Hunting News

Biological Status

 

Overall trends from the 2021 fall Trend Count Areas (TCAs) appear to be promising. All trend areas appear stable, but with lower production and recruitment again this year. With that said, adult moose numbers in the Nowitna and upper Koyukuk Refuges remain below average. Refuge biologists recommend a conservative harvest strategy for GMUs 21B, upper 21D and 24D under consideration and do not support cow or bull harvest at this time. However, the population in the lower portion of GMU 21D (Kaiyuh and Koyukuk River mouth) has stopped growing. Though numbers are still above the long-term average for cows and bulls, yearling recruitment and calf production/survival to fall are good, but not as high as they had been in years past (See attached Moose Trend Survey Summary 2021).

Sightability was good or excellent most days because of high overcast and adequate snow cover, though heavy frost created a “canopy” in dense brush and forested areas.

We conducted aerial moose trend surveys on the Koyukuk/Nowitna/Innoko NWR from November 5-18, 2021. We completed four Trend Count Areas (TCAs) on the Koyukuk, one TCA on Innoko, two TCAs on the Nowitna, and three TCAs on the Kaiyuh (Northern Innoko). The State survey crew flew one TCA on the Koyukuk. Snow conditions this year were excellent (6”-8” on the ground) everywhere in all TCAs. Temperatures were mostly average (-22 to

+25°F) throughout the survey. Sightability was good or excellent most days because of high overcast and adequate snow cover, though heavy frost created a “canopy” in dense brush and forested areas.

Biological Status:

We conducted moose surveys in November 2021 throughout the Huslia area, including the Huslia Flats and Treat Island trend count areas. Survey conditions were relatively good everywhere we surveyed this year. These two combined TCAs cover a continuous area north/northeast of Huslia totaling 306 mi². Results from this year’s 2021 surveys indicate that adult cow numbers are a little below what we’ve seen the last three years and are just below the long-term average while bull numbers are back up near the long-term average again this year.

Biological Status:

We conducted moose surveys in November 2021 in the Galena area, including the Dulbi River Mouth, Three Day Slough, Kaiyuh Flats, Lower Koyukuk River, and the Pilot Mountain Slough trend count areas. Survey conditions were relatively good everywhere we surveyed this year.

Biological Status:

We conducted moose surveys in November 2021 on the Nowitna NWR, trend count areas extending from the Little Mud River down to the Nowitna River mouth (Nowitna/Sulatna Confluence and Nowitna Mouth TCAs) indicate another decrease in overall numbers. The number of cows fluctuates up and down fairly regularly over the years and may be most influenced by yearling cow recruitment. This year the number of cows decreased again and remains below the long-term average. The overall bull numbers increased from the low observed last year, though is still below average. Because cows decreased this year, the bull:cow ratio is 30 bulls/100 cows. The yearling bull recruitment is down to just 4 yearling bulls:100 cows. Calf production increased from last year to 35 calves:100 cows this year. These results, along with the lower numbers seen in the last few years, are concerning.

COPPER CENTER, AK – Plans for the winter federal subsistence hunt for moose in a portion of Unit 11 were announced on November 1 by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Superintendent Ben Bobowski, the designated federal manager for the hunt. For the 2021-22 hunt, the harvest quota is 7 bull moose. The hunt will open on November 20 and close on January 20 or earlier if the quota has been reached. Hunters are asked to report back within three days of harvesting an animal or at the end of the season if unsuccessful. For recorded information about the status of the hunt, hunters can call 822-7203.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced a change in the harvest limit from one caribou to two caribou beginning at 12 a.m. Aug. 29 for hunting by federally qualified subsistence users on federal public lands in Units 20E, 25C and 20F east of the Dalton Highway and south of the Yukon River. The BLM Alaska Eastern Interior Field Office Manager, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, changed the harvest limit for the federal subsistence hunt to match the harvest limit for Alaska residents under State regulations. State and federal harvest limits may not be combined to harvest more than two caribou. The federal hunt opened Aug. 1 and closes at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30. Federally qualified subsistence hunters must obtain one RC860 joint State/Federal registration permit issued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) for each caribou to be harvested. Hunters should review the RC860 permit conditions. Information and updates on the RC860 caribou hunt are available on the Fortymile Hotline at (907) 267- 2310. Registration permits for RC860 are available online at hunt.alaska.gov and at ADF&G offices in Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Tok, Anchorage, Douglas and Palmer, as well as from vendors in Eagle, Central and Tok. Successful hunters must report their kills within three days online at hunt.alaska.gov, by phone at (907) 883-2971, or in person at the ADF&G office in Tok. Hunters who report by phone must also mail their permit reports or drop them off at the Tok ADF&G office. Unsuccessful hunters must return their reports to the Tok office or report online at hunt.alaska.gov by Oct. 15, 2020. Maps to aid in locating federal public lands near the Steese and Taylor highways are available from the BLM Fairbanks District Office (222 University Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99709) or online at www.blm.gov/maps/georeferenced-PDFs (Choose “Alaska” and “Federal Subsistence Hunting Map Series”). Maps indicating allowed OHV uses are also located at this site. 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. For additional information, contact Eastern Interior Field Office wildlife biologist Jim Herriges at (907) 474-2373 or jherrige@blm.gov. ### The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, 

Federal Subsistence Board eliminates winter cow moose season and closes moose hunting to non-Federally qualified users in Unit 23 (Revised) The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) has approved Emergency Special Action WSA18-04 with modification to close the Federal (Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2018) winter cow moose season and close moose hunting on public lands in Unit 23 except by Federally qualified subsistence users. This closure will expire on December 31st, 2018. 

SPECIAL ACTION: FEDERAL SUBSISTENCE BOARDUnder authority of:   36 CFR 242.10 and .19                                 50 CFR 100.10 and .19 Special Action No: 13-MG-04-16                                                                            Issued at: Sitka Alaska, September 28, 2016Effective Date:  12:01 a.m. Saturday October 1, 2016 Expiration Date:  11:59 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 2016 unless superseded by subsequent special action EXPLANATION:  This Special Action opens a portion of the Katlian River watershed near Sitka, Alaska to the harvest of mountain goats. 

An electronic version of the July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018 Federal Subsistence Management Regulations for the Harvest of Wildlife on Federal Public Lands in Alaska book is now available on the Federal Subsistence Management Program’s website:  https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/wildlife_regs_16-18.pdf. It is anticipated that printed copies of the regulations will be available by the end of July.