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Old 08-17-2018, 01:47 PM
SWS_01 SWS_01 is offline
 
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Default Alberta Mountain Goat 2015 - Zone O (WMU 400)

A few months back I noticed and read a post about Alberta Goat Hunting (“Alberta Goat Draw” from May 8, 2018). The post started with the inquiry: “Why do we never see the successful hunters who win the lottery share?”. Not to be flippant, but my opinion is (A) not every AB Hunter is on AO Forum; and, (B) if they are on AO Forum, not every AB Hunter is compelled to tell their story.

I thought about chiming in and telling my story… but the thread was going sideways quickly. Sideways with debate/discussion on how the draw should be managed, what the tag should cost, etc. I figured one day when I had a bit of time I would start a thread and tell my story, my way.

I was very fortunate to draw the lottery tag for Zone O in 2015. Zone O is the most southern zone in AB and part of WMU 400. I had always put in for the Goat Draw but never really strategized or put much thought into the areas (considering the odds of winning it I never felt it was necessary – haha). Essentially, having grown up in Southern AB, my strategy typically focused on the southern zones and started alphabetically at O.

Growing up, though I had hunted many of the Southern AB WMUs with my dad and family friends, I had never hunted in WMU 400and our hunts were generally elk, moose and deer, with the odd trip incorporating some sheep effort onto an early season elk-oriented hunt. In fact, despite spending a decent amount of time in the parts of WMU 402 in which goats habitat, I had never seen a mountain goat on the hoof…. ever…like not even on the highway to Radium.

After getting the call in August to inform me I was the lucky recipient my focus became (A) understanding mountain goats as much as I could (e.g. nanny vs. billy characteristics, etc.); and, (B) getting familiar with Zone O.

Early on in preparation I had decided a few things:
•I was only going to harvest a billy;
•I drew this and it was on me to get up to speed. I was to keep the adventure small with family and friends.

The hunting turned out to be some of most exciting and memorable experiences in my life. I could probably write a short book on all the detail, but need to try to keep the length of this post reasonable. My dad was there for every day of the hunt and did a lot of the work with horses and logistics. My brother joined for all but three days and we had a couple close family friends present for different parts. The summary is as follows (I will share more than I normally would because I would be happy to help with information to any lucky AB resident who pulls this tag):
•Three separate hunt trip/efforts for a total of 12 or 13 days.
-First – Yarrow, Spinkop, Drywood
-Second – packed a camp into the South Castle
-Third – Yarrow, Yarrow and more Yarrow
•I didn’t track, but somewhere between 100-150miles on horse and or foot;
•Exploration of some of the most beautiful areas Southern AB has to offer;
•Couple days in areas that we learned the goats probably don’t frequent very much (we were still figuring out the area);
•Only one big bear on the foot (surprisingly only one), but lots of signs;
•Saw and or got on to goats all but two days;
•Generally, I learned that you will always see the goats hanging out on the rocks; however, I suggest that you don’t limit your efforts to just that, as you will be surprised what you find hanging out in the Tamaracks;
•I had numerous opportunities to harvest mature nannies (I am characterizing opportunities as getting to within a couple hundred yards on reasonable terrain). Note: Sometimes you need to wait for the goat to urinate to know whether you are taking a shot of not;
•One close opportunity with a big billy…. but he evaded me.

As you are probably figuring out, unfortunately, I did not harvest a goat. Generally speaking, the billies stuck to terrain that blew my mind…. Often, we watched them as they hung out on the +7000ft cliff like faces you find in this area. The close call involved slightly milder terrain but a hike straight up to attempt to connect with one of two billies resting on a cliff band.

As said before, the opportunity was one of the most exciting and memorable experiences in my life…. especially being able to spend it with my Dad and Brother. I have no regrets, aside from not taking more time off work and hunting the tag more! Fall is busy for me at work (and I like my job!) and at the time, I felt like I was taking off about as much time as I could reasonably take. The fact that I didn’t get my once in a lifetime AB Mountain Goat zips through my mind about once a week, but I have a great story and experience to share and a new passion sparked for mountain hunting.
























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  #2  
Old 08-17-2018, 01:52 PM
LCCFisherman LCCFisherman is offline
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Thank you for that SWS!!!! Really appreciate you sharing this!
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Old 08-17-2018, 02:50 PM
elkhunter1234 elkhunter1234 is offline
 
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Thanks for sharing your hunt with us. I love that country between Yarrow and Mill and have spent countless nights sleeping on top of those mountains. I use to have my wife drop me off at Yarrow and pick me up at the staging area for Mill 4 days later. Oh what I would give to be in sheep shape again.

Jim..
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Old 08-17-2018, 02:54 PM
goldscud goldscud is offline
 
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Amazing critters. Thanks for sharing
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Old 08-17-2018, 03:03 PM
SWS_01 SWS_01 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LCCFisherman View Post
Thank you for that SWS!!!! Really appreciate you sharing this!
You bet!
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Old 08-17-2018, 03:05 PM
SWS_01 SWS_01 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elkhunter1234 View Post
Thanks for sharing your hunt with us. I love that country between Yarrow and Mill and have spent countless nights sleeping on top of those mountains. I use to have my wife drop me off at Yarrow and pick me up at the staging area for Mill 4 days later. Oh what I would give to be in sheep shape again.

Jim..
That is awesome! Like I said in the post, I had never spent any time in that area. It was amazing. There is some big country in the area that I came to appreciate right quick.

Your venture you mention there is great - that a good tour!
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Old 08-17-2018, 03:06 PM
SWS_01 SWS_01 is offline
 
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I should have mentioned...

There are the obvious pics of the goats. But all the pics of the faces have goats in them if you care to strain your eyes! haha
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Old 08-17-2018, 03:10 PM
wbl170 wbl170 is online now
 
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Thanks for sharing your story! It was a good one. And success is not always measured by closing your tag.
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Old 08-17-2018, 03:12 PM
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zewks zewks is offline
 
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Thanks for sharing SWS, what daunting/exciting task to be given! Gotta love the prominence of some of those peaks.
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Old 08-17-2018, 03:34 PM
Blackacre Blackacre is offline
 
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Wonderful photos and story. Thanks for sharing.

Can I ask what device you use to link your phone to the scope? That's pretty cool.
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Old 08-17-2018, 04:09 PM
SWS_01 SWS_01 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackacre View Post
Wonderful photos and story. Thanks for sharing.

Can I ask what device you use to link your phone to the scope? That's pretty cool.
you bet!

The product is PhoneSkope. You purchase two pieces (1) essentially a phone case for your specific phone (2) collar that slides over the scope. Two pieces clip together and aligns your phone camera to scope.
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  #12  
Old 08-17-2018, 04:39 PM
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alpineguy alpineguy is offline
 
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From your story I can tell you are a true hunter and did your due diligence prior to and during your hunt.
To me, you were successful without harvesting a Billy because you had a hunt of a lifetime.
Congratulations and thanks for posting your story!!
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  #13  
Old 08-17-2018, 05:01 PM
2 Tollers 2 Tollers is offline
 
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Excellent read and great picture selection to show the terrain. Thanks for putting in the time to put this up.
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Old 08-17-2018, 05:50 PM
RZR RZR is offline
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I see you spent some time in avion. Thanks for sharing your story.
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Old 08-17-2018, 05:57 PM
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Pixel Shooter Pixel Shooter is online now
 
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Thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. Thanks for sharing. Way More to hunting then just the kill!
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  #16  
Old 08-17-2018, 06:07 PM
Kristopher10 Kristopher10 is offline
 
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Great story, and the pictures are awesome too. Harvest or not, sure sounds like a hunt you will cherish!
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  #17  
Old 08-19-2018, 04:57 AM
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Springer Springer is offline
 
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That was a Great read. Good on ya for not harvesting a Nanny. They will close the zone the following year if so and take away a opportunity for another Hunter at his once in a lifetime Alberta tag.
I was a successful candidate for the Wilmore a few years ago and I did a write up on here..
Maybe one day you will get a BC opportunity to hunt them again.
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Old 08-19-2018, 07:52 AM
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harv3589 harv3589 is offline
 
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Thank you for sharing great story to read!
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Old 08-19-2018, 08:14 AM
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coyotekiller coyotekiller is offline
 
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Great story! Thanks for sharing
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  #20  
Old 08-19-2018, 09:22 AM
scruffy scruffy is offline
 
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Default Goat

Great story. Impressive to pass on the nannies … I know a fellow who flew to Terrace to hunt a goat and eventually shot a seal. Perhaps he wasn't high enough in the terrain.
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  #21  
Old 12-27-2018, 07:40 PM
bjc403 bjc403 is offline
 
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Great story!
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  #22  
Old 12-27-2018, 08:05 PM
LongBomber LongBomber is offline
 
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Great storey and pics. Goat hunting is by far my favourite hunt, however I am not in goat or sheep shape this year. I am lucky to live to the west where goat draws have decent odds to hunt more than once in a lifetime. Goats live in some mind blowing terrain, which you have to climb into if you want a really good billy.
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  #23  
Old 12-28-2018, 10:00 AM
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astepanuk astepanuk is offline
 
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Great Story brings back great memories of my Goat hunt this past September. Amazing what kind of terrain those goats live on.
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  #24  
Old 12-28-2018, 04:55 PM
nube nube is offline
 
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Great pics. Thanks for sharing
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  #25  
Old 12-28-2018, 09:23 PM
Rackmastr Rackmastr is offline
 
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Great write up and sharing of the hunt. Good on you for not shooting a nanny intentionally as some do.

I shot my first goat just across from WMU 400 in a valley that butts up to Syncline. Shot it in my second year in BC and was cool shooting it so close to Alberta where I used to hunt a lot. Likely 750 yards from the border or so.

Goat hunting is sure awesome!!
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  #26  
Old 12-28-2018, 09:41 PM
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Thanks for sharing. What happened with the big billy that evaded you?
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  #27  
Old 01-02-2019, 10:36 AM
bjmf bjmf is offline
 
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Nice write up. Thanks for sharing.
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