During 1989, feral goats were removed from the island of Aguijan by capture and shooting. A preliminary survey estimated the population at 100-300 goats on this 7.2 km2 island. Initially, 22 men captured goats over 3 days by driving them into a net corral. Eight of the 31 goats captured were fitted with radio collars and released to assist with hunting efforts. The remainder were removed. Subsequently, 8 individual hunters used 4 different weapons during 6 hunts usually lasting 6 days each. When shooting, hunters were instructed to select adult females before subadults, and subadults before adult males. In 86 man-days of hunting, 158 goats were shot, leaving an estimated population of 40 goats. Comparison of numbers shot with numbers sighted showed that the requested selection was not statistically significant. Analysis of covariance indicated that individual hunter had a significant effect on the number of goats shot/day. Hunting assisted by radio telemetry was not significantly different from unaided hunting. Previous efforts suggest that with the population reduced by about 80%, total effort needed to eradicate the Aguijan goats would be 215 man-days.
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