Billies

slick

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Feb 13, 2014
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Goat #1
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Goat #2
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Great, Good, or “Ok” Billys?

Edit: The other goat with Goat 1 is Goat 2. You can see the size difference between 1 and 2 in the first picture. I would guess 10-15% larger body size. I think some of Goat 1s features are misleading. He could have more mass making him look “shorter” than 2.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
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Chugiak, Alaska
That first picture of #2 almost looks like a nanny. Bases on the first goat appear to be larger, but that could just be the glands, hard to tell for sure. Horns on goat #2 appear to be longer. #2 might be 10", if not, he's close.
 

EastMT

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Possible nanny was my first though on the second as well. I’d want to have a look from the backside before taking that one for sure. Hard to tell but horns look long and skinny.


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Ucsdryder

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Jan 24, 2015
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I’m not an expert but those long skinny horns on 2 look like nanny horns.
 

Sitka280

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Feb 6, 2016
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Looks to be around 6 years old. Top picture cant tell what the top goat sex is. My guess around a 9-9.5" Billy.
 
Joined
Feb 11, 2019
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I think you have one definite billy that would be fantastic to bring home, but I wouldn't pull the trigger on the second one with smaller bases. I can't tell if it's a nanny or billy.
 
OP
slick

slick

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Thanks fellas. They were hanging together- Goat 1 & 2. And were the only goats in the basin that we saw. I thought goat 2 had a the gradual curve vs. the nanny’s sharp curve at the upper 2/3.
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nanny.

Vs.

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billy?

Could be wrong though
 

EastMT

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The sharp curve isn’t always exact I’ve seen billies that look similar, nanny’s curve like billies. Usually the bigger mass is the first giveaway. If the gap between the horns looks like they are near touching, likely a big billy. If the gap looks like you could get 3 fingers flat on the skull, probably a nanny even if they horns are really long and curved similar to a billy.


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OP
slick

slick

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Right on. Appreciate it Coop. I’ll be sure to watch it closely if I end up on them again. Season runs Oct 12-20. Ideally find a slammer between now and then.
 
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WI & beyond!
The sharp curve isn’t always exact I’ve seen billies that look similar, nanny’s curve like billies. Usually the bigger mass is the first giveaway. If the gap between the horns looks like they are near touching, likely a big billy. If the gap looks like you could get 3 fingers flat on the skull, probably a nanny even if they horns are really long and curved similar to a billy.


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I would agree.
 

Decker9

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Apr 10, 2015
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BC goat mountains
To me, goat 1 looks like a young billy. Doesn’t look to have a lot of length, and no mass in his mid horn. His face does look full tho, which can be very deceptive when trying to judge horn length. But being such a thin horn, and to me, an obvious billy, I would call him young.

Goat 2, I would 99% call a nanny, being their together so early in the year, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s her kid from a couple/few years ago.

That billy would be some good eatin!!
 

hikenhunt

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Jan 28, 2013
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I'm no expert but think Decker9 is right.

From my experience, nanny's horn curvature is deceptive depending on the angle you are viewing and the orientation of the their head. Nanny's bases can also appear to be large depending how you are viewing them as well.

At this angle, the goat's left horn seems to have a big base and gradual curve, but the right doesn't.
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Luckily, this goat made it easy:
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Decker9

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Apr 10, 2015
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BC goat mountains
Judging mountain goats has to be one of the toughest animals to learn how to judge, especially in younger animals. An old billy, is usually one of those “that’s a billy!”, but a 3-4, even 5 year old billy, can be hard to distinguish from a nanny.

Like sheep, the more time and more animals a guy can see, the easier it gets.

Anyone looking to expand their knowledge on judging mountain goats, I have a pile of mountain cam photos and videos on my Instagram. mountain_addictions is my handle on there, feel free to give me a follow.

This guy here, is one of those no brainer Billy’s. This particular goat, the sweep and the mass says it all. A nanny may have some sweep to her horn, but will be a lot thinner from the base to mid horn.
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Joined
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Goats are super tough to judge. I've shot two and still have trouble with them. There are so many "text book" ways to identify goats, but there are goats that always throw you a curve. Look at this one.

Toughest animal in NA to judge, not even a distant second.
 

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Joined
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Alaska
I was taught to look for the gland at the base of the horns. You only will find that on a billy. Here’s one from this year. To me the glands are a dead giveaway.
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