Bulletin: Federal Subsistence Board Approves 10-day Moose Season Extension in the FM1203 hunt area of Unit 12

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) approved Emergency Wildlife Special Action Request WSA26-13 as modified by the Office of Subsistence Management (OSM), regarding moose in Unit 12. The Board’s action was conducted via email consistent with the time sensitivity of the request and Board policy. 

Wildlife Special Action Request WSA26-13, submitted by the Northway Village Council, asked the Board to extend the 2026 fall moose season in the portion of Unit 12 within the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge and those lands within the Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve north and east of a line formed by the Pickerel Lake Winter Trail from the Canadian border to Pickerel Lake (FM1203 hunt area) by 10 days, from September 21-30, 2026. 

The Board approved the request with the OSM modification to extend the season by 10 days following the date of Board approval of this request, meaning the season is reopening September 25 - October 4, 2026.

The Board noted federally qualified subsistence users in Unit 12 struggled in recent years to meet subsistence needs for moose, due to warming fall conditions and later arrival of the rut; extending the season by 10 days provides additional opportunity for federally qualified subsistence users to harvest moose. Due to low harvest rates and adequate bull to cow ratios, no conservation concerns exist.

More information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program is on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska. 

Missing out on the latest federal subsistence issues? To receive email updates on Federal Subsistence Management Program activities, send a request to subsistence@ios.doi.gov. 

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