Pope and Young Crowns New Record Holder

by
posted on December 29, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
mainkaleb-baird-world-record-mountain-goat.jpg
On the fifth of this month, the Pope and Young Club convened a Special Panel of Judges in Prescott, AZ for a potential P&Y World Record Mountain Goat. Kaleb Baird’s mountain goat scored 53 4/8-inches, and is now the largest bow-harvested Mountain Goat in North America. The amazing goat was shot in Alaska, on September 11, 2020.

Measurers present at the Special Panel were Milo Durfee, Brian Rimsza, Roy E. Grace (Records Chairman), and Marvin Zieser. With a final score of 53 4/8-inches Baird’s mountain goat was confirmed as the new P&Y World Record. This goat surpasses the previous largest in the records program by 2/8 of an inch, which was taken just 10 short months ago.   

“Leading up to this hunt I’d known there was the potential for a truly special billy. I joked with some friends over the summer that the plan was to take a record goat in hopes of enticing a hunting partner”, said Kaleb Baird. However, with a highly unpredictable work schedule and the travel complications 2020 presented I wasn’t able to get any commitments, so I headed up the mountain solo during the second week of September. It just so happened to be the best stretch of weather we had for the entire year in Southeast Alaska. I found this billy on day four and spent the first half of the day ascending to his perch. By the time I got there he’d moved, and I thought I’d lost him for the day. One last pass through his previous hangout and I stumbled right into him and a smaller partner. He stood for a great 31-yard shot but managed to make the edge of the mountain and drop into a nasty avalanche chute for his final dash. When I finally got to him his right horn was buried in some gravel and I thought it was shattered. Lifting up his head I could see he’d only chipped about an inch and, while not an expert, I could tell his left horn was absolutely world class. I think it’s truly awesome to add this billy to the class of 2019 Ketchikan goats taken by Rosey Roseland and Bryan Moody. I hope all three are on display in Reno to showcase how impressive the goat herd currently is in Southeast Alaska!”

For more on the story, check out pope-young.org.

Latest

Hunter With Mulie And Suppressor
Hunter With Mulie And Suppressor

Suppressor Ownership Records Shattered, 30% used for Hunting

On Jan. 1, 2026, the price of a National Firearm Act tax stamp to take ownership of a suppressor dropped from $200 to $0. A flood of eForm applications struck at the stroke of midnight, setting a record estimated at 150,000 that day alone, many of them submitted by hunters.

Pre-Season Spring Gobbler Scouting Tips

The investment made in the weeks leading up to spring gobbler season can make the season fruitful and result in a punched tag. Get afield now, scratch that itch to hunt and get ready to bag a gobbler!

New for 2026: Command Pro Cellular Feeder Control Module

Command, home to the cellular trail camera app for Stealth Cam and Muddy-branded trail cameras, has announced the launch of a new universal feeder-control module that brings real-time oversight and remote scheduling to virtually any feeder.

#SundayGunday: Leupold VX-6 HD Gen 2

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re talking optics—specifically riflescopes—from a company that has defined it’s longstanding American Made reputation by building some of the industry’s best: Leupold. Starting last year, the Oregon based manufacturer began revamping its optics lines, and great news for hunters, they started with the second generation of the incredibly versatile VX-6 HD line, culminating in the VX-6 HD Gen. 2.

Michigan Mayor Looks Down on Guns and Dogs

“If you’ve got a gun, you should be ashamed of yourself,” said Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand. NRA-ILA also noted that in his response to a police K-9 chasing down a suspect, LaGrand said: “It is time that we ask, ‘What are dogs good for?’ Like, if you need a dog to find someone in the woods, get a hound dog. If you need to chase somebody in a backyard, why couldn’t you do that with a drone? If my dog did what I saw in that video, I’d put my dog down.”

A 9-Year-Old Girl’s Effort to Make Hunting the Official Sport of Idaho

While reading her history textbook, Betty Grandy, a 9-year-old fourth-grade student from Twin Falls, Idaho, noticed that Idaho lacked an official state sport. So, she did what any 9-year-old fourth-grade student would do: She ran a poll in a neighborhood newspaper.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.