Bull Moose harvest quota established for Unit 5A, except Nunatak Bench

The Yakutat area received heavy snowfall during the 2011-2012 winter, which may have impacted the overall population. Recent relatively mild winters are thought to have resulted in improved over-winter survival for ungulate populations region wide, and recent minimum calf:cow ratios (24 calves:100 cows and 28 calves:100 cows west and east of the Dangerous River, respectively, in both 2015 and 2016), indicate healthy recruitment. A 2015 aerial survey conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game found the minimum bull:cow ratio (16 bulls:100 cows and 21 bulls:100 cows west and east of the Dangerous River, respectively) had improved from 2013 (12 bulls:100 cows west of the Dangerous River), and even greater improvement was observed in 2016 (38 bulls:100 cows and 35 bulls:100cows west and east of the Dangerous River, respectively). Rapid harvest west of the Dangerous River in recent years and reports from hunters observing high numbers of bulls further indicate a recovering population.

In order to more effectively manage the harvest, the reporting period west of the Dangerous River will be decreased to 24 hours, while the reporting period of 3 days east of the Dangerous River will remain the same. Hunters are reminded that this is a condition of the permit, and failure to report within the required time period may result in a citation. Prompt reporting helps ensure that we do not exceed the quota and continue to rebuild this population and increase the bull:cow ratio.