A few thoughts on mountain goat permits

[jackelope]

With the reg's posting on the WDFW website today, I figured I'd get to this. After I drew my mountain goat permit last year, I realized a lot of things that I never really knew or even thought about before I applied. I told myself I would share these thoughts here so maybe I could save some fellow hunters some stress and/or troubles. Not sure if any of this makes sense, but I'm going to share anyway and maybe it will help at least someone.

First of all...access. Access was by far my biggest challenge. I've always been a hiker and backpacker, but I've only hunted a few times in the backcountry where I stayed out there, carried my tent and all my gear on my back. I suppose not all of the mountain goat permit hunts in WA would require it, but most of them do I'd guess. That or make long hikes every day to get to the goats. I heard about 1 guy who was walking a really long way in and out every day to get to the goats. I also heard about a guy who drew a tag and didn't realize it was so difficult and didn't end up hunting at all. I truly believe that there is plenty of time to learn the area you draw assuming you have some time during the summer to spend scouting. I don't believe you need to know the unit inside and out before you draw. It obviously helps, but goats are relatively easy to find.
 
Access concerns lead to the next self-imposed set of challenges. Hair. The horns on a goat are pretty small really and pretty un-impressive. The trophy in my eyes was the hair. I really wanted to wait for the hair. We didn't see the good hair start until mid October. If you want to wait for good hair, you really need to keep access in the forefront of your plans. We really almost got screwed and I was very close to losing any opportunity I had of killing a goat because of a metric crap ton of snow. When the big hair is growing good, the snow is also flying. Be aware of where you'll need to be if you want a goat with long hair and whether or not you'll be able to get there. They're real mountains with cliffs and big snow and all kinds of stuff that is not always user friendly.

3rd...conservation. If you draw a tag and it's not in the "Olympics Mountain Goat Conflict Areas" where they encourage you to shoot the first goat you see, do the best you can to learn the difference between a billy and a nanny. There are tons of great, extremely helpful resources out there to help with this. The state will send you a DVD, a laminated card, the state of Alaska test. The Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance has some great resources out there too. This year, the state will require a goat gender ID test before you can buy your license. All good stuff.

4th- This one might be a little selfish of me....Do the tag justice. It's a once in a lifetime thing. Put the time in and do the work. If you're not able to handle the country or don't have the time, don't apply.  If you need help, ask for it. If you don't have the gear, borrow it, buy it, invite your buddy who has it. Call me. Whatever. Just be prepared to have what could be the best time you've ever had hunting and understand what you're getting yourself into. I learned a lot. I mean, a lot. I asked my friends who have a lot more experience backpacking and mountain hunting than I have probably an annoyingly large number of questions.

5th and the most important one.... Enjoy it. Wherever you end up drawing, you're going to hunt in some of the greatest country this state has to offer and you'll be hunting one of the coolest critters on the planet.

And I'm sure hoping one of you guys draws a tag and invites me, because I sure hope I get to go along on another goat hunt in my lifetime. It was an awesome experience that I'll never forget.

Hope this doesn't sound silly. I just can't accurately express how much I didn't think about when I applied, how much I learned and how many people were willing to help out.

Good luck to all of you in the 2018 draws.

[Timberstalker]

Awesome information, Jack.

Thanks for sharing.  I'm hoping to draw by 2050. 

[shanevg]

Man I want a goat tag! 

[Oh Mah]

Thanks for all the pointers heads up and that awesome photo. 

[jackelope]

Man I want a goat tag! 

You deserve one.

[jackelope]

Thanks for all the pointers heads up and that awesome photo. 

That billy had small horns, but man....what a coat of hair on him.

[Oh Mah]

Yes very cool hair,Whats the mount gonna be?

[jackelope]

Yes very cool hair,Whats the mount gonna be?

That's not the billy I killed. Mine had bigger horns and less hair. That thing in the picture had amazing hair.

Cedar River Taxidermy is doing a wall pedestal for me. Head tilted slightly down and to the left with some habitat...maybe a little rocks or something.

[Rainier10]

Great information. Great information. I had no idea what went into it until you drew. I now know I want to have a solid plan if I draw. Hopefully I can draw while I can still hike in and camp. If not I will hire a guide to setup a camp for me so I can hunt from camp.

The hike out with your goat was brutal. I’m sure it would have been easier if I was the guy who shot it. You were on cloud nine and invincible after you tagged out.  I want to be that excited some day.

Anyone applying should read your post and take it to heart.

[Oh Mah]

Yes very cool hair,Whats the mount gonna be?

That's not the billy I killed. Mine had bigger horns and less hair. That thing in the picture had amazing hair.

Cedar River Taxidermy is doing a wall pedestal for me. Head tilted slightly down and to the left with some habitat...maybe a little rocks or something.

Awesome,Can't wait to see the pics of that.

[time2hunt]

Very well put jackelope goat hunting isn’t for everyone. If your not physically and mentally in shape it will eat you up and spit you out. The true trophy is in the eye of tag holder whether its size of horn or length of coat and chaps. 


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[dwils233]

Thanks for this write-up Jackelope! Great info!

[Tbar]

To all future goat hunters - watch them pee. Its the most effective way and can save you a ton of boot leather.

[jackelope]

To all future goat hunters - watch them pee. Its the most effective way and can save you a ton of boot leather.

This!!
It takes a lot of patience or just good/lucky timing.

[zwickeyman]

Great advice, all of it and you can tell that you poured yourself into it and really enjoyed the journey