Mountain goats

[Big6bull]

Anyone real experienced with hunting mountain goats?, their are so many things to consider and to prepare for! Glassing conditions with clouds, snow? . Mid to late October could be challenging time and what are they doing that time of year, just a couple of my first questions.

[Wanttohuntmore]

What do you need to know?  Each hunt is different depending on the unit.

[Big6bull]

I’ve read a lot already but still have lots to ask. When locating goats do they stick to core  areas or do they wonder quite far?

[Big6bull]

Also What type of rut behavior could one expect in mid to late October if their rut time is nov into dec? I’d imagine Billy’s starting to move closer to nanny groups or start grouping

[jackelope]

Biggest thing to consider when you’re talking mid to late October is access. Are you going to be able to get to them?

[jackelope]

Big groups of goats will be nannies and kids. Billies will work their way closer to those groups when they get closer to the rut. Snow did nothing to them when I had my tag. They were in 3’ of snow eating.

I decided that finding the goats was the easy part. Getting to them, then verifying they were a Billy is the part that I found the most difficult.

Weather will be an issue. Even in September. Refer to pic below. Last weekend of September 2017.

[actionshooter]

Guessing you drew a tag? Which one?

Bigger billy's will be away from the groups like Jakelope said.

The biggest piece of advice is to be careful, you can get yourself in trouble rally fast getting into where these guys live.

[Big6bull]

I have the later conflict tag. What I had researched before applying was lots of goats got removed in the last three years. weather sounds like a huge factor. A big billy sounds nice but realistically I would be happy if I shot any billy or lone nanny, since they want them gone and it’s purpose making nanny’s logical to me?? I’ve been reading up on shoulder anchoring shots too… the fine print says less than 100 remain and they expect very low success rates.

[jackelope]

You can still apply for the regular OIL goat tags after this hunt too, right?

[jackelope]

I bet they’ll tell you exactly where to find the goats. Anchor them because you don’t want them running. Next thing you know they’re off a cliff.

[fishngamereaper]

Those conflict tags are going to be tough hunts...

Just be happy to find a goat you can get to within rifle range of. 

[Big6bull]

Yes I can still apply for oil, the bag limit is two goats either sex, wonder if that’s two 300 dollar tags.

There’s a lot of things gotta go right for this one to come together! Going to give it hell

[MtnMuley]

Those conflict tags are going to be tough hunts...

Just be happy to find a goat you can get to within rifle range of. 

 

I didn't even apply this year, because I didn't want to designate the time needed after talking with a few of the guys from different groups that went on the NPS hunts last year.

[BULLBLASTER]

I wouldnt worry about billy or nanny on a conflict tag. Just find goats and shoot them. 100% easier said than done i am sure up there.

[Big6bull]

I’m sure half of my hunt days will not have visibility.