Was out running traps on a fresh eight inches of powder in Wy years ago. Started seeing goat tracks running willy nilly in circles, and when I popped over the next rise, there were three goldens eating a hole in the chest of the speed goat. The doe wasn’t dead yet, at least she didn’t think she was, and when the eagles took off, there was blood squirting out of the hole they had started. I’m not very proud of how predators kill sometimes, but it was pretty gory!

The rancher I headquartered on those years, told me one time when we were together, that the eagles liked to sit on those rock outcroppings on those ant hill shaped buttes. One day, I hiked up to the top, being curious, and there were a number of eagle skeletons just below the rocks. I feel I can tell on him now that he has been dead for well over twenty years! Any sheepmen absolutely despise eagles and coyotes, both put a hurt on their pocketbook.

Just a coyote with wings.

Back in the 80’s the wildlife (state or feds?) wanted to try and re-establish goldens in western NC. They built a big cage off the Blue Ridge Parkway and put a mating pair in it for a while to get accustomed. They even turned a bunch of tame rabbits loose in the area. After a while they released them only to have the eagles leave the area for ever. Then the locals would ride around and catch the rabbits to eat them selves.

I see them often here in the sheep fields. Once a lamb is down there can be a very impressive fight. If I see the goldens and balds together its normally worth pulling over to watch. Sometimes there is a half a dozen eagles at one lamb. You have some great pictures, keep posting them please and thank you.

wws

We have Golden and Bald Eagles here. Last year I got to see 2 Balds lock talons and do the "death spiral" until there wings were about to 10-15 feet off the ground at around 75 yards away from me. Very neat experience.

You have to go a long ways up the Wulik to find cliffs. Did you take time to fish while you were in the area? Only experience I've had with a golden was catching one in a trap. Wasn't too happy. Threw my parka over it and got the trap off. It flew away.

Yeah, martentrapper. I had helicopter access to the upper end, put in and floated down to the coastal plain. And yes; fishing was very good, as was beachcombing for mammoth ivory.

Jack