![]() ![]() Goats can be encountered feeding any time of the day so need to be alert at all times. Once smelt check which way wind blowing, direction smell strongest to locate goats. When hunting your sense of smell may be the first indicator of goat's presence. Male goats especially emit quite a pungent smell. Listen carefully when hunting to locate animals. Usually quite vocal, calling to each other. If trophy hunting and encounter a mob in forest/scrub cover, and the situation allows, watch for a while as a hastily taken shot may scare of a larger trophy animal. Can often be called in by imitating another goat. If disturbed, wait, as often won't go far and may stand to see what the disturbance was. 222 and above are suitable for shooting goats.Ĭan be extremely inquisitive especially in areas that receive little hunting pressure. Goats are medium sized animals with male goats especially being able to absorb poorly placed bullets.Ĭalibres of. When hunted in a forest interior, the basic rules of stealth, observation, and wind direction that apply to deer should be followed. If, however, they have been subjected to previous hunting pressure they may immediately depart from the area, usually in single file.A shout or a whistle will frequently cause them to stop and look back. When caught out in the open, goats will on first shot, often stand and try to locate the source of the noise. Search for a hunting block that has wild goats. You can use the hunting block search function to find hunting areas that have wild goats. Some landowners keep goats to control weeds such as blackberry and gorse so always check boundaries of hunting areas. They like sunny sides of slopes, making use of open places close to the shelter of forest or scrub. They are agile on steep crags and narrow ledges and can get to areas that deer can't reach. Goats occupy a wide range of habitat and can be found from sea level to the alpine zone, living in introduced and native grasslands, scrub and forest.īecause they are browsers, their preferred habitat is forest or scrub-covered upland containing areas of grassland. Concentrations of goats can be found in Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Otago. Wild goats are found throughout New Zealand in both the North and South Islands. When about to give birth, females move away from the group and it can take up to a year before integrating back with other goats occurs. Reproduction: In New Zealand there is virtually year round mating, often peaking November-December, with most females breeding in their first year. Goats dislike wet conditions and in inclement weather will seek out shelter from rain and wind. In winter with its shorter days goats will be found eating throughout the day. Being browsers goats will eat a wide range of plant material including shrubs, trees, grasses and weed species such as blackberry, brier rose and gorse.ĭuring summer months goats tend to feed early morning and late afternoon with periods in the middle of the day spent resting whilst ruminating. Social behaviour: Goats are highly gregarious living in groups of mixed ages often containing both male and female animals. There is great variability in the colour, pattern and length of the coat, and in horn form and body size, related to the breed origins and nutritional condition of local populations. Males are the largest sex, with clearly heavier forequarters, shaggier coats and larger horns. Goats live in groups of mixed ages often containing both male and female animals The horns are not shed annually like antlers but are retained for the life of the animal. In males the horns are larger and sweep up and backwards or up and outwards in an open spiral. In females they are slender and curve upwards and backwards, with a clear space between the bases. Horns: In New Zealand both sexes have horns. All males and some females are bearded as adults. The hindquarters of both sexes, and the neck and shoulders of males may be shaggy.Ĭolour wise, they can be black, white or brown, or any combination of these. Size: Adult male goats in New Zealand stand around 60-80 cm at the shoulder and weigh an average of about 42 kg.įemales are smaller (shoulder height around 60-70 cm) and lighter (average around 30 kg) than males.Ĭolour: The coat is generally short haired with variable amounts of underfur. Feral goats are found throughout New Zealand in both the North and South Islands ![]()
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