Gamsbock in the Slovenian Alps

Well friends, we managed to make it happen this weekend above tree line in a snowstorm at a little over 250 yards. It was a steep uphill shot with my friend’s 25-05 with a 1.5x5 scope and those gamsbock are not the largest animals on the planet. The sound of that 117 grain Sierra Game King striking home was a great feeling. It took out the lower portion of his heart and both lungs, but he didn’t go down for over 15 minutes and managed to hole up in an a depression where I couldn’t get off another shot, but could still see his head. I’ve taken few animals in my time and have never seen anything with this much stamina and tenacity for life. They are an amazing animal for sure and are a hoot for a guy who loves mountain hunting. On the way up after the shot, I looked left and saw a gams perched on top of a cliff surveying his kingdom below. It was a surreal image that the phone camera couldn’t adequately capture, but I’ll post it all the same. My guide was a Slovenian forester who started guiding when he was 15 in 1975 for his father who did the same thing and he’s been at it ever since. He had surgery recently and allowed me to take my kill down the mountain. He’s been at it now for 44 years and is an absolute hunting machine! It was a great hunt with some great friends.
V/R,
Joe

That is some scary looking country, congratulations on a great hunt.


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Don't think I could make it up for the hunt! Congratulations.

Great hunt! No doubt a challenge, which makes the hunt all the more special. For sure, my knees have ensured that such hunts are a thing of the past for me, but I do enjoy such hunts vicariously. Thank you for the pictures.

Nice, Chamois are small targets in steep country. I'll assume that's what you took from what I see in your pic. Most hunts are flown in which takes the majority of the real work hiking out of the picture.

Awesome!

You worked for that one ! Congrats. Dan.

Thank you guys. It was an absolute hoot!

V/R,

Joe

They are amazing animals congratulations, it looks a lot like hunting for mountain goats.

Wow! Congratulations on a successful hunt. That looks like quite an experience. Thanks for sharing.

Dan