Utah authorities advise ‘Goat Man’ to leave before hunting season

ssl

By Associated Press




"A MAN SEEN dressed in a goat suit – among a herd of wild goats in the mountains of northern Utah – has wildlife officials worried he could be in danger as hunting season approaches.

Phil Douglass of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said the person is doing nothing illegal, but he worries the so-called “goat man” is unaware of the dangers.

“My very first concern is the person doesn’t understand the risks,” Douglass said. “Who’s to say what could happen.”

Douglass said a man hiking yesterday along Ben Lomond peak in the mountains above Ogden, about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City, spotted the person dressed like a goat among a herd of real goats.

The person provided some blurry photographs to Douglass, who said they did not appear to have been altered.

Wildlife officials now just want to talk to the man so that he is aware of the dangers. There’s no telling what his intentions are, Douglass said, but it is believed he could just be an extreme wildlife enthusiast.

“People do some pretty out there things in the name of enjoying wildlife. But I’ve never had a report like this,” Douglass said.

There’s a saying we have among biologists — You don’t go far enough, you don’t get the data. You go too far, you don’t go home. The same is true with some wildlife enthusiasts.
Douglass said 60 permits will be issued for goat hunting season in that area, which begins in September. He worries the goat man might be accidentally shot or could be attacked by a real goat.

“They may get agitated. They’re territorial. They are, after all, wild animals,” he said. “This person puts on a goat suit, he changes the game. But as long as he accepts responsibility, it’s not illegal.”

Douglass said wildlife officials received an anonymous call last Thursday from an “agitated man” after the sighting was reported in local media. The caller simply said, “Leave Goat-Man alone. He’s done nothing wrong.”

“I want people to enjoy Utah’s wildlife. We live in a really neat place. We have wildlife all around us,” Douglass said. “We just want people to be safe.”"

http://thedailyedge.thejournal.ie/goat-man-mountains-utah-hunting-season-530810-Jul2012/?utm_source=shortlink

slippy wicket

That guy really 'loves' his wildlife. :eek:

ssl

The phone call saying "leave goat man alone" make me think hes more a nutter then a biologist

raymonjdevine

So, only "hunters" can roam the wilderness?

Are lads wearing DPM & Realtree variations & even Ghillie suits not endangering themselves, granted nobody would be shooting them, but they may be unlucky enough to be hit by a ricochet or a bullet that passed through something that a hunter fired at not realising they were there?

Just a couple of thoughts

cruisedub1

I suppose if he does get shot we could enter him in this years Darwin Awards

Grizzly 45

raymonjdevine wrote: »

So, only "hunters" can roam the wilderness?

Are lads wearing DPM & Realtree variations & even Ghillie suits not endangering themselves, granted nobody would be shooting them, but they may be unlucky enough to be hit by a ricochet or a bullet that passed through something that a hunter fired at not realising they were there?

Just a couple of thoughts

We already have thought of it!:):)
RULE no4 of shooting.
KNOW YOUR TARGET AND WHATS BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF IT.Or of course if you are really worried wear [as is mandatory now in the US and Germany]Hunters Orange cammo[deer apprently cant see orange].Maybe ol Goat man might consider putting a bit of orange on his goat outfit??

garv123

raymonjdevine wrote: »

So, only "hunters" can roam the wilderness?

Are lads wearing DPM & Realtree variations & even Ghillie suits not endangering themselves, granted nobody would be shooting them, but they may be unlucky enough to be hit by a ricochet or a bullet that passed through something that a hunter fired at not realising they were there?

Just a couple of thoughts

Someone in a goat suit around a herd of goats is at much more risk of getting shot than someone in DPM

They may just see what they think is a goat and fire without thinking

Stripey Cat

Surely the goats will start wearing man suits soon, altering the game entirely?

raymonjdevine

Some people on here don't know what the at the end of a comment denotes :eek:;)

I thought the Irish had a sense of humour :P

raymonjdevine

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

.................Maybe ol Goat man might consider putting a bit of orange on his goat outfit??

Can the goats see this orange though

Spunk84

Reminds me of the story of the lad who moved himself into a bear area ,moved his girlfriend up there and bear ate them both LOL hopefully the goats eat him . Looney bin he is , Utah of all places to be dressed like a goat

garv123

Spunk84 wrote: »

Reminds me of the story of the lad who moved himself into a bear area ,moved his girlfriend up there and bear ate them both LOL hopefully the goats eat him . Looney bin he is , Utah of all places to be dressed like a goat

That was the fella who was "an expert" :rolleyes:

He set up his camp between the bears and the river.. There's a video online (just sound) of the roaring and screaming as they are both been attacked and eaten at night by the bears.

ssl

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Maybe ol Goat man might consider putting a bit of orange on his goat outfit??

Grizzly we're dealing with a highly intelligent person here so im sure he's considered it in his risk assessment

Grizzly 45

raymonjdevine wrote: »

Can the goats see this orange though

Er no...

raymonjdevine

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Er no...

Are you sure though?

Grizzly 45

Yes.Animals dont see in colour.

J.R.

As far as I'm aware some primates.....such as chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans can see colour.......similar to humans.

EPointer=Birdss

J.R. wrote: »

As far as I'm aware some primates.....such as chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans can see colour.......similar to humans.

I would imagine these are primates such as ourselves so colour vision is a given feature.

Goats horses dogs cats etc are a different kettle of fish from a different gene make up.

Well that's if David Attenborough is to be trusted.

deerhunter1

slippy wicket wrote: »

That guy really 'loves' his wildlife. :eek:

In what way I dread to imagine:eek::D