South Baranof zone closed to mountain goat hunting before Aug. 1 opener

The South Baranof zone is closed to all mountain goat hunting effective 11:59 p.m. July 31, one day before the rest of Baranof Island's Unit 4 season opens Aug. 1.

Emergency Order R1-1-26 covers drainages south of Gut Bay and the east branch of Great Arm Whale Bay, north of the divide between Larch Bay and Port Conclusion, and bars both resident and nonresident hunters. ADF&G states the rationale plainly: "The South Baranof hunt zone has historically had population levels too low to conduct a sustainable hunt. Harvest in the South Baranof zone could result in over-utilization due to low population levels and good accessibility."

The closure removes one of the more accessible Baranof hunting options at the season's start, affecting hunters and the charter and outfitting operators who serve the island from Sitka. The same zone was also closed for the 2025 season, making this a recurring management concern rather than a one-off pre-opener change. ADF&G was unable to conduct an island-wide mountain goat survey in 2024 or 2025, though the department says goat numbers are still thought to be stable.

All other Unit 4 zones open Aug. 1 as scheduled and will remain open until harvest quotas are reached or the season concludes. Registration permits are now available, and individual zone quotas will be similar to 2025 levels. Managers say they will reassess and make in-season adjustments to quotas and zone closures when updated surveys are conducted. Hunters are encouraged to target billies. Successful hunters must bring goat horns to the Sitka office for sex and age verification. For zone maps and quotas, call (907) 747-5449.