Optics for BC Goat Hunt

[Ron.C]

BC hunter here. I have hunted goats in and adjacent area and hope to be hunting the same MU as you this October.

Your guide should have the optics and ability to determine if its a billy and the quality of the billy before you embark on any climb or stalk. No harm in bringing your spotter/tripod for down low use and leave them there. Then you can appreciate the light 8.5's on the climb. In that country, once you climb up to relocate the animal, you are not glassing far.

I use a 65mm spotter / 10x bino combo. Both are Vortex Razor's so not the best glass on the market but they do. Worked well enough for me but the spotter/tripod stays almost always stay below and will certainly stay with the truck in this area.

I like the idea of a quality 15X bino/lightweight tripod combo. Be a good option for a guy that hunts alone and packs into an area on foot a good distance where he may need a little more than a 10X to sex a goat before he commits to a climb.

 

[HornPorn]

I’m looking at horseback assisted goat hunt and planning to take 80mm spotter for sure

If back backing I’d stick to 65 or smaller

 

[JasonM]

A lot to consider…..

I had 10s on a west Texas aoudad hunt few years ago my buddy had 15s.

The 10s were about worthless locating animals at least in that scenario….which was a good ways off probably 1/2-3/4 mile…. Once we climbed the 10s were fine closing in that final distance for the shot

That’s what makes me think this might be the same scenario….run the 15s at the truck and take the revics with me up the hill!

 

[Blockcaver]

I've glassed up goats at 6 miles (map distance, peak to peak) with 10X42 Swarovision EL's. I like binos to find them that can be hand held or used on a tripod. Then use the spotter and magnified digiscope photos to really check them out.

 

[JasonM]

I've glassed up goats at 6 miles (map distance, peak to peak) with 10X42 Swarovision EL's. I like binos to find them that can be hand held or used on a tripod. Then use the spotter and magnified digiscope photos to really check them out.

I guess goats stand out a little more than aoudad in west Texas desert. Unless there is snow. I’ve never goat hunted but I felt I couldn’t do a good job glassing with 10s for aoudad….

 

[Ron.C]

I guess goats stand out a little more than aoudad in west Texas desert. Unless there is snow. I’ve never goat hunted but I felt I couldn’t do a good job glassing with 10s for aoudad….

Sure will. Spotting goats in any given watershead in this and most other east kootenay units will not be an issue. Your G/O will know where exactly where to go and look. The goats can usually be picked out at a distance pretty easily without optics.

Even in snow, especially earlier in the season, the goats can appear yellowish to off white against the snowy backdrop and not hard to locate.

It will be all about which ones are accessible (your fitness has a huge part in this) and recoverable.

I'd say on a guided goat hunt (in your area) , the clients fitness and attitude are far more important then the choice of bino/spotter they bring.

 

[JasonM]

Sure will. Spotting goats in any given watershead in this and most other east kootenay units will not be an issue. Your G/O will know where exactly where to go and look. The goats can usually be picked out at a distance pretty easily without optics.

Even in snow, especially earlier in the season, the goats can appear yellowish to off white against the snowy backdrop and not hard to locate.

It will be all about which ones are accessible (your fitness has a huge part in this) and recoverable.

I'd say on a guided goat hunt (in your area) , the clients fitness and attitude are far more important then the choice of bino/spotter they bring.

Good points.

I’m not sure what kind of d of routine will prepare me the most but I plan on hiking up and down lots of steep (steepest I can find here in western Pennsylvania mountains) with a loaded pack ….when I’m not hiking and hailing a pack I’ll be running and some weight training….

 

[Jimss]

I would go totally nuts not bringing a spotter to watch and judge goats. I have such a great time watching goats and you will miss out on that without a spotter. You can also watch the goats up close with spotter while your guide explains how to tell Billie’s from Nannie’s, mature Billy vs nanny, etc.

I’ve been on many goat hunts in Colo and Alaska over the years and wouldn’t hesitate to bring a spotter plus 8 or 10x binos. 15x are middle of the road and not needed.

 

[dapesche]

If you only bring 10s, then you better bring a spotter.

10s will let you know a goat but you won't be able to judge one.

Bring a spotter if you are bringing 10s.
If you don't have a spotter you'll be standing beside your guide waiting for the opportunity to judge the goats for yourself.

Sent from my SM-S928W using Tapatalk

 

[derrickbouwman]

Bring a spotter if you have it. I’d take [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]]]]’s and a spotter

 

[JasonM]

Bring a spotter if you have it. I’d take [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]]]]’s and a spotter


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Huh?

 

[JasonM]

If you only bring 10s, then you better bring a spotter.

10s will let you know a goat but you won't be able to judge one.

Bring a spotter if you are bringing 10s.
If you don't have a spotter you'll be standing beside your guide waiting for the opportunity to judge the goats for yourself.

Sent from my SM-S928W using Tapatalk

I’m set on the spotter

Probably bring the 8.5x swaros and the br4

I’ll take the Revic binos on an elk hunt this year and see how I like them they may get the nod