Federal Subsistence Board approves changes to subsistence hunting and trapping regulations

For Immediate Release:
April 11, 2024

https://www.doi.gov/subsistencenewsgeneral/federal-subsistence-board-approves-changes-subsistence-hunting-and-trapping

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) met April 2-5, 2024, to consider proposed changes to Federal subsistence hunting and trapping regulations and a request to reconsider a prior action that established a new federal fishery in the lower Copper River.  The Board also conducted Tribal and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation consultations on wildlife regulatory proposals.  

After hearing staff analyses and comments from the public, Regional Advisory Councils, Tribes and ANCSA Corporations, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Interagency Staff Committee, the Board adopted 27 out of the 38 proposals and deferred 1 proposal.  The Board acted on 18 wildlife closure reviews, voting to maintain status quo on 15 of them.  

Some of the more significant decisions, which will be implemented in the  
2024–2026 regulatory years (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026), included:

• The mountain goat season in Unit 1C within the drainages of the Chilkat Range south of the south bank of the Endicott River was extended to Jul. 24—Dec. 31. (WP24-02)
• Federal public lands in portions of Unit 4 around Angoon, Pelican, and Hoonah were closed to deer hunting by non-federally qualified users from Nov. 1-10. (WP24-04, WP24-05, WP24-06)
• The harvest limit for caribou in Units 13A and 13B changed from “2 caribou” to “up to 2 caribou, the BLM Glenallen Field Office manager was delegated authority to close, reopen, and adjust season dates, set harvest limits including any needed sex restrictions, and set any needed permit conditions for caribou in Units 13A and 13B. The Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission will be consulted whenever any in-season management actions occur. (WP24-09)
• The harvest limit for deer in Unit 8 increased to four deer. (WP24-11)
• The moose season in Unit 9B was extended 10 days to Aug. 27 – Sept. 25. (WP24-12)
• A “may be announced” season was established for a resident caribou herd within Katmai National Preserve in Unit 9C for residents of Igiugig and Kokhanok only, and authority was delegated to the Katmai National Park and Preserve superintendent to manage the hunt. (WP24-15)
• The Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Herd hunt area in Units 17A and 17C was expanded. (WP24-18)
• The moose season in a portion of Unit 18 around Quinhagak was extended to October 15, and the hunt area descriptor was modified. (WP24-19)
• The communities of Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Kwigillingok, and Quinhagak were added to the group of communities eligible to harvest moose in the Kuskokwim River hunt area in Unit 18. (WP24-21)
• The sheep harvest limit was reduced in the portion of Units 24A and 24B within Gates of the Arctic National Park (excluding residents of Anaktuvuk Pass), from 3 sheep, no more than one of which may be an ewe, to 1 ram. (WP24-25)
• Sheep hunting on Federal public lands in Unit 24A and Unit 26B west of the Sagavanirktok River was closed to all users for the 2024-2026 wildlife regulatory cycle. (WP24-26)
• The individual caribou harvest limit was reduced across the range of the Western Arctic caribou herd (Units 21D remainder, 22, 23, 24B remainder, 24C, 24D, and the southwestern portion of Unit 26A) to 15 caribou/year, only one of which may be a cow. (WP24-28)
• Federal public lands in Unit 23 were closed to caribou hunting by non-federally qualified users from Aug. 1 – Oct. 31 unless the Western Arctic Caribou Herd population exceeds 200,000 caribou. (WP24-30/31)
• The marten trapping season was extended in Units 20E and 25B until March 15. (WP24-32)
• The fall moose season was extended in Units 25B, 25C, and 25D remainder until October 15. (WP24-33)
• The Unit 26C muskox hunt was changed to a “may be announced” season with a harvest limit of one muskox, and authority was delegated to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge manager to manage the hunt. (WP24-38)

The Board also discussed Delegation of Authority letters.  They delegated additional authority to the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Manager to set the number of permits available by community for the Nushagak Peninsula caribou hunt in Units 17A and 17C.  They opposed a request to rescind the delegation of authority letter to the Cordova District Ranger for in-season management of moose and deer in Unit 6.

The Board deferred wildlife proposal WP24-01 until the Board’s summer 2024 work session.  This proposal requests to allow the sale of brown bear hides statewide.  

The Board opposed the request to reconsider a prior action that established a new Federal subsistence fishery in the lower Copper River (RFR22-01).  The Federal Lower Copper River Area fishery will continue to open June 1-September 30.  

The Board also received a briefing on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Wood Bison Plan, a briefing on Alaska House Joint Resolution 22, an update on Council correspondence, and discussed topics of concern with the Regional Advisory Councils.

The Board confirmed the 2024 Summer work session to take place on August 7-8, 2024.

Transcripts from the April 2-5 meeting will be posted at https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/library/transcripts/federal-subsistence-board when available.

Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

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