Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game For those who have hunted Mountain goats

What was the weight of your rifle. I have a SE Alaska goat hunt booked next year and am torn between my awesome Gunwerks LR 1000 that weighs about 9.5 pounds or have a new lightweight rifle built. I know I can probably handle my current rifle. Thing is do I want to. Also what was your caliber of choice. Thanks

I used a weatherby back country in 257 for mine. The 3 goats I have guided the hunters have carried, a ruger 338, a blazer .300 and a sauer 9.3x64. None of the rifles are true backpacking rifles and the hunter we not hard backpacking hunted where weight was an issue.

Good luck chasing goats, they live is some amazing country.

I carried a Rem 700 in a Lone Wolf stock this year. It was 8 lbs totally outfitted. I am 38 and in good shape but was wishing I had my Remington Ti 308 about half way through the hunt. Goats live in the harshest country imaginable. I have hunted elk, caribou, sheep (as an observer) and goat was the toughest but most rewarding. Pm me if you have any questions.


ddj

i used a tang ruger m77 in 270 win for my goat in 1975. factory original with a 4x leupy scope. i was much younger and don't remember rifle weight being a problem. i wouldn't hesitate taking the same rifle if i was going again.

Five hunts with 70# compounds that weighed about 6-7#s. I'd rather carry my 5# Hoyt Carbon Element full up with a five arrow quiver though. Lighter is much better to carry and heck, I got two nice billies on the wall with arrows. If I was rifle hunting my 5#-14 oz Kimber Montana .338 Federal with a Leupold VXII 2-7x33 would get the call.

I've hunted goats twice. Both hunts were DIY, solo hunts here in Montana. I carried a 10 lb .30-06 with 180 gr Sierra Gamekings on the first hunt, but the hunt was cut short because of bad weather and I didn't kill a goat on that trip.

My second goat hunt was at least 10 years later and I killed a 9 5/8" billy with extremely long hair. On that hunt I carried the same 10 lb .30-06 but rechambered in .30 Gibbs and shooting 180 gr Nosler Partitions.

I've also been able to go on a dozen or so Bighorn sheep hunts in the Montana Unlimited tag areas which often overlap the goat areas. I was even lucky enough to kill a few rams. On these hunts (and a Dall ram hunt in Canada) I carried my 9 1/2 lb .257 Ackley shooting 117 gr Sierra GameKing bullets.

If I ever draw another goat tag I'll carry either my 10 lb .300 Weatherby with 168 gr Barnes TTSX bullets or my 9 1/2 lb 7 mm Rem mag with 160 gr Nosler Accubond bullets.

2005 goat hunt in the Crazy Mountains of Montana - 8.5 lb. Brown Precision in 270 Wby / Zeiss 4-14. One of the most memorable and tough hunts to date. Wish the gun was 8 lb. lighter when packing meat out.

Got an old miltary buddy in Bozeman, Montana. Crazy SOB carried a 700 Sendero .300 Win on his goat hunt. It worked, he killed his goat. He said that was the rifle he was most confident with.

I've shot three with a 7-08 that weighed around 7.5lbs all up and two with a 358STA that weighed around 9lbs all up. Lighter is better and all were taken under 200 yards. The 358STA was great in bear country for the pack out though.

Have hunted goats with people using 270, 7-08, 300WM, 30-378, 300ultra, 338, and have all had the same results. None on them ever said they wish their gun weighed more, but a few did wish their gun weighed less.

I like a larger gun than many of the small calibers that are popular today, but I'm not into magnums, either. A 270 is made for goats. Use 150's as they'll buck the wind better and will have about the same point of impact as a 130. A 7mm-08 or 308 would be other really good ones.

I arrowed a goat with a compound setup last year, and she didn't go 15 yards. I would opt for the lighter rifle. To me, the biggest obstacle in a mountain goat hunt is the terrain and your ability to climb multiple mountains in a day. If you don't have the extra juice in your legs to climb that one last ridgeline to go get a goat because you have been carrying around an extra couple pounds of rifle, that heavier rifle doesn't do you any good. I would opt for "lighter is better" on most of your gear for a mountain goat hunt. With a well-placed shot, you'll easily kill a goat with any hunting caliber you choose - obviosly flatter shooting is a big advantage for long shots, but then again, I arrowed mine at 15 yards. YMMV

Mark

Joel,
I'll loan you my Montana 7WSM if you want a lightweight 7 mag....

I used my Model 700 with a Leupold VariX-III in 2.5x8. About 8 lbs, I guess. Used it here in Colorado in the Collegiate Peaks.

Alaska, my years ago.
Rem .270 with 130 gr Nosler PT. Leupold 3x9 scope.

My brother took his on the same outing and same rifle, only in 30-06 running Hornaday 165 InnerLocks.

The terrain is horrible, in most cases and your biggest challenge.
Any reasonable deer rifle will do the job, with good hits.

First time in SE AK Chugach Mountains : 8 pound Model 70 .30-06.

Second time, same place: Under 6lb Nula 7mm-08.

Age and physical condition plays a big part, but no question which I would take if doing it again and it would shoot 140grain bullets. Your guide will knock it off like a walk in the park. Good chance he will be younger and mountain tough.

Your mental attitude and being willing to keep pushing is the most important. Have fun, one of the most rewarding hunts one can go on and wishing you good weather.

On both my mtn goat hunts I used my Ultra Light Arms Model 20 284 Win with 140 grain Nosler Partions. I have been on several other mtn goat hunts here in Colo with buddies over the years and light and accurate is always good. With todays bullets about any caliber will work. Unless you have a gun bearer I would go with a light weight rifle of some kind. When sheep hunting or mountain goat hunting you carry your rifle a hell of a lot more than you shoot it. Rem or Browning Ti, Kimber Montana, Weatherby Ultra Lite, Tikka Lite, Ruger Ultra Light, new Forbes Rifle just to name a few. The best thing you can do for yourself is get your ass in shape. If you don't you won't have any fun at all. Mountain Goat hunts involve lots and lots of climbing.

Reading the posts, people on the 2nd hunt are carrying far less weight rifles. My first goat I harvested w/ a 700 Classic, 7mm Mag 175gr Core-lokt. Then next time I took my HS Precision 300 wsm using 150gr SST's---I will never use that bullet again! Handgernade!

I would take a light weight rifle that you have confidence in. For their size, they sure are hardy animals.

My rifle weighed 9.5 lbs and was not an issue, but if I was to do it again, I'd be more concerned about losing weight in other places like in my sleeping bag, tent, backpack etc. Not to mention my own body weight as well. If you are comfortable and confident in shooting your current rifle, stick to it for that is the tool that ultimately gets the job done. Caliber of choice is a .30-06 for it helps keep the rifle shorter. Therefore, easier to get through the alders.

6-3/4# custom 7MM-08.

My advice to anyone wanting to hunt mountain goats? Don't. Take a nap instead...

Good luck, and don't forget your trekking poles.

Go light and accurate. Fugger is gonna jump off a cliff after being shot anyway.

Mine was a customized .03-A3 in .308 Norma Mag., weighing close to 10 lbs. It worked, but I was 40 years younger...