Goat hunters?

[shanevg]

Just keep an eye on the weather. If there is an early snow, you may not be able to get to the area you want.
Some of those unsucessful hunts in the harvest reports are due to that.

That and the fact that when a weather system comes through in goat country, it can often leave goat country socked in in fog for weeks on end. 

Most the time snow isn't too much of a problem, especially in October because goat like to stay in the alpine at least until the rut is done.  If they move into the trees before the rut they can't find each other as easily.  I wouldn't worry too much about the goats being pushed down into the timber.  But like bear said, a lot of goat country becomes pretty inaccessible if you don't have good backcountry ski gear and good avalanche wisdom. 

[dobby]

im not gonna risk waiting

a big goat is a big goat no matter what its cape looks like

theres no Hair-length in your B&C score

[sagerat]

I'd rather have a fully haired out 9.5" goat than a booner with a summer coat, guess that's just me.

[bear]

I'd rather have a fully haired out 9.5" goat than a booner with a summer coat, guess that's just me.

But would you rather have a booner billy with a summer goat or eat tag soup, that's the real question.

[shanevg]

I'd rather have a fully haired out 9.5" goat than a booner with a summer coat, guess that's just me.

But would you rather have a booner billy with a summer goat or eat tag soup, that's the real question.

  Well said.

[Roger]

Several years ago when a buddy and had our goat tags in the Olympics we were up there for the beginning of the season (Sept. 1) and got his goat, and she was short haired.

Do to other things and other hunting we didn't get back to get mine until mid Oct.  We got mine a week before the end of the season (Oct. 31) and he was long haired.

Wow, what a difference in the hair.

[GoldTip]

If and when I draw a goat tag, yes, I would rather eat tag soup than have a booner billy with summer hair.  To me the goat is all about the coat, cuz 98% of people that look at your mount will not see 3/4" larger mass measurements and 1" longer horns, but they will see that his coat look very short.

[dobby]

If and when I draw a goat tag, yes, I would rather eat tag soup than have a booner billy with summer hair.  To me the goat is all about the coat, cuz 98% of people that look at your mount will not see 3/4" larger mass measurements and 1" longer horns, but they will see that his coat look very short.

that is a good point about the average person looking at your mount, but most likely I will only get to shoot one goat in my life and I would like to get as big of one as possible (some people view this differently). don’t get me wrong there is nothing more I would want then to wait and get a big goat with a thick white coat but I’m not gonna pass on a monster early in the season and risk not getting one at all

[sagerat]

I'm with Goldtip. I'd be stressed out about it the whole time but definitely would hold out until at least mid October.

[tonymoe]

I didn't know long hair added to inches to get you in the book? Yea, they look better, but in my opinion, everyone has their goals and I will be shooting one with my bow as soon as I can!

[actionshooter]

I probably would have chose a later date than what I have, but those were the dates available and hopefully the billies are getting the longer hair up north. I agree the long hair goats look better, but I would rather get one than not if it came down to it.

[royalbull]

what they look like when you wait

[shanevg]

Nice goat royalbull, what's the story?  When did he get shot, what's his score?

[actionshooter]

cool mount   

[royalbull]

buddy shot him two years ago blazed ridge unit scored above 50 but I'm not sure of exact score his brother in-law wanted him to shoot one in early september but he listened and waited