More hunting news

You could say, “when it rains, it pours,” concerning this topic, but it’s not all bad. Last week, I talked about the new requirement necessary before you can hunt mountain goats in Southeast – that of passing an online gender identification quiz and carrying a copy of your passing certificate with you while hunting. Personally, I feel this is a good idea. A hunter should know the species and gender of the animal he is harvesting.

I spoke with a Fish and Game wildlife biologist who speculated that this ruling will probably become a permanent requirement for goats and could be expanded to other species like musk oxen, sheep, and caribou. Bison already require the ability to differentiate between genders while hunting.

Another email I recently received from Fish and Game closes all mountain goat hunting for nannies in Game Management Unit 1D. Quoting, “Mountain goat hunters in Unit 1D need to be aware of new regulations which go into effect starting August 1, 2023. Resident hunters who harvest a nanny in Unit 1D will not be allowed to hunt mountain goat in Unit 1D the following year. Non-resident hunters targeting mountain goats in Unit 1D are only allowed to harvest billies. It is illegal for non-resident hunters to harvest a nanny in Unit 1D.”

Continuing, “Selectively targeting males for harvest is important for sustained yield management of goats. Female mountain goats have the lowest reproductive rate of any big game animal in southeast Alaska, typically do not have their first kid until age 4, usually give birth to one kid at a time, and don’t often reproduce every year. This is why females are so critical to the growth and sustainability of the population. A population of goats can sustain itself or grow if males are selected for harvest. Reducing female harvest has the potential to provide more harvest opportunity in the future.”

Unit 1D goat hunters are still required to take the mountain goat quiz and carry proof of successfully passing it with them while hunting.

In addition to the closure of state caribou hunting in the Nelchina area, the state has issued another email restricting caribou hunting in the Fortymile herd area. The email states, “The Department of Fish and Game has set a fall quota for the Fortymile caribou hunt. Using composition, reproduction and survival data collected since last summer’s photocensus, the Department estimates that the herd has continued to decline since last summer, but likely at a slower rate than in the previous 3-4 years.”

“To allow for hunting opportunity but minimize the risk of reducing the population more than desired, the annual harvest quota for the herd will remain at a reduced level this year. The annual quota for the 2023-2024 hunting seasons will be set at 1,000. The fall quota will be 750 (bulls only) for all zones combined. Quotas for the Taylor and Steese Highway zones will be determined prior to the hunt opener based on caribou distribution. The winter hunt is preliminarily set to have a quota of 250, with no more than 100 cows. The bag limit for the winter hunt would be reduced to bull only if the cow quota is met.”

“… To prevent overharvest, the Department may delay the hunt opening for one or more zones of RC860 if caribou abundance near the road system creates a risk of exceeding the overall quota.”

“The bag limit for resident and non-resident hunters hunting in the State of Alaska fall registration hunt (RC860) for Fortymile caribou will remain 1 bull in all Zones (1–4). The hunt will open in all Zones (1–4) on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 12:01 a.m., as specified in the 2023-2024 Alaska Hunting Regulations. Permits will be available July 14th online…and in person in Tok, Delta Junction, Eagle, Fairbanks, Central, Douglas, Anchorage, and Palmer.”

“To prevent overharvest, the Department may delay the hunt opening for one or more zones of RC860 if caribou abundance near the road system creates a risk of exceeding the overall quota.”

Hunters should call the Fortymile Caribou Herd Hotline (907) 267-2310 for updates about the hunt quota and bag limit before departing for the field to learn of zone closures. These seasons and bag limits only apply to state caribou hunts in these areas. Hunters with questions about federal subsistence regulations should call (800) 478-1456.

If you have questions about either of these hunting regulation changes, call the Palmer Fish and Game office at (907) 746-6300 for clarification.