Mountain goat conflict reduction

[bowhunterforever]

I am a disabled hunter and cant walk long distances or in to nasty of terrain. I was wondering if the mountain goats in conflict reduction area come near any roads or do you have walk way in to get to them. I have no idea about that area so any input would help. I dont wanna waste my time trying to draw a tag that if I drew wouldn't be able to hunt or get to the goats. thanks

[jackelope]

There are a couple threads about these hunts and as I recall, they're all in real rugged/remote country.
@Katmai Guy
I think Katmai Guy has some knowledge of the specific areas.

[JimmyHoffa]

Not really any roads to them.  A couple of the trails aren't overly difficult, but nowhere near easy.

[fishngamereaper]

Those goats live in nasty country. No roads, very few trails.

[sagerat]

Those goats live in nasty country. No roads, very few trails.

Is there really that much "conflict" then? I don't get it.

[singleshot12]

Those goats live in nasty country. No roads, very few trails.

Is there really that much "conflict" then? I don't get it.

 

[Dan-o]

There are some goats that hang near hiking trails - hence the conflict.   

But they are not near roads. Som$e hikers get way in there.   

Not an easy hunt. 

That is the truth based on my experience there. 

[Bob33]

It's a very large area, with lots of access points and trails and is heavily hiked. The goats tend to stay access from access points.

[fishngamereaper]

The conflict was cause some guy got killed on hurricane ridge in 2010. 2014 they decided to try and make the goats fear humans, thus the conflict tags. A few goats wander the high traffic trails, but most stay up high in the rocks. The Olympics are steep and deep without much terrain relief. Most of the conflict now is when tree huggers cross paths with tag holder's.

[bearpaw]

At least a few more hunters are getting a chance to hunt goats! Are any of those trails accessible with horses, is that an option for bowhunterforever?

[Bob33]

Here are some representative hikes in the area.


https://rootsrated.com/stories/5-amazing-high-alpine-lakes-to-explore-in-olympic-national-park


Full of marmots, mountain goats, and awe-inspiring views, Lake of the Angels is a must hike.

Be aware that there are mountain goats in the area that are known to be aggressive.

Mountain goats circle the lake, marmots whistle in the rocks, and life feels perfect.

[Katmai Guy]

I can't speak to the brothers area of the unit but was drawn for the mt washington hunt in 2014 and spent 4 consecutive weekends trying to get onto mt Pershing where the bios said the goats were.  It was all bushwacking and I never made it.  Went up the mt ellinor trail which is only a mile and a half long but gains, if I remember correctly, about 3000' in that distance so it's fairly short but not easy.  Not clear what the OPs limitations are, but I feel you need to be in good physical condition to be successful.  Not sure what horses are able to do so can't say if trails would be rideable.

[JimmyHoffa]

At least a few more hunters are getting a chance to hunt goats! Are any of those trails accessible with horses, is that an option for bowhunterforever?

Yes a few of the areas would no problem with horses.  Backcountry horsemen ride through a couple passes regularly.  I've seen goats right in the pass.

[Katmai Guy]

JH, is that in the northern portion of the unit?

[JimmyHoffa]

yes, see them around Buckhorn and Marmot Pass.  They like to feed in between Charlia Lakes up to Iron Mt/Hawk Peak and back to the lakes.  Big downside is how many hikers are tromping through there.

[opdinkslayer]

Seen a pretty nice billy up above Silver lake a couple years ago. That country is rugged where the goats hang out. I wouldn't waste your time applying unless your in good physical condition to hike and willing to cross country some sketchy spots to get a goat.

[sagerat]

Last year it was 100% success and 1 day per kill.

[180-GRAIN]

Last year it was 100% success and 1 day per kill.

I wonder how many of those were good Billy's?

[warthog]

when i draw this year i have a couple  plans.

attach my rifle to a drone and hire some young fellows to retrieve my kill.

or

ride in on a helicopter and have them come back when they hear me shoot. 

[PeninsulaPariah]

If it's possible for you to ride a horse (or worth it to you to hire a packtrain) it would be possible to ride up the Dungeness river trail, around Marmot pass, and out Tubal Cain trail in a single day, making a loop and you would have a very high chance of seeing goats right off the trail in the highest stretches of the route, starting around the Boulder shelter through the Buckhorn Lake area. The Billies tend to hang in the more isolated pockets though.

[Rob]

Related question on goat conflict reduction hunts.

If you draw this tag, are you told by the State a specific area within the defined tag parameters, or specific goat to hunt?  Or can you hunt the whole defined area for the tag and take an animal of your choice?

I would not want to get drawn for this once in a lifetime tag and be told to take a young nanny....

[jackelope]

Related question on goat conflict reduction hunts.

If you draw this tag, are you told by the State a specific area within the defined tag parameters, or specific goat to hunt?  Or can you hunt the whole defined area for the tag and take an animal of your choice?

I would not want to get drawn for this once in a lifetime tag and be told to take a young nanny....

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01903/wdfw01903.pdf

[6haase6]

Tagging along!

[Alchase]

So would peeing on the trail be considered "baiting" for goats?

That is why the goats were hanging out on the Mt. Eleanor trail. Hikers were peeing off the trail and the goats like the salt.

[bowhunterforever]

Thanks for the info guys, I decided not to put in for it

[Rob]

Related question on goat conflict reduction hunts.

If you draw this tag, are you told by the State a specific area within the defined tag parameters, or specific goat to hunt?  Or can you hunt the whole defined area for the tag and take an animal of your choice?

I would not want to get drawn for this once in a lifetime tag and be told to take a young nanny....

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01903/wdfw01903.pdf

Yeah, that is what prompted my questions.  Was wondering if it was treated like a master hunter hunt where they tell you a specific place to go, and limit what you can and cannot take based on what the "conflict" was.

[jackelope]

I don't believe so and I don't see anything that insinuates that. There have been a few of these hunt stories posted on here. Don't recall anything like that happening.

[TheHunt]

I hiked the area last year and there are lots of goats when the hikers start showing up to like the people's pee.  I have posted last year as well for people to really be sensitive to harvesting the goat.  If you get drawn please post on this site so you can kill your goat in the evening when no hikers are around and have enough help to pack it down quickly and safely with out any hikers seeing it. 

If you kill it in front of a bunch of hikers and they video it... This hunt is over.  The Federal Fish and Wildlife will kill them and no one will get to hunt them.

[SteelheadDC]

Thanks TheHunt for reminding people of this. I think the winners of this tag should receive some sort of packet that would outline stuff like this. Everyone has video on there phone now, someone blows up a goat midday on the trail and we will get to watch the last hunt on Inside Edition

[croix]

No video, but found this on WTA from last year:

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2016-09-20.2470366531

"20-30 people at the top that had to see the goat get killed"

Personally, I wouldn't let that stop me. I don't think I could pass up a legal goat in an effort to not offend someone, and hope that I can get one later in the day when nobody else is around.

-croix

[TheHunt]

I am in agreement with you. but I think if enough Hunt Washington folks were up there they could wait for the people to leave and than knock it down and get it taken care of, or get up there early and knock it down and hiked down when the people are starting to hike up. 

[Rob]

I don't believe so and I don't see anything that insinuates that. There have been a few of these hunt stories posted on here. Don't recall anything like that happening.

Good deal, maybe I'll actually put in for one of these next time rather than just do points!

[j_h_nimrod]

Thanks TheHunt for reminding people of this. I think the winners of this tag should receive some sort of packet that would outline stuff like this. Everyone has video on there phone now, someone blows up a goat midday on the trail and we will get to watch the last hunt on Inside Edition

I hate to see this become the status quo.  Killing an animal legally, ethically, and because there is a burgeoning population coming into conflict with the exact people that are horrified with this, but having to skulk and hide the hunt so some ignorant idiots are not offended offends me. I hate the fact our society is ruled by this ignorant vocal group. Personally I would like to see them all gored by a goat just wanting to defend their right to eat their sweaty leather boots of lick their piss off the ground.

[grade-creek-rd]

So, if WDFW sends you a hunt info packet and of course we are required to report our hunt results (I believe most OIL type tags also ask for more details like # of animals seen and such), then who ever draws these tags should buy a hat or jacket that says' "research" on it...nothing more, just "research" and wear it once they stalk the goat and kill it, for the pack out...then when a "hiker" ask/gets mad, just let them know that goats in the area are not native, and there is a conflict issue with them where one killed a hiker and you are doing research for WDFW and part of that research is to thin/cull the possible conflict goats that are destroying the native vegetation and potentially harmful to people...leave it at that, as it is the truth, you are doing research for WDFW and you are culling a conflict goat that doesn't belong there to begin with!

Just my thoughts...

Grade

[Katmai Guy]

Grade-Creek, when I drew this tag in '14. Mt Ellinor was my last choice of the area to hunt because of the high use of the area by hikers.  The day I hiked to the top to hunt every hiker saw my rifle on my back and asked what I was hunting.  I told them goats and proceeded to explain the scenario the bios had told me with them being an invasive species and the park service wanting to eliminate them and the deal that WDFW and the park service came up with.  Once explained, ( if they didn't already have an issue with the goats)everybody I spoke to that day agreed they had to go.
  On the flip side, I wouldn't have shot one in front of a bunch of tree huggers, if for nothing else, just to avoid a human conflict hunt.
  that hunt takes the ability to educate the non hunters as to why, so as to not shine a bad light on us hunters as a whole, in my opinion.
  Now the area is twice as big and it appears easier to avoid contact with the majority of the hikers if drawn.