Goat area 314 quality

[BuzzH]

For the OP, I killed my goat in the southern part of the Unit on November 2nd and it had plenty of hair by then. I passed and/or looked at a total of 63 goats per my journal entries and saw another 8 while elk hunting after I had already killed my goat. I'm sure some were repeats, but I have no doubt that at least 40 where separate goats.

The FWP aged the goat at 4.5 years old, I believe that was accurate. Horns were 9 1/8.

Saw grizzly tracks in the snow several times and also followed a wolverine track for a few hours one day as well. Good luck on your hunt...its a neat place to spend some time.

Another picture the day I killed my goat...all nannies and kids, haired up for winter:

 

[BigHornRam]

My experience checking my goat was much different than yours Buzz. Very professional. I must have been lucky.

 

[buffybr]

Does anyone beside me see the trouble with this?

When hunters know more about the unit than the biologists, who are making the decisions on harvest numbers, etc...Houston, we have a problem.

Same thing when a friend drew a tag years ago in the Bitterroots. He called the local biologists/fwp and wanted to know about the populations, etc. similar to what the OP is asking. He was told to contact Duncan Gilchrist as he "probably knows more about the goats than we do".

Gee, I wonder why we're down to 1 goat tag in the 'root?

To answer the OP's initial question, I hunted goats there a long time ago and any information I have would be out of date. Judging by the number of goats I saw way back then, and knowing they have spread out more, I would think there are good mature billy goats to be had.

Two points:
1. One year I contacted the FWP biologist about sheep in a portion of one of the unlimited sheep units. The biologist told me there were not any sheep in that portion on the unit. I went into that area anyway and killed a full curl ram. Two of the hunters in another camp in that drainage also killed rams that day. The next day they stopped my camp, and in talking with them, they said they were friends with the biologist that I had talked to and he had told them to hunt there.

2. The year after I killed the above ram, I hunted in another part of that unit. The second day of that hunt I came within 20 yards of two legal rams. Since I had killed a full curl ram the previous year I passed on those rams. The rams ran up the mountain and a guided hunter gut shot one of the rams and both rams ran by me, the wounded one dragging his intestines. I didn't want to see that ram to suffer more so I followed it and finished it off. I then went and found the outfitter and took them back to the ram. They didn't have any idea where that ram had gone. I also helped them pack that ram back to their camp. That was the only ram killed in that unit that year.

The next year I went back into that area and killed the other one of the two rams that I had seen the previous year. When I checked my ram into the FWP office I also looked at the previous years kill records. The only ram killed in that unit the previous year, the ram that I actually finished off, had a listed kill location several miles from where it was actually killed. I think the outfitter wanted to keep the kill location secret.

Many hunters like to keep their hunting areas secret, and don't always report the correct information to the FWP.

 

[geetar]

Two points:
1. One year I contacted the FWP biologist about sheep in a portion of one of the unlimited sheep units. The biologist told me there were not any sheep in that portion on the unit. I went into that area anyway and killed a full curl ram. Two of the hunters in another camp in that drainage also killed rams that day. The next day they stopped my camp, and in talking with them, they said they were friends with the biologist that I had talked to and he had told them to hunt there.

2. The year after I killed the above ram, I hunted in another part of that unit. The second day of that hunt I came within 20 yards of two legal rams. Since I had killed a full curl ram the previous year I passed on those rams. The rams ran up the mountain and a guided hunter gut shot one of the rams and both rams ran by me, the wounded one dragging his intestines. I didn't want to see that ram to suffer more so I followed it and finished it off. I then went and found the outfitter and took them back to the ram. They didn't have any idea where that ram had gone. I also helped them pack that ram back to their camp. That was the only ram killed in that unit that year.

The next year I went back into that area and killed the other one of the two rams that I had seen the previous year. When I checked my ram into the FWP office I also looked at the previous years kill records. The only ram killed in that unit the previous year, the ram that I actually finished off, had a listed kill location several miles from where it was actually killed. I think the outfitter wanted to keep the kill location secret.

Many hunters like to keep their hunting areas secret, and don't always report the correct information to the FWP.

Commendable of you to finish that ram and take them to it. Much respect sir!

 

[rmyoung1]

Two points:
1. One year I contacted the FWP biologist about sheep in a portion of one of the unlimited sheep units. The biologist told me there were not any sheep in that portion on the unit. I went into that area anyway and killed a full curl ram. Two of the hunters in another camp in that drainage also killed rams that day. The next day they stopped my camp, and in talking with them, they said they were friends with the biologist that I had talked to and he had told them to hunt there.

2. The year after I killed the above ram, I hunted in another part of that unit. The second day of that hunt I came within 20 yards of two legal rams. Since I had killed a full curl ram the previous year I passed on those rams. The rams ran up the mountain and a guided hunter gut shot one of the rams and both rams ran by me, the wounded one dragging his intestines. I didn't want to see that ram to suffer more so I followed it and finished it off. I then went and found the outfitter and took them back to the ram. They didn't have any idea where that ram had gone. I also helped them pack that ram back to their camp. That was the only ram killed in that unit that year.

The next year I went back into that area and killed the other one of the two rams that I had seen the previous year. When I checked my ram into the FWP office I also looked at the previous years kill records. The only ram killed in that unit the previous year, the ram that I actually finished off, had a listed kill location several miles from where it was actually killed. I think the outfitter wanted to keep the kill location secret.

Many hunters like to keep their hunting areas secret, and don't always report the correct information to the FWP.

How’d you do this since there’s a seven-year waiting period after harvest?

 

[EYJONAS!]

That was before the 7 year wait I'm sure.

 

[BuzzH]

Many hunters like to keep their hunting areas secret, and don't always report the correct information to the FWP.

I agree on unlimited sheep...but goat tags you wont draw for at least another 7 years, and more than likely never draw again?

I'm not sure, but IIRC, knowingly falsifying an affidavit you sign on a kill location can get a person a fine.

 

[buffybr]

How’d you do this since there’s a seven-year waiting period after harvest?

Like EYJONAS! posted, that was in the early '80s before FWP started the 7 year wait.

...but goat tags you wont draw for at least another 7 years, and more than likely never draw again?

I drew my last Montana goat tag in 1978 and have applied every year since then unsuccessfully.

 

[Kneetopia]

mt_archery_guy How did your hunt turn out? I drew this goat unit year and am psyched. Planning on starting my 10 dayer on 9/22. For any of the peeps that might know that unit or Gallatin crest area...i'd love to PM with ya. One question I have is, where the F is the water? There's a few pond/lakes back towards Ramshorn/Fortress. Cheers

 

[Rie Bread]

Pretty dry up there but where there are seeps there are goats and there is no shortage of them

 

[Kneetopia]

I'm gonna call this one a success. I was joined by 2 great friends while we enjoyed insanely nice weather for late September in the high country. We had 7 days of very comfortable weather, mostly sunny everyday and just a one really windy day. We hit numerous drainages during the 70 miles we put on the ground. Overall, I'd say we seen about 40-45 goats, with many of those being bands of nannies and kids.

I also had flown the Gallatin Range with my buddy the week before and had some great starting points (pinned solo goats). We located close to 50 goats on the flight.




We have confirmed that judging goats is one of the most difficult things a hunter can do. It seemed to me that you need to be under 400 yards to really dial in the details (mass and length). Yardages beyond proved to be more like guess work. I definitely could have benefited from some more scouting (to get more reps of what different goats look like). But that's the way it goes.



The cliff notes of the harvest go something like this. Day 1-4 were great but I'll spare the details to the action.
Night 4: spot a big goat from 1.5 miles away, seems like a big one (call him the Bear Goat), he's bedded...lets go backpack up there and get em. 2500 ft above
Morning 5: There he is bedded in a good spot. We ascend 2500 ft and 6 miles. Set up Camp at 9500 feet. Locate good water source and stash 20 liters of water at Camp.
Night 5: Can't find the Bear Goat, see a band of nannies and kids, and a billy that is really far away.
Morning 6: Bear goat is back, bedded in a perfect spot (so we think). Hustle 1 mile to get into position. Wait for 1 hour, Bear goat never shows, gave us the slip.
Afternoon 6: Drop below Bear Goat's position to hopefully catch him coming back from bedding area. Now locate what looks to be a big billy 1200 feet below in a hell hole. After much himming and hawwing, decide to drop in with the plan of if we kill him, we'll hike out the meat to the road and ATV's and have to retrieve our camp the next day.
Evening 6: Getting into position much quicker than expected, set up the shot. Difficult cross canyon uphill set up. He's a shooter. 3 shots later (one miss right over his head) and 2 boiler room hits, he tumbles 150 yards down into a perfect skinning spot. We break him down as a bugling bull serenades the canyon below. 6 hours later after some of the worst blowdown and walking imaginable, we hit the road. Drop our packs and hike 2.5 miles back up 1000 feet to get on the ATV's. Pick the meat and packs back up and down to the trucks, returning to Bozeman for a quick sleep.


Morning 7: Sore and beat, but pumped. Drive to the trailhead. Hike in 6.5 miles with empty packs. Pick up tents, sleeping bags and food. Back out the 6.5 miles. Done!

 

[Rie Bread]

I'm gonna call this one a success. I was joined by 2 great friends while we enjoyed insanely nice weather for late September in the high country. We had 7 days of very comfortable weather, mostly sunny everyday and just a one really windy day. We hit numerous drainages during the 70 miles we put on the ground. Overall, I'd say we seen about 40-45 goats, with many of those being bands of nannies and kids.

I also had flown the Gallatin Range with my buddy the week before and had some great starting points (pinned solo goats). We located close to 50 goats on the flight.
View attachment 342892



We have confirmed that judging goats is one of the most difficult things a hunter can do. It seemed to me that you need to be under 400 yards to really dial in the details (mass and length). Yardages beyond proved to be more like guess work. I definitely could have benefited from some more scouting (to get more reps of what different goats look like). But that's the way it goes.

View attachment 342888

The cliff notes of the harvest go something like this. Day 1-4 were great but I'll spare the details to the action.
Night 4: spot a big goat from 1.5 miles away, seems like a big one (call him the Bear Goat), he's bedded...lets go backpack up there and get em. 2500 ft above
Morning 5: There he is bedded in a good spot. We ascend 2500 ft and 6 miles. Set up Camp at 9500 feet. Locate good water source and stash 20 liters of water at Camp.
Night 5: Can't find the Bear Goat, see a band of nannies and kids, and a billy that is really far away.
Morning 6: Bear goat is back, bedded in a perfect spot (so we think). Hustle 1 mile to get into position. Wait for 1 hour, Bear goat never shows, gave us the slip.
Afternoon 6: Drop below Bear Goat's position to hopefully catch him coming back from bedding area. Now locate what looks to be a big billy 1200 feet below in a hell hole. After much himming and hawwing, decide to drop in with the plan of if we kill him, we'll hike out the meat to the road and ATV's and have to retrieve our camp the next day.
Evening 6: Getting into position much quicker than expected, set up the shot. Difficult cross canyon uphill set up. He's a shooter. 3 shots later (one miss right over his head) and 2 boiler room hits, he tumbles 150 yards down into a perfect skinning spot. We break him down as a bugling bull serenades the canyon below. 6 hours later after some of the worst blowdown and walking imaginable, we hit the road. Drop our packs and hike 2.5 miles back up 1000 feet to get on the ATV's. Pick the meat and packs back up and down to the trucks, returning to Bozeman for a quick sleep.

View attachment 342889View attachment 342890View attachment 342891
Morning 7: Sore and beat, but pumped. Drive to the trailhead. Hike in 6.5 miles with empty packs. Pick up tents, sleeping bags and food. Back out the 6.5 miles. Done!

Nice dude! One of your pictures is less than a mile from my goat picture. In fact the same mountain so pretty up there

 

[MT_elk]

Congrats on a great goat!

 

[The Hedgehog]

What date do you fill your goat permit? Hair looks pretty good given a little early.

 

[Kneetopia]

What date do you fill your goat permit? Hair looks pretty good given a little early.

Got it on 9/26/24. Seemed to me that most of the goat we saw had pretty decent coats and I showed pics to others that knew more than me and they all commented that their coats were better than they expected to see in late Sept.

We lucked out with 7 days of basically some of the nicest Sept weather you could expect. The beautiful 60's weather looks to have continued. I did not want to be dealing with the possibility of dealing with lots of snow, thus pulling the trigger in late Sept.