Mountain Goat in Montana Unlimited Sheep Areas

[rogerthat]

If I had a nickel for every time someone said “I wish I had a goat tag” on an unlimited sheep hunt

 

[trb]

I spent a season in Yellowstone working as a fry cook in Canyon City when I was 18, but mostly spent every available minute fly fishing and backpacking. I spent a lot of time backpacking in one of the unlimited units.

I was on such a trip sharing a tent with a lady friend, and we were awoken by the sounds of large rocks being moved near our tent. I had put our packs under some large rocks some distance away since we were above timberline. Refusing to die in my tent like a chump, I got up, courage buoyed the fear of my companion, readied the bear spray and headlamp, and heroically tore out of my tent ready to meet some giant grizzly face to face. Instead, my headlamp illuminated the massive scrotum of a billy and his pal 5 yards away, playing in the scree field above our tent. They spent the rest of the night seemingly doing everything they could to keep us from getting any sleep. I saw about a dozen goats that trip. Incredible country, I hope to get back up there some day. Nothing but respect for those of you getting up there annually and combing it for sheep.

 

[sclancy27]

I spent a season in Yellowstone working as a fry cook in Canyon City when I was 18, but mostly spent every available minute fly fishing and backpacking. I spent a lot of time backpacking in one of the unlimited units.

I was on such a trip sharing a tent with a lady friend, and we were awoken by the sounds of large rocks being moved near our tent. I had put our packs under some large rocks some distance away since we were above timberline. Refusing to die in my tent like a chump, I got up, courage buoyed the fear of my companion, readied the bear spray and headlamp, and heroically tore out of my tent ready to meet some giant grizzly face to face. Instead, my headlamp illuminated the massive scrotum of a billy and his pal 5 yards away, playing in the scree field above our tent. They spent the rest of the night seemingly doing everything they could to keep us from getting any sleep. I saw about a dozen goats that trip. Incredible country, I hope to get back up there some day. Nothing but respect for those of you getting up there annually and combing it for sheep.

I've woken up to goats multiple times in the Beartooth. When I worked the Mtn Lakes survey crew for FWP we packed in to sample Bridge Lake. We jumped a small grizzly about a mile before the lake and there was bear sign everywhere. I have a habit of pissing all around my tent, spoiler alert. That night I wake up to something literally licking the ground and the zipper of my rainfly. I grab my bear spray and open the tent flap to a nannie just licking where I had pissed a couple hours before.

I've had several similar encounters in the different forks of Rock Creek south of Red Lodge. I slept without the rainfly one night and woke up to goat running all around and looked up to one staring at me through the mesh. Another time packed in with stock I could hear the horses fussing in the middle of the night and got out to see a couple of nannies in camp with kids and the kids were running beneath our pack horse's belly.

They are goofy critters that live in some amazing places.

 

[MTGomer]

I've woken up to goats multiple times in the Beartooth. When I worked the Mtn Lakes survey crew for FWP we packed in to sample Bridge Lake. We jumped a small grizzly about a mile before the lake and there was bear sign everywhere. I have a habit of pissing all around my tent, spoiler alert. That night I wake up to something literally licking the ground and the zipper of my rainfly. I grab my bear spray and open the tent flap to a nannie just licking where I had pissed a couple hours before.

I've had several similar encounters in the different forks of Rock Creek south of Red Lodge. I slept without the rainfly one night and woke up to goat running all around and looked up to one staring at me through the mesh. Another time packed in with stock I could hear the horses fussing in the middle of the night and got out to see a couple of nannies in camp with kids and the kids were running beneath our pack horse's belly.

They are goofy critters that live in some amazing places.

My fav is when they trip on the guy lines and the whole damn tent sounds like it’s coming down.

 

[sclancy27]

My fav is when they trip on the guy lines and the whole damn tent sounds like it’s coming down.

If I ever die in the mountains it's prob gonna be a middle of the night heart attack from something akin to this.

 

[MTLabrador]

I've woken up to goats multiple times in the Beartooth. When I worked the Mtn Lakes survey crew for FWP we packed in to sample Bridge Lake. We jumped a small grizzly about a mile before the lake and there was bear sign everywhere. I have a habit of pissing all around my tent, spoiler alert. That night I wake up to something literally licking the ground and the zipper of my rainfly. I grab my bear spray and open the tent flap to a nannie just licking where I had pissed a couple hours before.

I've had several similar encounters in the different forks of Rock Creek south of Red Lodge. I slept without the rainfly one night and woke up to goat running all around and looked up to one staring at me through the mesh. Another time packed in with stock I could hear the horses fussing in the middle of the night and got out to see a couple of nannies in camp with kids and the kids were running beneath our pack horse's belly.

They are goofy critters that live in some amazing places.

Spent a summer in college doing the same thing, and had a similar goat experience that I was sure was a grizzly.

 

[Hams42]

If I ever die in the mountains it's prob gonna be a middle of the night heart attack from something akin to this.

That or a stupid grouse flushing out from under your foot!

 

[sclancy27]

That or a stupid grouse flushing out from under your foot!

Oofta. I also did fisheries work in NW Wyoming, Dubois to North Grand Teton area and then a year around Cody. I was yanking at bear spray for grouse more than once.

 

[cgasner1]

My fav is when they trip on the guy lines and the whole damn tent sounds like it’s coming down.

Did a volunteer goat count couple years ago. Idk why we had to hike into count them they knocked our tent over in the campground the night before could have just counted them all with the headlamp