The Hunting Alaska Newsletter -- May 2003

• Featured: New Alaska State Hunting Regulations Announced
• Bonus Feature: Wolf Control Works
• Hunting Tip for May
• Upcoming Events
• Recent Threads of Interest on the Alaska Hunting Forum
• Recent Hunting Oriented Additions to OutdoorsDirectory.com
• Subscription information

The Alaska Board of Game recently adopted a number of changes to the Alaska State Hunting Regulations for regulatory year 2003-2004.  This is part of the Board's annual cycle of updating the Hunting and Trapping regulations for the state.

Note that this is not a comprehensive list of all the detailed changes. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game advises that It is the individual user's responsibility to read the regulations themselves carefully for complete information.  Alaska game regulations are available online from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's website.

Keep in mind that these regulations do not become effective until July 1, 2003 so do not affect hunting or trapping seasons that are currently open or that open prior to July 1, 2003. (such as spring bear seasons and bear baiting)

BROWN BEAR
Unit 1D, convert nonresident brown bear registration hunt to drawing hunt.
Unit 4, the NE Chichagof Controlled Use Area, reopen the fall brown bear registration hunt in entire area, Sept. 15-Dec. 31.
Unit 4, create the Bear Cove closed area near Medvejie hatchery south of Sitka. The area within ¼ mile of beach in the cove is closed to brown bear hunting.
Unit 11, change bag limit to one bear per year and eliminate resident tag fee requirement.
Unit 13, lengthen season outside of the Denali State Park Management Area to extend year round, July 1-June 30. This will become effective before the current season ends June 15.
Units 14A, B, C and 16A, aligned seasons Sept. 1-May 31.
Unit 16B, extended season to May 31, eliminated resident tag fee requirement, and clarified one per year bag limit to not count against the one in four bag limit in other areas of the state.
Unit 16B, delay the start of the brown bear season to Sept. 15 in the area within 1 mile radius of Wolverine Cove.
Unit 17, lengthened season in portion of 17B upstream from and including the Chilchitna River to start Sept. 10, and liberalized bag limit to one bear per year in all of Unit 17.
Unit 20D, included the entire subunit in the resident tag fee exemption.

See entire article here, covering changes to Black Bear, Caribou, Deer, Elk, Moose, Mt Goat, Sheep, Wolves, Coyote, Fox, Furbearers, and Miscellaneous regulations.

BLACK BEAR
Unit 1C, prohibit taking white-colored black bears.
Unit 1D, close to black bear baiting, effective spring 2003, the Chilkat Peninsula south of the Haines Highway, and within 1 mile of the following roads--Haines Highway, Lutak Road, Porcupine road to the confluence of the Porcupine and Klehini Rivers, and the Chilkat Lake road from the Porcupine Bridge to Chilkat Landing on the Tsirku River.
Unit 6D, prohibit shooting black bear from a boat. This will NOT go into effect until July 1, 2003.
Unit 14A, change season to no closed season. This will become effective before the current season ends May 25.
Units 14A and B, extend baiting season until June 15. This will become effective before the current season ends.
Unit 16B, revise baiting restrictions on some rivers; the ¼ mile restriction will no longer be in effect on the Yentna and Skwentna Rivers upstream of their confluence. This will NOT go into effect until 2004 baiting season.

CARIBOU
Unit 9B and portions of Unit 17, decrease bag limit for bulls during the fall season. Bag limit for residents remains 5 caribou, but for Unit 9B, only one bull July 1- Nov. 30, Unit 17A, drainages west of Right Hand Point, 17B, and 17C, east of Wood River, only one bull Aug. 1-Nov. 30.
Bag limit for nonresidents reduced from two to one caribou. Season remains Aug. 1-April 15 for Units 9B, 17B, and 17C, east of Wood River.

DEER
Units 1-5, prohibit the use of artificial light to illuminate deer from a motorized land vehicle.
Unit 3 align the deer season on the Lindenberg Peninsula with the remainder of the unit, lengthening it to Aug. 1-Nov. 30, and increasing the bag limit to 2 bucks.
Unit 3, Mitkof Island, the Petersburg management area, lengthen the season by 15 days to Oct. 15-Nov. 15, one buck, by bow and arrow.
Unit 8, remainder (outside Kodiak area), retain 3 deer bag limit, change doe season to start Oct. 1. In area near Kodiak, liberalize November muzzleloader season to any deer.
Units 1-6 and 8, allow antlers attached to an entire deer carcass as evidence of sex for deer.
ELK
Unit 3, separate the archery and rifle drawing hunt for elk, and increase the combined number of permits for the hunts to 300.
Unit 8, redefine hunt areas on Afognak, open Tonki Peninsula, and in the remainder of Unit 8 (except Raspberry Island), change early portion of season to a drawing hunt, followed by a late-season registration hunt.

MOOSE
Unit 1C, Gustavus area, increase number of antlerless moose drawing permits from 10 to 35.
Unit 1D, increase the number of Tier II moose permits from 200 to 250.
Unit 6A, extend moose season to Nov. 30.
Unit 6B, change motorized restrictions for registration hunt RM164. No motorized vehicles may be used for hunting or transporting hunters or gear Aug. 15-Sept. 10.
Unit 9D, convert the resident winter drawing hunt to general season.
Unit 14A, increase the number of antlerless moose drawing permits from 400 to 500.
Unit 14C, Elmendorf AFB, increase number of permits to 25, and establish winter hunt Oct. 15-Dec. 15.
Unit 16B, reestablish resident-only general season hunt Sept. 1-Sept. 20 for spike-fork, 50” bulls. Tier II hunt for any bull Nov. 15-Feb. 28 will continue.
Unit 17A, establish a resident winter registration hunt for antlered bulls during a 2 week season to be announced by emergency order in Dec. or Jan.
Unit 21E, closed the Feb. antlerless hunt.

MOUNTAIN GOAT
Unit 1C slightly expand the archery-only registration hunt area near Juneau (RG014).
Units 1A and 1B, close season on the Cleveland Peninsula, and reduce the bag limit from 2 goats to 1 goat in the remainder of the units (RG001).
Unit 8, modify drawing season to Aug. 20-Oct. 25, increase number of permits, and establish November 1- Dec. 15 registration hunt for residents.

SHEEP
Units 7 and 15(A), expand the Round Mountain permit hunt area to south of Dike Creek and a line from the headwaters of Dike Creek to Juneau Creek, west of Juneau Creek, and north of the Sterling Highway and change general season full-curl hunt to a drawing hunt. The hunt this year (2003) will be status quo—ewe by permit, full-curl under a general season harvest ticket. The new drawing hunt for full-curl, along with the expansion of the hunt area, will be listed in the Winter Drawing Supplement and the new hunt will be held beginning August 2004.
Unit 11, change resident bag limit from any ram to ram with ¾ curl horn or larger.

WOLVES
Units 1, and 3-5 decrease the hunting season length by 2 months to Sept.1-Mar. 31, and the trapping season length by one month to Nov. 10-Mar. 31.
Units 1C, Douglas Island, close to the taking of wolves and create a new management area with guidelines to provide hunting and trapping opportunities once the wolf population reaches a threshold level of 7 animals or if the deer harvest declined due to predation. At that time, a registration permit for trapping would be required and wolf harvest quotas, methods and means restrictions, orientation requirements, and a shortened reporting period would be established.
Units 9 and 17, increase hunting bag limit to 10 per day.
Unit 16, increase hunting bag limit to 10 per season.
Unit 16B, mainland, adopt wolf predation control plan, and allow the use of snowmachines for taking wolves.
Units 20A and 20C, create a new area closed to the hunting and trapping of wolves. The area consists of those portions bounded by a line beginning at the confluence of Healy Creek and the Nenana River, east along the south bank of Healy Creek to the eastern edge of the Southern Anchorage-to-Fairbanks intertie right-of-way, then south along the eastern edge of the intertie right-of-way to the southern boundary of Unit 20(A), then west along the boundary of Unit 20(A) and then across the Nenana River to the west bank of the Nenana River, then north along the west bank of the Nenana River to the Moody Bridge at MP 242.9 of the George Parks Highway, then across the Moody Bridge to the Unit 20(A) boundary, then north along the boundary of Unit 20(A) to the point of beginning. The use of snares 3/32 inch in diameter or larger, set out of water is prohibited in the area.

COYOTE
Region II, Units 6-11, 13-17, lengthen hunting season to Aug. 10-April 30, and increase bag limit to 10.
FOX
Units 11 and 13 lengthen hunting season to Sept. 1- Mar. 15 and increase bag limit to 10 foxes, only 2 may be taken prior to Oct. 1.

FURBEARERS
Units 9 and 17, lengthen beaver season to Oct. 10-Mar. 31, and liberalize bag limit to no limit.
Unit 13, extend marten trapping season to Feb. 28 in entire unit and eliminate sealing requirement.
Unit 13, align opening of muskrat season with beaver season, Sept. 25- June 10.
Unit 13 and 16, extend beaver season to Sept. 25–May 31.
Unit 17, extend wolverine trapping season, Nov. 10-Mar. 31.

TRAPPING
Unit 1C, Gustavus, prohibit the use of snares greater than 1/32 inch or larger set out of water, require traps to be checked every 3 days, and require all trappers to identify traps and snares by attaching a permanent metal tag, or placing a sign within 50 yards of the sight.
Remainder of Units 1-5, require all trappers using a snare 3/32 inch in diameter or larger, set out of water, to identify the snares by attaching a permanent metal tag, or placing a sign within 50 yards of the sight.

MISCELLANEOUS
Unit 1C Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge, require an annual registration and orientation to hunt.
Unit 3, Mitkof Island, create the Petersburg management area and allow hunting for all game by bow and arrow only.
Unit 7 and 15, establish new Russian River Closed Area. No hunting allowed in June and July from the outlet of Lower Russian Lake downstream to the Russian River/Kenai River confluence; within 150 yards each side of, and including, the river. This will NOT go into effect until July 1.

This news item was provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  Please note that these regulations do not go into effect until 1 July 2003.  While this information is believed to be accurate, be aware of the potential for typographical or other errors.  You should confirm the regulations before making travel or other plans.

Bonus Feature: Wolf Control Works

by David Johnson

Almost 30 years ago, early in my career as an Alaska state wildlife biologist, the Associated Press distributed a picture of me nationwide. I was standing in front of wolf pelts ADF&G was auctioning in Fairbanks. A Lower 48 reader clipped the photo and inscribed it: "This is so you can show your children what wolves looked like when they become extinct."

That they are not extinct, or even remotely in danger of becoming so in Alaska, now more than a quarter century after that photo, is obvious. Why else would we still be having rancorous discussions about managing wolves?

Standing above the rancor is the simple reality that properly applied wolf control works. An example from the wolf control program that resulted in the wolf hides I had my picture taken with illustrates.  See entire article here >>>

David Johnson is a 31-year Alaskan and retired state wildlife biologist and supervisor who worked in Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Juneau and Anchorage during his ADF&G career.

We pay for news items published in this space.  If you have a news or feature item that would be of interest to Alaska hunters, please contract us for consideration.

The key to good tasting wild game meat is good field care.  While it might seem complicated at first, there are really three main keys: keep it cool, clean and dry.

Warmth, contamination and moisture are the greatest threats to good tasting game meat. ADF&G says, "To get the meat cool, remove the hide as quickly as possible and get the meat away from internal organs. The warmer the weather, the more urgent this becomes. Meat that spoils the quickest will be around the hip joint in the ham (rear leg). In weather over 60 degrees, it may be necessary to actually place the meat in cool water for 30 to 45 minutes to reduce the heat. A nearby creek, river, or lake will do the job. If this is necessary, the meat must be immediately dried, and kept dry, after removing it from the water."

Clean is the second key.  This is especially true when it comes to keeping gut contents off the meat.  Dirt, leaves, hair and twigs all make for more meat spoilage.  Put the meat in a heavy duty cotton bag to keep it clean.

Dry is the final key.  Bacteria are what destroy the food value of meat.  They thrive on in moist, warm environments.  If we keep our meat cool and dry, meat spoilage will be retarded.  This means keeping the meat covered from the rain and out of the water at the bottom of the boat.

Plastic bags must be used  with care.  Improper use of  bags has spoiled much game meat.  Use them only for transportation or weather protection, and only for very brief periods.

Good meat care takes a little more time and effort, but the reward comes at the table and the satisfaction of doing it right. 

We pay for content we publish in this space. If you have a hunting tip that you think would be suitable here, please send it to us and we will consider it.

• Friday 2 May 2003 - Bear Bait Clinic 6:00pm at Kenai Peninsula Sport, Recreation & Trade Show 262-9368 Alaska
• Saturday 3 May 2003 - Advanced Float Hunting Clinic Anchorage Alaska
• Sunday 4 May 2003 - Navigating with Map and Compass Eagle River Nature Center Alaska
• Saturday 17 May 2003 - Fish & Game Fun Day @ Creamer's Field (Fairbanks, Alaska) 459-7205
• Sunday 18 May 2003 - Navigating with Map and Compass Eagle River Nature Center Alaska
• Sunday 18 May 2003 - Bears of Alaska Eagle River Nature Center Alaska

If you know of upcoming events that would be helpful to Alaska hunters please let us know.   We will consider events in Alaska and elsewhere in North America for publication.

• Sheep country cache Rod in Wasilla Apr 23 2003
• rifle holder for pack Marc Stokeld Apr 22 2003
• Shortened 375 H&H Performance Matt Bradbury Apr 17 2003
• Hunting without a Guide bernie Apr 16 2003
• Spring bear logistics from Ketchikan Ed M Apr 12 2003
• honey burn heat source Kenaimike Apr 11 2003
• Meat processors in Delta or Fairbanks PETE Mar 29 2003
• Laser rangefinders Greg Mar 25 2003

These are a small sampling of the threads posted on the Alaska Hunting Forum in the last 30 days.  The Alaska Outdoors Forums serve over 1,300 page views per day.  You are welcome to read comments.  You may post messages by joining the forum with a simple procedure that verifies your email address.  We archive some messages in the Alaska Hunting Forum archives.

• The Goat Hunt from Hell by Jeff Varvil.  [OutdoorsDirectory.com on-line magazine] Goat hunts can be strenuous and difficult at times, but this hunt set the outer limits for those adjectives.
• Emergency Gear for Alaska Hunts by Michael Strahan.  [OutdoorsDirectory.com on-line magazine] Michael Strahan is an experienced Alaska guide.  These are some thoughts on preparing for emergencies in the field.
• Skinning and Field Care of Alaska Bears -- [New product in our store] In this hour-long instructional video, taxidermists and bear hunting experts reveal inside secrets of skinning, fleshing, salting, turning ears, splitting lips, and rug and skull preparation that makes your bear trophy look its very best. A must-see video for every bear hunter.
• Alaska Safari -- [New product in our store] Here's an Alaska hunting book includes the historic beginnings of hunting and guiding in the Great Land, inside information on choosing a guide, hunting methods, firearms, equipment, survival, and record book forms, and more. Useful for hunters contemplating a guided trip or a do-it-yourself trip.
• Hunting in Alaska -- [New product in our store] Chris Batin's Hunting in Alaska is simply the most comprehensive book on Alaska hunting available. Whether you are interested in hunting moose or muskox, elk or hares, Batin covers the material with good writing and useful illustrations.