Olympic National Park Goat Hunt Group Anyone?

[actionshooter]

200 groups doesn't surprise me.... this isn't a hunting trip, but going into the park with a rifle is once in a lifetime.

[JimmyHoffa]

But one of the requirements is for non lead ammo.  Long range with copper is different than lead.  Some of those copper bullets look like pencils, so with the same twist as lead you would start to lose stability earlier.  Since they are longer and sit deeper in the case, you start compressing earlier, so can't really just speed them up as easily.

[jackelope]

I put in with a group of four. Before hearing about 200 groups applying I thought we had a decent shot but now not so much. We are all knuckle dragging USMC infantry guys and one army infantry guy. All with decent mountaineering experience and lots of wilderness hunting and backpacking. I think out of 200 groups there will be some hard groups to beat out.

ya, but I imagine most of the out of state groups will have a hard time making the cut

I don't. This is a federal job, not a Washington job. People pay 1000's to go hunting, back packing, and recreating. If your qualified, you're qualified. I know a few of the out of state teams and if they weren't selected as qualified I don't know who would be. This is objective. Where you are from won't and shouldn't make a difference.

And if by off chance you are referring to knowing the area....for the disadvantage to out of state. If you have killed a mountain goat or hunted wilderness in the rockies, alaska, or guided in BC, you are as qualified as anyone that has been to, traveled in, or hunted the OP. Goat country is goat country. Its the steepest, meanest, toughest terrain no matter what state you're in, and Washington is not the only state with goats and high country wilderness.

I disagree. I’ve killed a mountain goat. One of the easier 6 mile hikes to where I killed mine in my hiking experience. I’ve got no business claiming I’m qualified to make a potentially 18 mile one way hike at least partially off trail into that country.  There are major differences in mountain goat country even in just this state. Baker is 100% different than where I hunted which is also vastly different than other parts of the state. The areas where the goats are on this project is big giant country.

[kselkhunter]

I put in with a group of four. Before hearing about 200 groups applying I thought we had a decent shot but now not so much. We are all knuckle dragging USMC infantry guys and one army infantry guy. All with decent mountaineering experience and lots of wilderness hunting and backpacking. I think out of 200 groups there will be some hard groups to beat out.

ya, but I imagine most of the out of state groups will have a hard time making the cut

I don't. This is a federal job, not a Washington job. People pay 1000's to go hunting, back packing, and recreating. If your qualified, you're qualified. I know a few of the out of state teams and if they weren't selected as qualified I don't know who would be. This is objective. Where you are from won't and shouldn't make a difference.

And if by off chance you are referring to knowing the area....for the disadvantage to out of state. If you have killed a mountain goat or hunted wilderness in the rockies, alaska, or guided in BC, you are as qualified as anyone that has been to, traveled in, or hunted the OP. Goat country is goat country. Its the steepest, meanest, toughest terrain no matter what state you're in, and Washington is not the only state with goats and high country wilderness.

I disagree. I’ve killed a mountain goat. One of the easier 6 mile hikes to where I killed mine in my hiking experience. I’ve got no business claiming I’m qualified to make a potentially 18 mile one way hike at least partially off trail into that country.  There are major differences in mountain goat country even in just this state. Baker is 100% different than where I hunted which is also vastly different than other parts of the state. The areas where the goats are on this project is big giant country.

Many teams, if selected, are planning on using pack animals to get base camp in and goat meat out.....


And the assigned areas are small.  Range from 2 miles by 2 miles to 3 miles by 5 miles, roughly.


It won't be an easy project.  But it will only be an 18 mile slog every day for those that choose to make it such....


In terms of out of state teams, I have out of state friends that are mountain rescue mountaineers but also backcountry hunters, with medics, etc. on their team.  Those dudes will make the "qualified" pool just fine. 

[blindluck]

No way you will have to shoot off hand at 200 yds to qualify.

[blackveltbowhunter]

The shooting parameters state any field position, including use of stabilizing sticks.( Paraphrase a bit I didn't want to find it again) can't use a bench, gun vise etc, but you can shoot prone off a pack.

   At this point it's a lottery like any other draw. I am sure a few applications will not make the cut due to some technical stuff. But my impression is the NPS didn't realize that some of the most remote backcountry use of public land is from folks who also know how to shoot and ride, not granola eating Arc'teryx models. It's not a contest of who is more qualified, but a question of who is going to have luck in the draw.

[Vek]

Marksmanship is priority #127 out of 127 for this job.  The pie-plate at 200yd marksmanship requirements are an appropriate final screening step.  NPS doesn't care if applicants are 1/2MOA marksmen or not; they care if a.) the applicants can get in, get up, hunt effectively, acquire data as required, climb down, and get out without requiring SAR, and b.) not get egged into confrontation by bunny huggers.  The NPS correctly understands that for mountain hunting, physical capability and logistics are far more critical than 1/2MOA expert marksmanship. 

[birddogdad]

I fully expected this many groups to select from. The curious part is criteria and decision process. Maybe it really is just a lottery scenario with fairly good odds....

[fishngamereaper]

I guess for me and my experience with needing to shoot sub moa I would think they would want as many one shot kills as possible.. allot of people can shoot if they walk onto a range on a nice sunny afternoon. But add in physical exertion, full value wind and some 400-500 yd shots and you have a recipe for wounded animals. Not what any of us want. 

[Vek]

Future efforts like this one won't happen if SAR is involved with this one. 

The sort of person who qualifies for this hunt isn't the sort that skyblasts at ducks...

[Shawn Ryan]

Local experience, hunting or recreating in the Olympics in the fall will get added weight in the objective ranking process says Patti Happe, the NPS bio in charge of the removal process:  https://www.heraldnet.com/northwest/olympic-national-park-seeks-sharpshooters-for-goat-culling/.

I take it that Ms. Happe understands the the ONP delivers its own specific brand of *^%$@ weather.

[actionshooter]

I take it that Ms. Happe understands the the ONP delivers its own specific brand of *^%$@ weather.

LOL  especially in October...

[carpsniperg2]

No lead? Heck that takes out half the teams with all the berger shooters Better start working up some loads to qualify with that are all copper boys.

[nwalpineguide]

Local experience, hunting or recreating in the Olympics in the fall will get added weight in the objective ranking process says Patti Happe, the NPS bio in charge of the removal process:

   


Agreed! In addition... might want to get your photo documentation in order as well. This to prove the assertions made on the application!

[Onewhohikes]

Well good luck with the other 200 groups applying!! Also it should be lots of fun to just kill any goat that moves and get a little meat to show for your effort. The Parks doesn't can if you gut shoot or ham shoot a goat. You will be an unpaid federal hand. But you will get to see some nice country, different terrain and hopefully not obtain a SAR ride out doing so. The protesters are lining up as we speak.