If the GFP didn't know the goat numbers before setting the tag numbers, someone is not doing their job. It would seem to me there should've been an aerial count or survey count of some kind prior to setting the numbers that they come up with. I'll bet they didn't know cause they just based things on past years. Before I buy something I know how much money is in the bank first. They should know the population before issuing tags. We talked with an outfitter who had land all around where we were hunting. It was his ranch he was patrolling and mostly scouting for clients. He told us that if we went west of where we stood, you wouldn't find a goat for 6 miles. There were some pastures we hunted that did in fact have more goats than usual and he was in agreement of both theories. He knew his land and the animals in it for sure. He said the deer herd didn't take near the hit that the goats did. We saw one group of 9 muley bucks together and the rancher was sure itchy to get rid of the whitetail does as last year the ranch yard is where they all wintered.
