Feral goat

Scientific name: Capra hircus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Feral goats display highly variable coat colours (white, black, brown, or pied) and typically bear beards on both sexes. Males are noticeably larger and develop prominent curved horns; females are smaller with shorter horns or none.

Size and weight

Males: 45–100 kg, body length 120–150 cm. Females: 30–60 kg, body length 110–140 cm.

Habitat

Feral goats inhabit rugged, steep terrain including rocky slopes, cliffs, scrubland, and semi-arid grasslands. They thrive from sea level to alpine zones (up to 4,000 m), preferring areas with sparse vegetation and escape terrain.

Distribution

Found worldwide on six continents, typically in mountainous or semi-arid regions. Most abundant on islands and in Mediterranean-type climates with mixed rocky and vegetated terrain.

Diet

Feral goats are opportunistic grazers and browsers, consuming grasses, shrubs, forbs, leaves, and bark; diet shifts seasonally toward available vegetation and moisture sources.

Behaviour

Primarily diurnal but become nocturnal under pressure; highly mobile and gregarious, moving between high ridges (daytime) and lower feeding areas. They are agile climbers and possess excellent balance on vertical terrain.

Hunting tips

Look for distinctive pellet droppings, hoof prints on trails and loose scree, and rubbed vegetation on ridges. Approach from above when possible, moving slowly along ridge lines during early morning or late afternoon when goats feed. Use terrain features for concealment and stalk into wind, as goats possess excellent vision and scent detection; glass steep slopes carefully from a distance before committing to an approach.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 5 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.