first kills with my Rossi .357 which I bought in January . I handload 15 grains of W296 anf Hornady XTP 158 gr jhp projectiles . Next rifle to blood is my new Marlin 1894 .44 magnum , should rewrite the definition of emphatic if I get into the position to cull a mob of Goats again .
Excuse the photo folks , you wouldn't believe me if I told you I actually did clear , attempt to clear the straw blades of grass from the photo angle .
regards Jacko
