Mountain Goat Attacks and Kills Hiker in Olympic National Park, Wa.

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Forum consigliere

"A notoriously aggressive mountain goat." Sounds alot like some of the two legged creatures that are caught and released.
Perhaps the park could have offered firecrakers for sale and bean-bag guns for rent; that would make the park a moneymaking enterprise, instead of a taxpayer liability.
But back to the question; if Marshall and Sanow are to be believed regarding the goat tests, then I'd say a .45 ACP with 230 grain Hydra-Shocks would work.

My b-i-l has goats just down the road. Occasionally, they get get out of the fenced pasture and go either up or down the road. I wish he'd get some of those fainting ones, so all we have to do is say "boo" and they'd just fall down.

Anyway, they've come up to my place and jumped on the car once. Talk about making me mad as an old wet hen! That was the first and last time that billy goat did that. #1 buck from a 16 gauge works 100% of the time on regular billy goats, guaranteed. Just wait until they are off the car roof before blasting. I did have to have the roof and trunk repainted- it was scratched all to heck!

My B-I-L got a kick out of it when I told him to come get his goat...said he thought about doing that sometimes.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Sorry to hear this fellow died...When you go into the wilds, if you don't have sharp claws, big teeth and super-human strength...
Carry an equalizer like maybe a gun. Pre-planning prevents piss-poor performance.


Oh,

Somethin' FMJ like maybe a .22 Mag...For the head 'contact' shot whilest ya are wraslin' ol' Billy Goat Ruff in the Nat'l Park's winner take all gruge match...


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I fear no goat.



Twenty five auto loaded with full metal jackets.

GF

Here's an article, with a picture. Probably make good sausage, since they are related to deer.

They've been a big problem in the Park for a long time -- they are not native, and have destroyed habitat. Few, if any, natural predators in the Olympics. Some relocation occurred, but was called-off in the 80s due to dangerous flying conditions.

I've had no dangerous encounters with them, but still a good reason to have my .44 on my hip.

Goat examined as part of investigation of goring -- Port Angeles Port Townsend Sequim Forks Jefferson County Clallam County Olympic Peninsula Daily news

"Notoriously Aggressive Mountain Goat"

...sounds like a good name for a rock band...

It used to be illegal to carry a handgun in the park. Now maybe some of the people who whined about legalization will see why it's a good idea.

This goat was a Rocky Mountain goat (o. americanus). It's a darn sight tougher than a barnyard billy, and goes about 250# on the hoof. Elmer Keith once emptied a Colt SAA in 45 Colt into one at close range before dropping it. I think Boddington's "American Hunting Rifles" suggests a 30/06 with 180's for hunting them. In a handgun, I'd want a 250-grain (or heavier) hard-cast slug at 1,200 fps.

In the end, poor tactics got this guy killed. Another report about this incident tells that two women were ahead of the party that got attacked. They met the goat first, but retreated after it challenged them, and warned the guy who got killed that there was a problem ahead. They did the right thing. He did not. So tactically, I think it makes more sense to withdraw after the warning than to pick a fight with a wild animal in a National Park. Without a warning, I think you shoot once the goat gets to within 10-15 yards.


Okie John

I kept telling you guys about having to kill that dear that attacked me last year. It was either him or me. If I hadn't shot, he woulda jumped right in my boat and caused all kinds of harm. Why he was running down the levee trying to beat me to the dock-imagine what he would have done if I hadn't shot first

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Forum consigliere

He just thought you were cute.
Clearly, mistaken identity...

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Lost it all in a boat accident

This one DID jump right in the boat, so we took him for a ride

Attached Images

Deer in Boat.JPG (155.2 KB, 60 views)

Goats have very tough heads, 22 or 22 mag no way, ever try to shoot a goat in the head that was running at you? The 45 acp with 230 gr hp is a good round, but a 44 mag with say 240 gr HPs is the way to go.

Mountain goats have a rep for being very tough. I read that account by Keith that is mentioned in another post here.

I think that old Elmer also shot another goat with a .38/40, and the softnosed bullet flattened on the skull. Had a similar problem with a wounded elk.

I suspect that .357 is minimum, and a .44 Magnum is surely a good idea.

Some even think that the .270 is on the light side for hunting goats. Nosler Partition bullets would be my choice.

If I was in goat and bear country, I'd want a M-629 with six-inch bbl. But you have to carry concealed in national parks.

I'm never surprised by deer attacks. They and moose attack far more people every year than do predators.

T-Star

.280 Rem with 150 Nosler Partitions...PROVEN goat medicine!

Domestic Ram Attack

My long time buddy John has a farm here in Oregon. He used to have this ram that had a bad habit of breaking free from its pen and then head butting anybody it came upon, adults or children. This ram probably went 130 pounds or better. John was this > < close to putting the ram down himself anyway.

Picture this….

I’m at John’s to do some shooting with my .54 cal Lyman Great Plains Rifle. He and I are walking out to his informal range. We spy his wife (Diane) circling a small tree with this above mentioned ram trying to head butt her. John and Diane’s children are trapped up upon a nearby trampoline. Diane’s brother-in-law (living next door) is trying to kill the ram with a .40 Glock loaded with hollow points, with no telling affect.

John turns to me and says “load that thing and kill that ram!” I quickly put a charge of 120 grains of black powder, followed by a patched .54 caliber round ball into my rifle. Place percussion cap. Wait momentarily for a clear shot. Boom, and ram dropped stone cold dead.

So I’d have to say anything .54 caliber or greater should do the trick.

In Pursuit,

Tell us about your .280. I've always thought it deserved more publiicity. Not that I think there's a dime's worth of difference between it and my M- 70 Fwt. .270 and 150 Noslers.

T-Star

One would think that any Hiker would have the presence of mind to learn some basic First Aid. In this case taking his belt off and cinching it tight probably would have meant he had a good story to tell the grandkids.

As for the Goat Problem, it's been created by a lack of Hunting. The best way to teach wild animals to avoid people is by thinning the herd and teaching them that Humans are to be avoided.

MANY Yuppie hikers are very naive and think the wilderness is benign and sweet. Remember the one a couple of years ago who got his hand stuck under a boulder and had to amputate the hand with a cheap-jack Chinese blade on a utility tool? He didn't even have the sense to carry a good knife! Or, to avoid boulders that might roll onto his hand!

T-Star

When hiking I usually carry a rolled up copy of the NY Times.

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Sure you did

Goat probably got his femoral artery. While a gun would be best, I'd think even a good knife would have served well when the damn thing was goring the guy.

And yeah, somebody should have put a torniquet on the guy.

Mine is the old '06 with the 150gr Nosler...either one will leave 'em graveyard dead.

8 or so out of 300 ??? Sounds like some inbreeding problems.Critters can get epilepsy from being from small populations and they become very aggressive.

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Dum vivo cano

My 625 5" is a little heavy for me to be packing in the mountains. I guess I would have to rely on my 686+ 3" loaded with 158gr soft points. You can supposedly carry in National Parks, but can you discharge what you are carrying? Sometimes the Fed Guvmint thinks and works in mysterious ways. Some bunny hugger might decide that the goats life was more important than mine.

Carrying in NP is governed by the associated State policies, but I believe that discharging in a NP is illegal. However, better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

Regarding the tourniquet comments, it depends on where he was stabbed. Very high & it would not work. Also, according to local reports, the goat prevented anyone from getting close.

Yeah, heavy or not, my 629 is on my hip when out in the woods.

270 Win rifle

Aww snap .... man eating goats is a contingency I had not thought of(and should have since they eat everything else) .... $^#@& MAN ... now I gotta go gun shopping agian.

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it just needs more voltage

Isn't this what the 629 Mountain Gun was built for?

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Mike
USMCR 84-87, USAF 87-07

They are pretty stout. My girlfriend is saying "I don't think he likes you" while I took the shot.

Technically, these are not real goats. The North American Mountain Goat is one of a group of animals that have characteristics of both goats and antelopes. They are called goat-antelopes. I know the genus, but can't spell it without looking it up.

Others are Asian and include the goral and the serow. The chamois may be one; I don't recall.

But the Mountain Goat can carry some lead: they are slab-sided toughies. I wouldn't like to have to contest a narrow path with one...


T-Star

If any of these cantankerous goats are armed with drawn knives, remember the Tueller rule, that the average knife-armed goat can close from 7 yards and cut you before you can draw and fire. Or, close and head-butt you.

Goats with knives scare me.