Goats in the New England

 

He also has another mate that manages a 23 000 acre property.  Now don't get me wrong thats big but if we could shake this place out it would be close to 100 000 acres!  The property owner has given us standing orders that if its not cattle shoot it (a rule that includes the neighbors sheep if they get onto his land LOL).

 

  Well there are a few pigs getting around this place but they aren't as common here as the goats.  WOW when I first went to this property I was amazed by the sheer numbers.  We would see mobs of 5-50 on every second hill we looked at.  They seem to frequent the same hills too which makes life easier for us.  Now most people use .223 .243 or .308 here NOT us we've used everything from .22 Hornet to 303-25, 7.62x54R, 44-40, 300 H&H, 30-30, 12gauge, .275 Rigby and even .450 Nitro Express and my mates .450 wildcat the .450 ASS (more bang than a 458Win).  All these get used on the goats as well my ever faithful omni present Lithgow No1 Mk3 as issued of course!

 

The usual method of hunting involves driving around till we spot a mob and from there we devise a plan of attack, this normally means a flanking manouver and a stalking to 20m before the signal is given to "unleash hell".  One hunt in particular comes to mind where 3 of us stalked a mob down onto a spur and crept to 15m before a nanny spied us.  The barrage that followed saw 14 goats down and the mob remaining bolting straight down into the gully below.  We gathered up the goats for a pic and noticed the goats climbing the hill accross the valley.  Now we've got a metallic shilloutte range that goes out to 475m.  We figured that the goats were roughly twice that far so I slid my sight to 700m and lined up on a goat accross the valley.  My mates were watching for my fall of shot, just low under its belly.  I'd already worked the bolt with a quick flick (damn I love the Lee action!) held just a touch higher and WHAM!  The 174g pill dropped the goat on the spot my good mate just smiled and said something about me being wasted as an armourer while the other bloke (who hadn't seen me shoot before) was speechless.  Yes I love my 303 I love its feel its balance and reliability.  Whats more I love proving that this old girl and the cartridge it uses is as good today as when it was introduced over 100 years ago. 

 

Next thing I've got my sights set on here.  Water Buffalo, I've been told I NEED at LEAST a 300 Win Mag to hunt them.  I say give me my 303 and I'll show you how its done!

Brenton