Here's a chance to hunt mountain goat at a good price this year. An outfitter based on Baranoff Island, Alaska, had a government-imposed limit of four goat hunters a year but recently bought out another operator's allocation of four goat hunts a year. To ensure that he can pay the bill, he is offering a $1,500 discount on this year's goat hunts. The price for this fall is $5,000 for a seven-day hunt with one hunter per guide. You do not need to draw a tag in this area.

The outfitter picks you up at the airport in Sitka, meaning you'll also save on air travel as well. Many goat outfitters in Canada and elsewhere in Alaska meet their hunters at small outpost towns or hunting camps that can be reached only after paying $1,000 to $2,000 more than it would cost you to reach Sitka.

Baranoff is the only island in southeastern Alaska with a major goat population. The outfitter likes to hunt goats in November, when the animals have their long winter coats. However, weather can sometimes hamper success, as it did last year, when "a ton of snow" contributed to a lower-than-normal success rate with six of nine hunters filling their tags. Usually hunter success is 80% or more. Only hunters in good shape should consider this hunt as hiking in steep country is difficult even in the best of conditions and even more difficult if the snow is deep. Lots of snow does help in one way, however, and that's because it forces herds of Sitka blacktail deer down to the beaches. The hunters last year got some nice bucks, including a Boone and Crockett qualifier, an exceptional animal for this island.

There are about 2,000 goats on the island. "Most of my hunters see 30 or 40," the outfitter said. "But it's a young man's game. You have to be in shape; you have to be able to get up to them."