Late Oct for mountain goat?

SDBugler · Feb 22, 2017

My son will be a senior in high school this fall and I'm looking at where to put him in for multiple species. I'm leaning toward one of the Uintas units for his Mountain Goat application. The problem is that he has commitments until the last two weeks of October. Is the last two weeks of October too late? Will weather/snow prevent access to where the goats are? We don't have horses so this would be a backpack hunt.

He has a few points and I know the odds are extremely slim but don't want to apply for a tag if the hunt isn't feasible on those last couple weeks.
Thanks for any advise.

deerkiller · Feb 23, 2017

>My son will be a senior
>in high school this fall
>and I'm looking at where
>to put him in for
>multiple species. I'm leaning
>toward one of the Uintas
>units for his Mountain Goat
>application. The problem is
>that he has commitments until
>the last two weeks of
>October. Is the last
>two weeks of October too
>late? Will weather/snow prevent
>access to where the goats
>are? We don't have
>horses so this would be
>a backpack hunt.
>
>He has a few points and
>I know the odds are
>extremely slim but don't want
>to apply for a tag
>if the hunt isn't feasible
>on those last couple weeks.
>
>Thanks for any advise.

Depends on the year. Some years, like this past fall, northern Utah didn't get much, if at all, any snow until mid November. Some years, we get a huge storm the first to
Mid October that can start to lock things up. While those are more rare, it can happen. I'd apply for the tag. 99% of the battler is getting the tag. If he draws make it happen. If he doesn't, try again next year

Daxter · Feb 23, 2017

I would NOT plan on having access to mountain goats in the Uintas the last 2 weeks of October. Not worth the gamble on a OIL tag.

Dax

MuddyBoots · Feb 23, 2017

I hunted my Uintas mountain goat in early September of 2014 on a backpack hunt and it was cold then. Having hunted elk for many years in the Uintas during the first half of October I can say that the weather can be tough then, let alone during the later half. Going above 10,000 feet backpack hunting during that time could be especially hard.

idhikker · Feb 23, 2017

I know of some guys that tried it in Idaho. He shot a goat but it was very sketchy with snow and ice on the rocks at 9,000 feet plus at the end of October. It's likely to be snowy up there that time of year.

Not something I'd be willing to do as a very fit 26-year-old, let alone with my kid.

bingo · Feb 23, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Feb-23-17 AT 12:55PM (MST)[p]Here is my Uintas goat from 2014. End of September was perfect. Not only would late October be sketchy but also likely miserable. I'm sure you could still get it done but your experience would be different than in late Sept. Good luck whatever you decide.

JTP99 · Feb 23, 2017

Bingo sent you a PM

SDBugler · Feb 23, 2017

Thanks for all the feedback guys. It is confirming my suspicions that it might not be best to gamble on good conditions that late. I will probably just put my son in for points. I'm still putting myself in with my 17 points but I can go any time.

Maybe my son will draw his Wyoming elk tag and that will use up his availability in late October anyway.

Thanks again everyone!!

PS - Bingo that is a nice goat. I hope to draw another goat tag again soon. I had a blast on my Colorado hunt a few years ago.

SDBugler · Mar 1, 2017

Son drew 51-1 elk tag in Wyoming so we will be elk hunting in late October now and will only buy him a UT goat point this year.
Thanks again for all the advice though.