Gear for solo Goat

[sshhh]

Thinking of taking my 3 week Elk hunt and splitting it and doing 2 weeks for Elk and then spend a week on Goat.

I scouted Goat 2 summers ago with a friend but never ended up going on the hunt in the fall.

I will scout for the Goat 2 or 3 times over the summer.

I would do the hunt the last week of September/first week of October. The summer scouting and the fall hunt I will be alone. I am an experienced backpack hunter, I have a satellite communicator, a pack alarm, leukotape etc. One of the things I am wondering about is if the experienced Goat hunters bring cramp ons and ice tools at that and climbing gear for that time of year, I know that depends on area and weather of that year and other factors. I won't get into to crazy of stuff when i'm alone but I can get to where Goats are (see them lots scouting for Blacktail in areas that are not open, but thats always in Summer).

Anything else that are must haves for you, or other things I should know I wouldn't mind hearing, thanks.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

One of the things I am wondering about is if the experienced Goat hunters bring cramp ons and ice tools at that and climbing gear for that time of year, I know that depends on area and weather of that year and other factors. I won't get into to crazy of stuff when i'm alone but I can get to where Goats are

If you are an experienced climber already, and the forecast & terrain calls for it, sure. Bring those things. However, if you are not, bringing crampons and ice axes is just asking to put yourself in a situation that you do not have the skillset and experience to deal with. ie. Climbing up is one thing. Descending technical terrain is another, not to mention with a load.

Kahtoola Microspikes, 1 trekking pole and 1 Black Diamond Whippet pole are ideal for 99% of the time in what the majority of hunters should be in while hunting goats.

 

[sshhh]

If you are an experienced climber already, and the forecast & terrain calls for it, sure. Bring those things. However, if you are not, bringing crampons and ice axes is just asking to put yourself in a situation that you do not have the skillset and experience to deal with. ie. Climbing up is one thing. Descending technical terrain is another, not to mention with a load.

Kahtoola Microspikes, 1 trekking pole and 1 Black Diamond Whippet pole are ideal for 99% of the time in what the majority of hunters should be in while hunting goats.

No experience in rock climbing with gear or anything like that, just making it to the top of lots of rugged mountains scouting and hunting, mostly coastal and cascades. Have to pull up pack by rope and let down by rope sometimes in order to get up or down cliffs but thats about the extent of that, and mostly all in Summer or Autumn/early Fall.

Cool thank you, I got the other two but i'll look into the whippet pole.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

No experience in rock climbing with gear or anything like that, just making it to the top of lots of rugged mountains scouting and hunting, mostly coastal and cascades. Have to pull up pack by rope and let down by rope sometimes in order to get up or down cliffs but thats about the extent of that, and mostly all in Summer or Autumn/early Fall.

Cool thank you, I got the other two but i'll look into the whippet pole.

Copy that. You may benefit from a pair of Aluminum crampons in that case. I’ve used them on one solo goat winter hunt, where they came in very useful for retrieving a dead goat. You sound like you’re familiar with navigating steep terrain as well. With good judgement, they can be very useful. It’s the guys that are not used to being in that terrain, have the gear and a false sense of confidence that put themselves in danger more often than not.

 

[Ron.C]

Ive done several solo goat hunts. I always have a shelter (8x10 siltarp) and pad with me in case i need to spike out up high. Rope for sure. Like you said, may come in handy to safely lower a heavy pack (learned this from a far more experienced goat hunter). Also great for securing splints when you fall and break your leg/ankle

 

[sshhh]

Copy that. You may benefit from a pair of Aluminum crampons in that case. I’ve used them on one solo goat winter hunt, where they came in very useful for retrieving a dead goat. You sound like you’re familiar with navigating steep terrain as well. With good judgement, they can be very useful. It’s the guys that are not used to being in that terrain, have the gear and a false sense of confidence that put themselves in danger more often than not.

Sounds good man, you got any brands or ones in particular you would recommend?

And yeah I go in the mountains every weekend doing somethin hunting related. I got above the one in the snow couple years back and thought I should start hunting these guys they are pretty cool, should have started that year.

 

[sshhh]

Ive done several solo goat hunts. I always have a shelter (8x10 siltarp) and pad with me in case i need to spike out up high. Rope for sure. Like you said, may come in handy to safely lower a heavy pack (learned this from a far more experienced goat hunter). Also great for securing splints when you fall and break your leg/ankle

Always got atleast one siltarp with me. How is that healin up n comin along?

 

[squirrel]

A good walking stick (and yes it can be an actual stick) good footwear for conditions you face, and good judgement (dont follow goat trails) should suffice, if supplemented by a day pack with lots of rope which will hold your weight in a pinch, but if you need it you violated the "good judgement" part above.

Goat hunting is all about realising and staying within your limitations i.e. PATIENCE wait for him to make a mistake, dont make one yourself.

Watched a huge yellow billy for a week once until I got snowed out, he won, never went out of a 10 yard circle. Closest I could get to that circle was 200 yards without dying.

 

[Decker9]

I use to chase goats alone a lot but usually in February, never got into a spot that I “needed” crampons, but I’d toss them on anyway for the added traction in places. I used micro spikes quite a bit and they were ok, but found they’d ball up with snow in the right conditions. I didn’t find the crampons to collect snow as much.

Ime stiff boots are a absolute must, something good for toe picking and cutting side hill. Iv been loving the scarpa Mont Blancs for goat country, fall or winter. My sheep boots don’t cut it for goat country generally.

Couple winters ago retrieving a Billy, ice picks became a must in my bag. Maybe not so much in early season but come October on I’d have a pick of sorts. Just got in a NZ mountain stick to try this season.

Listen close to Ron C above. accident’s can happen to guys with a lot of experience too and they happen fast. Iv had a couple injuries on goat hunts that could have been bad if I was solo at the time.

Are you chasing goats in the states or in BC?

 

[sshhh]

I use to chase goats alone a lot but usually in February, never got into a spot that I “needed” crampons, but I’d toss them on anyway for the added traction in places. I used micro spikes quite a bit and they were ok, but found they’d ball up with snow in the right conditions. I didn’t find the crampons to collect snow as much.

Ime stiff boots are a absolute must, something good for toe picking and cutting side hill. Iv been loving the scarpa Mont Blancs for goat country, fall or winter. My sheep boots don’t cut it for goat country generally.

Couple winters ago retrieving a Billy, ice picks became a must in my bag. Maybe not so much in early season but come October on I’d have a pick of sorts. Just got in a NZ mountain stick to try this season.

Listen close to Ron C above. accident’s can happen to guys with a lot of experience too and they happen fast. Iv had a couple injuries on goat hunts that could have been bad if I was solo at the time.

Are you chasing goats in the states or in BC?

Crazy you guys getting Goats in the dead of Winter, I guess they are lower though and you don't got to deal with Bears some positives, nice hides. I've tried a couple microspikes and they have all balled up with snow, not sure if it was because of boots or gaiters on the boots but have found it they got their places though forsure. Haven't put on a set of crampons yet.

I just ran through a pair of kenetrek mountain guides in a little under 2 years, I bought hanwag trapper tops I think it was a month ago. Did a couple all day hikes in very steep Blacktail mountains putting up new cams and they were great! Fast forward to Easter long and me and a bud went on a 5 day Mulie shed hunt trip, was hiking extremely hard, ton of side hilling the first day through steep fir draws I thought there wouldn't be a break in with those boots and after day 2 I was severely mistaken leukotaped and continued but skin rubbed right off my pinky toes prior to that. Anyhow using the kenetreks for the time being if i'm gone the whole weekend will use the hanwags for just single days to help keep breaking in without hurting my feet. Was going to try the crispi briksdal pro sf here so I got a NI pair. You recommend a different set/mountaineering type for Goat?

Okay, noted.

I hear ya!

I will be in BC.

Hey forgot to add what is toe picking?

 

[sshhh]

A good walking stick (and yes it can be an actual stick) good footwear for conditions you face, and good judgement (dont follow goat trails) should suffice, if supplemented by a day pack with lots of rope which will hold your weight in a pinch, but if you need it you violated the "good judgement" part above.

Goat hunting is all about realising and staying within your limitations i.e. PATIENCE wait for him to make a mistake, dont make one yourself.

Watched a huge yellow billy for a week once until I got snowed out, he won, never went out of a 10 yard circle. Closest I could get to that circle was 200 yards without dying.

Needs to be said sometimes, no animal is worth a guys life, or even having to call SOS, okay if it's a giant maybe an SOS, kidding ; ) lol

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I got one solo, I didn’t recall having anything with me that I wouldn’t have if I was hunting with another person.

 

[Decker9]

Crazy you guys getting Goats in the dead of Winter, I guess they are lower though and you don't got to deal with Bears some positives, nice hides. I've tried a couple microspikes and they have all balled up with snow, not sure if it was because of boots or gaiters on the boots but have found it they got their places though forsure. Haven't put on a set of crampons yet.

I just ran through a pair of kenetrek mountain guides in a little under 2 years, I bought hanwag trapper tops I think it was a month ago. Did a couple all day hikes in very steep Blacktail mountains putting up new cams and they were great! Fast forward to Easter long and me and a bud went on a 5 day Mulie shed hunt trip, was hiking extremely hard, ton of side hilling the first day through steep fir draws I thought there wouldn't be a break in with those boots and after day 2 I was severely mistaken leukotaped and continued but skin rubbed right off my pinky toes prior to that. Anyhow using the kenetreks for the time being if i'm gone the whole weekend will use the hanwags for just single days to help keep breaking in without hurting my feet. Was going to try the crispi briksdal pro sf here so I got a NI pair. You recommend a different set/mountaineering type for Goat?

Okay, noted.

I hear ya!

I will be in BC.

Hey forgot to add what is toe picking?

I just got a pair of the Crispi briksdsl sf’s, they are a pretty stiff boot but I think my scarpas are a bit stiffer still. I haven’t had the crispi’s out yet but will be heading to the goat cams in a few more weeks here so going to try them out and see how they do. I used the Hanwag Alaskans for a long time, great boots but I do personally like a stiffer for goats.

Toe picking, just how the toe cuts into the ground, there is no flex in my scarpas so it’s a lot like going up stairs, but on your toes rather then flat footed. A stiff sole will cut the ground a lot better then a softer sole ime.

But I wouldn’t let the stiffer boots hold a guy back, just ime they do make the steep stuff a bit easier.

ime, mature Billy’s are still up high in February generally on a wind swept ridge. If I see goats lower around timberline, it’s generally nanny’s/kids or young Billy’s.


Have you heard of the platform spike camp? We are holding a 3 day goat camp livestream April 28/29/30th over there, some very experienced goat getters telling stories and answering questions. People who attend on line can ask questions through the chat, it’s a good time I highly recommend for anyone who loves or is interested in goats and goat hunting. Feel free to send a message with any questions if interested and I’d be happy to tell more about it. Mostly BC guys but there are a few from all over. I have a couple videos I’ll be sharing from the last winter trip we did on the live stream.

What region will you be hunting?

 

[chizelhead]

Sounds good man, you got any brands or ones in particular you would recommend?

And yeah I go in the mountains every weekend doing somethin hunting related. I got above the one in the snow couple years back and thought I should start hunting these guys they are pretty cool, should have started that year.

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Pretzel Leopard crampons work well. If you find yourself in a fair bit of rock, you may want to use steel crampons. Aluminum ones tend to break on rock.

 

[sshhh]

I just got a pair of the Crispi briksdsl sf’s, they are a pretty stiff boot but I think my scarpas are a bit stiffer still. I haven’t had the crispi’s out yet but will be heading to the goat cams in a few more weeks here so going to try them out and see how they do. I used the Hanwag Alaskans for a long time, great boots but I do personally like a stiffer for goats.

Toe picking, just how the toe cuts into the ground, there is no flex in my scarpas so it’s a lot like going up stairs, but on your toes rather then flat footed. A stiff sole will cut the ground a lot better then a softer sole ime.

But I wouldn’t let the stiffer boots hold a guy back, just ime they do make the steep stuff a bit easier.

ime, mature Billy’s are still up high in February generally on a wind swept ridge. If I see goats lower around timberline, it’s generally nanny’s/kids or young Billy’s.
View attachment 1052905View attachment 1052904View attachment 1052900

Have you heard of the platform spike camp? We are holding a 3 day goat camp livestream April 28/29/30th over there, some very experienced goat getters telling stories and answering questions. People who attend on line can ask questions through the chat, it’s a good time I highly recommend for anyone who loves or is interested in goats and goat hunting. Feel free to send a message with any questions if interested and I’d be happy to tell more about it. Mostly BC guys but there are a few from all over. I have a couple videos I’ll be sharing from the last winter trip we did on the live stream.

What region will you be hunting?

Nice you going to use the Briksdals for Sheep and Cervids or more for Cervids? If you remember should let me know your initial impression of them. How was the Trapper Tops break in for you, any?

Okay good to know. Scarpa's are also on my list to try.

Makes sense, similar to most Big Bucks and the Does and Fawns i'd wager. How deep was the snow that Billy was in up there in Feb? N good work thats a good challenge right there nice Goat.

I have yes, i've had an account for some time now but have never really been on, I was thinking about firing it up after this season and putting up some stories but haven't gotten around to it. I think I will check that out and i'll do that.

Well i'd love to hunt 6 or 7, but probably can't swing that this year being so far. Probably be relegated to region 2, may, may be able to do 4 or 5 (would probably pick 5 over 4). But will most likely be region 2. I've got some places on the maps already that I will check out if 2 is the plan. Probably see about taking a ferry to one of the areas or MUs with no access but still have to look into that. I've been trying to access harvest stats recently but I think I need to wait until I get my new computer next month can't get into it on my phone, so still lots of planning to do.

 

[Decker9]

Nice you going to use the Briksdals for Sheep and Cervids or more for Cervids? If you remember should let me know your initial impression of them. How was the Trapper Tops break in for you, any?

Okay good to know. Scarpa's are also on my list to try.

Makes sense, similar to most Big Bucks and the Does and Fawns i'd wager. How deep was the snow that Billy was in up there in Feb? N good work thats a good challenge right there nice Goat.

I have yes, i've had an account for some time now but have never really been on, I was thinking about firing it up after this season and putting up some stories but haven't gotten around to it. I think I will check that out and i'll do that.

Well i'd love to hunt 6 or 7, but probably can't swing that this year being so far. Probably be relegated to region 2, may, may be able to do 4 or 5 (would probably pick 5 over 4). But will most likely be region 2. I've got some places on the maps already that I will check out if 2 is the plan. Probably see about taking a ferry to one of the areas or MUs with no access but still have to look into that. I've been trying to access harvest stats recently but I think I need to wait until I get my new computer next month can't get into it on my phone, so still lots of planning to do.

I’ll try the Briksdal’s for sheep this year, I loved the Hanwag Alaskans but seems I only get 2 good seasons before they loose their ankle support. I havent tried the trapper tops, they look like a nice boot though. I use my scarpa’s when going to the goat cams, defiantly notice the difference in my footing with them over the hanwags, but the scarpa’s would be pretty stiff for me if I was looking to wear them for days on a backpack hunt. I’m hoping the briksdal’s will be a bit better for the longer trips.

Iv heard region 2 can be a tough hunt, defiantly keep us posted on your season!!

If you’re interested in some Billy/nanny quizzes, I have a thread loaded with goat photos on the spike camp. I believe there is a quiz still up over there as well.

 

[sshhh]

I’ll try the Briksdal’s for sheep this year, I loved the Hanwag Alaskans but seems I only get 2 good seasons before they loose their ankle support. I havent tried the trapper tops, they look like a nice boot though. I use my scarpa’s when going to the goat cams, defiantly notice the difference in my footing with them over the hanwags, but the scarpa’s would be pretty stiff for me if I was looking to wear them for days on a backpack hunt. I’m hoping the briksdal’s will be a bit better for the longer trips.

Iv heard region 2 can be a tough hunt, defiantly keep us posted on your season!!

If you’re interested in some Billy/nanny quizzes, I have a thread loaded with goat photos on the spike camp. I believe there is a quiz still up over there as well.

Yeah it is probably very low success but probably all i'll have to work with this year as far as Goat goes, won't get my hopes up too high but can't get one unless i'm out there and where their open.

Yeah that sounds good thanks is your name the same over there? I'll send you a PM too.