https://aksportingjournal.com/...central-alaska-gmus/


Feds Close Caribou Hunts In Three Southcentral Alaska GMU’s

By chrisco2 June19, 2024

The following press release is courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior:

Federal Subsistence Board Closes Federal Public Lands to Caribou Hunting by all Users in Units 11, 12 remainder, and 13 for 2024-2025

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) approved Wildlife Special Action WSA24-02 with modification. The approved action closes Federal public lands to caribou hunting by all users in Units 11, 12 remainder, and 13 for the 2024/2025 regulatory year due to conservation concerns. The modification to WSA24-02 provides exceptions for traditional religious ceremonies and cultural/educational program permit harvest and postpones a decision on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Section 804 user prioritization analysis (Section 804 analysis) to the February 2025 Board fisheries regulatory meeting through consideration of Wildlife Proposal WP25-01. No action was taken on WSA24-03.

WSA24-02, submitted by the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Subsistence Resource Commission, requested closure of all Federal caribou hunts on the Nelchina herd in Units 11, 12 remainder and 13 to all users for the 2024/2025 regulatory year, which begins July 1, 2024 and ends June 30, 2025. It also requested a Section 804 analysis be conducted for the Nelchina Caribou Herd. WSA24-03, submitted by the Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office, made the same request. Both requests were due to continued decline of the Nelchina caribou herd population.


The Board stated that conservation concerns warrant a closure to caribou hunting on Federal public lands in Units 11, 12 remainder, and 13 by all users. The Nelchina Caribou Herd population has declined precipitously to only 6,983 caribou in October 2023, far below population objectives of 35,000-40,000 caribou. Removing harvest pressure will aid in the recovery of the herd. Although this closure will reduce opportunity for federally qualified subsistence users this year, it will help ensure the long-term viability of the Nelchina Caribou Herd and subsistence opportunity in the future. This closure is consistent with ANILCA Section 816(b), and support for the closure was indicated during Tribal and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) corporation consultations and public hearings.


The Board additionally stated that allowing caribou harvests for memorial potlatches and cultural programs is essential for cultural continuation and to ensure transfer of knowledge through generations. The potential harvest of a few caribou for this purpose will not pose a conservation concern but will provide a meaningful opportunity for federally qualified subsistence users to maintain connection with caribou. The Board also supported the Section 804 analysis going through the full regulatory process to allow time for input from the Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils and the public. Taking action at the February 2025 Board meeting will ensure the results of the Section 804 analysis will be available to utilize in management decisions in time for the next Nelchina Caribou hunt season if there is any harvestable surplus that would allow for a limited subsistence harvest opportunity.


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.


Missing out on the latest Federal subsistence issues? If you’d like to receive emails and notifications on the Federal Subsistence Management Program you may subscribe for regular updates by emailing fws-fsb-subsistence-request@lists.fws.gov.

quote:

The Board additionally stated that allowing caribou harvests for memorial potlatches and cultural programs is essential for cultural continuation and to ensure transfer of knowledge through generations. The potential harvest of a few caribou for this purpose will not pose a conservation concern but will provide a meaningful opportunity for federally qualified subsistence users to maintain connection with caribou.

sorry but on a herd of 6893 any harvest will reduce the chance to recover for sure ... we have seen that in quebec and labrador.

This is so typical for eskimos and Indians not caring, they just want and want and want
They never get the fact, they are the same problem they accuse white of the same
And that board is crewed up in the head

Sounds like they should eat more marine mammals like seals, walrus, etc this season.

The terrible thing is the Alaska Hunting forum is mostly full of this tripe.

There is nothing wrong with this decision. The Nelchina herd is apparently in crash mode. The Federal subsistence area, BTW, does not cover the majority of (for instance) Unit 13. It is an area with some separate hunting rules, which most AK residents can't utilize anyway, unless you meet the Federal Subsistence rules.

But you don't care. Have you ever hunted caribou in those areas? I doubt it. You are using it for racist baloney about "eskimos and Indians" and "eat more sea mammals" (which don't exist in Unit 13). Oh by the way, there have times Alaskan tribes have shared harvests when other villages have had salmon run failures.

And unless you are an Alaska resident, you can't hunt caribou in Unit 13.

Give it a rest. Leave the political crap out, post your Alaskan hunt results - if you have one.

quote:

Originally posted by A7Dave:
The terrible thing is the Alaska Hunting forum is mostly full of this tripe.

There is nothing wrong with this decision. The Nelchina herd is apparently in crash mode. The Federal subsistence area, BTW, does not cover the majority of (for instance) Unit 13. It is an area with some separate hunting rules, which most AK residents can't utilize anyway, unless you meet the Federal Subsistence rules.

But you don't care. Have you ever hunted caribou in those areas? I doubt it. You are using it for racist baloney about "eskimos and Indians" and "eat more sea mammals" (which don't exist in Unit 13). Oh by the way, there have times Alaskan tribes have shared harvests when other villages have had salmon run failures.

And unless you are an Alaska resident, you can't hunt caribou in Unit 13.

Give it a rest. Leave the political crap out, post your Alaskan hunt results - if you have one.

I only mentioned the sea mammals because the article makes it look like there won't be enough for subsistance hunting. That would indicate to me another meat source would be needed not only to feed the people, but allow the caribou to recover. Harvests of sea mammals could easily be transported to those in need.

Now, if as you say there will not be any 'suffering' either way then fine. Don't get upset for my suggestion. It was only a thought to help the situation and nothing more. I certainly never meant it as some sort of insult.

And I SAY WHAT I say because we all are in this together
It’s all about conservation and that to me is, if there is a problem then we all pull together and not using preferential treatments just because it is there

quote:

Originally posted by A7Dave:
The terrible thing is the Alaska Hunting forum is mostly full of this tripe.

There is nothing wrong with this decision. The Nelchina herd is apparently in crash mode. The Federal subsistence area, BTW, does not cover the majority of (for instance) Unit 13. It is an area with some separate hunting rules, which most AK residents can't utilize anyway, unless you meet the Federal Subsistence rules.

But you don't care. Have you ever hunted caribou in those areas? I doubt it. You are using it for racist baloney about "eskimos and Indians" and "eat more sea mammals" (which don't exist in Unit 13). Oh by the way, there have times Alaskan tribes have shared harvests when other villages have had salmon run failures.

And unless you are an Alaska resident, you can't hunt caribou in Unit 13.

Give it a rest. Leave the political crap out, post your Alaskan hunt results - if you have one.

so only alaskans living in unit13 can share their knowledgde and beliefs on what can or what should be done. i imagine Federal Subsistence Board disagreed with you. what i can say is that if you want a population that low on numbers to be back you need to stop all harvest we have seen that in other northern parts of north america. funny when the Yukon and Alaska are deciding to close caribou hunts you did not express any views on that even when the first nations agreed to not take any even for ceremonial purpose ... what are your thoughts on the stop of fishing salmons?