Dan Lay, left, Wes Gorbett, and
16-year-old Lonnie Lay take a
moment to celebrate.
A
BILLY
FOR THE RECORD
Wes and Joe coming over
Porlaris Pass.
Hunting Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness Area means
majestic views, demanding terrain, and record book
mountain goats. By Stewart Monroe
60
WESTERN HUNTING JOURNAL
G
RANITE SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAIN PEAKS, alpine forests,
breathtaking views, pristine lakes, steep hillsides, deep
crags, hanging valleys, hidden meadows and clean air.
These words help describe Oregon’s iconic Eagle Cap
Wilderness Area, but to fully appreciate what this area
has to offer it truly requires a once in a lifetime tag mountain goat
tag. Sometimes referred to as the “Little Swiss Alps”, if you have ever
been there you know why.
The Eagle Caps, located within the Wallowa Mountains in north-
east Oregon, are the largest wilderness area in the state at 361,446
acres. Elevations vary from 3,000 to 9,838 feet at the summit of Sa-
cajawea Peak along with 30 other peaks rising to above 8,000 feet.
Postcard perfect certainly, but from a hunter’s perspective it is qual-
ity mountain goat country.