Mountain Goat in Montana Unlimited Sheep Areas

[Montana_Wanderer]

I'm not getting any younger so I was planning to start applying for mountain goat districts with slightly better odds than where I usually apply. Looking at the districts around the park as 18 points gives me a chance at least. I have never participated in the unlimited sheep hunt, but have heard areas can get a bit crowded. Solitude is at top of my list when I hunt so I tend to hike far and choose less desirable hunting destinations to get away from people.

Curious, if any of you have some insight on what the pressure is like in the unlimited sheep units. If you were applying for a goat tag would you avoid these areas for a better experience? Or is there so much country it really isn't an issue?

Appreciate the help!

 

[MTGomer]

You can get away from people if you walk. If the dates are not like September 12 to the 20th, you can get away from people if you are next to the road.

 

[daltrix99]

Friend of mine killed a goat in one of those districts 7ish years ago. Big country. He went hard, archery, way back, had stock as backup. Lots of g-bears. Great hunt.

 

[rogerthat]

Avoid the days immediately preceding sheep opener and right after is my suggestion.

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

Thanks for the info! I would have a really hard time skipping rifle opener, but could hunt a few days, take a break and head back in later in September for a long hunt. Early snows do worry me a bit in there. Now hopefully I draw in the next 5 years or so!!

 

[Gerald Martin]

Thanks for the info! I would have a really hard time skipping rifle opener, but could hunt a few days, take a break and head back in later in September for a long hunt. Early snows do worry me a bit in there. Now hopefully I draw in the next 5 years or so!!

Goat hair gets way better from September 15 on. In my opinion the realistic window for weather/good hair in that country is September 15-October 15.

 

[130gr]

I currently live in, hunted hard and have harvested a ram in probably the most accessible unlimited unit there is. Pressure and human presence is a factor, but a couple miles off the beaten path will get you the solitude you seek. I've definitely glassed up way more goats than legal rams, with that being said and in places that would allow harvest and recovery. If you do draw holler at me and I'll help out with some Intel and assistance if possible

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

Goat hair gets way better from September 15 on. In my opinion the realistic window for weather/good hair in that country is September 15-October 15.

Thanks Gerald! Great info! I will be watching the weather forecast obsessively if I get lucky.

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

I currently live in, hunted hard and have harvested a ram in probably the most accessible unlimited unit there is. Pressure and human presence is a factor, but a couple miles off the beaten path will get you the solitude you seek. I've definitely glassed up way more goats than legal rams, with that being said and in places that would allow harvest and recovery. If you do draw holler at me and I'll help out with some Intel and assistance if possible

Congrats on the ram! Way to get it done on a really tough hunt! I was lucky enough to draw a limited sheep tag in 2008 and I’ll never forget it. Cool critters. Way easier hunt than you had and I still spent 25 days searching for the right one.

I’ll be reaching out if my time comes to chase goats! Thanks!

 

[130gr]

Congrats on the ram! Way to get it done on a really tough hunt! I was lucky enough to draw a limited sheep tag in 2008 and I’ll never forget it. Cool critters. Way easier hunt than you had and I still spent 25 days searching for the right one.

I’ll be reaching out if my time comes to chase goats! Thanks!

Thanks much! They truly are amazing creatures, who demand a ton of respect. Took me 6 years to get it done, and I can't wait till I get to do it again. Congrats to you as well on yours, hope you draw that tag.

 

[buffybr]

I killled my goat back in 1978 in the Montana Unlimited bighorn unit 302. I did a couple of late summer and September horseback scouting trips (one where I saw my first Wolverine), and also bought an unlimited ram tag in that unit "just in case" I'd see a ram while goat hunting.

When I went in that unit in September I purposely left my goat tag at home so I wouldn't be tempted to shoot a short haired billy. I didn't see any rams in that unit that year.

I finally went goat hunting that year on the 13th of November. A friend and I camped in the Beaver Cr Campground in his then trailer. My friend had a cow elk tag, so the next morning I dropped him at one drainage and I went up the next one. The temperature was -5* F and the snow was almost knee deep when I started up the drainage.

Earlier, without snow, I had made it to the top of the ridge in an hour. That day the same climb took me 3 hours and once there I got about a 100 yd shot at an old 9 5/8" long haired Billy. I completely skinned him out up there and my hands got so cold that for much of the skinning I pulled his hide over my hands to help keep them warm enough to work..

My friend also killed his cow elk that day and had dragged her down to the highway but he couldn't load her into my truck by himself so he tied her to the back of my truck and drug her down the icy highway to where I could help him load her.
In later years after I killed my goat I went back into different parts of that unit and killed 2 bighorn rams. I think that my 2nd ram there was the last unlimited killed ram in that unit before FWP made it a draw unit.

I've been unsuccessfully applying for another Montana Goat tag every year since I drew that one in 1978. Now I'm 80 and I'm not sure that I could do another solo DIY goat hunt, but I'll apply again next month.

 

[Luke_with_a_lab]

I killled my goat back in 1978 in the Montana Unlimited bighorn unit 302. I did a couple of late summer and September horseback scouting trips (one where I saw my first Wolverine), and also bought an unlimited ram tag in that unit "just in case" I'd see a ram while goat hunting.

When I went in that unit in September I purposely left my goat tag at home so I wouldn't be tempted to shoot a short haired billy. I didn't see any rams in that unit that year.

I finally went goat hunting that year on the 13th of November. A friend and I camped in the Beaver Cr Campground in his then trailer. My friend had a cow elk tag, so the next morning I dropped him at one drainage and I went up the next one. The temperature was -5* F and the snow was almost knee deep when I started up the drainage.

Earlier, without snow, I had made it to the top of the ridge in an hour. That day the same climb took me 3 hours and once there I got about a 100 yd shot at an old 9 5/8" long haired Billy. I completely skinned him out up there and my hands got so cold that for much of the skinning I pulled his hide over my hands to help keep them warm enough to work..

My friend also killed his cow elk that day and had dragged her down to the highway but he couldn't load her into my truck by himself so he tied her to the back of my truck and drug her down the icy highway to where I could help him load her.
In later years after I killed my goat I went back into different parts of that unit and killed 2 bighorn rams. I think that my 2nd ram there was the last unlimited killed ram in that unit before FWP made it a draw unit.

I've been unsuccessfully applying for another Montana Goat tag every year since I drew that one in 1978. Now I'm 80 and I'm not sure that I could do another solo DIY goat hunt, but I'll apply again next month.

Wow congrats on the goat and those sheep. That’s more than most hunters could ever dream of.

 

[mtmuley]

I killled my goat back in 1978 in the Montana Unlimited bighorn unit 302. I did a couple of late summer and September horseback scouting trips (one where I saw my first Wolverine), and also bought an unlimited ram tag in that unit "just in case" I'd see a ram while goat hunting.

When I went in that unit in September I purposely left my goat tag at home so I wouldn't be tempted to shoot a short haired billy. I didn't see any rams in that unit that year.

I finally went goat hunting that year on the 13th of November. A friend and I camped in the Beaver Cr Campground in his then trailer. My friend had a cow elk tag, so the next morning I dropped him at one drainage and I went up the next one. The temperature was -5* F and the snow was almost knee deep when I started up the drainage.

Earlier, without snow, I had made it to the top of the ridge in an hour. That day the same climb took me 3 hours and once there I got about a 100 yd shot at an old 9 5/8" long haired Billy. I completely skinned him out up there and my hands got so cold that for much of the skinning I pulled his hide over my hands to help keep them warm enough to work..

My friend also killed his cow elk that day and had dragged her down to the highway but he couldn't load her into my truck by himself so he tied her to the back of my truck and drug her down the icy highway to where I could help him load her.
In later years after I killed my goat I went back into different parts of that unit and killed 2 bighorn rams. I think that my 2nd ram there was the last unlimited killed ram in that unit before FWP made it a draw unit.

I've been unsuccessfully applying for another Montana Goat tag every year since I drew that one in 1978. Now I'm 80 and I'm not sure that I could do another solo DIY goat hunt, but I'll apply again next month.

Same rifle on all hunts? mtmuley

 

[rogerthat]

I killled my goat back in 1978 in the Montana Unlimited bighorn unit 302. I did a couple of late summer and September horseback scouting trips (one where I saw my first Wolverine), and also bought an unlimited ram tag in that unit "just in case" I'd see a ram while goat hunting.

When I went in that unit in September I purposely left my goat tag at home so I wouldn't be tempted to shoot a short haired billy. I didn't see any rams in that unit that year.

I finally went goat hunting that year on the 13th of November. A friend and I camped in the Beaver Cr Campground in his then trailer. My friend had a cow elk tag, so the next morning I dropped him at one drainage and I went up the next one. The temperature was -5* F and the snow was almost knee deep when I started up the drainage.

Earlier, without snow, I had made it to the top of the ridge in an hour. That day the same climb took me 3 hours and once there I got about a 100 yd shot at an old 9 5/8" long haired Billy. I completely skinned him out up there and my hands got so cold that for much of the skinning I pulled his hide over my hands to help keep them warm enough to work..

My friend also killed his cow elk that day and had dragged her down to the highway but he couldn't load her into my truck by himself so he tied her to the back of my truck and drug her down the icy highway to where I could help him load her.
In later years after I killed my goat I went back into different parts of that unit and killed 2 bighorn rams. I think that my 2nd ram there was the last unlimited killed ram in that unit before FWP made it a draw unit.

I've been unsuccessfully applying for another Montana Goat tag every year since I drew that one in 1978. Now I'm 80 and I'm not sure that I could do another solo DIY goat hunt, but I'll apply again next month.

Some truly iconic harvests! Congrats!

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

Amazing stories and pictures. Those are the kind of hunts you can never forget. Wish you had a picture of your buddy dragging the cow down the highway!!!

Best of luck with the goat drawing. I'm rooting for you so we can get a goat hunt story at 80 years of age!

 

[buffybr]

Same rifle on all hunts? mtmuley

No, I killed my goat with my .30 Gibbs (a re-chambered Herter's .30-06) and a 180 gr Nostler Partition. Those 2 rams and my first ram that I shot in the early 80's in Unit 500 were all on DIY solo hunts with my .257 Ackley (Mauser Mark X action) and each with a 117 gr Sierra GameKing bullet.

 

[Hams42]

I killled my goat back in 1978 in the Montana Unlimited bighorn unit 302. I did a couple of late summer and September horseback scouting trips (one where I saw my first Wolverine), and also bought an unlimited ram tag in that unit "just in case" I'd see a ram while goat hunting.

When I went in that unit in September I purposely left my goat tag at home so I wouldn't be tempted to shoot a short haired billy. I didn't see any rams in that unit that year.

I finally went goat hunting that year on the 13th of November. A friend and I camped in the Beaver Cr Campground in his then trailer. My friend had a cow elk tag, so the next morning I dropped him at one drainage and I went up the next one. The temperature was -5* F and the snow was almost knee deep when I started up the drainage.

Earlier, without snow, I had made it to the top of the ridge in an hour. That day the same climb took me 3 hours and once there I got about a 100 yd shot at an old 9 5/8" long haired Billy. I completely skinned him out up there and my hands got so cold that for much of the skinning I pulled his hide over my hands to help keep them warm enough to work..

My friend also killed his cow elk that day and had dragged her down to the highway but he couldn't load her into my truck by himself so he tied her to the back of my truck and drug her down the icy highway to where I could help him load her.
In later years after I killed my goat I went back into different parts of that unit and killed 2 bighorn rams. I think that my 2nd ram there was the last unlimited killed ram in that unit before FWP made it a draw unit.

I've been unsuccessfully applying for another Montana Goat tag every year since I drew that one in 1978. Now I'm 80 and I'm not sure that I could do another solo DIY goat hunt, but I'll apply again next month.

@buffybr I want to be like you when I grow up. I loved reading your stories in the thread that shall not be named. What i would give to hunt MT in the 70s.

 

[Hams42]

I'm not getting any younger so I was planning to start applying for mountain goat districts with slightly better odds than where I usually apply. Looking at the districts around the park as 18 points gives me a chance at least. I have never participated in the unlimited sheep hunt, but have heard areas can get a bit crowded. Solitude is at top of my list when I hunt so I tend to hike far and choose less desirable hunting destinations to get away from people.

Curious, if any of you have some insight on what the pressure is like in the unlimited sheep units. If you were applying for a goat tag would you avoid these areas for a better experience? Or is there so much country it really isn't an issue?

Appreciate the help!

I always but in for the overlapping UL unit. I have found more goats than sheep. Infact 3 years ago I pretty much had to jump out of the way of Billy who was on a mission. He about took my tent out too.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

I always but in for the overlapping UL unit. I have found more goats than sheep. Infact 3 years ago I pretty much had to jump out of the way of Billy who was on a mission. He about took my tent out too.

The billy was trying to shank your tent?

 

[Hams42]

The billy was trying to shank your tent?

No not quite. He was screaming down a ridge where I was glassing from and then bailed off the side right towards my tipi. He got close but didn't hit it. I'm not sure that he could really see it, it just kind of blended in with the trees.