Mountain Goat Hunting

[Jason Hansen]

Both Tahr and Chamois would make a great hunt down there in NZ.  Make sure to post a story and pictures when you do go after them Ozy!

[Ragnarok Forge]

I haven't hunted mountain goat.  I still need to draw which is tough in Washington State. I have chased them with a camera and can say that in Washington they love the steep stuff.  There is a big billy that I see every time I climb the North East Ridge of Mt Adams.  He is old and huge and no gets to hunt that area so he will die of old age.  In some areas you can get at them in less severe terrain.  I had a nanny and two kids in my camp one morning in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.  Later that day I walked right into a group that were feeding in a meadow at the base of the cliffs.  

The even worse thing for me is driving up the Gorge and seeing full curl Bighorn Rams standing 50 yards from the freeway watching traffic.  They are in a closed hunting area for Bighorns and the big boys are often surrounding by 10 to 20 other rams.  Fun to see but tough on a hunter with no options to go after them.

[Sharpend60]

Ive always wanted to hunt mountain goats.
Thought it would be fun to combine hunting and climbing, both of which I really enjoy.
I was thinking you could rig fixed lines and repel to some nasty areas.
A decent climber could gain access to nearly anywhere.

[MountainTool21]

fine job penning this ursus. Im heading your way in 2011 to stalk Moose and Brown Bear. I can't wait to try goat and sheep

[MountainTool21]

fine job penning this ursus. Im heading your way in 2011 to stalk Moose and Brown Bear. I can't wait to try goat and sheep

[wapiti792]

Great read gents. Being from the flatlands here in IL my dream animal is Goat. I love elk hunting every year but just HAVE to go goat hunting someday. I was wondering about guide services there. All of you AK residents are DIY but for those of us who have to have a guide, do you have any thoughts?

[robertson]

I had the chance to hunt mountain goats in the north of BC Canada and that was the best hunt i never had with the bow even if i missed that goat a fifteen yards AAAAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!
Great post and the mountain goat deserve it.

[Steve H.]

A blast from the past!  Little "BenP" (Benny Pinney) joined the traditional mtn goat club last year in his first year of Alaska residency.  Chris Fannin finally headed back to Tejas and took up soccer spectation before popping his goat cherry!

[weedwacker]

Another vote for the Tahr story when that becomes reality!

[Tracks]

Originally posted by Sharpend60:
Ive always wanted to hunt mountain goats.
Thought it would be fun to combine hunting and climbing, both of which I really enjoy.
I was thinking you could rig fixed lines and repel to some nasty areas.
A decent climber could gain access to nearly anywhere.

Yeah, I think there is something to this... except that the rock can be awfully chossy in goat/sheep country.  I think that those with a climbing background are a lot more comfortable in the hills though, and more in tune with their climbing abilities and limitations.
Since moving to Cordova, AK, I've started carrying a half rope, crampons, ice axe, webbing, and biners around on day hikes.  It's amazing how steep, wet, and slippery it is in these parts!  And now that I'm an AK resident, I can really start scheming about sheep and goat hunts, can't wait!