Thinking it's next on the list for me before I can't. How far from the northeast do I have to go for a quality hunt in a target-rich environment?

I scored a nice bull moose in NW BC in October (and consider myself extremely lucky given the paucity of bulls we saw) but from what I hear the whole province's ungulates have been devastated by griz and wolves after the moratorium.

Kodiak use to pretty ease draw. I know Montana has been wanting to kill off Mr. Goat because they are convinced the Goats out compete sheep. Montana might be a good option to get a tag.

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:
Kodiak use to pretty ease draw. I know Montana has been wanting to kill off Mr. Goat because they are convinced the Goats out compete sheep. Montana might be a good option to get a tag.

Interesting....I have a place in Montana about 50 miles north of the MO Breaks where they are. I always put in for the super tag but the odds are ridiculously low.

"In 2021, a total of 3,335 nonresidents applied in the draw for goat in Montana, and of those, 13 were awarded a tag."

All I know is they talk like they want them killed off. I can send you info on that.

They are culling them starting this year.

May be worth calling an outfitter about. That is how I got my elk unit this year, a depredation hunt in the National Elk Refuge that is not advertised.

https://www.montanaoutdoor.com...tive-mountain-goats/

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:
They are culling them starting this year.

May be worth calling an outfitter about. That is how I got my elk unit this year, a depredation hunt in the National Elk Refuge that is not advertised.

https://www.montanaoutdoor.com...tive-mountain-goats/

Thanks man!

Bull Sprig...if Montana does not pan out I would not hesitate to hunt BC for a goat as there are lots of goats and the wolves and grizzlies do not have the same kind of impact on goats as they have on moose and caribou, etc.

There are also a handful of outfitters in the southern Yukon and SW corner of the NWT that have good goat hunting, but far more limited than BC, and of course Alaska has some excellent goat hunting.

While I was hunting this fall on the backside of the coast range in northern BC I saw goats. Lots of goats. There is no shortage of goats in BC. But I should warn you, the price of goat hunts has increased dramatically over what they were just a decade ago.

Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Skyline:
Bull Sprig...if Montana does not pan out I would not hesitate to hunt BC for a goat as there are lots of goats and the wolves and grizzlies do not have the same kind of impact on goats as they have on moose and caribou, etc.

There are also a handful of outfitters in the southern Yukon and SW corner of the NWT that have good goat hunting, but far more limited than BC, and of course Alaska has some excellent goat hunting.

While I was hunting this fall on the backside of the coast range in northern BC I saw goats. Lots of goats. There is no shortage of goats in BC. But I should warn you, the price of goat hunts has increased dramatically over what they were just a decade ago.

Good luck!

Thank you! Yeah the outfitter in BC was saying the prices are skyrocketing because their costs are doing the same thing.....and I have no reason not to believe him. He said he was expecting a huge bill this year from the air service he uses.

Hey are you looking for mt goat hunt or mt sheep. BTW there r no mt goats north of the Missouri River if you are talking badlands area.Best mt.goat for access and success is Kodiak.Hunted there at 50 yoa saw 225 in 2 days.

Montana draw for non residents for mt goat is poor,fwp restricts no to 10% of tags to areas over 10 tags.Under 10 tags non to non residents.

In 40 years of applying as a Montana resident I have been drawn once for goat, all before many populations crashed. If you need a super quality goat hunt maybe give Lonesome Dove in Cordova, AK, a look. LONG track record, quality operator, quality goats. Some of that BC road system hunting might be OK, but talking to those who have done it you could be involved in a crapshoot. Goat draws in the lower 48 are getting like sheep in terms of the odds.

BC road hunts for goat? Yes there are some places like that, but most outfitters, especially in northern BC are fly-in and horseback/backpack hunts...as is the case in the Yukon and NWT. Most Alaskan goat hunts are also fly-in and backpack.
There are also some hunts based from a yacht/charter boats in SE Alaska and northern coast of BC. They tend to be the most expensive, and that is especially true with the late hunts when the goats drop way down and at times can be shot down near the water.

There are also late season (into February) goat hunts in NW BC in the coastal mountains that produce monster billies. They involve 4x4, snowmobiles and snowshoeing to get at the goats.

Just depends what sort of hunt you want and what you are willing to put up with as far as weather and climbing conditions, as well as how big a billy you have your heart set on. You can kill a big goat just about anywhere they can be hunted. If you want to have a chance at a real monster the best area to set your sights on is the Coast Range in NW BC and SE Alaska.

Guys “qualified volunteers” to cull Goats.

https://www.nps.gov/grte/getin...gement-volunteer.htm


Why not open the tags if they want to reduce Mt Goat competition with Big Horns? That is a question no one needs to answer.

It is becoming clear to me that A) game departments in the lower 48 are going to keep culling Mr. Goats, and 2) not increase tags to keep the draw scam going.

If they are in need of culling, the cheaper answer would be to release tags.

May still be worth checking into.

In fact, Mt Goat are going to be eradicated from the Grand Teton. It is a stated goal. I find this sad. Big horns seem very fragile species. One wonders how they have made it this long.

I think Kodiak is a very good option.

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:
Kodiak use to pretty ease draw. I know Montana has been wanting to kill off Mr. Goat because they are convinced the Goats out compete sheep. Montana might be a good option to get a tag.

As a Montana resident, I have unsucessfully applied for a Mountain goat tag every year since 1978.

Even with my maximum number of their "bonus points" that they square, I haven't been able to draw a tag.

If the Park Service in Yellowstone and Teton NPs really wanted to help the Bighorn sheep, they would get rid of the wolves, not the goats.

I do not disagree. I am just telling you with citation what they are doing. Hosts are being eradicated as an invasive species for the “benefit” of the Big Horn.

They are taking about doing the same thing to aoudad in Southwest, but not started yet. This is for Big Horn Sheep.

I have not hunted Goats in Canada or Alaska. But I have done so in Nevada, Montana and Idaho. My experience tells me to advise as follows:

1. Skip the extermination hunts, they did that in Washington if I remember correctly.
2. Forget the lower 48 states unless you are 20 years old and have my luck.
3. Look at coastal BC or Alaska or any area that is known for nice goats AND most importantly allows you to easily access them as late in the season as possible. WHY? The longer winter hair is a significant part of the trophy. You shoot one early, even if a monster, you run the risk of it looking like a sheared aussie sheep.

Mountain goats live above the sheep. Get in shape is the best advice I have heard.

quote:

3. Look at coastal BC or Alaska or any area that is known for nice goats AND most importantly allows you to easily access them as late in the season as possible. WHY? The longer winter hair is a significant part of the trophy. You shoot one early, even if a monster, you run the risk of it looking like a sheared aussie sheep.

This is good advice.

Awesome input from all.....much appreciated.