Alaska Mountain Goat Hunt: Two Billies, Brutal Weather, and a Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure

Some hunts test your patience. Others test your equipment, your body, and every decision you make along the way.

An Alaska mountain goat hunt rarely goes according to plan.

For Brandon and Matt, the trip began with nearly everything working against them. Travel delays, uncertain weather, last-minute logistics, and a pilot situation that came together only after they arrived in Ketchikan.

Even after reaching Alaska, there was no guarantee they would make it into the mountains.

But after months of planning and years of dreaming about a hunt like this, there was only one option.

Keep moving forward.

Watch the Full Alaska Mountain Goat Hunt

Follow Brandon, Matt, and Branson as they fly into the remote Alaska backcountry, endure rain, snow, fog, and freezing temperatures, and ultimately complete a mountain goat hunt they will never forget.

A Childhood Dream Becomes Real

For Brandon, mountain goat hunting had always felt distant.

As a kid, he remembers seeing a mountain goat mount at a friend’s grandparents’ house and thinking it represented a kind of hunt that would always be out of reach.

The terrain looked impossible.

The animals lived in places few people ever visited.

The entire experience seemed reserved for a different kind of hunter.

Years later, that childhood memory was still there as the team prepared to fly into the mountains of Southeast Alaska.

This time, the goat hunt was real.

Preparing for a Remote Alaska Hunt

The first days in Alaska were spent handling the final details.

The team purchased fuel they could not carry on the plane, completed the necessary paperwork, checked their rifles, confirmed their gear, and waited for the weather to cooperate.

The plan was to fly into the mountains and remain in the backcountry for approximately five days.

They did not need five perfect days.

They only needed one clear window.

In mountain goat country, visibility can determine everything.

Fog can hide a goat in seconds. Wind can prevent a bush plane from landing. Rain can turn steep terrain into a dangerous, slippery obstacle.

Every part of the hunt depended on timing.

When the Pilot Makes the Call

The first attempt to reach camp looked promising.

The team loaded the plane, flew over the hunting area, and could already see goats near the lake where they planned to land.

Then the pilot made the decision to turn around.

The wind was moving in the wrong direction, making the approach unsafe.

There was disappointment, but no argument.

Remote aviation requires complete trust in the pilot, especially when landing on a small horseshoe-shaped lake surrounded by steep mountains.

Later that day, the wind settled enough for another attempt.

With only a small amount of daylight remaining, the pilot made the approach and safely put the team on the lake.

A mature Billy was standing near camp when they arrived.

They had finally made it.

Mountain Goats Outside the Tent

The first evening in camp felt almost unreal.

Goats moved across the hills within a few hundred yards of the tent. More animals appeared along the cliffs and ridgelines as daylight faded.

After days of uncertainty, the team was finally in the middle of the hunt they had imagined.

The gear was unpacked.

The water was boiling.

The packs were organized.

The next morning, the hunt would begin.

Day One: An Opportunity Lost in the Fog

The first hunting day started with goats visible across the mountain.

The team worked through the terrain, set up temporary shelters during the rain, and spent hours glassing the cliffs and canyons around camp.

Several goats appeared, including mature Billies within range.

Eventually, Matt had an opportunity.

He was ready to shoot, but the team needed a few more seconds to set the camera and confirm the distance.

Then the fog rolled in.

Within moments, the goat disappeared.

By the time visibility returned, the Billy had moved farther away and was standing near the edge of a cliff.

The opportunity was gone.

That is how quickly conditions can change in Alaska.

Day Two: Snow, Sleet, and a Full Day in the Tent

The next morning brought a completely different mountain.

Snow covered the ridges.

Sleet fell near camp.

The wind drove precipitation sideways, making travel unsafe and visibility nearly impossible.

The team spent the day inside the tent, waiting for the storm to pass.

There was little to do except stay warm, eat, reorganize gear, and hope the forecast was right.

It was uncomfortable, but it was part of the experience.

The difficult days make the good ones matter.

Day Three: Two Mature Billies

By the third hunting day, the weather began to improve.

Rain still moved through the area, but the forecast suggested a break was coming.

The team climbed back toward their glassing point, where they had seen mature goats before the storm.

Soon, they located two strong Billies below them.

The fog moved in again, but this time it created an opportunity.

Using the low visibility as cover, Brandon and Matt worked their way down through wet rocks and steep terrain until they were directly above the goats.

They crawled, slid, and repositioned until they were close enough to make a controlled shot.

Matt fired first.

One shot.

The Billy dropped immediately.

A second mature goat remained nearby.

Once the fog lifted enough to confirm the distance, Brandon settled behind his rifle and made his shot.

Another clean hit.

Two goats in less than ten minutes.

After days of weather delays, missed opportunities, and uncertainty, both tags were filled.

The Work Begins After the Shot

Harvesting the goats was only the beginning.

The animals were positioned below the hunters in steep, wet terrain. Every pound of meat, hide, equipment, and camp gear had to be carried out.

The team processed both goats, loaded the packs, and began hauling everything back toward camp.

Some loads approached 200 pounds between equipment and meat.

Branson continued filming throughout the process, often carrying meat or hides while still documenting the hunt.

It was slow, physical work in conditions that had already tested everyone for several days.

But that effort is part of what makes a mountain goat hunt meaningful.

Nothing comes easily.

Testing ROKMAN Gear in Alaska

Southeast Alaska created the exact kind of conditions ROKMAN equipment was built to handle.

The team dealt with:

• Heavy rain
• Wet snow
• Dense fog
• Steep rock
• Mud and standing water
• Heavy pack-outs
• Extended exposure in remote terrain

ROKMAN waterproof packs and frames were used throughout the hunt to protect essential gear and carry heavy loads through the mountains.

The equipment was not tested in controlled conditions.

It was tested during a real Alaska hunt, where wet gear, failed equipment, or poor organization could have created serious problems.

That is the purpose of waterproof hunting gear.

It allows the hunter to focus on the mountain instead of worrying about what is happening inside the pack.

The People Behind the Hunt

No successful backcountry hunt happens because of one person.

The team relied on quality equipment, careful preparation, local knowledge, and people willing to help.

The hunt was supported by several partners, including:

• 6AM Outdoors for tents, game bags, and rain shelters
• Seekins Precision for rifles
• Hornady for 6.5 PRC Precision Hunter ammunition
• Leupold for riflescopes, binoculars, and spotting optics
• Peak Refuel for backcountry meals
• Family Air for safe transportation into and out of the mountains

The team also received critical advice from local hunter Ben Atwood, who helped identify the hunt, provided lodging, shared scouting information, and taught them how to evaluate mature Billies.

That support helped turn an ambitious plan into a successful hunt.

Why We Hunt

At the end of the video, Brandon explains that the trophies were not the most meaningful part of the experience.

The goats mattered.

The meat mattered.

The success mattered.

But the relationships mattered more.

Hunting places people in situations they rarely experience in everyday life.

You sit together through storms.

You carry weight for each other.

You work through physical exhaustion.

You celebrate success together.

You see how people respond when plans collapse, weather turns dangerous, and the work becomes difficult.

That is what Brandon remembers most.

Not just two mature mountain goats.

The people who helped make the hunt possible.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Alaska Mountain Goat Hunt

This hunt began with uncertainty.

The original pilot plan fell apart.

Weather delayed the flight.

Wind forced the plane to turn around.

Fog erased an opportunity.

Snow kept the team inside the tent for an entire day.

Then everything came together.

Two mature Billies.

Two clean shots.

A difficult pack-out.

A safe flight home.

And a group of people who experienced something few hunters ever will.

That is what a once-in-a-lifetime hunt looks like.

Not perfect.

Not easy.

Worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did this Alaska mountain goat hunt take place?

The hunt took place in the remote mountains near Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska. The team accessed the hunting area by floatplane.

How long was the mountain goat hunt?

The team planned to spend approximately five days in the backcountry, depending on weather and flight conditions.

What weather should hunters expect on an Alaska mountain goat hunt?

Hunters should prepare for heavy rain, fog, snow, wind, freezing temperatures, and rapidly changing visibility. Conditions can change within minutes.

What gear is important for mountain goat hunting?

Essential equipment includes waterproof packs, reliable rain gear, stable footwear, trekking poles, quality optics, emergency communication, durable shelters, and a pack system capable of carrying heavy loads.

Why is waterproof gear important in Southeast Alaska?

Southeast Alaska receives significant precipitation. Rain, wet vegetation, snow, and fog can expose equipment to moisture for days at a time. Waterproof gear helps protect clothing, optics, food, and other critical supplies.

How do you identify a mature mountain goat?

Hunters often evaluate horn length, horn shape, body size, behavior, and facial characteristics. Local knowledge and careful glassing are especially valuable when distinguishing mature Billies from younger goats or nannies.

Watch the Full Hunt

Watch the complete video above to experience the flight into camp, the storms, the stalk, both successful shots, and the difficult pack-out that followed.

This was more than an Alaska mountain goat hunt.

It was a reminder that the hardest experiences often become the ones we value most.