yer Glacier (boat accessible only)
- Glacier Bay: Mt. Wright, Gloomy Knob (boat accessible only)
- Kenai Peninsula: Exit Glacier, Cooper Landing
- Kodiak: Barometer Mountain trail
- Anchorage/Girdwood: Crow Pass
- Cordova: Saddlebag Glacier trail
Native weaving and carving
The native inhabitants of the North Pacific coast of Alaska have traditionally used the hide, horns and other parts of mountain goats to create extraordinary works of art with deep cultural significance. Chilkat and Ravenstail blankets are traditionally woven from mountain goat hair (and cedar bark — in the case of Chilkat blankets). The hair is collected from hides harvested in the spring or by collecting shed wool in early-summer. The wool is meticulously processed and, in some cases, dyed using natural plant materials prior to being woven on looms in intricate designs. Blanket weaving requires exceptional skill and traditional knowledge and is practiced by a uniquely devoted group of traditional weavers, some of whom are internationally recognized for their accomplishments. Mountain goat horns are also carved into ceremonial spoons and engraved with intricate designs.
Mountain goat hair is highly valued by traditional weavers. If you find mountain goat hair while hiking in the mountains and would like to donate it to weavers, if will be highly appreciated. Your local ADFG office can put you in contact with local weavers.
Subsistence and sport hunting
Alaska natives have a long tradition of hunting mountain goats for food, hides and ceremonial purposes dating back thousands of years. Even today, in many rural communities local residents rely on mountain goats as a key source of sustenance, particularly in places where other species (such as deer, moose or caribou) are absent or uncommon. Mountain goats are also highly prized by sport hunters and in many places qualified guides will accompany hunters from around the world for “once in a lifetime” opportunities to hunt mountain goats. Mountain goat hunting is very difficult and requires an uncommon degree of dedication, tenacity and, crucially, preparation. Mountain goats hunters represent a unique segment of the hunting community as a result of these requirements.
Populations are monitored by aerial surveys or incidental to Dall sheep surveys in South-central Alaska. Harvest information is obtained through a mandatory hunt report that is part of a required registration permit. Information collected includes the areas and numbers of days hunted, hunter success, dates of hunts and kills, transport methods, and commercial services used.
In most areas, goat harvest is managed using a weighted point harvest system, where males equal one point and females equal two points. For example, in southern Southeast Alaska, take is managed so that harvest does not exceed six points per 100 goats. Thus, the harvest of males can be twice the harvest of females. This provides more opportunity for hunters and assures a productive and sustainable goat population.
Mountain goats don’t reproduce as early, or have as many offspring, as deer and moose. Although deer and moose have young at two and three years of age, respectively, mountain goats do not give birth until they are four or five years old. And while moose and deer often have twins, twinning is rare for mountain goats. This low productivity means that individual female mountain goats are very important to the overall population. It can take years to replace one harvested female goat.
ADF&G is working to educate hunters about mountain goats, and produced a mountain goat identification guide to help hunters identify male (billy) and female (nanny) goats. The free 48-page guide features dozens of color pictures highlighting the many subtle clues that distinguish nannies from billies.
Finer-scale mountain goat management continues to be necessary in some areas as hunting pressure increases. With the guideline harvest being approached in several areas in the past few years, ADF&G may soon implement a sealing requirement to assure accurate reporting of male and female g