Mountain Goat collars, skulls, horns, and ID information made available by ADF&G and RMGA at the Mountain Goat ID Pint Night
On the evening of January 31st BHA Alaska Chapter co-hosted a fun conservation event with the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance (RMGA) at Double Shovel Cidery in Anchorage, AK. Kyle Smith, a biologist at ADFG in Anchorage, provided us with a wonderful presentation on mountain goat conservation, focusing on how we can better identify billies from nannies and why it matters to make sure we hunters are targeting billies when we're out in the mountains. This was prompted, in part, by recent harvest statistics showing some concerning trends and Kyle did an excellent job driving home the point in a fun and interactive way. There was excellent audience participation, lots of laughs and smiles and everyone got a chance to get their hands on some real mountain horns and skulls and to talk with Kyle directly with questions and thoughts.
Guests and participants at the Mountain Goat ID Pint Night at Double Shovel Cidery Co.
We had an excellent raffle with some super nice prizes donated by RMGA (Benchmade Knives and Yeti tumblers), Vortex Optics by BHA, and more! There was also opportunity to buy raffle tickets for Copper River Bison, SI474 and the Chugach Brown Bear, SB470 Governor’s Tags (which you can still enter through March 31st, 2025) and a brand new Weatherby Mark V Hunter rifle. The rifle winners will be announced at BHA and Alaska Wild Project's upcoming Public Lands Pint Night Alaska Draw Results party on February 21st at Double Shovel Cider Co., where you'll also be able to purchase tickets if you didn't get one yet (only 150 sold!) You won't want to miss that one! (RSVP and your first beverage is on BHA)
For those further interested in supporting mountain goat conservation efforts, please take a look at Proposals 90 and 91 that will be discussed and decided upon at the upcoming Alaska Board of Game Statewide Regulations meeting in Anchorage from March 21-28, 2025. Proposals 90 and 91 both encourage the state to require a mountain goat sex identification quiz to be completed by mountain goat hunters. Some hunts in the state already require this and it appears to be a good way to help hunters make good decisions in the field that benefit us all.
Written public comments for Board of Game proposals are due by March 7th, 2025, and in person comments can be given via oral testimony during the BOG meeting in Anchorage on March 22 and March 23. Please consider making your voice heard on mountain goat conservation!
Alaska BHA volunteers and board members getting ready for the event.
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