Mountain goat area west of Harlequin Lake closes tonight after a long population slide

The mountain goat hunt west of Harlequin Lake and Yakutat Glacier closes to RG170 permit holders at 11:59 p.m. Friday, under an emergency order from Fish and Game. The reason is a population that has fallen hard over two decades and a recent uptick the state isn't ready to trust.

Aerial surveys of the area tell the story: 122 goats counted in 2006, dropping through the years to just 12 by 2010. A 2019 survey found 46. Last September, a Yakutat Tlingit Tribe helicopter survey counted 75 goats — the highest in nearly 20 years. But the department won't call it a recovery, because helicopter counts aren't directly comparable to the fixed-wing surveys behind the older numbers, and it warns that hunting here now "could hinder the recovery of this population."

The closure covers the portion of Unit 5A running west from Harlequin Lake and Yakutat Glacier toward Yakutat and Disenchantment bays. The rest of Unit 5A stays open under normal regulations, including the Barbazon Range east of the lake and glacier. Hunters with questions can reach Fish and Game at 907-465-4266.