The Noatak Preserve closure was officially extended last week indefinitely until the caribou herd reaches a population of over 200,000 animals. This does not affect our caribou hunts as we have been operating under the assumption that it would not open back up.
Meeting Minutes:
For Immediate Release:
April 11, 2024
Federal Subsistence Board approves changes to subsistence hunting and trapping regulations
The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) met April 2-5, 2024, to consider proposed changes to Federal subsistence hunting and trapping regulations and a request to reconsider a prior action that established a new federal fishery in the lower Copper River. The Board also conducted Tribal and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation consultations on wildlife regulatory proposals.
After hearing staff analyses and comments from the public, Regional Advisory Councils, Tribes and ANCSA Corporations, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Interagency Staff Committee, the Board adopted 27 out of the 38 proposals and deferred 1 proposal. The Board acted on 18 wildlife closure reviews, voting to maintain status quo on 15 of them.
Some of the more significant decisions, which will be implemented in the
2024–2026 regulatory years (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026), included:
*
Federal public lands in Unit 23 were closed to caribou hunting by non-federally qualified users from Aug. 1 – Oct. 31 unless the Western Arctic Caribou Herd population exceeds 200,000 caribou. (WP24-30/31)
* […] Transcripts from the April 2-5 meeting will be posted at https://www.doi.gov/