Goat Hunters: Sex Identification Material

[shanevg]

Since we have quite a few goat hunters this year, I thought I would post some of the material I've found to help determine the difference between a billy and a nanny.  Hopefully this helps you guys in your field judging.  I read in the most recent Eastman's that Whatcom County is only 6th on the list for Top Producing Counties for Mountain Goats.  With 3 hunters hunting the Mt. Baker unit this year, hopefully you can push it to number 3. 

http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/hunt_trap/hunting/goat/goat_long_quiz_for_web.pdf
http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/goat/goat_orientation.pdf
http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/brochure_goat.html

Also, reading Douglas Chadwick's A Beast the Color of Winter: The Mountain Goat Observed (http://www.amazon.com/Beast-Color-Winter-Mountain-Observed/dp/0803264216/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250866583&sr=8-1) is a useful tool to understanding mountain goat behavior.  Good luck to everyone, and be sure to keep us all posted on your hunt!

[WDFW-SUX]

Can you post the top 5 producing goat counties?

Please

[shanevg]

Attached.

[WDFW-SUX]

That list is very surprising to me.  I had no idea washington was so well represented

[shanevg]

That list is very surprising to me.  I had no idea washington was so well represented

We do have more goat than any other state in the lower 48 and in years past gave out the proper number of tags to represent that population.  It shouldn't be too surprising.  What's surprising to me is that the two highest producing counties in WA is Chelan and Methow.  I know there are goats there, but it seems that some of the Baker and Rainier units hold better goat country.  Maybe it's just harsher conditions in those counties so less giant goats.   

[BillyG]

Thanks Shane, great information!

[andrew_12gauge]

the one that really surprises me is okanogan county at no 2 but yet we have no goat hunts up there anymore

[shanevg]

the one that really surprises me is okanogan county at no 2 but yet we have no goat hunts up there anymore

And I can promise you there is no lack of goats up there. 

[WDFW-SUX]

Yeah I agree.. its really rubs me the wrong way that we have huntable populations of goats and yet no tags for several areas around the state.

[270Shooter]

Didn't know there was a Choteau county in WA . They must be talking about MT.

[shanevg]

Didn't know there was a Choteau county in WA . They must be talking about MT.

LOL, I was wondering the same thing... just too lazy to look it up.

[WDFW-SUX]

Its a typo thats montana

[dobby]

thanks for the links, good info

[bowsandhose]

thanks for the post 

[tonymoe]

that is good for all-time, but Wa has dropped significantly in the last 10 years list. never the less we can hold our own in the goat catagory