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Species authority page

Feral goat

Capra hircus · Introduced/exotic big game · Big game

Feral goat (Capra hircus): Straight prominent horns (larger on males), rectangular pupils, coarse hair. Usually 25-55 kg, 1-1.2 m at the shoulder, 1-1.5 m long; males about 20% larger. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the feral goat map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Scientific name
Capra hircus
Family
Bovidae
In North America
Introduced
Range
Feral populations occur on islands worldwide, including Hawaii and California's San Clemente Island; NatureServe records the species (Capra hircus) as present in Hawaii, New Mexico and California.
Biology

How to identify it

Straight prominent horns (larger on males), rectangular pupils, coarse hair. [1][2][3]

Usually 25-55 kg, 1-1.2 m at the shoulder, 1-1.5 m long; males about 20% larger. [1][2][3]

All males and some females are bearded; short, upward-pointing tail distinguishes goats from sheep. [1][2][3]

Coat usually black, but white, grey, brown, red or any combination occurs. [1][2][3]

Compared with the feral sheep: Goats have short, upward-pointing tails, which sheep lack (Pacific Science review). [1][2][3]

Compared with the persian ibex: Wild ancestor species; sources read give no field mark separating it from feral goats. [1][2][3]

Species it is confused with

Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.

Field notes

  • Identification Confirm a feral goat before you act. Compared with the feral sheep: Goats have short, upward-pointing tails, which sheep lack (Pacific Science review).[1][2][3]
Field knowledge

Where it lives

Rugged mountain country, rocky crags and alpine meadows; survive on a wide variety of forage with limited water. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Herds with a modal group size of two to four; up to 100 not uncommon, groups up to 200 recorded in Hawaii [1][2][3]

Three herd types: all-male bachelor herds, mixed-sex groups, and females with young [1][2][3]

Generalist herbivores taking grasses, forbs and browse [1][2][3]

Excellent eyesight with a 320-340 degree field of view [1][2][3]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Feral populations occur on islands worldwide, including Hawaii and California's San Clemente Island; NatureServe records the species (Capra hircus) as present in Hawaii, New Mexico and California.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. University of Hawai'i Press, hosted by USDA Forest Service · reviewed 2026-09-30

    University of Hawai'i Press, hosted by USDA Forest Service

  2. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe

  3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology