Emergency Order - Copper Basin Community Subsistence Harvest hunt changes

Emergency Order Alaska Department Department of Fish and Game

Emergency Order No. 04-06-13 Issued at Glennallen, Alaska
August 15, 2013

Effective Date: 11:59 p.m.  Friday, August 16, 2013

EXPLANATION:
This emergency order changes the moose bag limit for the Copper Basin Community Subsistence Harvest hunt (CM300) in Game Management Unit 11 and in all subunits of Unit 13. In Unit 11, the bag limit will change from one bull moose to one bull moose with spike-fork antlers or 50-inch antlers or antlers with three or more brow tines on at least one side. In Unit 13, the bag limit will change from one bull moose to one bull moose with spike-fork antlers or 50-inch antlers or antlers with four or more brow tines on at least one side.

Read the full Emergency Order at the above link.

Emergency Order - Nelchina Caribou Harvest Changes for Unit 13

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 30, 2013
CONTACT: Rebecca Schwanke
Glennallen Area Biologist
822-3461; becky.schwanke@alaska.gov

ADF&G Emergency Order Changes Nelchina Caribou Bag Limits in Unit 13

(Glennallen) – The caribou bag limit for state Nelchina caribou hunts in Game Management Unit 13 (CC001, RC566, and DC480-483) will change from either sex to bull-only by Emergency Order 04-04-13, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, August 11.

The emergency order allows hunters participating in the Copper Basin Community Subsistence Harvest caribou hunt (CC001) and the Tier I Subsistence (RC566) hunt to take caribou of either sex for one day, on August 10. After that date, all Unit 13 state permit hunts (including the drawing permit hunts, DC480-483) will be restricted to the harvest of bulls only. This emergency order does not affect federal caribou hunting regulations in Unit 13, or any other caribou hunting regulations outside of Unit 13.

The 2013-2014 hunting season harvest quota for the Nelchina caribou herd is 2,500 caribou (2,200 bulls and 300 cows). It is anticipated that the cow harvest on August 10 under state subsistence permit hunts, in combination with cows taken under federal subsistence permits, will be sufficient to achieve this year’s cow quota.

The reduced harvest quota and this Emergency Order, which closes the cow season on August 11, are a result of unanticipated, high natural mortality caused by deep snow and an unusually late spring. The herd’s migration to the calving grounds was delayed and many caribou, including calves, died while trying to reach the calving area. Some drowned in flooded rivers; others likely died from nutritional stress brought on by the long winter, deep snow and late green-up.

Nelchina harvest quotas are adjusted annually to maintain the population within the objective of 35,000-40,000 caribou. Although the population estimate will not be finalized until October, the summer count indicates that the herd remains within population objectives. While this year’s harvest quota is a reduction compared to last year, this year’s quota is closer to the long-term average for the herd.

It is anticipated that the bull quota will be reached prior to the end of the regularly scheduled caribou hunting
season (March 31). Nelchina caribou hunters are encouraged to check the Nelchina caribou hotline (267-2304) or Community Harvest hotline (822-6789) prior to hunting for updates on the reported harvest and any additional emergency closures.

Also read more HERE from the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer

Summary of Regulation Changes Adopted by Board of Game beginning July 1, 2013

This is a summary of changes adopted by the Alaska Board of Game for regulatory year 2013-2014. This is not a comprehensive list of all the detailed changes. It is your responsibility to read the Alaska Hunting Regulations and Alaska Trapping Regulations carefully for complete information.

These regulations do not become effective until July 1, 2013 so do not affect hunting or trapping seasons that are currently open or that open prior to July 1, 2013 unless specified (such as spring bear seasons and bear baiting).

HUNTING

BLACK BEAR
Unit 17, increased the bag limit to three black bears and no closed season for both residents and nonresidents.

BAITING CHANGES EFFECTIVE SPRING 2014
Units 7, 13D, 15 and 16, allow brown bears to be taken at bait stations during open black bear baiting seasons with a bear baiting permit. The same restrictions that apply to black bear baiting apply to brown bear baiting. The edible meat of brown bears taken over bait must be salvaged.

BROWN BEAR
Unit 1C, change the bag limit in Berner’s Bay drainages from one bear every 4 regulatory years to 1 bear every regulatory year.  Season dates stay the same.

Units 7 and 15, changed the bag limit from one bear every four regulatory years to one bear every regulatory year, and changed the season dates from Sept. 15 – Nov. 30 and Apr. 1 – June 15 to Sept. 1 – May 31.

Unit 9, extended the spring season in the general registration hunts by 6 days, new season dates May 10-May 31.

Units 13E and 16A, removed the resident tag fee requirement in Denali State Park.

Unit 16, retain no closed season except the area within one mile of the mouth of Wolverine Creek.


CARIBOU
Portions of units 9A, 9B, 9C, 17A, 17B, 17C, 18, 19A, and 19B (the Mulchatna Herd), change the general season caribou hunt to a registration hunt and align all bag limits to 2 caribou with seasonal restrictions on bull harvests. The season dates for the winter hunt in Unit 9C that is open by emergency order only was shortened to end March 15 and is still open by emergency order only.

Unit 9D (Southern Alaska Peninsula Herd), establish a Tier II subsistence hunt, effective this fall, 2013. Bag limit is 1 caribou, season dates Aug. 1 – Sept. 30 and Nov. 15 – Mar. 31. Applications will be available May 1. Applications will be accepted by mail and online only, the application period is May 1 – May 31, 2013.

Unit 13, change the bag limit for drawing caribou from bull to caribou; the dept. can restrict the bag limit if biologically necessary. Also increased the amount of permits available by 2,000 (up from 3,000 to 5,000).
14A, expanded the existing 14B drawing permit to include 14A and added a winter season that may be announced.

Units 20B and 20F east of the Richardson, Steese, Elliott and Dalton highways and south of the Yukon River, Unit 20D north of the south bank of the Tanana River, Unit 20E and Unit 25C (White Mountain and Fortymile herds, Zones 1 and 3), added a youth drawing hunt for residents 10-15 years old with a bag limit of one bull and season dates Aug. 10 – Aug. 21. Youth hunters must have successfully completed a department approved hunter education course and must be accompanied by a licensed resident adult that is at least 21 years of age or older. Hunt will first be held in 2014. Also added a targeted hunt with a bag limit of one caribou and season dates to be announced by emergency order. This hunt will be held on a 2 week notice dependent on herd location.

DEER
Unit 3, Lindenberg Peninsula, close the nonresident season, change season dates from Aug. 1 – Nov. 30 to Oct. 15 – Oct. 31 and decrease the bag limit from two bucks to one buck.

Unit 5A, create a youth hunt for residents and nonresidents, season dates Oct. 15-Oct. 31, with a bag limit of one buck. Youth hunters must have successfully completed a department approved hunter education course and must be accompanied by a licensed resident adult that is at least 21 years of age or older. Proxy hunting is not allowed during this hunt.  This hunt does not affect the current Nov. 1-Nov. 30 season for residents and nonresidents.

ELK
Unit 3, modify elk permit hunt area to exclude Zarembo Island (currently closed under discretionary authority), and close season on Zarembo, Bushy, Shrubby and the Kashevarof islands.

MOOSE
Unit 6C, added a resident only winter registration hunt, bag limit is one moose, season dates Nov. 1 – Dec. 31. This hunt is a mop-up registration hunt that will only be held if there are available moose after the drawing hunt closes.

Units 7 (excluding hunt DM210, the Placer River drainages and that portion of the Placer Creek (Bear Valley) drainage outside the Portage Glacier Closed Area) and 15, changed the legal animal from one bull with 50-inch antlers or antlers 4 with or more brow tines on one side to one bull with spike or 50-inch antlers or antlers with 4 or more brow tines. Sealing of antlers is required within 10 days of take.

Units 11, 12, 13 Community Subsistence Harvest Hunts, for 2013: increased the number of bulls that do not meet antler restrictions from 70 to 100. For 2014, added a Dec. 1- Dec. 31 season to the community harvest hunt and allocated any bull permits to one permit per every three households in the group.

Unit 13, effective 2014. changed the season dates for the antlerless moose drawing hunt to Oct.1 – 31 and Mar. 1 – Mar. 30 Added a winter registration hunt for bulls only, season dates Dec. 1- Dec. 31. Permits will be available from Nov. 17-Nov. 28, 2014 in the Glennallen ADF&G office only.

Unit 14, expanded the targeted hunt (formerly hot spot hunt) area to include Unit 14B and allows take by shotgun with slugs or archery only.

Unit 16B mainland, added a resident drawing hunt with a bag limit of one bull, season dates Aug. 20 – Sept. 25 and added a youth drawing hunt for those age 10-17 with a bag limit of one bull, season dates Aug. 20 – Sept. 25 and Nov. 15 – Dec. 15. Both hunts will begin in 2014. Also increased and aligned the nonresident season with the resident season, season dates are now Aug. 20 – Sept. 25 for both, effective fall of 2013
.
Unit 17A, increase the resident bag limit from 1 to 2, only one of which may be taken from Aug. 25 – Sept. 20. Extended the 14 day winter hunt to 31 days, there was no change to the Dec. 1 – Jan. 31 window for the season and hunt is open by emergency order only. The dept. will set a quota for cow moose and will close that portion of the hunt once the quota has been reached. Establish a nonresident drawing hunt, bag limit is 1 bull with 50 inch antlers or antlers with 4 or more brow tines on one side, season dates Sept. 5 – Sept. 15. This hunt will first be held in September of 2014 and 20 permits will be issued.

MOUNTAIN GOAT

Unit 8, RG480 that portion of Kodiak Island south and west of a line extending along the Spiridon River, following the North Fork of the Spiridon to its headwaters, then going southwest following the spine of the island over Koniag peak to the headwaters of the South Fork of Midway Creek, then downstream on Midway Creek to Midway Bay, extended the season by approximately 3 months, season dates changed from Aug. 20 – Dec. 15 to Aug. 20 – Mar. 20. Increased the bag limit to 2 goats.

SHEEP
Unit 14C, the hunt area for DS123 was expanded to include Ram Valley and Falls Creek drainage.

WOLVES
Unit 15, Skilak Loop Management Area, open to wolf hunting Oct. 1 – Mar. 31, firearms may not be discharged within ¼ mile of Engineer, Hidden, Kelly and Petersen lake campgrounds, the upper and lower boat launches. Use of rimfire firearms for hunting wolves is prohibited.

COYOTE
Units 6-11, and 13- 17, change hunting season to no closed season.

Unit 15, Skilak Loop Management Area, open to coyote hunting Nov. 10 – Mar. 31, firearms may not be discharged within ¼ mile of Engineer, Hidden, Kelly and Petersen lake campgrounds, the upper and lower boat launches.


LYNX
Unit 15, Skilak Loop Management Area, open to lynx hunting Nov. 10-Jan. 31, firearms may not be discharged within ¼ mile of Engineer, Hidden, Kelly and Petersen lake campgrounds, the upper and lower boat launches.

TRAPPING

WOLVES
Units 7 and 15, increase the wolf trapping season from Nov. 10 – Mar. 31 to Oct. 15 – Mar. 31.

COYOTE
Units 1-5, increase the coyote trapping season from Dec. 1 – Feb 15 to Nov. 1 – Apr. 30. Bag limit stays at no limit.

Units 7 and 15, increase the coyote trapping season from Nov. 10 – Mar. 31 to Oct. 15 – Mar. 31. Coyotes may not be taken with a steel trap or with a snare smaller than 3/32 inch diameter from Oct. 15 – Oct. 31.

FISHER
Units 1-5, open a season for fisher, season dates Dec. 1 – Feb. 15 with a bag limit of 1. Sealing is required within 30 days of take.

MISCELLANEOUS
Statewide, prohibit the use of domestic goats and domestic sheep as pack animals while sheep, goat or muskox hunting.

Defined spike, “spike” means antlers of a bull moose with only one tine on at least one side; male calves are not spike bulls.

Definition of Targeted permit, changed Hot Spot to Targeted and defined Targeted as: “Targeted permit” means a permit issued on short notice and a lottery basis to an applicant who has previously registered and is willing to participate in a hunt under short notice.

PREDATOR CONTROL

Unit 1A, a wolf predator control program was authorized in a small portion of the subunit.

Unit 3, a wolf predator control program was authorized in a small portion of the unit.

Unit 15A and 15C intensive management plans, allow the department to hire trappers to take predators.

Region II Board of Game Meeting begins Friday March 15 in Kenai Public Brown Bear work session Friday afternoon

The Alaska Board of Game (board) will meet March 15 – 19, 2013, in Kenai, Alaska at the Kenai Cultural Center, located at 11471 Kenai Spur Highway. The board will consider over 50 hunting and trapping regulation proposals for the Southcentral Region (Game Management Units [GMU] 6, 7, 8, 14C, and 15,) and additional topics and proposals.

The board meeting convenes Friday, March 15 at 8:30 AM, beginning with presentations by state and federal agencies on various topics including brown bear and moose research on the Kenai Peninsula. Upon conclusion of the presentations Friday afternoon, prior to public testimony, the board will conduct a work session with the public concerning management strategies for moose and brown bears on the Kenai Peninsula (Game Management Unit 15).

The board invites oral public testimony, scheduled to begin Saturday, March 16. Anyone wishing to testify before the board must sign up at the meeting location before Saturday at 2:00 pm. Public testimony will continue until everyone who has signed up has been given the opportunity to be heard. Deliberations on the proposals will follow public testimony and continue through the remainder of the meeting.

For more information, see the entire Press Release.

Listen to live audio of the meeting when it is in session at THIS LINK.

Fortymile Caribou Hunt (Zones 1 & 3) closes Friday Sept 2nd at Midnight

The Fortymile Caribou Hunt (RC 860) will close at 11:59pm on Friday September 2nd, 2011 in Zones 1 (Steese Hwy) and 3 (Taylor Hwy) in order that the harvest quota is not exceeded.

Federally-qualified subsistence hunters will be allowed to continue to hunt on federal land in the entire hunt area.

Hunters who have not taken a caribou will be able to continue to hunt in Zone 2.

For more information, see the ADFG emergency order:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/home/news/newsreleases/wcnews/pdfs/releases/08-31-2011.pdf

Nelchina Caribou Hunt - Info You Need to Know

The quota for all Nelchina caribou hunts combined is 2400 animals (550 cows, 1850 bulls).
________________________________________________________________

To all hunters with RC566 Tier 1 permit for the Nelchina caribou hunt beginning August 10th:

This caribou hunt may close by Emergency Order (EO) or bag limit changed to bull only. It is your responsibility to be aware of hunt changes and closures. Call the Nelchina Caribou/Moose Hotline at 907-267-2304 before you hunt for closure and other herd/hunt information. EO information can also be viewed online at:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov (see News and Events).

Please note that evidence of sex must remain naturally attached to the meat if the bag limit changes to bull only.

Prior to October 1, meat from the forequarters, hindquarters, and ribs must remain naturally attached to the bone until delivered to the place where it is processed for human consumption.

Successful hunters must report their harvest within 3 days after the kill. You can report in person, by mail, or online at this link:
https://secure.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=interperm.report_greeting

Unsuccessful hunters must report within 15 days of close of season.

____________________________________________________________

Community Harvest Hunters:

For those hunting under the Community Harvest program, caribou hunters must salvage for human consumption all edible meat from the forequarters, hindquarters, ribs, neck, and backbone, as well as the heart, liver, kidneys, and fat.

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Nelchina Caribou Unit 13 Draw Permit Winners:

For those holding a DC480, 481, 482, or 483 permit, please be aware that these hunts could be closed by Emergency Order prior to the August 20th start date. Use the hotline number and web link above to keep informed on any hunt closures before you head to the field.

Board of Game Approves Major Changes to the Kenai Peninsula

Editor's note: The following information is from Board of Game vice-Chairman Ted Spraker. We thank Mr. Spraker very much for sharing this information with Alaska Hunting News.

I am sure you have heard what was passed at the board but, if not, here is
some of what happened.

We did not close the moose season but came close. The department reported a bull to cow ratio of 9:100 for 15A and 15C and continued low calf to cow ratios. We need at least 20:100 for both just to maintain current low numbers. Starting this fall, our moose hunting season for Units 7 and 15 will be the same as last year for archery and the general season but the bag limit was changed to 50 inch or larger or “4” brow tines on at least one side. Hunters will be required to present their antlers to F&G for inspection and sealing within 10 days of take.

We also approved an intensive management plan to aerially shoot wolves in 15A and 15C but this does not include refuge lands. This is in addition to the intensive management plan to enhance habitat in 15A. The updated predator control plan will be presented and (hopefully) approved at the next meeting in November so the removal effort can begin in January 2012, in an effort to protect calves born next spring. Since we authorized a predator control plan in 15A and 15C, we closed hunting in these subunits to non-residents, following our standard procedure for control areas. We also put a sunset date on the bag limit decision so it can be reviewed at the 2013, March meeting.

My take on this effort: First, KNWR manager Andy Loranger attended the meeting and he sat conscientiously at the front table with Jeff during the entire Kenai discussion. Andy committed to helping as much as possible to increase efforts to enhance habitat in 15A. That was a huge commitment on his part and I am confident he will do all he can. I have little hope that aerial shooting will remove many, if any, wolves in 15A. I believe it will be up to the trappers to increase the take in 15A. To that end, I asked Al Barrette to come to the Kenai next fall with other interior wolf trappers to share their secrets, and he is willing to work with us.

Subunit 15C is a completely different issue as far as hope to rebuild moose numbers. In the past 10 years, or so, 181 square miles has burned that is coming back in good moose browse. Remember the 1969 burn in 15A that greatly increased moose numbers and displaced black bears, resulting in high calf survival, was 135 square miles. The other important difference is moose move off the refuge during winter so the wolf packs that operate on most 15C moose are in an area open to predator control efforts. The “off-refuge” portions of 15C are heavily timbered but if the public aerial permits holders are not successful the department will be allowed to conduct wolf removal, as they did in other areas, using both fixed-wing and helicopters. Barring a severe weather event, we should start seeing positive results in improved calf numbers and recruitment in a couple years. The new “bag limit” designed to protect all yearlings and 2 year olds and many of the 3 and 4 year old bulls (that produce 3 brow tines) should increase the bull to cow ratio in two years. The 50 inch 4 brow rule will probably reduce the harvest from about 300+ to less than 100 bulls in all of 7 and 15. The sealing of antlers will at least make hunters more careful about taking a shot when they are not absolutely sure of the antler size.

The S/F-50-3 brow tine rule has failed due to low calf survival/recruitment and illegal take of mid-sized bulls. When this selective harvest was modeled, in the mid 1980s, those two parameters were clearly the Achilles Heel of the program, so this is not a surprise that even selective harvest cannot save the bull numbers. High levels of predation and poor habitat in 15A, rather than hunters, are to blame for this new restriction on hunters.

Other changes starting July 1, 2011:

The bag limit for black bear will be 3 per regulatory year starting July 1 but
only 1 for non-residents on the outer coast of Unit 7 and 15C. Non-residents
are allowed to take 3 in the remainder of 7 and 15.

The department and board made a public request to increase baiting on the
refuge.

The bag limit for hunting wolves is now the same (5 per regulatory year) on
the refuge and other lands in 7 and 15. It was 5 off refuge and 2 on refuge.

The Homer antlerless moose hunt was approved for next fall.

The Resurrection Creek moose closed area was repealed. This is the Palmer Creek area of Unit 7 near Hope that was closed in 1980 to moose hunting is now open.

The proposal to open beaver trapping on Oct. 10 instead of Nov. 10 failed with a vote of 1 to 5.

The proposal to open the Lower Kenai Controlled Use Area to motorized vehicles failed 0 to 6.

There were no changes to hunting brown bears but a great deal of conversation was put on the record concerning an abundance of bears and need to increase the harvest. The “Species of Special Concern” and lack of a population estimate still has the department ham-strung on allowing more brown bear take.

Moose population (3,000-3,500) and harvest objective (180-350) remained the same in 15A.

Ted Spraker
Vice-Chairman Board of Game