RMGA Goat Survey in the Black Hills

[WesternBounty]

This weekend we had the pleasure of helping the RMGA count goats in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It was a great experience to be surrounded by people who share the same passion and views of wildlife. There were five areas we were surveying and our team covered an area that spanded about 5 miles, and there were six of us. We decided to break up into two groups three each to cover more ground in our area. Below are the images of the 15 goats we were able to successfully spot and then later sneak in on for a closer sex identification. Later on we met up with the rest of our group and found the other three had found a total of 12 and identified them. Making 27 positive goat identifications for our group! I was really impressed, I didn't expect to find that many goats in that country! To say the least it was a great time!

 

[mtmiller]

Awesome. Looks like a good place to spend a few days chasing goats.

 

[WesternBounty]

Awesome. Looks like a good place to spend a few days chasing goats.

It would be if that area even offered a tag ;-) but that's the point in doing the survey.

 

[Shrek]

Sounds like really satisfying fun. Spending the day hiking and scouting AND helping goats is definitely winning !

 

[Matt Cashell]

I really enjoyed those pics. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Thanks, KG39!

 

[WesternBounty]

Sounds like really satisfying fun. Spending the day hiking and scouting AND helping goats is definitely winning !

Thank you everyone it was a very awesome experience and hope to add
more to my list! As much as I love hunting and all the things that come with it this year one of my goals was to focus more on being a better conservationist too! One of my favorite hunters says it best, "In a civilized and cultivated country wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen. the excellent people who protest against all hunting, and consider sportsmen as enemies of wild life, are ignorant of the fact that in reality the genuine sportsman is by all odds the most important factor in keeping the larger and more valuable wild creatures from total extermination." Theodore Roosevelt

 

[WesternBounty]

Happy to share

 

[6mm Remington]

That's a great day and what a fantastic way to contribute to the animals and their well being. That's generally what sportsmen and women do as we all love nature and wildlife so greatly.

 

[jmez]

Were you in Spearfish Canyon area? That is where they always used to be found. Was that Sat or Sun? Hills got a pretty good amount of snow yesterday and it was cold and nasty.

 

[sodaksooner]

My brother has been seeing a few in the Sheep sanctuary off sheridan lake road as well.

 

[Lukem]

Were you in Spearfish Canyon area? That is where they always used to be found. Was that Sat or Sun? Hills got a pretty good amount of snow yesterday and it was cold and nasty.

I don't think there's been #'s of goats in Spearfish Canyon for quite a while. Pics look like Battle Creek.

 

[WesternBounty]

Were you in Spearfish Canyon area? That is where they always used to be found. Was that Sat or Sun? Hills got a pretty good amount of snow yesterday and it was cold and nasty.

We were not in spearfish caynon. These specific pictures were on Saturday, but the RMGA counted goats all weekend starting Friday- Sunday, even with the bad weather.

 

[WesternBounty]

I don't think there's been #'s of goats in Spearfish Canyon for quite a while. Pics look like Battle Creek.

The first group of 5 were spotted near Battle Creek

 

[mtmiller]

It would be if that area even offered a tag ;-) but that's the point in doing the survey.

Yes, I know this. Good work on the count. As you know, habitat is limited for this Black Hills exotic.

 

[jmez]

Be glad you weren't out there Sunday. We've had 4 feet of snow in the Hills with 40mph winds since Sat night.

 

[WesternBounty]

Yes, I know this. Good work on the count. As you know, habitat is limited for this Black Hills exotic.

Thanks!

 

[WesternBounty]

Be glad you weren't out there Sunday. We've had 4 feet of snow in the Hills with 40mph winds since Sat night.[/Yea

Yeah I think they had a lot of rain but the snow didn't start till later for them on Sunday and by then they were done with the survey. Its been crummy here in Wyoming the past few days too, on and off rain and snow.

 

[norsepeak]

Great job, looks fun.