Warning to all goats!

[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.