Mt Edziza Goat draw

[andrewheth]

So my wife and I got goat draws in Edziza. I've been researching this area for about a year now. I have a decent understanding of the area. My question to all the guys that have been there is where's a good place to start looking for goats. I've searched other posts and understand that spectrum range is the general area. I have booked a float plane to drop us off at Little Ball lake and pick us up at Little Arctic lake. If anyone has any tips I'm all ears. I'm booked to go in on August 28th. Thanks in advance.

[luckofthedraw]

Nice adventure you've got planned!

[Good Old Outdoors]

Sounds like a good go! Keep us posted.

[monasheemountainman]

wanna spot a goat, look up ^

[Caribou_lou]

Looks like you have a great plan! I'm looking forward to pics of this hunt. When's your pick up date? I like goats hides from September 1st and on. A few cold mornings and the really start growing a good beard!

[trail blazer]

I got dropped off at little ball two years ago and hiked north from there looking for sheep, we didn't see a lot of game for such a nice low traffic area but we did see a fair number of goats. we hiked for a couple of days before even seeing a goat, there may be more wildlife to the south, good luck, and you are guaranteed to see awesome scenery on your trip. Did you apply for leh sheep?

[andrewheth]

No I didn't apply for sheep....next year maybe. I applied for caribou but didn't get it. Did you hike on the mowdade lake side of spectrum range which is the east or around the west side?

[trail blazer]

we were on the west side mainly and right down the middle in places, we walked north past raspberry creek then came back and got picked up at Mess lake. I saw only one caribou, I think they are mainly on the plateau near Mt Edzizza. Not sure about that though.

[Amphibious]

I've flown by the area a few times this year. Lots of goats in the steep bits.

[hickman]

Hiking north from Little Ball to Spectrum Range, i.e. ridges where you will find goats is quite a haul. I hope you and your wife are in very good shape. PM me if you want details about the area. I have traversed twice from Artic/ Little Ball to Buckley Lake.
Might be worth hiking south towards Hankin Peak for goats - not sure. Definitely easier than heading north. If I recall we saw goat sign around Hankin but it's been over a decade. Watch out for grizz....

[andrewheth]

So as we get closer things are starting to fall into place.

I've used this trip as an excuse to upgrade my old pack frame. The wife and I even got out a couple times to try everything out. We had fairly major issue with the soles of our 2 year old scarpa boots. The soles were actually tearing off the boot. So now that we've managed to get warranty on the boots things are looking up but break in time is slipping away.

So so far the only thing I've made a mistake on was having the bright idea that we should get the topo maps printed on thin vinyl so we wouldn't have to worry about weathering them. Well that proved to be a waste of money, not only were they very hard to read because of the faint ink but very heavy. The three maps probably weigh in at around 3lbs. So back to paper maps we go...

We've decided to scrap the plan to fly out of Mess lake in exchange for Arctic lake. Mess lake has got to be a mess to get down to unless you walk way north and come down. I'd rather hunt the range rather than spend two days figuring out how to get down to Mess lake I think. We will still fly into Little Ball lake and leave ourselves a rather easy hike out to Arctic lake for pickup after 8 days in the high country.

A little over over two weeks to go!!!!

[180grainer]

So my wife and I got goat draws in Edziza. I've been researching this area for about a year now. I have a decent understanding of the area. My question to all the guys that have been there is where's a good place to start looking for goats. I've searched other posts and understand that spectrum range is the general area. I have booked a float plane to drop us off at Little Ball lake and pick us up at Little Arctic lake. If anyone has any tips I'm all ears. I'm booked to go in on August 28th. Thanks in advance.

Fly into the Mowdady and once above tree line, you'll see goats. There's a guide camp as you get close to the ascent to the plateau. about a days hike from the drop. You should be able to see goats there.

[hickman]

Good call! Little Ball to Arctic Lake is an easy day. It's nice, you are on the plateau and can see everything.
Mowdade Lake is bug infested hell, and you might see people in the area might be hunting or not. I cannot remember whether we saw goats on and around Hankin Peak. Hankin is spectacular and easy to get to from Little Ball.
Good luck!