Judging good billies from great billiies

[Jon Boy]

When I find an old thick bodied Billy I'm gonna shoot it. If it's got 11" horns and 6" bases then cool. If not then I'm still a bad ass and I'm doing things 99 percent of hunters only dream of. When your old, no body cares. They will look at your goat trophies and just know you were a crazy bastard.

I like the way this guy thinks.

 

[Yellowknife]

I honestly think it's a matter of finding a mature animal, shooting it. Then hoping there's that extra inch in the base and two inches in the length. I won't be waiting for it. When I find an old thick bodied Billy I'm gonna shoot it. If it's got 11" horns and 6" bases then cool. If not then I'm still a bad ass and I'm doing things 99 percent of hunters only dream of. When your old, no body cares. They will look at your goat trophies and just know you were a crazy bastard.

Man, if I ever get the hang of this sheep hunting thing, it sounds like I'm going to have to move on to goats!

.... might be a while yet though. Sometimes I think I'm better at camping in the mountains than I am at killing things. Like your attitude Bighorse.

Yk

 

[Buster]

Bighorse, way to nail that one on the head. I now officially have the tag burning a hole in my pocket, excitement burning in me, and am fully expecting burning legs and lungs before it's all over.

 

[mtmiller]

When I find an old thick bodied Billy I'm gonna shoot it. If it's got 11" horns and 6" bases then cool. If not then I'm still a bad ass and I'm doing things 99 percent of hunters only dream of. When your old, no body cares. They will look at your goat trophies and just know you were a crazy bastard.

So well said.

 

[muleman]

Here is a good field judging article. I liked the first sentence.

"It would be hard not to classify
any mature Rocky Mountain goat as a
trophy considering all that goes into a
successful hunt for these cliff dwellers."

http://www.boone-crockett.org/bgRecords/records_fieldjudging_goat.asp

 

[Buster]

Awesome link, been on the B&C website, but must have missed that page. Thanks for posting.

 

[muleman]

Here is a Chuck Adams article with a few judging tidbits thrown in. This article gets me stoked, 38 days till my season opens.

http://www.bowhunter.com/feature_articles_bw_goat_1008.html

 

[Buster]

Our season opens in 29 days, gonna concentrate on the wife's tag/zone first. Hoping she can get it done with the bow. Of the 12 tags between the 2 of us, I truly think I'm looking forward to her bowhunting her goat the most.

 

[Bighorse]

FYI.....I found that big ol' Billy. 8 15/16" Double broomed, 5 1/4" bases, 10 yrs old. I did it solo too. It took me three days to haul it out.
A few of you may have seen the photo on the AlaskaLife Facebook page.

 

[muleman]

FYI.....I found that big ol' Billy. 8 15/16" Double broomed, 5 1/4" bases, 10 yrs old. I did it solo too. It took me three days to haul it out.
A few of you may have seen the photo on the AlaskaLife Facebook page.

Congrats on the goat!

 

[Buster]

A mature billy is a testament to your bad-assery Big Horse, (ok so that was your quote). Good on ya.

 

[Zackman]

Great thread! I have a goat hunt in 2015. I will be reviewing this thread many times over the next 2 years. Keep the good info coming guys and the live goat photos are extremely helpful

 

[muleman]

Here is a mountain goat identification quiz with lots of pictures.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/hunting/goathunting/pdfs/goat_long_quiz_for_web.pdf

 

[Bighorse]

Pic of recent Billy

I didn't wait for the 10".....this one will have to do.

 

[Zackman]

Here is a mountain goat identification quiz with lots of pictures.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/hunting/goathunting/pdfs/goat_long_quiz_for_web.pdf

Great link. Thanks!

 

[Buster]

Zackman, good on ya for getting into your 2015 hunt now. You'll have a keen eye by then. Where is your hunt?

 

[Buster]

I didn't wait for the 10".....this one will have to do.

Bighorse, I get the feeling that isn't your first goat. Have you been in bow range of many goats? The wife and I are planning to try with the bows this fall.

 

[Zackman]

Zackman, good on ya for getting into your 2015 hunt now. You'll have a keen eye by then. Where is your hunt?

Northern BC. With Scoop lake. I have a buddy that went with them last year and had a great hunt

 

[CtP]

I didn't wait for the 10".....this one will have to do.

Nice work BH!! Looking younger everyday.
Great pic.

 

[Buster]

I didn't wait for the 10".....this one will have to do.

Bighorse, how about a few details on the hunt. How far was the shot, did you come from above or below? Did he know you were there before you shot? Love the little details.