Warning to all goats!

[bear]

Consider this a 24 hour notice!  We will be hunting you!  Starting Sunday (after the heavy rain comes through tomorrow) we will actually start the hunt for streak's goat.  I can hardly wait!  We decided not to get too close to the billies we saw until we were actually hunting them, so we'll have to do a bit of hiking and glassing to see a few of these boys up close.  I got a good feeling about Monday evening.  , but we'll see.  I'm bringing the camera in lieu of a rifle, so streak better not fall on his rifle or all we're gonna get is a picture.   We hope to be back Tuesday or Wednesday.  Hopefully I'll have pictures.  Praying for a safe hunt,  Bear

[jackelope]

best of luck boys...go get em.
and make sure you don't forget you have that camera.

[elkrack]

good luck on the goat hunt . Its a blast my brother got one in 07 in the goat rocks. lots of work but well worth it. take lots of pictures for the memories

[blacktailer]

Go get 'em Brian and Bear.  I am certainly not trying to jack your thread, but I went up hiking yesterday and spotted and absolute monster of a Billy (just East of an area you know I like to go and on the other side of the highway from you guys).  I watched him for a couple of hours through the Spotting scope.   Only goat on the whole mountainside.  It's a shame that he will likely die of old age.  His horns had some incredible length and curled back quite a ways.  (any less than 11" and I would be amazed)  Bases were very heavy also.  He had that classic long head/snout that them big old billies have.   I tried my hand at digiscoping for the first time.  Didn't work too well, but you can get the idea how remote he was.  I don't think there would be any way to get him if he was in an open unit.  He was probably a mile or so away and I had my Zeiss spotter on 45X.  I was a little surprised that he wasn't haired up too well yet.  Nice and white, but definately was not shaggy at all and didn't have a big beard.  I wish you guys the best of luck and hope you get a Gagger of a Billy!!!  Stay Safe

[shanevg]

Awesome!  I'll see you guys Monday morning!  I can't wait!  I'm hoping for heavy packs coming out!

[bear]

The pack is loaded.  52 lbs   The sky is clearing and I'm outa here  .

[alecvg]

Good luck guys, go get em!

[SSG Brower]

lucky, lucky, lucky.....working nights all weekend. 

[elkoholic1]

good luck guys hope u bag a good one.. weather should be good.

[Bearhunter]

Bear hows the goat hunt going, must not have harvested yet?  Good luck on your next venture out!

[boneaddict]

No doubt, how is the hunting going Streak?

[actionshooter]

I've been wondering also, want to see some pics 

[Michelle_Nelson]

Waiting for pictures and a story.  They harvested and are just getting things unpacked, cleaned up, and meat butchered and in the freezer.

[Wea300mag]

I think we lost bear and streak

[bear]

I know it's taken a while for me to write this. This hunt was probably the most anticipated hunt that I've ever been involved in, with some very high expectations from ourselves.  But things don't always turn out as we hope.  Well, here goes.  We went in on Saturday(a week and a half ago) afternoon after it looked like the weather had cleared.  On the way in we met one of the raffle tag holders on his way out.  He was planning on coming back the following day to take what he said was a 10 inch billy.  After talking to us, he said that he would hunt elsewhere the next day.  That kind of surprised us, but he said that he had until December and he could take as much time off work as he wanted.  We thought he might be full of BS, but what the heck.  We continued hiking on toward our campsite and spotted the billy right where he said it was.  Maybe he was telling us the truth.  The billy was in a spot that we had not seen goats on previous scouting trips.  We watch him for a while that evening until a hailstorm came through and we decided to hot foot it back to camp. He looked like a nice billy. That night was a bit cold and miserable as it either hailed or rained and blew hard all night.  We woke up with a layer of ice on our two man coffin tent.  We started glassing right away and spotted a goat that we needed to take a look at.  It turned out to be a one horned billy.  We headed back toward camp and went to take a look at the billy from the previous evening.  He was in the same spot all by himself.  We watched him for a while and decided to go back to camp, have breakfast, and then make a stalk.  After some instant oatmeal, streak said he wanted to head back to take another look at the billy before we made our stalk.  When he came back to camp he said that he moved up into the trees and was bedded down about 100 ft above where he was.  We started our 2 hour stalk across loose rock to get to a good shooting location.  We got set up, but he was bedded.  We decided we would just wait it out for him to get up.  I got the camera out and streak set up for a shot.  All of a sudden he got up, looked at us and started to head out.  In a matter of 2 seconds, we decided we better shoot now or he was gonna be long gone.  It's hard to explain, but in that short amount of time, we were not in trophy judging mode.  We had already done that the previous evening and that morning.  The second or two after the trigger was pulled, my mind had time to process what I had just seen!  That's when I told streak that I wasn't sure that he just shot a billy.  He told me it had to be, we had watched him and he was all by himself.  I took us about a half an hour to get the 100 or so yards to where the goat had been.  When we got there, guess what?  Instantly, we were both sick to our stomachs.  All the anticipation and then this?  I know some would be happy with any goat, but streak would have rather ate his tag than to shoot a nanny.  We didn't even take a picture of the goat.  Probably one of the only animals we didn't care even to take a picture of.  We butchered out the goat and made the trek back toward camp.  Streak said he just wanted to get the heck out of there and go home.  We loaded up our camp along with the goat and headed out. But before we left, we saw the billy about a half mile away from where he was.  Why was this nanny hanging out with this mature billy about a half mile from any other goats?  Not typical goat behavior. Definitely the heaviest pack out that I've ever done.  Let me tell you, it's a lot more fun packing out with a smile on your face.  It was not fun having to explain what happened to Shane and Blacktailer and all the others that had such high expectations for us.  I didn't want to even look at this site for a while, but I realize that I some of you deserved to hear our story as depressing at it is.  Hopefully I'll feel like going hunting again soon.  It's been a week and a half and I'm starting to get the desire back to head up and look for a bear.      Bear

[blacktailer]

Bear, I think everyone on here appreciates you taking the time to tell the story of your guys' hunt.  You certainly don't need explain things to me.  True, I had great expectations for you guys and was really hoping you guys would tag one of them big old Billies.  I had my tape and scoresheet all ready.  I've had lots of high expectations for myself on previous hunts that fell way short.  To put it plainly, that's hunting and that's just the way it goes sometimes.    You can probably say that this will be one of the most memorable hunts you and streak have been on.  Maybe not the memory you were looking for but a memory nonetheless of a hunt spent with a good friend and lifelong hunting companion.  On a plus note, deer season is only a few weeks away!!!!

[popeshawnpaul]

Let's rationalize this.  You shot a big legal goat.  Heck, the state record was a nannie for a while.  Can it hurt a population?  Maybe according to some scientists.  However, WA is so conservative on their goat permits they expect this.  I would find some way to enjoy the experience.  You didn't do anything bad. 

[SHANE(WA)]

I see nothing wrong with it, like pope said so few tags, not going to hurt any population. Enjoy it, only tag your going to get here. If it were me, I woula taken pics, OIL tag

[tonymoe]

I think we have all been there, maybe not an oil tag. I have done similar things out of state and you just have to live with it.
It was a successful hunt either way you look at it. Nice job guys

[Bighorse]

Well I would have been smiling.  You just shot a legal Mt. Goat in Washington State.  Thats cool.

Nanny until proven otherwise........repeat after me......Nanny until proven otherwise!

You need to see nuts, urination, or absolute positive proof it is a Billy.  Like having two goats standing side by side and picking the biggest.  Although I've done that before too and screwed it up.

Dude I've killed plenty of goats and thats no joke.  I've got racks on my book shelf that have nearly the same length and curve and one is nanny one is billy.  From 100 yrds you would be hard pressed to see the 1/4" difference in base circumfrence. 

I won't bore you with goat identification junk.  I know you studied and were prepared.  I've done it and I know exactly how it happens.  I've done it three times.  This past goat......I'm proud to say....I shot a nanny on purpose.  I didn't want to pack out a Billy, HUGE pack out, for a Billy and I was solo. 

I'm pleased to post a photo.  I'm eating well and my back is very happy I didn't pack out another Billy. 

Happy trails.

[NWBREW]

I can't think of too many hunts that went exactly the way I thought they would. Tagged a legal goat, nothing at all wrong with that, spent good times in the mountains with friends.. nothing at all wrong with that. Once the hunt is done it's all memories anyways. I say CONGRATS on a successful goat hunt. The hunter should feel good about this hunt......I have NEVER shot a goat. ya cant always get what you want.     NICE JOB


And
Five years from now it might be a pretty funny story. ( You remember that time you shot the wrong goat   )

Memories shared with friends....that's what it is all about.

[Pathfinder101]

I
And
Five years from now it might be a pretty funny story. ( You remember that time you shot the wrong goat    )

 

Sounds like you guys had a good hunt anyway.  I say congratulations on a WA goat! 

[boneaddict]

Appreciate your story Bear.  Though disappointing I am sure as I imagine I'd feel similiar to streak in expectations, he still got a trophy of a lifetime.  You know I am a straightshooter and call it how I see it.  I should have earned that reputation at least.  He did nothing wrong.  That sort of thing happens.  I'm sorry his big hunt left a bad taste in his mouth.  He's not being judged from this camp.

[actionshooter]

Only you guys can decide if it was a succesful hunt or not, but from where I stand you drew a tag (that alone is a feat here in Wa) Scouted, hunted and took a goat. Just because its not what you wanted doesn't make it unsuccsesful. 

[BENCHLEG]

remember this the state of washington. feel lucky you even drew a goat tag, things happen and you could of been a scum-bag and walked away, you didn't you tagged it . it was a successful hunt and you have a trophy that most would be proud of.  thanks for the story nice job J.

[huntnphool]

 The true measure of the hunt is not the size of the trophy but the quality of the experience. Don't be dishearted, you just spent quality time with a good friend and have memories to last you a lifetime. 

 Things don't always go as expected, trust me, be thankful you had the opportunity as most will never experience it.

[bear]

remember this the state of washington. feel lucky you even drew a goat tag, things happen and you could of been a scum-bag and walked away, you didn't you tagged it . it was a successful hunt and you have a trophy that most would be proud of.  thanks for the story nice job J.

It would have been easy to do, but we both pride ourselves on honesty so there was no question but to put the tag on.

Well I would have been smiling.  You just shot a legal Mt. Goat in Washington State.  Thats cool.

Nanny until proven otherwise........repeat after me......Nanny until proven otherwise!

You need to see nuts, urination, or absolute positive proof it is a Billy.  Like having two goats standing side by side and picking the biggest.  Although I've done that before too and screwed it up.

Dude I've killed plenty of goats and thats no joke.  I've got racks on my book shelf that have nearly the same length and curve and one is nanny one is billy.  From 100 yrds you would be hard pressed to see the 1/4" difference in base circumfrence.  

I won't bore you with goat identification junk.  I know you studied and were prepared.  I've done it and I know exactly how it happens.  I've done it three times.  This past goat......I'm proud to say....I shot a nanny on purpose.  I didn't want to pack out a Billy, HUGE pack out, for a Billy and I was solo.  

I'm pleased to post a photo.  I'm eating well and my back is very happy I didn't pack out another Billy.  

Happy trails.

Nanny until proven otherwise.....where were you when we needed you?  Seriously, we had a confirmed billy.  We thought he was the same goat, the only goat in that area as we watched it.  Oh well.  Hopefully in a few years we'll be able to laugh about it.  I just know how bad that I feel and that streak probably feels a lot worse than me.

[bear]

The true measure of the hunt is not the size of the trophy but the quality of the experience. Don't be dishearted, you just spent quality time with a good friend and have memories to last you a lifetime. 

 Things don't always go as expected, trust me, be thankful you had the opportunity as most will never experience it.

I have plenty of good memories made with streak and the Lord willing will make many more, but that day is not a good memory at least at this point.  Time heals all wounds though.

[tdezeeuw]

look at it this way bear...we've got at least 4 more goat tags in the family still.  thats 4 more hunts to go!

[Michelle_Nelson]

I've been keeping up with this post since Bear first posted it.  To say the least I am always excited to see the results from anyone hunting with a Once In a Life time tag.  I am not sure how some of the other on this site feel but the way you told the story of the hunt kinda made me sick.  Not that you shot a Nanny.

Streak just drew a OIL tag of all things.  One of the most difficult to draw.  Yeah you guys felt like you made a mistake shooting a nanny instead of a billy.  It happens.  No one is perfect. 

[bear]

I've been keeping up with this post since Bear first posted it.  To say the least I am always excited to see the results from anyone hunting with a Once In a Life time tag.  I am not sure how some of the other on this site feel but the way you told the story of the hunt kinda made me sick.  Not that you shot a Nanny.

Streak just drew a OIL tag of all things.  One of the most difficult to draw.  Yeah you guys felt like you made a mistake shooting a nanny instead of a billy.  It happens.  No one is perfect. 

Made us sick too, Michelle.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I can understand that you felt the need to shoot a Billy over a Nanny.  In all honesty when F&G issus the quota for these kinda hunts they are expecting Nanny's to be shot.  If they felt that taking a Nanny here and their was going to affect the population they would issue Billy tags only.

What I am trying to say is that I thought that you showed the Nanny you shot a little bit of disrespect.  More so in the fact that I don't think the Nanny was small or you wouldn't have pulled the trigger.  If you shot a nice goat than you shot a nice goat!

I guess what set a little wrong with me is that fact that shooting 1 Nanny is not going to affect the population.  That from what I gather from the story you just quartered her up and packed her out.  No pictures, no nothing.  Also that their are a lot of people out their that would have been just as excited to shoot a Nanny same as a Billy.

[jackelope]

it would be nice to see some pic's from your hunt. there's a lot of folks on here that would kill for that tag. i'm sorry the hunt didn't end like you wanted it to, but you tagged a majestic animal in an incredible area on a hunt that most would kill for. congrats. yep you made a mistake, but you made an honest mistake, and one that surely plenty of other folks have made.
lets see some pics. surely there's a cape and head you can share photo's of.

[boneaddict]

Not sure how you guys think it was disrespectful for what they had done.  They harvested the animal.  If they aren't proud of something then why would they photograph it and brag about it or share it.  I am proud of them for sharing their story in the first place publicly.  They could easily have ignored us.  Shooting a Nanny is considered Taboo by many, though it happens and its an easy thing to do.  Whether the fish and game manages the population that way or not, in a conservative way, we as hunters try not to do it.  I can easily see why Streak feels bad about what happened, and I am hopeful he can salvage his memories of the hunt with Bear etc.  Don't mean to be on opposite sides of the fence but think you might be being a little harsh.  There are a lot of folks on here that need lectured.  Not sure Bear and streak are one of them.

[LongTatLaw]

Hunt of a lifetime...

successful hunt if not picture perfect!

Im not sure if 1/10 of my successful hunts go perfectly...I always try to tell the story as accurately as possible so others know sometimes chit happens no matter how good you are or how hard you work!

Ive seen tons of nannies that Id pay big dollars to take!

hang in there fellas! Go put a bear on the ground and soon enough this hunt will just be one more fond memory hunting with friends!

[CoryTDF]

You got a goat! That is all that matters!!!!

[bear]

I can understand that you felt the need to shoot a Billy over a Nanny.  In all honesty when F&G issus the quota for these kinda hunts they are expecting Nanny's to be shot.  If they felt that taking a Nanny here and their was going to affect the population they would issue Billy tags only.

What I am trying to say is that I thought that you showed the Nanny you shot a little bit of disrespect.  More so in the fact that I don't think the Nanny was small or you wouldn't have pulled the trigger.  If you shot a nice goat than you shot a nice goat!

I guess what set a little wrong with me is that fact that shooting 1 Nanny is not going to affect the population.  That from what I gather from the story you just quartered her up and packed her out.  No pictures, no nothing.  Also that their are a lot of people out their that would have been just as excited to shoot a Nanny same as a Billy.

I am not at all concerned about the effect that taking a nanny will have on this population.  It will probably do more good than anything.  This herd is in more danger of overpopulation than anything else.  Their numbers are going to drop off one way or the other.  I'd much rather it be from hunting.  Everyone has their own expectations of their own hunt and what makes a trophy to them.  Streak got a nanny back in 1994 when we both had tags for the then Ruth Creek goat area(I got skunked).  We were ecstatic when he took that nanny, in part because it was a lot harder hunt.  The pack ins were twice a long and gained about 2000 more feet in elevation.  Plus, we only saw about 20 goats the entire season and that included two fly overs to scout.  We would see that many goats in about the first 15 minutes of any day in the Mt Baker West area.  I'm sure that streak will probably do a european mount or something with the goat.  Bear

[bear]

Not sure how you guys think it was disrespectful for what they had done.  They harvested the animal.  If they aren't proud of something then why would they photograph it and brag about it or share it.  I am proud of them for sharing their story in the first place publicly.  They could easily have ignored us.  Shooting a Nanny is considered Taboo by many, though it happens and its an easy thing to do.  Whether the fish and game manages the population that way or not, in a conservative way, we as hunters try not to do it.  I can easily see why Streak feels bad about what happened, and I am hopeful he can salvage his memories of the hunt with Bear etc.  Don't mean to be on opposite sides of the fence but think you might be being a little harsh.  There are a lot of folks on here that need lectured.  Not sure Bear and streak are one of them.

Thanks Bone.  I think you truly understand how we felt at that time.  That being said, I will try to get some scenery pics up for those of you that have requested them.  Maybe I can even talk streak into letting me a pic of the skull.

[Ray]

Fine looking goat.

The population debate isn't one. At least from my perspective. The game department simply does not give out enough tags IMHO. Another subject altogether. However the way it plays out today I believe if everyone who held the tag shot a nanny that the populations would be just fine. Not to mention the dozens of pockets of goat herds which are not hunted, the low balling of the population counts and the general disregard by the game department for public input regarding help in animal counts which we have seen first hand on this forum.

Congratulations to Streak. I observed what was a humble report. Some others seem to have taken it with a possible arrogant tone. I suspect that it's simply a case of misunderstanding and crossed communication and interpretation which results from reports on the internet. I too would be humbled to accidentally shoot a nanny but I would also report it.

As far as the photography requests are ... They seem to be made in such a manner to suggest that without providing them for all to see that the hunt is not legitemate or that the hunt was carried out by people who did not respect the game and intend on carrying themselves in good standing for the hunting community. I object to that because I hunt very often without taking photos. It's simply the way things are done sometimes.

Well done on your goat.

[sisu]

Great job. Eye balling a goat is hard work. I've had a few friends in Alaska shoot nannys and they were happy just the same. Nice pelt, good meat and the horns looked great in European mount.

I give you guys a thumbs up!

[BillyG]

Bear, Please call me when you get a chance. Just returned from Montana and would like to talk with you.

[bear]

I'll give you a call Billy.  To those that might be interested in at least some scenery pics....here goes.

[HIGHROUTE]

Bear,  awesome photos.... I love that last one.  Actually looks like a pic from Alaska.

[Bighorse]

Ya that last photo is really good.