Helicopter to count Olympic National Park goats

[Austrian Hunter]

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) - The National Park Service plans to use a helicopter to count the number of mountain goats in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest.

The Peninsula Daily News reports the helicopter is scheduled to take off Monday for the survey that could take up to 10 days, depending on flying weather.
 
Wildlife biologists are trying to improve management of the goats after one aggressive animal gored a Port Angeles hiker to death last October. Last week the park advised hikers to urinate at least 200 feet from trails to avoid attracting goats that lick urine deposits for salt and minerals.
 
In the last survey in 2004, the population of mountain goats in the park was estimated at around 300 animals.

[bearmanric]

would be nice if they relocate them to the cascades. i bet they shoot them all again. Rick

[billythekidrock]

Why are they doing this again? Just to spend more money? To satisfy the hikers?
 
I say either leave them alone or kill em all and get it over with.

[MLBowhunting]

give out some permits. 

[Austrian Hunter]

give out some permits. 

 

[SkookumHntr]

-I remember there use to be permits for the HammaHamma, pretty close to the park, what happend to that Mountain Goat Permit?

[MtnMuley]

-I remember there use to be permits for the HammaHamma, pretty close to the park, what happend to that Mountain Goat Permit?

Goat level fell below the needed level to merit a tag.  (WDFW's logic)

[nwhunter]

Ol Teddy Roosevelt is rolling over in his grave with what this Park has been turned into from what was supposed to be a place to recreat in(hike,camp,fish and hunt) to a place that is run by a bunch of hippies and you have to pay to get in and reserve your campsite in the high country. nwhunter

[wsucowboy]

give out some permits. 

[GOcougsHunter]

I pulled that permit 17 (or so) years ago.  Archery only.  Spoke with Rolf Johnson at length as to best place to hunt them.  Got in within a few hundred yards of a couple.  But, solo hunting in that area in the very wet and rainy fall is dangerous. 

There are still quite a few animals outside the park.  I have put in questions to WDFW a few times as to why they have never reopened the season.  Same answer... Not enough animals to reach management objectives.  Odd thing is that there is no management plan in place for the Olympic herd according to the 2010 trend report or for the last dozen or so years.

[Roger]

Had the tag about 20 years ago and hunting them was pretty easy. The hard part was getting to where they were. 2 of had the tags one year and another 2 of our hunting group had the tags the next year. All got goats and mine is in the state record book. It was big enough for P & Y but never did the paperwork. Was a great time, lots of boot miles. we all had the Olympic tag in the northeast end of the Olympics. We all got our goats above the old Tubal Kane Mine. I can see where I killed  mine from home on a clear day.

New a guy years ago that was a shooter for the park and they didn't care where the goats were, inside or outside the Park. The Park will never admit they killed them.

[Rhinoron247]

Would love it if they relocated some of those angry attack goats over here to the East side to thin out the domestic Subaru herds.  They are getting so over populated and are having a devastating impact on our natural resources. 

[bearpaw]

I look forward to hearing what the count will be.

[180-GRAIN]

Put them in the north cascades or give out tags to hunt the park!

[rosscrazyelk]

Put them back in the units they closed so I can hunt a goat where I always wanted to take one. Still never really understood why they closed some units. oh and places like the enchantments and mt. Elenor. Plenty of goats there but we can't hunt them..