Mountain goat

Scientific name: Oreamnos americanus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Both sexes have a distinctive white, long-haired coat and black horns, hooves, nose, and lips. Males are noticeably larger and develop a pronounced shoulder hump; both sexes have short, curved black horns.

Size and weight

Males: 75–130 kg, body length 150–180 cm. Females: 45–75 kg, body length 130–160 cm.

Habitat

Mountain goats inhabit steep, rocky alpine and subalpine terrain with cliffs, talus slopes, and sparse alpine vegetation. They prefer elevations above 2,400 m (8,000 ft) where rugged terrain provides escape cover.

Distribution

Mountain goats range across the Rocky Mountains and Cascade Range from British Columbia south to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, with isolated populations in the northern U.S. They are strictly alpine specialists, rarely found below 2,000 m.

Diet

Mountain goats graze on alpine grasses, sedges, forbs, and lichen in summer; in winter they browse dwarf shrubs, conifers, and lichen on exposed ridges.

Behaviour

Mountain goats are most active in early morning and late evening, moving between feeding and bedding areas on steep slopes. They are highly social, forming loose bands that may split into small groups; they are extremely agile and rarely descend into gentler terrain.

Hunting tips

Look for fresh droppings (pellets clustered on ledges) and hoof tracks on talus and scree; white hair caught on rocks indicates routes. Approach from above when possible, using terrain to conceal movement and exploiting their tendency to look downslope. Stalk slowly during feeding windows (dawn/dusk), keep wind in your favor, and anticipate their retreat to cliff faces.

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 2 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.