Alaska Board of Game rejects multiple proposals seeking to alter Galena area hunting and trapping regulations

March 7, 2008
Tim Bodony (KIYU)

Audio version of story, as heard in March 7, 2008 newscast

Summary of proposals considered by the Board of Game, affecting Game Management Units around Kaltag, Nulato, Koyukuk, Galena, Ruby, Huslia and Hughes

Proposal 46 – Hunting seasons and bag limits for brown bear in Unit 21A and 21 D

           Proposed by Don Schwandt

 Would have changed the bag limit to 2 brown bear every regulatory year for Units 21A and 21D

           ADF&G staff recommendation was do not adopt

           Board action: proposal failed by vote of 2 in favor to 4 against

Proposal 50 – To establish a fall moose hunt in Unit 21B on native lands along the lower Nowitna River drainage   

            Proposed by Western Interior Federal Subsistence Advisory Council  

Would have allowed a state hunt, concurrent with existing federal season, on native corporation lands and native allotments, in the Nowitna River drainage, downstream of and including the Little Mud River drainage from September 1 through October 1.   Most lands in question are in the vicinity of Ruby and Tanana.  Bag limit would be 1 bull.   

ADF&G recommendation: do not adopt (concerns raised by BoG and Area Biologist about checkerboard land ownership in proposed area, enforcement, and portion of the proposed season that would fall after September 25, when moose are typically breeding. 

            Board action: proposal failed unanimously, 0-6. 

Proposal 49 – To establish a winter moose season in Unit 21B on native lands, sometime between December 1 and March 31.   

            Proposed by Western Interior Federal Subsistence Advisory Council 

Would have allowed a concurrent state hunt, on native allotment or native corporation lands, at the same time as the existing “to be announced” federal winter bull hunt in Unit 21B, which can be instituted by the refuge manager of the Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge.  Bag limit for the hunt would be 1 antlered bull. 

Board action: no action taken, after Proposal 50 was rejected. 

Proposal 51 – To establish a spring moose hunt in the portion of the Koyukuk Controlled Use Area in Unit 21D by emergency order  

Proposed by the Middle Yukon Fish and Game Advisory Committee  

Would have allowed a “to-be-announced” bulls-only season from March 1-5.     

ADF&G recommendation: do not adopt (concerns raised about difficulty of distinguishing bulls from cows in March, when bulls do not have antlers) 

Board action: proposal failed unanimously, 0-6.

Proposal 63 – To change the starting and ending dates of the fall moose hunt in Units 24C and 24D (amended to apply to all of Koyukuk Controlled Use Area, including Unit 21 portion of the KCUA).   

Proposed by Huslia Tribal Council 

Would have changed season dates for the Koyukuk Controlled Use Area portion of Unit 24 to September 1 through September 27.  Amended version of proposal considered by the BoG called for season dates of September 1 through September 25.   

ADF&G recommendation: adopt, as amended  

Board action: tie vote 3-3, which means the proposal failed
 

Proposal 64 – To require destruction of moose antlers in Unit 24C 

            Proposed by George Yaska Sr of Huslia 

Would have required all hunters to saw through both sides of an antler, and cut them in half at the kill site 

Board action: proposal failed (several BoG members noting that cutting through one side of the antler was sufficient)  

Proposal 65 – To change the dates of the registration moose hunt in Unit 24D, and differentiate between small and large bulls 

            Proposed by the Koyukuk River Fish and Game Advisory Committee

Would have changed the dates of the RM832 registration moose hunt in Unit 24D to the following:
 

September 1 – September 20 (1 bull bag limit)

                             September 20 – September 30 (1 small bull, with spike or fork) 

Board action: no action taken, due to vote on Proposal 63 

Proposal 66 - To change the dates of the registration moose hunt in Unit 24D 

            Proposed by Orville Huntington of Huslia 

Would have changed the RM832 registration moose hunt dates to September 1 through September 30, with a 1 bull bag limit.   

Board action: took no action, due to vote on Proposal 63

Proposal 67 – To allow a permitted antlerless moose hunt in Unit 24D 

            Proposed by Orville Huntington of Huslia 

Would have allowed the harvest of one antlerless moose by permit in Unit 24D, though the taking of calves, or cows with calves, would still be illegal  

ADF&G recommendation: do not adopt 

Board action: proposal failed unanimously, 0-6. 

Proposal 75 – To allow black bear trapping in Units 21 and 24

            Proposed by Colin Brown of Galena

Would have allowed the use of snares of 3/32 cable or larger, or foot hold snares and traps with spread of 7.5 inches of higher, to harvest black bears in Units 21 and 24.  3 bear per season limit.  Season would be open from March 1 to June 10.

Board action: failed unanimously, 0-6. 

Proposal 78 and 79 – To allow the killing of black bears in dens in Units 21 and 24

            Proposed by the Middle Yukon Fish and Game Advisory Committee

Would have allowed the taking of black bears in dens from September 25 through May 1, with assistance from artificial light (flashlights) to look for bear, or to determine if the bear is dead or wounded after shots fired. 

Board action: defer until November 2008 meeting

Proposal 94 – To amend access restrictions to the Koyukuk Controlled Use Area in Units 21 and 24

            Proposed by Colin Brown of Galena

Would have eliminated the ban on the use of airplanes to transport moose hunters, their gear, or moose parts to remote lakes, rivers, sloughs and other locations within the Koyukuk CUA.  Transportation to and from state-controlled airports within the KCUA (i.e. the Huslia Airport) is still legal. 

ADF&G recommendation: no action

Board action: 1 vote in favor, 5 against.  The measure failed