Registration permits open Friday for Chugach mountain goats after drawing hunt falls short of quota

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will start issuing registration permits for mountain goats in the Chugach Mountains portion of Game Management Unit 14A at 9 am Friday, Oct. 2. The department is opening the hunt because drawing-permit hunters took only 7 of this year's 12-goat quota.

The drawing hunts close Wednesday with six billies and one nanny taken, leaving room for up to five more goats, no more than three of them nannies. The department sets the quota at 7% of the adult goats counted in its last three surveys, which averaged 171 goats in the Chugach portion of the unit. Nannies are capped at 30% of the quota "to maintain the population," according to the department's order. Biologists decided to offer registration permits because of the low harvest and the survey counts, the order says.

The permits are open to residents and nonresidents, in person at the Palmer Fish and Game office or online at hunt.alaska.gov. The season runs Oct. 2 through Oct. 31 but could close early if the quota fills. Hunters may not take nannies with kids.

Successful hunters must report within two days, online, by phone at 907-746-6300 or in person in Palmer. Those who report by phone must also mail or bring in their permit reports. Within 10 days of the harvest, hunters must bring the horns and harvest report to a Fish and Game office for sealing, an official inspection and tag. Unsuccessful hunters and permit holders who didn't hunt must report within 15 days after the season closes.

Several other goat hunts in the region have closed early this fall after reaching their limits, including the Lake George hunt in Unit 14C and the hunt south of Port Valdez. Questions about the Unit 14A hunt can go to Area Wildlife Biologist Ross Dorendorf at [email protected].