Bulletin: Public Meeting and Hearing Announced Regarding 2026 Unit 7 Federal Subsistence Caribou Hunt

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will hold a public meeting and hearing to share information and solicit comments on the fall 2026 federal subsistence caribou hunt in Unit 7. The USFS is considering extending, under delegation of authority, the restriction to harvest bulls only in the federal subsistence FC0702 registration hunt for caribou during the remainder of the 2026 season in Unit 7 and is seeking the public’s input.

The meeting and hearing will be held telephonically on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026, at 5pm. Opportunity will be provided for the public to share information, interact with federal managers, and offer testimony.

The public is encouraged to participate in this meeting by calling the telephone number below. When prompted, enter the conference ID.

Public Meeting/Hearing Information:

Tuesday, October 6th, 2026, at 5pm
Teleconference: +1 202-650-0123
Conference ID: 813 062 124#

Fall 2026 Harvest Management

Based on aerial surveys conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), there has been a steep decline in the Kenai Mountains caribou herd. Accordingly, ADF&G restricted the harvest of caribou in the DC001 drawing hunt to bulls only. 

The Kenai Mountains caribou herd has been on a steady decline since its peak of 375 animals in 2001. This decline intensified between 2020 and 2022. The most recent minimum count of the Kenai Mountains herd was 62 animals. Factors driving the decline in the herd are likely related to natural population dynamics, winter conditions, and limited winter range. 

The Federal Subsistence Board delegated authority to the Seward District Ranger to manage the Unit 7 FC0702 caribou hunt. In order to address this conservation concern while maintaining the greatest sustainable opportunity for subsistence harvest, the federal hunt was closed to the harvest of cows on August 7th. This action is effective for 60 days and expires October 8th. A public hearing is scheduled for October 6th to solicit public input on extending the cow caribou closure through the end of the 2026 season on December 31^st. 

Maps of federal lands within Unit 7 are available at USFS offices or online at https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-11/unit7portrait508.pdf.

For additional information, contact USFS Subsistence Program Manager Andrew Sanders at 907-424-4759. 

Information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found 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 emails updates on Federal Subsistence Management Program activities, send a request to subsistence@ios.doi.gov. 

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