The 2023 mountain goat season begins August 1 with a new regulation for Southeast Alaska goat hunters. Hunters are now required to take an online mountain goat identification quiz before hunting goats in Southeast Alaska, whether hunting with a registration or draw permit.
The quiz tests a hunter’s ability to identify male vs. female goats. The quiz is available at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=quiz.main.
The hunter’s information will automatically be placed on a list of those who have passed the quiz once they pass. The goal of the new requirement is to encourage hunters to select male goats for harvest.
Selectively targeting males for harvest is important for sustainably managing goat populations. Mountain goats have low reproductive rates and often do not reproduce every year. Reducing female harvest helps to maintain the reproductive potential of the population. Females without kids are still eligible for harvest in most areas of Southeast Alaska, however, reducing female harvest will provide more harvest opportunity in the future.
If you have questions about this new requirement or mountain goat hunting in general, please contact your local area office.