From the March 21, 2005 edition of the South Dakota GFP News:

Mountain Goat Season Proposed With One Less License Available

PIERRE, S.D. – The state Game, Fish and Parks Commission has proposed the 2005 mountain goat season to have one less license available.

"Under the proposal, available mountain goat licenses would decrease from three to two," said GFP Regional Wildlife Manager John Wrede of Rapid City. "Pointedly, hunters have taken too many female mountain goats (nannies) in the past three years and surveys tend to indicate a downward trend in the population. Modest harvest of male mountain goats, (billies) has very little if any affect on populations. However, research and historical trend information suggest that over harvest of female mountain goats can have negative impacts on population stability.

Wrede noted that reproduction and recruitment in mountain goats is very low compared to other big game species, and harvest of even one or two females from a small population such as that found in the Black Hills may affect population dynamics for several years into the future.

"The Department of Game, Fish and Parks is in the process of evaluating and improving mountain goat population survey methods and will continue to manage mountain goat harvest in a conservative manner to insure population viability," he said. "We feel the need to approach mountain goat harvest with added care this year to make sure the population does not continue what appears to be a slightly downward trend."

The season would be Oct. 8-30 in portions of Pennington and Custer counties west of Hwy. 79, except in Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Monument and the fenced portion of Custer State Park.

To comment on the proposals, people can attend the public hearing at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 7, at the Swiftel Center in Brookings, or write Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol, Pierre, S.D. 57501. E-mail comments can be sent to wildinfo@state.sd.us. Comments must include full name and address.

-GFP-

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Paper applications must be postmarked no later than May 27. Online applicants will have up to midnight on Monday, May 30. Online applicants should go online to the GFP homepage at www.sdgfp.info, hold their cursor over "Licenses and Reservations" and click on the link titled "Apply for Limited Issue Licenses." Paper applications are available at GFP offices, many license agents and can be viewed/printed from the GFP website.