Billy Goat's Gruff

For the past 16 years (literally every year for 16 years) my dad has put in to get his Goat Tag. *For those of you who don't hunt or know anyone that does, that means he entered into a lottery to get a chance to hunt a Billy Goat. Every year he would tell us it was his year and sadly every year he would end up tag less but earning a point to help him out the next year. (think Hunger Games only for a good reason) Anyway, this is getting wordy so.. Last year my dad was the only hunter in Utah with maximum points so we all figured he would finally draw out his tag. To all our disappointment, somehow he did not. So this year when it came time, I'm pretty sure we were all praying for it to happen for him.

1. So he could finally get his goat and we could stop hearing about it :)

2. He isn't getting any younger (DOH!) and billy goats don't exactly live in the flatlands. It's a strenuous hunt and you have to be in great shape to be successful. My dad IS in excellent shape but seriously not getting any younger...

3. Hunting is expensive and well $$ doesn't grow on trees

Long story short. HA RIGHT?! Dad finally drew out and prepared for months, hiking every week to get in shape and making sure all his crap aka. hunting gear was in mint condition. He headed up? Down? can't remember where the hunt was but anyway he went with 4 hunting buddies and after leaving camp at 0600 he finally shot his Billy at 7 o'clock in the evening. It took them another hour or so just to get to him and then another 2.5 hours to clean him out, in complete darkness. The men split up the meat and dad carried the head and cape and they headed for camp. 4 hours later (mind you it's now 230 in the morning) they made it back to camp. They had nothing more than one water bottle for each guy and some fun size candy bars all day but it was totally worth it, dad finally got his goat!

I can't wait to get my gorgeous goat rug for Christmas. Just Kidding Dad ;)