Federal Subsistence Board Closes Federal Lands in Unit 9D to Caribou Hunting

From a USFWS News Release:

The Federal Subsistence Board has approved an Emergency Special Action to close Federal public lands in Unit 9D on the lower Alaska Peninsula to the harvest of caribou from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30. The Board's action follows similar action by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Current surveys of the Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd in Unit 9D show a marked decrease in both population and calf survival. The herd began its decline during the early 1980s. Poor nutrition is believed to be the primary factory causing the decline, although human harvest and predation by wolves and brown bears have also factored into the decline.

The 2007 draft plan for management of the Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd sets a population goal of 3,000 to 3,500 animals and calls for closure to hunting when the herd falls below 850-875 animals. In a 2006 survey, Izembek National Wildlife Refuge staff observed only 770 animals.

Both Federal and State regulatory managers concur that the decline of the caribou population in Unit 9D poses a potentially significant conservation concern that warrants the closure to hunting.

For additional information, contact Dan LaPlant at the Office of Subsistence Management (907) 786-3871 or (800) 478-1456 or Sandra Siekaniec at the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge at (907) 532-2445.

Revised Tier II Results Available

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has produced revised Tier II permit hunt results after this month's court decision that forced a new scoring system. The revised results can be found on the ADFG website, and more information about the reasons behind the re-scoring can be found in the Anchorage Daily News.

ADFG explained the change in a news release.

Palin Signs Bill to Prohibit Internet Hunting

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on July 3, 2007 signed a bill sponsored by Anchorage representative Bob Buch that prohibits "internet hunting." This so-called hunting practice allows Internet users to fire real bullets at real game in a remote location. It has been banned in a number of other states.