Registration permit hunt RG249 for mountain goats in Game Management Unit 6D was closed by emergency order on Oct. 6 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The hunt includes areas east of the Columbia Glacier, north of Valdez Arm and west of Port Valdez, Shoup Bay and Shoup Glacier.
ADF&G wildlife program officials said the most recent aerial survey found a minimum count of 235 goats in registration permit area RG249. The maximum allowable harvest is 12 goat points. The reported harvest as of Oct. 4 was nine billies, each counting as one goat point.
With hunters remaining in the field, and the likelihood of additional goats being taken and not yet reported, the closure was deemed necessary to prevent unsustainable harvest.
The closure affects only registration permit hunt RG249 in Unit 6D. Other mountain goat hunting regulations in the remainder of Unit 6 were not affected by this emergency order.
