Oregon 953A S. Wallowa Mtns

[snowtoy83]

I was lucky enough to draw this goat tag. My biggest question is when to hunt, the season is 8/1 thru 10/31. When is the best time for access vs cape quality. Will be hunting at roughly 8k elevation. I have ran across goats while elk hunting but this will be my first hunt for them.
Thanks!

 

[oregonoutdoors]

Go to the sheep / goat orientation in the Dalles this summer. ODFW will send you and invite. Find the bio for your area and bring a map to mark up along with all your questions. Congratulations on the tag, you beat some long odds to pull that one.

 

[ScottP]

Go to the sheep / goat orientation in the Dalles this summer. ODFW will send you and invite. Find the bio for your area and bring a map to mark up along with all your questions. Congratulations on the tag, you beat some long odds to pull that one.

^ I heard this might be a thing of the past. So, you might call the ODFW office in Baker. All the guys there know that hunt.

If you know the country up there, then pick your favorite time to be up high. Some Octobers are snow-free and you could have a great hunt. Other years, you might think otherwise. If it were me, I'd start when the wildfire smoke clears out or mid September whichever comes first... haha. Congrats on a fine draw.

 

[snowtoy83]

Thanks for the input. I plan on trying to get ahold of the bio next week. I have a mutual friend that knows the area fairly well and has given me some advice. I saw that I will have to do an online course, but would love to attend an in person.

 

[JeffP_Or]

Can confirm 2024 was the last of the in-person orientation gatherings for Oregon - online moving forward. Word from ODFW is that July date is when most the bio's are either flying or in the field doing final census counts and they have been having a hard time staffing the orientation.

Might reach out to the Or WSF guys - through their website or facebook; it isn't sheep but they often follow the mountain goats as well and will likely have past hunter contacts for you to reach out to. They used to have to date success and hunter names on their website under the ABOUT/SHEEP RECORDS tabs [last updated in 2021 though...].

Another option might be trying to contact Cornucopia Packers - they do drop camps and hunts in 62 and 63 and might have some info; in the least, if you come in/out of Cornucopia Trailhead, they could hire on to pack out your success!

 

[THunt]

My son shot this one on the Imnaha tag on September 10 in 2023. I had some concerns about cape quality going that early, but the goat and the hunt turned out pretty awesome. If I were to draw that tag, I would likely opt for mid September again. Weather/visibility was good and made the hunt enjoyable

 

[WRO]

I'd be concerned going in past about 10/5 due to weather.

I have an Idaho goat hunt, I'll be hunting a little higher elevation, but the consensus is that any time after 10/10 is a crap shoot weather wise.

 

[snowtoy83]

I have decided to hunt the first 4 days in august then go back if needed for a week mid September. I have talked to the bio’s for the area and feel like a have a good plan. Headed over in a few weeks to scout.
Thanks for the help!

 

[THunt]

Enjoy the trip! Ours was worth the price of admission!

 

[SethB_9]

I was lucky enough to draw this goat tag. My biggest question is when to hunt, the season is 8/1 thru 10/31. When is the best time for access vs cape quality. Will be hunting at roughly 8k elevation. I have ran across goats while elk hunting but this will be my first hunt for them.
Thanks!

That will be awesome hunt!

 

[Smokeslider]

I've been on 2 goat hunts in Oregon. Both around the first of October. Both got snowed on at some point but didn't effect the success rate either way. With that said, If I drew your hunt, I'd plan on end of September with the idea that if there was a rogue storm coming in, I'd most likely have another window before the snow really started to set in.

 

[Caseknife]

Take all the online identification classes you can find. If Oregon's is anything like Washington's there is a lot to be desired. Alaska has a good one.

 

[ID-Muley]

I definitely wouldn’t hunt them until late September for coat quality.

 

[snowtoy83]

Headed out this weekend to do some scouting. I was able to get ahold of one of the previous tag holders and got some good info from him.

 

[snowtoy83]

Spent a couple days scouting and found 15 goats. 2 small Billy’s and then the one in the picture. Any idea how big this one is?

 

[IDVortex]

Spent a couple days scouting and found 15 goats. 2 small Billy’s and then the one in the picture. Any idea how big this one is?

7-8in? Got a pic of the front?

 

[snowtoy83]

7-8in? Got a pic of the front?

Not the greatest picture

 

[IDVortex]

Not the greatest picture

8-9. Id make the assumption of closer.to 9in. Id assume about a 6-7 year old goat too.

Have you watched the video put out by tje Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance? They have a good video on sex id, judging goats. Also look into their social media for more info on field judging.

 

[snowtoy83]

8-9. Id make the assumption of closer.to 9in. Id assume about a 6-7 year old goat too.

Have you watched the video put out by tje Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance? They have a good video on sex id, judging goats. Also look into their social media for more info on field judging.

I watched it a while ago, I will again. So it sounds like he is average?