Ranking Goat/Sheep

[VikingsGuy]

Just as I have an order of preference and interest in the various deer, elk, antelope and bear hunting options, I assume folks have an order of preference amongst the various forms of huntable goat/sheep. I am interested in not just the ranking, but also the rationale for the preference. For example, I would rank elk ahead of whitetail because I prefer the type of hunt (walk and stalk vs tree stand), the taste of the meat, and the volume of the meat. I am totally clueless about all things goat/sheep so looking forward to learning from the responses.

 

[Oak]

For the vast majority of us, goat and sheep hunting opportunities are so rare that our favorite is the one we draw.

 

[VikingsGuy]

For the vast majority of us, goat and sheep hunting opportunities are so rare that our favorite is the one we draw.

What about the priority of the ones you would like to draw?

 

[MTLabrador]

I know one thing for sure, mountain goat meat ranks at the bottom for me. I’ve eaten part of two goats. I think sheep (only had Rocky Mountain Bighorn) tastes really good.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

I have gotten a goat and a ewe bighorn. I would rank a ram bighorn higher as a trophy simply because I have not gotten one.

I enjoy goat hunting more, however, because they are easier to spot and I love the stuff they live in.

 

[cedahm]

For the vast majority of us, goat and sheep hunting opportunities are so rare that our favorite is the one we draw.

I agree - I just want a tag, but I'll play along as I think of this a lot and it changes as I get older and less likely to be able to pull of (physically) what I would consider my 'ideal' Sheep or Goat hunt.

1 - Alpine Rocky hunt
2 - Any Stone
3 - Pretty much any Dall
4 - Any Desert
5 - Non-Alpine Rocky Hunt (e.g. the river canyon sheep here in CO and down in NM)
6 - Any Goat (I love goat country, but for whatever reason they've never been that intriguing to me as a hunter. Maybe I'm just jaded by all the goats I've seen on the side of roads)
7 - Any Rocky not in the above (basically this would be the local canyon sheep that I'll apply for when I'm 65+ and/or any other relatively 'easy' hunt)

Funny - I drove by the Goat and Sheep units I applied for this year on my way home from fishing Sunday night. I thought - if I'm the next guy in line for the Goat tag and they call me today, I'm not sure I could take it with a clear conscience as even though I'm not in 'bad' shape - I don't think I could get up there with only a month to get ready.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

The only two realistic opportunities I have are sheep and goat in WY, and maybe not even goat. But, assuming I draw both in my lifetime, I think sheep is my first pick. Maybe because it's more realistic? And probably because its more romanticized than goat. And because they have bigger horns

If given the chance anywhere in the world, I think an ibex or markhor would be at the top.

 

[Oak]

What about the priority of the ones you would like to draw?

I've killed a Dall, a RM bighorn, and a goat. Can't draw a Stone, but I'd like to win one in a raffle. It's a tossup for me which is the most beautiful big game species in NA: a November muley buck, a white-maned mountain caribou bull, or a dark Stone sheep. So Stone #1.

Next would be a SW AZ desert bighorn sheep with red horns. But I'd take any desert tag.

A MT Breaks Rocky tag would be #3.

Funny - I drove by the Goat and Sheep units I applied for this year on my way home from fishing Sunday night. I thought - if I'm the next guy in line for the Goat tag and they call me today, I'm not sure I could take it with a clear conscience as even though I'm not in 'bad' shape - I don't think I could get up there with only a month to get ready.

Same. Damn you, coronavirus.....

 

[Sandbrew]

As Oak said any Sheep/Mountain Goat and Moose license is truly rare and coveted male or female. Here's my break down over the last 20 years.

1 Sheep ram any species I'm spent more time chasing these than the others combined. Average of 25 days per ram on my 2 unguided Colorado ram hunts. Helped on several hunts they are never easy.
1a Bull Moose - 2 tags - great hunt, lots of scouting - many close encounters. 1 for 2 on these unguided hunts average 10 days per bull
1b Mountain Goat billy or either sex easy to see hard to get to and judge. 2 for 2 average 6 days per Billy
1c Sheep Ewe easy to find, easy to kill. FYI - Solo packouts suck. 2 for 2 for 1 day hunts for me and 1-2 on one day hunts for my kids. Will see how my nephew does this season.
1d Mountain goat nanny- been on a really tough hunt for these before. 0 for 1 8+ days. I'm ready to see how this season goes on my nanny hunt.
1e Moose cow 1-2 one easy 1 day hunt. 1 HARD 13 day hunt with no moose spotted in a less than ideal area with really poor weather. Hoping this year goes easier than my last cow moose hunt.

That's how I'd rank them for overall excitement of drawing.

For hunting adventure- Difficulty of area and terrain
1- Mountain goat any - High elevations and super steep! Tough to kill and recover. Trophy can be hard to decide 8.5" vs 9" Nanny vs Billy for some.
2- Sheep high elevation difficult to spot but easier to kill trophy rams are hard to find. Ewes fun to hunt without the trophy potential worry.
3 - Moose - Easy to spot....sometimes. Great close encounters with multiple bull..at least in Colorado. Easy to kill even with a bow, trophy potential hard to judge if you don't look at a lot of moose. Hard to pack out if you shoot on in a bad spot.

Sandbrew

 

[BigHornRam]

Dall sheep is the best game meat I've ever had. Mountain goat is the worst. Stone sheep is my favorite game animal, period. I have 20 days on the mountain hunting them without seeing a legal ram. Doubt I'll get to hunt them again but happy with the chance I had. Both sheep and goats are my two favorite game animals, but sheep are #1.
Additionally living in Montana and being able to do the unlimited hunt whenever I feel like it is a great way to scratch the sheep hunting itch.

 

[Trial153]

I would shit my pants with any sheep tag with my bow in had. Any sheep in any sheep country is high enough to be at the top of list.

 

[geetar]

Rocky Mountain Bighorn is top of the list for me. Preferably I get to take one out of Montana’s unlimited tag area.

 

[3855WIN]

Rams interest me much more than goats. It’s the horns.
desert sheep hunt in southern Utah would be awesome.

 

[Jape]

1 - RM Bighorn. They have always been at the top of my list and if it was during the rut that would be epic.
2 - Dall. Amazing country and a beautiful sheep, not to mention great meat.
3 - Desert. I don't like the terrain they're in as much as RM but still cool.
4 - Stone. I know a lot of people really like stone sheep but they have always been the least appealing to me.
5 - Goat. Been on two hunts already but the areas they live in are insane.

 

[Bambistew]

I think its pretty relative to the type of experiences you've had as to what your desires are. I used to think L48 bighorn (all of them) sheep, goats and moose were the coolest thing, I haven't applied for any in nearly a decade. I'd rather let my chance of draw go to someone who wants it more than me. The experience just isn't what I'm after, while I know that isn't true for all of the hunts, they just aren't "wild" enough for me. Knowing that so many others have had the exact same experience, just seems to cheapen the experience. Knowing that people have pictures of, have seen, or know of an animal I kill takes something away from the experience. Its hard to explain, and I don't expect others to understand. Hunting is personal to everyone. I'm perfectly content hunting dall sheep, and don't really have a desire to hunt any of the other sheep or goats.

For me, dall sheep hunting is pretty much the pinnacle of hunting in NA. There is a reason people are drawn to hunting Alaska, and it isn't just because the animals are different, its because its still wild. Same reason guys from the more metro areas are drawn to hunting the mountain west. Its hard to compete with views like these and know there are animals that may have never been seen by a human.

 

[88man]

When I opened the letter and it said successful RMBS I shook and when I put the cross hairs on the ram I shook. That never happened with other tags and hunts or maybe not on hunts in the last 35 years

 

[Mica Man]

You suck Bambi and I am super jealous!

Sheep are top for me and have been on successful hunts for me and my son. Also got to tag along on a hunt last season which was super enjoyable. Saw several rams and the tag holder who is a much more humble member than me killed a great ram in the Church.

Goat and moose are about a draw for me. Been on three successful goat hunts with one of them where I was the tag holder. Typically lots of time looking at goats before the shooting starts. Amazing country but bottom on the list for table fare.

Been on five successful moose hunts here in Idaho for myself and family members. Relatively easy hunts and great table fare just below sheep. Fun to hunt but lots of work after the shot.

Did I mention Bambi sucks and I'm super jealous! However Anxiously awaiting the Dall sheep thread he will start the end of August first part of September. It's like clockwork!

 

[Panda Bear]

We are allowed to hunt them and we do hunt both Goat and Fannin, Dall, Stone Sheep.

Like Bambistew my comments will make no sense to some, but hunting sheep is a fun hunt, a tough, challenging hunt, but a relaxing hunt for us.

Sheep hides are a bit more workable than goat hides and we prefer sheep meat over goat meat.

which is the harder hunt. I would say Goat. Which provides the better meal. I would say Dall sheep. Which provides beautiful country to hunt in. Both

I can not speak to Rocky Mtn sheep or Desert sheep as I have never hunted them

 

[2rocky]

A home state (California) tag for a Desert Bighorn would be my ultimate because of the fact that people I know have killed sheep in California and every one of them said it was the hardest hunt they had ever had. I'd like to have a California Slam. (All game species found in CA) .

Any other State or province would be ok but I'd be solo. It would be nice to have family involved in the scouting and preparation.

 

[LopeHunter]

View attachment 147575

Those rocks around the tent look like are the soft variety. Did you find a spot where was flat under the sleeping bag? I was clearing rocks to get a soft spot on a portage in MN and with one rock left discovered it was merely the dome of a much larger rock that would not move. Started over and that rock became a foot stool for me.