Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska What do I use for goat?

It is fun to see what opinions surface here on such a topic. I have decided to borrow a 300 Weatherby in an Ultra-light. It is stainless, light and when it is all over, I won't have to defile my safe with a utility-type rifle.

This is the Montana goat I got with one shot from a 25-06. It can be done with one shot, but I will take a repeating rifle, as I know it isn't over 'til it's over.

What do I use for goat?

BBQ SAUCE

Do you mean antelope or rocky mountain goats? A 270 Winchester is good for both, on rocky mountain goats as in the one above, I would use a bit heavier calibre, a 30-06 or 300, then a 7mm magnum is fine. Trick is unlike deer or antelope, you want to anchor mountain goats and sheep, have them drop quickly.

Spit coffee all over my moniter. Of course, the answer is... a borrowed rifle!!!

Taken a couple of goats and been in on six or seven others so I can say with some authority that this would be the only correct answer.

Good luck on your hunt and if you can't shoot 'em in the CNS shoot 'em in the feet.

DJR

I'm no expert but I have shot three with a 7-08 and two with a 358STA. I've been present on hunts where my partner killed one using a 300 win mag, one with a 300 ultra mag, and two with a 30-378. So that makes a total of 9 goats I've seen shot first hand.

None died any faster than the ones shot with the 7-08, but they certainly had bigger holes in them. The STA was just down right abusive to the poor critters. The 30-378 was the least effective if judging by the goats reaction. (initial reaction that is, they still died pretty quick)

If it was me, I would use the lightest, handiest rifle you have between the 270, 30-06, or 300 WBY.

Goats are not all that big but they can sometimes be real tough to kill! A 30-06 or .270 works well but my 300 H&H with 180 or 200 gr. Noslers works a lot better IMO...

Lots of folks are in to lightweight rifles for mountain hunting but I am just the opposite..I want a heavier rifle with a long tube, something around 9 to 9.5 lbs scoped and ready to go and 10 pounds is OK, they hold better when I'm out of breath and shoot better for me off hand...If I can't handle two or three extra pounds then I'm a wuss and have no business being that far from my climate controlled home.

.300 WBY with tough 180 grain bullets. Goats are tough and sometimes you have to shoot them far, where the extra bullet weight comes in handy. It's also nice to have a bit of extra horsepower in grizzly country just in case. I've hunted goats several times and always come back to one .300 or another.

Goats are real tough and can be pretty stout in AK. Good choice on the 300.