Big Game Statistics: Rocky Mountain Goats

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOATS: Table of Contents

Overview Life history ...... 121 Distribution ...... 121 Management...... 122 2005 Statistical Reports Rocky mountain goat herd composition ...... 123 Rocky mountain goat season harvest ...... 124

120 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Big Game Statistics: Rocky Mountain Goats

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 Euro- pean 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 Goats 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 Rocky Mountain 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.

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 Oregon Department breed at 2 ½ years of age, usually producing a single kid, although twins are not un- of Fish and Wildlife common. Breeding takes place from early November to mid-December. Kids are born 3406 Cherry Ave NE approximately 7 months later during late May or early June. Salem, OR 97303 www.dfw.state.or.us Cougar and golden eagles are the most significant predators of mountain goats. Gold- en eagles take newborn kids and sometimes knock young sheep from cliffs. Accidental death is also a significant mortality factor.

Diet varies among populations according to the geographical location and plant avail- ability. Grasses, shrubs, and mosses or lichens are consumed. Salt licks are used exten- sively 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.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 121 Big Game Statistics: Rocky Mountain Goats

In the Wallowa Mountains, the highest densities of base of Joseph Mountain. This population increased mountain goats are found along the Hurwal and until 1965 when hunting seasons started. They were Hurricane Divides. Small satellite populations occur hunted through 1968 when low populations resulted in the Cusick Mountain and McCubbin Basin areas. in termination of hunting. Supplemental transplants Mountain Goats also are found in the Hat Point area from Misty Fjord, Alaska and Olympic National Park, of the Snake River Unit. All populations are the result Washington from 1985-89 resulted in improved kid of reintroduction efforts by ODFW. survival and an increasing population.

The Elkhorn herd began with transplants from three Management locations: Northfork Clearwater, Idaho; Olympic National Park, WA; and Misty Fjord Alaska, during Inventory and composition counts of mountain goats 1983-86, totaling 21 animals. are conducted by fixed-wing aircraft and ground counts. Groundwork takes place during August, while Transplanting from several locations has insured good flights are completed in September. Counts from the genetic diversity. Hunting was resumed in the Wal- air classify animals as adult and kid, while ground lowa and Elkhorn Mountains in 1997 with very con- surveys allow detailed observation to determine sex. servative seasons of one tag for each area. Mandatory identification sessions with biologists help hunters Transplant History with the difficult task of identifying male goats in Transplants have been made to the Wallowa Moun- the field. Male-only harvest is important for reten- tains, Elkhorn Mountains, Snake River unit, and the tion of social structure of populations. Hunters are Columbia River Gorge. Three transplants (Wallowa also required to check in after harvesting an animal and Elkhorn Mountains and Snake River unit) suc- so that biological information can be obtained. The cessfully established mountain goat herds while the Bighorn Sheep Management Plan was revised in 2003 Columbia River Gorge attempt failed. In 2004, the to include a Rocky Mountain Goat chapter and is now population estimate was 234 in the Wallowa Moun- called the Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goat tains herd, 164 in the Elkhorn Mountains herd, and Management Plan. about 75 additional Mountain Goats in other herd ranges.

Mountain goats were reintroduced to the Wallowa Mountains in 1950 when 5 animals from the Chopa- ka Mountains in Washington were released at the

122 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Big Game Statistics: Rocky Mountain Goats ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT HERD COMPOSITION

WALLOWA MOUNTAIN S ELKHORN MOUNTAINS a YEAR ADULTS 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 113g 50 163 64 28 92 2001 119h 43 162 84 60 144 2002 138i 43 181 115 53 168 2003 153j 67 220 101 45 146 2004 188k 46 234 109 55 164 * Elkhorn survey method changed to include ground surveys in addition to air survey a Includes subadults g Includes 24 yearlings b Includes 9 yearlings h Includes 24 yearlings c Includes 10 yearlings i Includes 32 yearlings d Includes 7 yearlings on Hurricane Divide j includes 37 yearlings e Includes 10 yearlings on Hurricane and Hurwal divides k Includes 43 yearlings f Includes yearlings on Hurwal Divide

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 123 Big Game Statistics: Rocky Mountain Goats 2004 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT SEASON HARVEST

HUNT NAME HUNT NUMBER TAGS AUTHORIZED HARVEST

ELKHORN 951 2 2

HURRICANE CREEK 960A 2

CUSICK MT 960B 1

TOTAL 5 2

124 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Big Game Statistics: Rocky Mountain Goats

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 125