ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOATS: Table of Contents Overview Life history... 127 Distribution... 127 Management... 128 2004 Statistical Reports Rocky mountain goat herd composition... 129 Rocky mountain goat season harvest...130 126
Overview Rocky Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are native only to the rugged mountains of western North America. The presence of mountain goats in Oregon prior to European settlement is supported by archeological evidence in Hells Canyon and Wildcat Canyon, 30 miles east of The Dalles. Rocky Mountain goats were apparently extirpated from Oregon prior to, or soon after, European settlement. Life History Mountain goat pelage is comprised of white wool and white guard hairs. Their hooves have cushion-like pads surrounded by a hard shell, allowing a grip on smooth rock surfaces. During summer months females molt about a month later than males, which is useful in determining sex of adults. Animals will often rub against obstacles, leaving clumps of discarded wool on shrubs and trees. Rocky Mountain Goats Age can be determined by counting horn rings as with bighorn sheep. The first ring is formed during the second winter at 22 months of age. Black glands behind the horns are used for marking territory during the rut by rubbing brush. Females can normally breed at 2 ½ years of age, usually producing a single kid, although twins are not uncommon. Breeding takes place from early November to mid-december. Kids are born approximately 7 months later during late May or early June. Cougar and golden eagles are the most significant predators of mountain goats. Golden eagles take newborn kids and sometimes knock young sheep from cliffs. Accidental death is also a significant mortality factor. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 3406 Cherry Ave NE Salem, OR 97303 www.dfw.state.or.us Diet varies among populations according to the geographical location and plant availability. Grasses, shrubs, and mosses or lichens are consumed. Salt licks are used extensively during the summer. Distribution The Elkhorn Mountains herd is found from Anthony Lakes on the northwest end to Marble Creek, going southeast. Mountain goats from the Elkhorn herd have dispersed to locations to the west such as Indian Rock, Vinegar Hill, Dixie Mountain, Cable Creek, and the Strawberry Mountains. 127
In the Wallowa Mountains, the highest densities of mountain goats are found along the Hurwal and Hurricane Divides. Small satellite populations occur in the Cusick Mountain and McCubbin Basin areas. Mountain Goats also are found in the Hat Point area of the Snake River Unit. All populations are the result of reintroduction efforts by ODFW. base of Joseph Mountain. This population increased until 1965 when hunting seasons started. They were hunted through 1968 when low populations resulted in termination of hunting. Supplemental transplants from Misty Fjord, Alaska and Olympic National Park, Washington from 1985-89 resulted in improved kid survival and an increasing population. Management Inventory and composition counts of mountain goats are conducted by fixed-wing aircraft and ground counts. Groundwork takes place during August, while flights are completed in September. Counts from the air classify animals as adult and kid, while ground surveys allow detailed observation to determine sex. Transplant History Transplants have been made to the Wallowa Mountains, Elkhorn Mountains, Snake River unit, and the Columbia River Gorge. Three transplants (Wallowa and Elkhorn Mountains and Snake River unit) successfully established mountain goat herds while the Columbia River Gorge attempt failed. In 2003, the populations estimate was 230 in the Wallowa Mountains herd, 150 in the Elkhorn Mountains herd, and about 75 additional Mountain Goats in other herd ranges. The Elkhorn herd began with transplants from three locations: Northfork Clearwater, Idaho; Olympic National Park, WA; and Misty Fjord Alaska, during 1983-86, totaling 21 animals. Transplanting from several locations has insured good genetic diversity. Hunting was resumed in the Wallowa and Elkhorn Mountains in 1997 with very conservative seasons of one tag for each area. Mandatory identification sessions with biologists help hunters with the difficult task of identifying male goats in the field. Male-only harvest is important for retention of social structure of populations. Hunters are also required to check in after harvesting an animal so that biological information can be obtained. The Bighorn Sheep Management Plan was revised in 2003 to include a Rocky Mountain Goat chapter and is now called the Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goat Management Plan. Mountain goats were reintroduced to the Wallowa Mountains in 1950 when 5 animals from the Chopaka Mountains in Washington were released at the 128
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT HERD COMPOSITION Big Game Statistics: Rocky Mountain Goats WALLOWA MOUNTAINS ELKHORN MOUNTAINS YEAR ADULTS a KIDS UNKNOWN TOTAL ADULTS KIDS UNKNOWN TOTAL 1962 8 4 12 1963 1964 18 8 26 1965 1966 18 11 29 1967 17 4 21 1968 9 2 12 1969 8 2 10 1970 12 5 17 1971 17 5 22 1972 17 1 18 1973 16 2 18 1974 13 2 15 1975 17 3 20 1976 17 2 19 1977 11 5 17 1978 18 4 22 1979 20 4 24 1980 23 8 32 1981 14 5 19 1982 13 2 15 1983 11 1 12 5 1 6 1984 8 2 10 1985 12 2 17 8 8 1986 No Survey Conducted 7 7 1987 20 6 26 9 3 12 1988 8 0 8 4 2 6 1989 8 1 7 No Survey Conducted 1990 23 8 31 No Survey Conducted 1991 21 7 28 11 4 15 1992 19 6 25 21 10 31 1993 28 9 37 15 10 25 1994 38 b 13 51 28 19 47 1995 51 c 17 68 20 6 26 1996 47 26 73 50 25 10 85 * 1997 75 d 27 4 106 68 20 88 1998 66 e 26 9 101 64 33 97 1999 88 f 38 126 84 29 113 2000 113 g 50 163 64 28 92 2001 119 h 43 162 84 60 144 2002 138 i 43 181 115 53 168 2003 153 j 67 220 101 45 146 * Elkhorn survey method changed to include ground surveys in addition to air surveys a Includes subadults b Includes 9 yearlings c Includes 10 yearlings d Includes 7 yearlings on Hurricane Divide e Includes 10 yearlings on Hurricane and Hurwal divides g Includes 24 yearlings h Includes 24 yearlings i Includes 32 yearlings j includes 37 yearlings 129
2003 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT SEASON HARVEST HUNT NAME HUNT NUMBER TAGS AUTHORIZED HARVEST ELKHORN 951 2 2 HURRICANE CREEK 960A 2 1 TOTAL 4 3 130
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