No non-subsistence Alaskan Caribou or moose this fall in two units

[R.K.]

Long story short:

“Federal public lands are closed to the harvest of caribou and moose from August 1 through September 30, 2021, except by Federally qualified subsistence users hunting under these regulations."

This specifically would apply to units 23 and 26A.


Information on the hearing is below, scheduled for April 23. I've never hunted Alaska, but I believe some of you have and maybe interested in adding your two cents worth.

Public hearing announced for Temporary Wildlife Special Action Request WSA21-01 regarding caribou and moose in Units 23 and 26A | U.S. Department of the Interior

A telephonic public hearing is scheduled for 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., or until the end of public participation, on Friday, April 23, 2021, to receive public testimony on a temporary special action request submitted to the Federal Subsistence Board (Board).

www.doi.gov

 

[MTGomer]

What’s the reasoning behind this?

 

[MThuntr]

What’s the reasoning behind this?

The little bit of talk that I've read is hearsay so take a HUGE grain of salt but it sounds like the tribes are using their subsistence claims to control/prevent non-resident hunters which seems weird if these communities rely on outside $ to boost the economy. I started skimming the records for more information and see there are claims of meat wasted that is being blamed on non-resident hunters. That's enough to piss a guy off but nobody could substantiate the claims in previous attempts to limit hunting. There were also claims of COVID stuff. I need to hear more on what's going on.

https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/region-8-3-nov-2020.pdf

 

[R.K.]

What’s the reasoning behind this?

No idea. Saw the link, read the article, thought I'd share it here- hand it off to the experts, so to speak.

 

[Gary]

Its been started by the native corporations to reserve hunting privileges for their members. They've already closed moose hunting in Unit 23 to nonresidents, a few years ago. The feds will probably go along with their requests, just to show how antiracist they are. Kind of weird being so antiracist that you prove how racist you actually are.
IF the real reason was waste of game meat, I wonder why the group (of native hunters) who killed and wasted over 100 caribou a few years back never faced any punishment for their misdeed.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

The little bit of talk that I've read is hearsay so take a HUGE grain of salt but it sounds like the tribes are using their subsistence claims to control/prevent non-resident hunters which seems weird if these communities rely on outside $ to boost the economy. I started skimming the records for more information and see there are claims of meat wasted that is being blamed on non-resident hunters. That's enough to piss a guy off but nobody could substantiate the claims in previous attempts to limit hunting. There were also claims of COVID stuff. I need to hear more on what's going on.

https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/region-8-3-nov-2020.pdf

The number of Caribou we are talking about is almost comical, I agree you would think the outside $ would be a factor.



"Since 2000, an estimated 10,000–15,000 caribou are harvested from the herd each year by subsistence users in communities within the range of the herd...Until recently, nonresident and nonlocal hunters harvested about 500–800 additional animals from the herd; this number has declined to about 250 animals per year since 2016...

non-qualified users (both Alaska residents and non-residents) only contributed to approximately 2 to 7 percent of the harvest since the year 2000, and only around 2 to 3 percent of the harvest since 2016"

The Proposed Closures of Caribou Hunting on Some Federal Lands Isn't Based on Population Declines—It's About Human Conflicts

The proposal would close some Alasaka federal lands to moose and caribou hunting for hunters who aren’t "qualified subsistence users."

www.outdoorlife.com

No reasonable person could think that non-qualified users have anything to do with this... honestly I don't get it, seems like the only effect would be removing the small amount of outside money that is coming in.

Non-qualified users having to use a local guide, that I could at least wrap my brain around.

 

[Bambistew]

@wllm1313 The federal regs would apply, but are the same more or less. You are right it is comical, as is the double standard. The amount of wasted and rotting meat hanging in villages is sickening, all while the locals fret about wasted meat by the non-locals. The state and feds have no clue how many caribou are actually killed, many are no even reported and there is little to no enforcement.

They are being typical hunters. Always looking out for themselves first and everyone else second. Its no different than residents not wanting NR to have the ability to hunt in their state with the same privileges. This just happens to be resident "locals" against everyone else. The claim that non-locals are having any more impact than "locals" with big snow machines and AR15's gunning them down by the dozens is funny. Most non-subsistence hunting happens 100 miles from the nearest town, while the later is mostly regulated to the rivers and closer to town after freeze up. They claim that those far off hunts earlier in the fall affecting their hunts closer to town. I mean it couldn't be that caribou, the most unpredictable animal on the planet, are just going somewhere else to avoid the local hunters. The local hunters today number about 2x what they did 50 years ago as well. They will claim that oral history says this or that rather than science and actual facts that can be backed up.

Moose are not even native to that part of the state in modern history, so claiming subsistence for them is funny. 100 years ago there was virtually no mose north of the Koyukuk River (south slope of the Brooks). The moose in unit 23 have only really been around for the last 40-50 years.

 

[Glockster]

I plan on calling. Hopefully Newberg
(@Big Fin ), Rinella, and others use their platform to spread this.
This would be a good one for bha to get behind. Time will tell who puts up, right now the only ones are outdoor life and a handful Alaska Instagram hunters.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

@wllm1313 The federal regs would apply, but are the same more or less. You are right it is comical, as is the double standard. The amount of wasted and rotting meat hanging in villages is sickening, all while the locals fret about wasted meat by the non-locals. The state and feds have no clue how many caribou are actually killed, many are no even reported and there is little to no enforcement.

They are being typical hunters. Always looking out for themselves first and everyone else second. Its no different than residents not wanting NR to have the ability to hunt in their state with the same privileges. This just happens to be resident "locals" against everyone else. The claim that non-locals are having any more impact than "locals" with big snow machines and AR15's gunning them down by the dozens is funny. Most non-subsistence hunting happens 100 miles from the nearest town, while the later is mostly regulated to the rivers and closer to town after freeze up. They claim that those far off hunts earlier in the fall affecting their hunts closer to town. I mean it couldn't be that caribou, the most unpredictable animal on the planet, are just going somewhere else to avoid the local hunters. The local hunters today number about 2x what they did 50 years ago as well. They will claim that oral history says this or that rather than science and actual facts that can be backed up.

Moose are not even native to that part of the state in modern history, so claiming subsistence for them is funny. 100 years ago there was virtually no mose north of the Koyukuk River (south slope of the Brooks). The moose in unit 23 have only really been around for the last 40-50 years.

All true. I think on this call Non-qualified individuals will be on their back foot.

I think the correct way to approach this is to ask what is the problem, how can we ameliorate it.

We have arrived at this point now twice despite the obvious, I don’t think the facts matter.

I would be curious to hear about the biggest needs of the tribe and how hunters can help.

Perhaps a “trespass” fee where you are paying to land in the village for hunting. $500 a person?

The point being this appears to be a lose lose battle I wonder if it’s possible to create a win win.

 

[AlaskaHunter]

Unit 26a encompasses three different caribou herds: Teshapuk, Central Arctic, Western Arctic
Non-subsistence harvest percentages of each of these herds is relatively small.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

This is a major deal, has precedent, and shows how vulnerable western state hunting - which depends on federal land - is to department rule or executive order. Hunting in the West could end overnight:

How Western State Hunting Could End by Labor Day — Mountain Pursuit

By Rob Shaul It's April 15, 2021 and current US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, suffers a stroke and is forced to resign. In his place, President Biden nominates former Interior Secretary under Obama, Sally Jewell. Prior to serving in the Obama administration, Jewell had been the CEO of RE

www.mtnpursuit.org

Signatures, Weblinks, and Prostaffers

Guys - I apologize in advance for this change, but I am to the point where I really have little choice. From now, on, web links, URLs, and other advertising links/posts will not be allowed in your signature lines or in the forum threads. If you care to do this, you must contact me or Mrs. Fin...

www.hunttalk.com

 

[Glockster]

Point of contact.


Email [email protected]
907-538-5533

 

[Big Fin]

Point of contact.


Email [email protected]
907-538-5533

Thanks for sharing that. Email is on its way.

 

[Kearnsie14]

Point of contact.


Email [email protected]
907-538-5533

Comments emailed. Thanks for giving us that contact information.

 

[Big Fin]

Since when do agencies, Federal or State, only take in person testimony? Here is the reply I got, making me wonder how other Alaskans who are impacted are supposed to provide commentary without extraneous efforts.

Mr. Newberg,
Thank you for reaching out with your concerns regarding the special action request (WSP21-01) proposing a closure in Units 23 and 26A to the harvest of caribou and moose by non-Federally qualified users from August 1 through September 30, 2021.
You may be aware that we are holding a public hearing (teleconference) to gather comments on this proposed special action. For special actions, the Board only accepts comments at public hearings. We encourage you to participate in this hearing by calling the telephone number below and when prompted, enter the passcode. The comments you share during this public hearing will be forwarded to the Board for consideration.
Public Hearing Information:

• Friday, April 23, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (or until the end of public participation)
• Teleconference: Toll Free: (877) 918-3011
• Passcode: 8147177

For special actions, the Board does not accept written comments or comments submitted by email, fax, social media, or phone messages. Any comments submitted outside of the public hearings on this special action request will not be considered by the Board. (bold is my emphasis)

After the public hearing, OSM staff will compile all public comments and present them to the Board. In addition, an analysis, which includes biological and anthropological data, will be presented to the Board. All of this data will be used by the Board to make their decision on this issue.

Again, thank you for your interest in the Federal Subsistence Management Program and we look forward to your participation at the public hearing.

Theo Matuskowitz
Supervisory Regulations Specialist
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of Subsistence Management
1011 East Tudor Road, MS 121
Anchorage, AK 99503-6199
Office: (907) 786-3867
Telework: (907) 357-3095
FAX (907) 786-3898
[email protected]

 

[Kearnsie14]

Since when do agencies, Federal or State, only take in person testimony? Here is the reply I got, making me wonder how other Alaskans who are impacted are supposed to provide commentary without extraneous efforts.

I just got the exact same reply and thought the same as you did. This almost seems designed to discourage comments.

 

[338win]

Smells like they have an outcome they want and would like to bypass the opposition.

 

[Bambistew]

Since when do agencies, Federal or State, only take in person testimony? Here is the reply I got, making me wonder how other Alaskans who are impacted are supposed to provide commentary without extraneous efforts.

The system is set up to provide priority to locals... in person first and call in second. They will play the game by having all their friends and friends dog team call in and get a slot on the phone line. So if you call in call in early and get in line.

The whole system is rigged.

 

[teamhoyt]

Oppose Public Land Closure in Northwest Alaska

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.

www.backcountryhunters.org

Here is a link to sign a petion against this proposal. For whatever good that will do.

 

[ThunderNocked]

Its pretty crazy - I've seen several discussions on Facebook in some of the groups I'm in of guys posting this and the amount of back and forth. It really is an unecessary overeach - will be calling in