A comprehensive mountain goat survey has provided a population estimate of approximately 330 animals in an area of southwest Yukon and northern British Columbia.

Biologist Jean Carey of the Department of Environment said last week it was the first time Yukon and B.C. wildlife officials have worked together on a goat project over such a broad area.

The $55,000-cost, mostly for helicopter time, was split down the middle between the two jurisdictions, she explained during a news conference.

Carey said of the 330 animals counted, about one-third were found on the Yukon side of the border.

The harvest of mountain goats in the territory was halted in game management zone seven in 1979, though the department began issuing three permits for an area south of Carcross in 1986.

Carey explained there was also an initiative in 1998 to issue six permits for the Kusawa area as a joint-decision by the Yukon government and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations to increase hunting opportunities.

The additional permits were issued under the provision the government obtain a comprehensive population estimate for the Kusawa area to support the harvest decision.

When attempts to obtain the information were unsuccessful, the six permits were put into abeyance after three years, and still remain suspended, Carey explained.

The government's sheep and goat biologist said while a review of the harvest level will be undertaken, she's not sure whether the number of goats counted could sustain more hunting pressure.

'We have to sit down with B.C. and find out what and where their harvest is because we really do believe this is one continuous population, so we can't manage them in isolation of each other.'

The survey took place between the Haines and Skagway roads, from the midway point of Kusawa Lake on the northern boundary, south to the B.C.-Alaska border, though as far down on the eastern flank to Ben Mi Cree, at the south end of Tagish Lake.

Goats, she said, are particularly vulnerable to over-hunting because they don't run and hide when confronted. Rather, they stand their ground to challenge the threat with their horns.

It works great for bears and wolves, but not so well against a gun, said Carey.

The goat survey was carried out in February and March, involving 45 hours of chopper time over a five-week period.

'It was the first time we have been able to look at both sides of the border over such a broad area,' she said.

Carey said surveying goats is difficult because it's first of all dependent on good weather up high in the mountains, and the ability to pick up tracks.

The animals have a notorious ability to blend into the background. But if you can find tracks and follow them, there's usually a goat at the end, she said.

Of the three goat permits issued for south of Carcross in sub-zones 7-34 and 7-35, there is generally one harvested each year, sometimes two, and sometimes none. However, Carey doesn't remember all three being taken in a single year.

Game management zone 11, in the Yukon's rugged Logan Mountains east of Watson Lake, has always been open to goat hunting.

It's hoped there'll be an opportunity to survey that population next year, she said, adding it was last looked at in 1975.

Carey said the annual harvest of goats in the Logan Mountains is somewhere between five and 10 animals.