Attention Naches Pass mountain goat applicants

[jackelope]

Learned last night that there will be 3 hunters in the hunt area before the revised opening date of 10/10/18. These are the 3 hunters who drew last year. The reg's don't make that known so figured I'd share here. So the unit opens 9/15 for the 3 hunters who drew last year and turned their tags in due to the fire. There is 1 permit available this year, but that person can't start hunting till 10/10. I don't know the area, but from what I've gathered, it's pretty small and 4 hunters is a lot for it.
Anyway...something to consider. There will be 3 hunters in there before you can hunt it.

[frazierw]

Learned last night that there will be 3 hunters in the hunt area before the revised opening date of 10/10/18. These are the 3 hunters who drew last year. The reg's don't make that known so figured I'd share here. So the unit opens 9/15 for the 3 hunters who drew last year and turned their tags in due to the fire. There is 1 permit available this year, but that person can't start hunting till 10/10. I don't know the area, but from what I've gathered, it's pretty small and 4 hunters is a lot for it.
Anyway...something to consider. There will be 3 hunters in there before you can hunt it.

Yep, WDFW said there would be no additional tags this year, when the option to keep your tag from last year was given.  They changed their tune since then obviously.

[trophyhunt]

That is so messed up, Wdfw is trying to do the right thing but will it cost more later!  That area is small and if all four kill their goat I’m sure we won’t see tags given out in that unit for a couple years. 

[Katmai Guy]

Maybe it's the first area on the list to receive conflict area goats?

[bobcat]

Seems to me like a decrease in harvest, so why would it be detrimental to the goat population there? Three tags last year didn't get used. So they're being used this year. There should have been three more tags this year, but there's only one. So in two years that's 4 goats killed instead of 6.

 

[SkookumHntr]

dang it! That's the tag I want too 

[trophyhunt]

Seems to me like a decrease in harvest, so why would it be detrimental to the goat population there? Three tags last year didn't get used. So they're being used this year. There should have been three more tags this year, but there's only one. So in two years that's 4 goats killed instead of 6.

 

That makes sense, never looked at it that way. I do wonder if they did a count after the fire ?  I saw that fire race up those cliffs, it was very fast, hopefully they got out of the area.

[jackelope]

Seems to me like a decrease in harvest, so why would it be detrimental to the goat population there? Three tags last year didn't get used. So they're being used this year. There should have been three more tags this year, but there's only one. So in two years that's 4 goats killed instead of 6.

 

For me, it's not so much the number of tags as it is WDFW didn't mention that there will be 3 hunters in there hunting before the person who draws this year's tag gets to hunt it. The 3 folks who drew last year can start hunting 9/15. The guy who draws this year can't start until 10/10. Unless I missed it somewhere in the reg's this year, the state didn't make that known.

Also the size of the unit. Goats aren't like deer. If the 3 guys want to wait for the hair to grow, there will be 4 guys hunting on top of each other. From what I've read and been told it's a small unit and there's not a lot of room for 4 guys to hunt without being on top of each other. Thankfully there are not 6 tags.

[jackelope]

It's tiny.

[bobcat]

Well I guess if I were to draw that tag I'd just be happy to have the opportunity to hunt, even if I did end up seeing another hunter or two in the same area. Chances are, all 4 won't wait until October 10 to hunt. I know I wouldn't. I'd be in there early so as to miss the worst of the weather, which if a guy waits too long, could prevent him from getting in there at all.

But certainly it would be good to know about the three additional hunters that you wouldn't know about just from looking at the goat permits as listed in the regulations. Then someone might want to place it a little lower on the list when submitting their application.

[fishngamereaper]

Goat's are pretty spread out in there.  I know of 6 area's that constantly hold goats so I don't think guys will be on top of each other. I would love that one tag.....

[PlateauNDN]

   some of my pics are from there.

[frazierw]

Looking forward to the hunt this year, my dad is one of the guys who had a tag last year.  Picking up a Kowa spotter at the end of the month, cant wait to put it to good use on some goats.

[jackelope]

Looking forward to the hunt this year, my dad is one of the guys who had a tag last year.  Picking up a Kowa spotter at the end of the month, cant wait to put it to good use on some goats.

You guys planning to kill one early or wait for the hair to grow some?

[frazierw]

Looking forward to the hunt this year, my dad is one of the guys who had a tag last year.  Picking up a Kowa spotter at the end of the month, cant wait to put it to good use on some goats.

You guys planning to kill one early or wait for the hair to grow some?

Im not sure to be honest, thats his call.  I'm sure it depends on what we are seeing.  the only requirements for sure is that its a billy.

[boneaddict]

Good information to be brought forward and I agree it should have been by the WDFW.   That being said, Id still love to have the tag

[Karl Blanchard]

Goat's are pretty spread out in there.  I know of 6 area's that constantly hold goats so I don't think guys will be on top of each other. I would love that one tag.....

  couldn't agree more.  Plus I'm betting the billies I'd be targeting aren't the ones all the rest are after

[Whitpirate]

I still don't understand why Blazed Ridge isn't a tag choice.  They allow raffle/auction and tribal hunts there.

[PlateauNDN]

 Because I'm waiting to draw and want the biggest Billy in there for myself.

[Whitpirate]

Good luck in your draw sir...

[Jpmiller]

I still don't understand why Blazed Ridge isn't a tag choice.  They allow raffle/auction and tribal hunts there.

I got a menacing look from a goat up there elk hunting last year. We better get a conflict tag going before there's a tradgedy. If it even saves one human life it's worth it

[CarbonHunter]

The 346 is plenty big enough for 4 hunters without them being on top of one another. I would be happy to draw the 1 tag for this year and let 3 hunters start before me.

Thanks for the heads up though, typical of the WDFW to not be straight forward with us hunters.

[Naches Sportsman]

The closure was lifted this week except for the union creek area. Time to go find them goats! I saw a dozen this afternoon.

[fishngamereaper]

I still don't understand why Blazed Ridge isn't a tag choice.  They allow raffle/auction and tribal hunts there.

I got a menacing look from a goat up there elk hunting last year. We better get a conflict tag going before there's a tradgedy. If it even saves one human life it's worth it

Probably the same one that gave me a long stare down a couple years ago when I was elk hunting. I swear he wanted to fight.

[Limhangerslayer]

That is so messed up, Wdfw is trying to do the right thing but will it cost more later!  That area is small and if all four kill their goat I’m sure we won’t see tags given out in that unit for a couple years.

Its A lot bigger then one thinks,  plus you've got to remember none were harvested last year

[Molon5labe]

I stopped at the ranger station to make sure the area I was going to be elk hunting in was open and safe. There was a fella there who had a goat tag. His area was closed. I think he was trying to plead his case to them. I felt pretty bad for him but it's nice to see wdfw make an attempt to help those guys out and give them another opportunity.