Oregon rocky mountain goat hunt
Courtesy Nosler
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oregon rocky mountain goat tag hunt
Courtesy Nosler

Bend, OR – August 23, 2019 – Alyssa Nitschelm, of Redmond, Oregon, did not fully grasp the significance of what she was seeing when she checked the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) big game hunting draw results in the kitchen with her father. Having never hunted before, the 24-year-old had scored a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hunt the rarest game animal in the state.

“I naturally asked my dad to help me apply to these controlled hunts. He helped me choose each hunt series to apply for” Alyssa said. “The only expectation I had was to spend quality time with my dad, absorb new information and possibly get the chance to appreciate some beautiful animals and country.”

He didn’t bat an eye as Alyssa scrolled down her list of applications in the kitchen, reading aloud “Not Selected” after elk, deer, then pronghorn. As a lifelong hunter, he had set Alyssa’s expectations early on, reminding her that it was unlikely she would draw any tags her first year, but that her chances would increase over time. So when Alyssa exclaimed that she was selected for the Rocky Mountain Goat tag, she was more excited to have drawn at all, not realizing that she had just hit the hunting lottery.

Thousands of Oregon hunters apply for the Rocky Mountain Goat tag each year, but the odds of drawing are slim to none. The tags are “once-in-a-lifetime” so hunters who draw them can’t draw them again. In Alyssa’s case, she was one of only two dozen hunters in the state of Oregon to claim this rare opportunity.

“My dad whipped his head around and asked if I was kidding” Alyssa recalled. “Once I showed him, he was in disbelief.”

With the help of her father, Alyssa was able to harvest a beautiful Rocky Mountain Goat safely and ethically. Considering the magnitude of this rare hunt, Alyssa’s dad stressed the importance of practice and the proper products to ensure a quick and clean shot. The hunting pair turned to a product made by Nosler, a Central Oregon-based company that’s recognized around the world for manufacturing the best big-game hunting bullets and ammunition on the market. Alyssa chose the company’s founding bullet, the Nosler Partition, which helped get her goat down in a single shot.

While a majority of hunters won’t draw a goat tag, they can still take pride in how their dollars have helped recover the Rocky Mountain Goat species in Oregon. Although rare, the state’s goat population continues to grow in number and expand in range thanks to ODFW’s annual research and reintroduction efforts directly funded by hunting license dollars, and the auction and raffle of tags.

The animals were reintroduced to the Central Oregon cascades back in 2010 after a nearly 150-year absence in the state, with 45 goats released onto a flank of Mt. Jefferson in a remote section of the 640,000-acre Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Since that time, mountain goats have expanded throughout the high elevations of the Central Oregon Cascades.

While any licensed hunter can apply for the Rocky Mountain Goat tag, an opportunity this rare requires a certain readiness if you’re lucky enough to draw it. Goats typically live in high-altitude environments, exposing hunters to rough, steep conditions. Hunters must be physically fit to gain access to this amazing species and mentally ready to commit to the risks and challenges that the hunt presents.

The full first-hand story of Alyssa’s hunt can be found on Nosler’s blog at www.Nosler.com/blog

 

About Nosler®

Founded in 1948, Nosler®, Incorporated is a family owned company located in Bend, Ore.  Nosler® is most known for revolutionizing the hunting bullet industry with bullets such as the Partition®, Ballistic Tip®, AccuBond®, E-Tip® and most recently the AccuBond® LR and RDF.  With the company motto of “Quality First,” Nosler® manufactures premium component bullets, reloading brass, ammunition and semi-custom rifles for domestic and international customers making Nosler® a comprehensive shooting products company. Nosler® products are used worldwide by discriminating hunters, shooters, military and law enforcement professionals and sportsmen.

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55 COMMENTS

    • Because it makes the state boatloads of money for doing nothing? I dont know about Oregon, but Washington has specific drawings depending on the area and species being hunted. When 3000 people pay $5 just for the privilege of applying in one small area of the state, and only 200 get selected, you can see how profitable it is.

      That probably comes across as a bit crass, obviously, hopefully, much of that money goes back to the game departments/habitat preservation. They wont allow hunting if a species is in trouble…even if there are few animals, the environment may only support so many animals, and/or it keeps it interesting for hunters to try.

    • I can think of 2 possible reasons off the top of my head.

      1, The size of the population has to grow with it’s expansion into new areas. If the population grows faster than it expands to new territory, they can still deplete their local food sources and cause mass starvation.

      2, Money from buying these tags will go in large part to protecting this very population. No tags, less money, less protection for the animals.

    • Because hunting a few of them provides enough funding to breed more, introduce more, and improve their habitat so that many more live for every one that dies.
      This has been a well-proven conservation model that is helped quite a few species, like goats and sheep, elk, moose, and bear repopulate in many portions of our nation.

    • Aside from all the other good answers – hunters will often try to take the largest strongest male they can find. In a lot of cases, the males are territorial and will kill other males in their area, which both reduces the numbers AND reduces the gene pool. Getting rid of the big aggressive male is a good thing if you want to boost numbers and genetic diversity.

      • Yes, genetic diversity in any population is a requirement for survival of the species. It helps provide many different options to resist disease and increase resistance to extreme environments.

      • God! I am so glad the reverse is true with the human population. If that were true we would be left with effeminate millenials and male feminists……..

    • The loins are absolutely delicious. Then again, I am a goat rancher and probably eat a lot more goat most. My kids think aoudad is one of the most delicious things on earth and most people can’t stand them.

      • I am therefore guessing that a lot depends on what the goats eat and how you prepare them.

        I ate a “fast food” item in Germany — a döner kebab. I do not remember whether the vendor used lamb or goat meat. I am absolutely certain that it was downright delicious. It was so delicious that I made it a point to get the same thing on two return trips.

        Note that I do not like lamb. If it was lamb and someone can make lamb taste that good, then I have to believe that someone can make goat taste pretty good as well. And if it was goat, it was fantastic.

        • Having lived in Germany a long time, you most likely ate lamb, beef, or checked, not goat. The Turkish people have perfected the art of marinating and cookinh lamb properly.

  1. That’s a pretty animal. Would be a trophy to admire. Never got into goat hunting before and I’m too old and fat to start now.

    Saturday starts quail season here in the paradise of CA.

    • The ground squirrels on my neighbor’s hill have been encroaching onto my property. Saw one only ten feet from my home’s back door today. They’re incredibly destructive to soil, much more than gophers. Time to sight in the pellet gun for this Autumn’s squirrel hunt.

      That’s the extent of the hunting experience for SoCal suburbia, even out in the “sticks” just past where the city-maintained street lamps stop.

      Raccoon season is early Summer.

    • They’re a helluva lot prettier when they’re still alive. Punching a hole through them with a rifle bullet tends to make them rather ugly.

      Just saying.

  2. I like Nosler bullets. Been shooting them for decades. The first rack buck I ever mounted fell to a 150 gr. partition in .270 Winchester. Looking at him now. That said, I would have much preferred reading about the young ladies hunt than an advertisement for Nosler.

    • So it isn’t just me noticing more and more glowing “reviews”, “things that don’t suck” and straight undiluted commercials.

      Nice story from the kitchen where she found out how she won the tag. Now for the actual hunt… she used Nosler, so everything went great! Then she lived happily ever after, never to be included in lottery for the same tag in the state. The end.

    • Gadsden Flag,

      In my experience several different types of bullets have all been wildly effective on deer when I shoot them in the heart/lungs. Everything from inexpensive Winchester Super X soft points in .270 Winchester (both 130 grain and 150 grain) to Winchester Super X soft points in .44 Magnum (240 grain) to CVA Powerbelt hollowpoint .50 caliber bullets (295 grain). Of course 12 gauge slugs do a number as well.

      In every case the deer was dead within 15 seconds at most.

      I think any bullet (short of a full metal jacket) will work fine if you can place it accurately on target.

      • CoreLoct “the deadliest mushroom in the woods” has worked for me on a bunch of stuff, from the 55 grainers to the 220’s no complaints. I was disappointed with the Winchester silver tips of old I do like the ballistic tips however. Cool deal on the goat tag luck and luck that she got one, that’s a thumbs up. When Oregon starts issuing BiGFoot tags, yah , that’s a hunt to remember.

  3. Hey Curt, congratulations to your daughter Alyssa. Yes….I know the Nitschelm family well. My late mother Helen Farmer (1926-2008) was employed as a dental receptionist many years for Dr. George Nitschelm at his Klamath Falls , Oregon office at the
    historic 1930 Medical Dental Building in downtown. My family were also patients at Dr. Nitschelm’s dental practice. Curt, your daughter Alyssa looks very much like your sister Lisa. What a resemblance. Feel free to contact me. My e-mail address is
    [email protected]. Cell Phone No. 541-851-1168

    Jim Farmer Merrill, Oregon (Klamath County)
    I relocated back to Klamath County, Oregon (Merrill) after living in Ashland, Oregon for 30 years (1986-2016).

        • Old Jim goes on a rant at least once@week. This is beyond the pale(though I think .gov could find us all.) I know my son the DoD spy er analyst could😏

        • It’s not the Gov’t. It’s any possible man-childs here on TTAG who might want to mess with him.

      • I would be willing to wager that the gentleman will suffer zero negative consequence from sharing his contact information.

        Frankly, the paranoia of this forum is amazing.

        If indeed he is somehow attacked via this info, I hope he reports it to his local LEO and there is an affective investigation leading to prosecution.

    • You forgot to include your SS# and shoe size. 🙂
      Pay no attention to all the “grey people” who think they are safe and anonymous behind their little VPN.

    • JIM!!

      A very important bit of free advice for your future online security. Set up a free generic email address somewhere (such as Protonmail) and announce ONLY that, and no additional personal info here. Then if you receive any emails, you can discern which one is from the person you’re attempting to contact. You can then reply to him privately and give him your real email address, and dump the generic one. That will act as a buffer to protect your true information, as well as your security and that of your family’s.

  4. This should be called Sponsored Content. Wide Open Media has gone “wide open” with the advertisements disguised as content on this site.

  5. That animal was better off alive. So unnecessary to kill it, just an ego boost. What a waste. Can’t people who hunt for sport find another hobby? Cruel and pointless.

    • The goats would not even have been re-introduced without funding, and very limited hunting is what provides the funding to support them. Want to see how many backpackers would kick in $5 for the chance to photgraph a goat, sheep, etc?

    • Well at least they didn’t contribute to “climate change”. But you’re right sorting her toothpick collection would have been the PC activity.

    • It’s so much better if the goat gets eaten alive by a predator. Much nicer if it gets too old and stiff, falls down off some cliff and dies after days of agony from broken bones. So much more peaceful if it just slowly dies of hunger after it’s teeth are too worn out. That’s natural. None of this humane hunt where the animal dies in seconds, before it realizes what happened.

    • I haven’t heard in years, mostly for ethical reasons. I have been involved in enough killing of other beings.

      But that doesn’t mean that trophy hunting is all bad, especially if the tag proceeds are used to support habitat and sustainability of wildlife.

      I favor the Native American philosophy, where the game animals are honored for their sacrifice and contribution to the tribe’s survival, and hunting is done in a sustainable manner, rather than extermination for profit.

      Now I find it incredibly exhilarating to be within feet of game who are unaware of your presence, no killing necessary.

  6. My nephew had some incredible beginner’s luck like that. First hunting trip ever, drew a sheep tag for Central Oregon, along the Deschutes River. His boss happens to be a licensed Oregon guide, too! He harvested a really nice ram that year.

    Following year he drew a bull elk tag and harvested a nice one of those as well. Not sure how he did this year – I”ll have to give him a call.

    I never seem to draw any cool tags, for much of anything!

    • Well, for a 24-yr-old on her first true hunt, after having to hike in, perhaps camp a couple of days, track, locate, and then stealthily hone in on the goat…and THEN make a good (humane) shot…

      I think she’s one proud young lady in that photo, and her dad has to be beaming a big smile himself. Good for them.

      Of course, it helps that she’s cute, too. Some young man out there is going to fall for her, for sure.

  7. Yep, that’s a real 100% USA prime woman. I bet there aren’t photos of her in a pink P-hat screaming at the sky and demanding everyone else do as she’s says.

  8. Congrats to this young woman on her hunt. Non hunters have no idea the planning and effort it takes to hunt. Hopefully she will be a lifelong huntress and good ambassador for the hunting community.

  9. Sponsored Content.

    Make sure you don’t actually label your content that way anymore though. We’ve all figured out to just plain skip those posts. This way, when you surprise us with sponsored content instead, it’s so much better. We don’t feel like we’ve been deceived at all.

    A post detailing her hunt and telling her story would have been really good. But you’re right, “Nosler saved the day!”, makes for much better content.

  10. Now I am feeling spoiled if the story is accurate. Is Oregon lottery for deer tags and the odds are below 50% you’d draw one? I assume that’s what it is saying on being a first time hunter she might not draw any tags for any animals.

    Or is it a buck tag (or for a specific hunting unit).

    Over in MD we’ve got too many deer and not enough hunters. So far since starting 5 seasons ago I haven’t failed to bag at least one (a decent sized 8 point was my very first deer, mostly does and button bucks since, but I did get a really big bodied 5-pt last season). Our limit is 2 bucks a year, no more than 1 in any weapon season (archery, muzzleloader and firearm) and you can spend $12 (15?) for a bonus buck stamp that lets you take 1 extra buck in any season (max 1 bonus stamp). Limits on antler size apply (can’t take more than 1 antlered deer less than 3 points on any antler). Can’t use the bonus stamp in western Maryland. It is state wide for buck limits. Does it is 1 a season in western Maryland. The rest of the state the limit is 15 does in archery and 10 each in muzzleloader and firearm seasons…

    Other than the bonus stamp, there are no “tags”. Just your license and check in the ones you get. You do need a stamp for muzzleloader and for archery.

    They are doing their best to encourage culling does and controlling the population. I am at a choke point in my neighborhood of 1-10 acre properties on 4 1/2 acres mostly wooded. I get about 10-40 deer through my property every day according to the MkI eyeball and my trail cam.

    So far two deer down from my crossbow. Going to add another for a neighbor who can’t hunt most of this year. Going to try setting up my trail cam in my back woods where I am sure some of the bigger bucks are moving through. Try to pattern the huge 8 point I’ve seen a couple of times the last 2 months.

    I’ll admit to being extremely spoiled by the hunting opportunities (like out my garage window effectively). Still going to hit public lands so I can hunt with my muzzleloader and with my rifle (can’t on my property). But I figure it probably is the one upside of living in a communist state. Heavily restricted gun rights, but at least my hunting is abundant because they try to scare away all of the hunters.

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