Effective 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced an early closure of the middle portion of the Takshanuk Mountain Range to mountain goat hunting. Hunters have met harvest objectives in the area east of the Haines Highway and Chilkat River, west of Chilkoot Lake and River and North to Goat Hollow, prompting the emergency closure.
Management biologists issued the emergency order due to the vulnerability of goats in this area to additional harvest and because the guideline harvest level set by ADF&G has been met. Four male goats (1 point each) and two female goats (2 points each) have been harvested in the area this season for a total of eight points.
The remainder of management area GMU 1D, except for those areas previously closed by emergency order, remains open for mountain goat hunting. Biologists with ADF&G encourage hunters to target male goats to allow for higher sustainable harvest. Hunters with questions about goat hunting in Unit 1D can contact Carl Koch in the Douglas Area Office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at 465-4329.
