Federal Subsistence Board Approves Changes to Subsistence Hunting and Trapping Regulations

After hearing staff analyses and comments from the public, Regional Advisory Councils, Tribes, ANCSA Corporations, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Interagency Staff Committee, the Board adopted 31 out of the 58 proposals and deferred 4 proposals. The Board acted on 18 wildlife closure reviews, voting to maintain status quo on 11 of them. Some of the more significant decisions, which will be implemented in the 2022–2024 regulatory years, included:

• WP22-03: In Unit 2, for wolf trapping and hunting, the sealing period time was shortened and additional reporting requirements were enacted
• WP22-12: In Unit 6, the deer harvest limit was extended during the January season
• WP22-25b/26b: in Unit 7 a Federal drawing permit hunt for sheep was established 
• WP22-28/29 and WP22-30/31: In Units 7 and 15, the moose season dates were revised
• WP22-39/45: The definition of hare was revised and the Units 9, 17, 18, 22, and 23 hare season dates and harvest limits were revised
• WP22-44: In Unit 18, a may be announced winter moose hunt was established
• WP22-54: In Unit 26A, the moose hunt area was revised
• WP22-36: In Units 11, 12, and 13, modifications were made to add clarity to the AITRC-administered community harvest systems

The Board deferred proposals WP22-40-addressing the take of wolves and wolverines and WP22-07, WP22-08, and WP22-10-addressing deer harvest in southeast Alaska so that staff may gather additional data prior to the Board’s decision. The Board will act on these deferred proposals at its winter 2023 meeting. 

In other actions, the Board adopted Temporary Wildlife Special Action WSA22-01, which revised the permitting for muskox in Units 22 and 23. The Board also adopted a deferred fisheries proposal FP21-10, which established a Federal subsistence fishery in the lower Copper River.

Transcripts from the April 12-15, 2022 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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