Monday, November 27, 2006

Part of 40-Mile Caribou Hunt Closes Nov 30

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is closing a portion of the winter hunting season by registration permit RC867 for Fortymile caribou in Unit 20E at the end of the last day of November. The portion closed is that part south of an east-west line that passes through milepost 60 of the Taylor Highway (64°00’01’’ North latitude).

According to an ADFG Emergency Order, large numbers of Nelchina Herd caribou are present in the southern portion of Unit 20E and therefore are at risk of being harvested under registration permit RC867, which is intended for Fortymile Herd caribou. No harvest of Nelchina caribou is allocated to Unit 20E, and take of Nelchina caribou in other units during state and federal hunting seasons is expected to meet the harvest objective of 2,000 bulls and 1,000 cows.

Minimal reduction in opportunity to harvest Fortymile caribou in Unit 20E is expected from this closure. Less than 5% of the Fortymile herd is in the portion of Unit 20E where the season is being closed.

From an ADFG Emergency Order dated 27 November 2006

Deployed Soldiers Get Permit Break

Soldiers winning Alaska big game hunting permits that would be used during their deployment have been given an opportunity to use them later, thanks to a ruling earlier this month by the Alaska Board of Game.

The Anchorage Daily News reported it this way: "The board, meeting in Wrangell earlier this month, created an exemption for Alaska soldiers who won drawing permits but had deployed to the Middle East before using them. Instead of losing the permit, soldiers serving in combat zones can hunt with it after returning to Alaska.

The Game Board also agreed to let deployed soldiers transfer subsistence hunting permits to alternate hunters back home in Alaska. Those hunters can use the Tier II permit to provide meat for hunters' families, said board member Cliff Judkins."

Read the entire story >>>

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Nunatak Bench Moose Hunt Closed

ADFG recently announced a closure of the Nunatak Bench moose hunt (RM059) in a portion of GMU 5A near Yakutat. An aerial survey revealed very low moose numbers. Any hunting would be detrimental to the population, according to an ADFG news release.

This closure does not affect other GMU 5 moose hunts, including RM061 and RM062.

Read the ADFG News Release >>>

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Game Board Acts on SE Alaska Wildlife Proposals, Supports Soldiers

The Alaska Board of Game rejected a proposal by the Upper Lynn Canal Advisory Committee to lengthen the wolf season in a portion of northern SE Alaska. The Anchorage Daily News reports:

"The board, meeting this week in Wrangell, did not decide on a separate measure that would have allowed wolf hunters to fly and shoot on the same day because the proposal was withdrawn. The practice remains illegal in Southeast and is allowed only in certain areas of the state.

The Upper Lynn Canal Advisory Committee, citing concerns that wolves in the Chilkat Valley were thinning the moose population, had proposed the measures. The committee's chairman, Gary Hess, said the proposal to lengthen the season was meant to apply only to wolves in the Chilkat Valley."

The board also rejected proposals to open Swan Island and Swan Cove on Admiralty Island to brown bear hunting.

The Board did unanimously pass a proposal design to support military personnel overseas, the ADN reported: "Hunters in Alaska can now use a soldier's subsistence hunting permit and ship that meat to the soldier."

Read the entire article in the Anchorage Daily News >>>

Game Board Acts on SE Alaska Wildlife Proposals, Supports Soldiers

The Alaska Board of Game rejected a proposal by the Upper Lynn Canal Advisory Committee to lengthen the wolf season in a portion of northern SE Alaska. The Anchorage Daily News reports:

"The board, meeting this week in Wrangell, did not decide on a separate measure that would have allowed wolf hunters to fly and shoot on the same day because the proposal was withdrawn. The practice remains illegal in Southeast and is allowed only in certain areas of the state.

The Upper Lynn Canal Advisory Committee, citing concerns that wolves in the Chilkat Valley were thinning the moose population, had proposed the measures. The committee's chairman, Gary Hess, said the proposal to lengthen the season was meant to apply only to wolves in the Chilkat Valley."

The board also rejected proposals to open Swan Island and Swan Cove on Admiralty Island to brown bear hunting.

The Board did unanimously pass a proposal design to support military personnel overseas, the ADN reported: "Hunters in Alaska can now use a soldier's subsistence hunting permit and ship that meat to the soldier."

Read the entire article in the Anchorage Daily News >>>

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Federal Advisory Council Accepted

From a USFS News Release:

The Office of Subsistence Management is accepting applications and nominations to fill seats on the Regional Advisory Councils that advise the Federal Subsistence Board. The deadline for submitting applications is January 10, 2007.

The councils meet twice yearly and advise the Federal Subsistence Board on subsistence management regulations and policies. They also serve as a forum for regional public involvement in Federal subsistence management. Council members are knowledgeable about subsistence, commercial, and sport uses in their region.

For an application or additional information, please contact Ann Wilkinson at the Office of Subsistence Management at (800) 478-1456 or (907) 786-3676.

Why the Decline in Northern Alaska Caribou Herd?

From an article in the Alaska Wildlife News:

Caribou populations fluctuate naturally. But when the Northern Alaska Peninsula herd began spiraling downward more than a decade ago and not stopping, caribou hunters and Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists became increasingly concerned.

The drop was dramatic – from more than 20,000 animals in the 1980s to about 2,000 today. Biologists were unsure what was causing the decline but guessed that predation, poor range, disease and parasites might be playing roles.

Hunting was reduced but the population continued to plummet. The population objective for the herd is about 12,000 animals.

A research project initiated by Fish and Game in 2005 aimed to collect data on the influence of nutrition, disease and predation on calf production and survival within the herd. The work is partially funded with special general funds provided by the Alaska Legislature to enhance game management efforts and is a collaborative effort by three Fish and Game biologists: caribou expert Bruce Dale, King Salmon area biologist Lem Butler and veterinarian Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen.

The Northern Alaska Peninsula herd ranges from King Salmon to Port Moeller. Butler said the herd is important for subsistence and hunters have taken a keen interest in research findings.

Read the entire article >>>

Time to Revise the Advisory Committee System

From an editorial by ADFG Deputy Commissioner Wayne Regelin in Alaska Wildlife News:

"The Local Fish and Game Advisory Committee system is an essential part of the Board of Fisheries and Board of Game process. It provides an effective mechanism for citizen involvement in the fish and game regulatory process.

The advisory committee system was established in 1959 by the First Alaska State Legislature. Over time, the number of committees has grown without limits or any overall plan. Consequently, today we have an unwieldy 81 advisory committees on the books. Some advisory committees represent numerous villages over extensive areas while others represent single small villages in close proximity to other villages that also have an advisory committee. Some small communities have a difficult time maintaining active advisory committees. Presently, 17 of the 81 committees are inactive and some have been inactive for many years."

Read the entire article >>>

Monday, November 06, 2006

Winter Drawing Application Period Open Until December 6

Hunting permit applications are being accepted now for various Alaska hunts, including Kodiak and NW Alaska brown bear, mountain goat, some western Alaska moose hunts, and sheep. The deadline is December 6. Additional drawing permit hunts will be open for application during the month of May, 2007.

A permit supplement describing these hunts is available online. More information about this drawing hunt system is also available on the ADFG website.

Board of Game to Meet in Wrangell, November 10-15

From an ADFG News Release >>>

The Alaska Board of Game will meet November 10-15 at the James and Elsie Nolan Center in Wrangell. The board will consider over 40 proposals on Southeast Region hunting and trapping regulations, as well as other topics.

Proposals have been submitted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, advisory committees, and members of the general public seeking adjustments to hunting and trapping regulations in the Southeast region. Issues to be addressed by the board include trapping seasons and requirements, methods and means, and hunting seasons and bag limits including deer, moose, bear, goat, and waterfowl. The board will also consider proposals to open brown bear hunting in the Swan Cove area of the Seymour Canal Closed area, changes to the waterfowl hunting requirements in the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge, and modifications to the permit system to assist military personnel serving in combat zones.

The board meeting will begin with oral public testimony on Friday, November 10. Anyone wishing to testify before the board must sign up at the meeting site before the announced deadline. Public testimony will continue until everyone who has signed up has been given the opportunity to be heard. Written comments will be accepted on specific proposals up until the proposal is deliberated. Comments may be faxed to (907) 465-6094.

Deliberations on the proposals will begin following public testimony and continue through the remainder of the meeting. Copies of the proposals, the agenda, and the “roadmap” can be viewed online, or contact the Boards Support Section at (907) 465-4110.

Goat Hunting Closure Announced Near Haines

From an ADFG News Release:

The guideline harvest level for mountain goats has been reached in the portion of RG024 east of the Ferebee Glacier and River, west of Taiya Inlet, and south of West Creek. An emergency order was issued to close the season in this area on Wednesday November 1.

Read the entire ADFG news release >>>