Are Mountain Goats hunts achievable for the regular guy?

[jeffhelland]

So, how hard are mountain goat hunts? I’ve been hunting for a few years and only a couple unsuccessful western hunts under my belt.
Is the required fitness level achievable for a 50 year old flatlander (Texas)?
I would like to start with a guide (AK or BC) while building point in the lower 48.

 

[Bigred323]

I’ll let you know how it goes for a 34 year old south Texas guy in a few months in the mountains of BC!

Definitely a little intimidated, but I’ve been working my butt off to try and get in the best shape I can for the hunt.

 

[Maxhunter]

I did my first mountain goat hunt at 50 and the second at 54. Both done with a bow. Question is are you doing bow or gun? The best advice I can give you is get in good shape. IMO legs get you up the mountain. I recommend hiking stairs or bleachers with a 40lb weighted pack. If a steep hill nearby that works also. Also buy good boots that fit your feet. Crispi, kennetrek, zamberlain etc. The better shape your in the more enjoyment you’ll and the guide will be happy also.

 

[jeffhelland]

I did my first mountain goat hunt at 50 and the second at 54. Both done with a bow. Question is are you doing bow or gun? The best advice I can give you is get in good shape. IMO legs get you up the mountain. I recommend hiking stairs or bleachers with a 40lb weighted pack. If a steep hill nearby that works also. Also buy good boots that fit your feet. Crispi, kennetrek, zamberlain etc. The better shape your in the more enjoyment you’ll and the guide will be happy also.

Definitely rifle.
I have a pair of Scarpas that I’ve hiked in a lot with no issues.
I like the bleachers idea.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[adamkolesar]

I was 57 when I went on my goat hunt. Like others, I trained. The toughest part of the hunt, was hiking through the SE Alaska jungle of devil's club and alder tangles w/a loaded pack. Core work is your friend here as you will frequently be off balance w/ a pack that wants to throw you down the mountain.
The surprise i didn't specifically train for was the enormous steps required to clear obstacles or gain elevation w/ "questionable" footing. Hip and knee mobility and strength is another factor to consider.
All that said, totally doable. We half- centurions have to be a bit more methodical in our prep!

 

[buffybr]

I was 32 when I shot my goat. It was a DIY solo hunt 100 miles from my home, and cost me a tank of gas for my PU and a and $25 Montana resident tag.

I was 72 when I hunted Dagestan Tur in Azerbaijan. My only preparation for that hunt was walking, playing golf 3-5 days a week. I was definately not in the same shape that I was at 32, and that was probably the hardest hunt that I've ever done. This year, at 79, and 47 years of unsuccessfully applying for another goat tag, may be the last year that I will ever apply for that tag.

 

[pnwhank]

It seems like a majority of clientele for goat hunts are 45+ year old guys.

If you get your fitness in order and do all you can to practice making shots in some vertical terrain, you'll have done more than the average dude booking a goat hunt.

 

[MntHunter]

Walk stairs, if there is a high story building (8 stories or more) go up and down the stairs for an hour a few days a week. If there is a hill (you want it to take at least 8 minutes to walk up) put on your pack and walk up and down for an hour a few a week. It is mind numbing but it works.

You shouldn't have a problem, it will be more mental than anything.

Just adding to this: A 50lb bag of corn fits into a pack nicely and allows you to distribute the weight.

 

[Clarktar]

Lots of core work. Mobility for knees hips and looong zone 2 rucking. It is 100% achievable.

 

[bowonly]

My first mountain goat hunt I was unsuccessful at 50 YOA in Montana after 11 days. My second was when I was 64. It was an 8 day backpack hunt in BC and I was successful on the last day with a 10 yard shot. My last goat hunt was in BC when I was 71. I luckily got a billy on the first day with a 20 yard shot. I drew Colorado goat this year and will hunt in the Maroon Bells. I will be a month from my 74th birthday and will hunt with my recurve bow, the same as all the other hunts. I may be pushing my luck, but that's how you find your limits.
How hard is a mountain goat hunt? Yeah, they are hard. I think the question is, is it too hard for you? And you are the only one who can answer that question. I think that's the challenge of mountain goat hunting. I'm looking forward to reading about your hunt on this forum.

 

[TaperPin]

Definitely rifle.
I have a pair of Scarpas that I’ve hiked in a lot with no issues.
I like the bleachers idea.

My flatland friends get in good shape, but their calves are usually one of the first muscles to get worn out. Even many of us that enjoy the mountains all summer don’t get up high until sometime in June, so anything we can do now is well worth it. A simple way to get strong calves is one leg calf raises while you’re getting ready to walk bleachers. Three times a week one slow set with a good squeeze at the top until you can’t go anymore is a good start. After a few weeks add a second set. The key is going slow and enough reps to give out. I ran a fire crew in an area with steep canyons and doing this solved the problems guys had been having with sore calves. It also helped city kids get prepared for hiking 14ers in Colorado. Easily in the top ten things that will help make life easier.

 

[bowuntr]

I'm 60 and going on my first goat bowhunt in Colorado this year... Ed F

 

[madcalfe]

As a person who hunts and kills a goat almost every year, I'd say there easy as long as you're in somewhat decent physical shape. I put 100x more effort into my sheep hunts than goats.
Goats are easy to spot even with the naked eye from quite aways off. It's just whether you can get to them or not is the question.

 

[Wyoming Hart]

Get in the best shape that you can. At that point, your mental state will give up before your physical state on a goat hunt.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

A typical hunter can do any hunt with a bit of prep work on the physical and mental front.

Last year I took up trail running and I learned a lot. A person's fitness level and body type are not the end all be all that some folks claim it is. A person's mindset is just as important if not more important. I've seen plenty of individuals with chiseled bodies and high fitness levels tap out running 21-50+ KM races. More impressively (not being sarcastic on that), I have seen quite a few morbidly obese individuals finish those same races albeit at a slower pace. If those folks can do a 50K with elevation change (2-6K or more) in 8 hours, there's no reason a regular Joe hunter can't do a sheep or goat hunt.

@TapirPin is spot on about calves being the first thing to go. Simple calf raises can do wonders. Grab a pack and hit stairs; add weight over time.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I absolutely agree with the above post. If you don't have a serious physical limitation, I think any mountain hunt is obtainable at just about any age. IMO one of the biggest obstacles to having a successful mountain hunt is lack of mental fortitude. Obviously being in good physical shape and good preparation are important but, having the mindset of not giving up is equally, if not more, important. I may be pushing 60 but I'll still be chasing sheep around this fall and, if I'm unsuccessful, if won't be because I gave up.

 

[Mojave]

The only way I am going to get one is on a cancellation hunt or a draw. I am not going to spend $15-25,000 for one.

I'll move back to Alaska and try to make it work before I pay that.

What happens if you don't get one?

I met some outfitters at the last hunting show that I went to, and they had prices from $15,000-25,000. One was 60-70% success. One was 100%.

I can do a lot of hunting for those prices.

 

[MTGunner]

I did it at s as he 64. I trained faithfully each day. It still kicked my butt. It CAN be done though. It’s a physical, mental hunt. You have to want to do this. They live in the nose bleeds unless you book for an Alaskan boat hunt. MTG

 

[Steve O]

Mountain goat hunts will kick the average guy’s tail. There are very few hunts I don’t need to do again and the mountain goat is #1 on the list.

 

[nphunter]

It really depends on the hunt as well, not all goat country is created equally. I’ve hung out with lots of mtn goats while deer hunting. I’ve also backpacked with my wife and boys when they were like 6 & 9 and had mountain goats in our camp at night.