Mountain goat now, or sheep later.. maybe never

[MDM23]

I had always dreamed of both a sheep and a goat hunt and was able to do both in the last 4 years, goat in BC and sheep in the NWT. Both hunts were amazing, everything I had dreamed of and more. I’m just a middle class working guy but I saved the down payment and booked the hunts. Then I made sacrifices to come up with the rest in the multiple years I had between booking and the hunt dates. Like not buying lunch everyday just packing my lunch from home, don’t hit the coffee stand every day, don’t buy the latest bow or gear as it comes out, drive used older vehicles, do weekend work, it all adds up over time. If your dream is to hunt sheep my advice is to book the hunt, once you sign the contract you will figure out the money part.

 

[wyosteve]

I've done both sheep and goats. Goat can be much more challenging due to the terrain they live in. Unless you just have to have a sheep on the wall, you can do several goat hunts for the price of a sheep hunt.

 

[TMA805]

If you eventually can afford both, then do goat first. As others have said, if sheep is ultimately the goal, save up for sheep and just do a sheep. Though, not sure how many sheep hunts are still out there in that $20-$25K range and prices seem to climb every year. In the mean time to sorta scratch the itch, have you thought of Aoudad in NM or TX? Lots of quality free range and have heard some outfitters will do backpack foot hunt too if desired and requested. I’ve been fortunate to hunt all 3.

 

[Tony Wagner]

Been lucky enough to draw Bighorns in Idaho and Wyoming and Desert in Arizona. I agree that a Goat can be as great a trophy as any sheep you might ever harvest. I am fortunate enough and persistent enough to hopefully finish my N/A-29 this fall on the Crow Nation reservation with a Bison. But the Goat hunt is one of my greatest accomplishments and would love to chase them again some day. Good Luck with your decision.

 

[RdRdrFan]

Been lucky enough to draw Bighorns in Idaho and Wyoming and Desert in Arizona. I agree that a Goat can be as great a trophy as any sheep you might ever harvest. I am fortunate enough and persistent enough to hopefully finish my N/A-29 this fall on the Crow Nation reservation with a Bison. But the Goat hunt is one of my greatest accomplishments and would love to chase them again some day. Good Luck with your decision.

That Desert is bad to the bone.

I'm headed to the Yukon for sheep in August in an area that has mostly Fannins. Killed a Rocky 4 years ago. Assuming I can get a Fannin down in August I'll be booking for a Dall after that. But between the Fannin and the Dall will be a mountain goat hunt. Been wanting to do one for a long time.

Had a goat hunt booked with Terminus but Covid shutdowns screwed that up and Craig was.....Craig. And I don't hunt with people like that.

All of that said, I look forward to every mountain hunt. With two more sheep hunts imminent (within the next 5 year) along with a goat hunt, I can tell you that I'm just as excited about the prospect of getting up there and chasing goats as I am the sheep. I say book the goat hunt and get after it.

 

[Mojave]

Sheep are cool, but goats are more interesting.

 

[Marbles]

If you want a sheep, go for a sheep.

I think goats are cooler animals, probably because I belong on the left hand, but settling for a "distant" 2nd sounds like a recipe for being unhappy.

Use it is motivation to stay fit, no reason you don't have 20 years left to mountain hunt, and staying fit will pay you back in a lot of other ways too.

On the other hand, if you just want the mountain experience, hunt fall berry bears in the alpine as a DIY Alaska hunt and save your money for a sheep down the road.

 

[199p]

I dont know how feasible it is but is there a way you could chase them in the wild with a camera and just get up and get a close look at them as if your hunting and see what one gets you fizzing the most with out laying out all the money

 

[tstowater]

Book the goat hunt and play the raffles and no points States for bighorns. Or save the raffle and application money and go to Montana unlimited. Might want to find a guide who has had some success in the unlimited.

 

[180ls1]

The good news is people usually rationalize whatever they chose as the correct choice. So, you'll probably be happy with your decision lol.

 

[buzzy]

I have hunted a Dall in the NWT and hunted a goat in AK and BC. Both weee great hunts but honestly I loved the goat hunts. So much I went to BC after my 1st goat hunt in AK and hunted them in February!! For the money the goats definitely fill that desire for me on a high country hunt. I just love the late season hair on them and they live above the sheep in the nastiest of locations. I’m just glad I got my NWT hunt done before the prices went crazy.

The AK hunt I took a nanny and the BC a B&C billy. I want to go one more time so I can do a euro mount of the skull and a rug of the hide. The other 2 are half life size mounts

 

[Maxhunter]

I’ve done two goat hunts and three sheep hunts all with a bow. Killed one goat in BC and the other in WY my home state. I did two dall sheep hunts in AK archery only areas and never got a shot but saw plenty of sheep. Shot my bighorn in WY. I would love to do another dall sheep hunt but just tough to justify the cost imo. I think goats are my favorite because of the terrain they live in. Here’s a couple of pictures.

 

[Antares]

I’ve done two goat hunts and three sheep hunts all with a bow. Killed one goat in BC and the other in WY my home state. I did two dall sheep hunts in AK archery only areas and never got a shot but saw plenty of sheep. Shot my bighorn in WY. I would love to do another dall sheep hunt but just tough to justify the cost imo. I think goats are my favorite because of the terrain they live in. Here’s a couple of pictures.

Duuuuuude... that billy is a STUD! Nice!