Unit 23 NW Arctic RAC at it again...now they want to close moose

[907MT]

It did not pass.

 

[bbags]

It did not pass.

Is this information publicly available on a website where we can read the details?

 

[Bushwhack Jack]

https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/wsa17-02_complete.pdf

Thanks for posting that! Do you know if this is the official determination? I am assuming based on that read, that the proposal is being rejected, and that moose hunting in 23 will not be closed for non-local residents in the fall of 2017. Is this correct?

It did not pass.

Thank the Lord!

Is this information publicly available on a website where we can read the details?

See the link above from AKlefty

 

[aklefty]

That is the analysis from the office of subsistence management, essentially the recommendation to the federal subsistence board, which is the actual decision maker.

 

[bushrat]

Copy/Paste from the linked document:

For Immediate Release:
April 24, 2017
Contact: Chris McKee
(907) 786-3572 or (800) 478-1456
[email protected]
Federal Subsistence Board rejects request to close Federal public lands in
Unit 23 to moose hunting by non-Federally qualified users

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) rejected Temporary Special Action Request WSA17-02,
which requested that Federal public lands in Unit 23 be closed to moose hunting by non-Federally
qualified users during the July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018 regulatory year.

Although the overall moose population is currently declining throughout Unit 23, harvest by
Federally qualified subsistence users has remained stable over the last ten years, indicating that local
users are still able to successfully harvest moose despite declines in the overall population. In
addition, non-Federally qualified users make up a minority of moose harvest in the unit when
reported harvest is combined with community household surveys. Therefore, closing Federal public
lands in Unit 23 to non-Federally qualified users will likely not have the desired impact to the overall
moose population in the unit and may be an unnecessary restriction on non-Federally qualified users.
In addition, non-Federally qualified users would still be permitted to harvest moose on State lands
and below the mean high water line on many waterways within Federal lands. Many of these lands
are located adjacent to Native Corporation lands, which could cause more non-Federally qualified
users to harvest moose near these areas. If all non-Federally qualified users harvest moose on State
lands, this could lead to overcrowding and increased user conflicts, and would not lessen overall
moose harvest in Unit 23. Therefore, this closure may not have the intended effect of reducing user
conflict issues within the area.

The Board will assess the effects of recent State actions that eliminated the non-resident season and
the antlerless resident season prior to considering a unit-wide closure to moose harvest by
non-Federally qualified users on Federal public lands.

Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web
at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

 

[martentrapper]

I wonder what the vote was!

 

[acg515]

Wouldn't it be hard to argue that moose are a true "subsistence food" in area they were not common in the past, nor available as a traditional food source? Seems to me that this global warming caused by "non-locals" is the reason they have moose to hunt?

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0152636

I was reading some accounts by Natives that back in the day moose weren't very common in the Copper River area because they were being overhunted, they even knew they were overhunting them but they had to eat. Also was reading a book about the Denaina and they claimed moose didn't move into the Yentna or at least weren't very common there until the last 100-150 years. The study you posted is pretty cool and maybe we will have to rethink some things, thank you.

 

[4merguide]

I was reading some accounts by Natives that back in the day moose weren't very common in the Copper River area because they were being overhunted, they even knew they were overhunting them but they had to eat. Also was reading a book about the Denaina and they claimed moose didn't move into the Yentna or at least weren't very common there until the last 100-150 years. The study you posted is pretty cool and maybe we will have to rethink some things, thank you.

It's interesting that as of 2009' moose actually made/(make?) it up to the Arctic Ocean I take it via the headwaters of the Colville/Chandaler rivers. Makes a guy wonder how many polar bears have been taking advantage of that now that they're having a harder time hunting for seals on the icepack?

And yes, Bambi, I would think it would be hard to argue their case as it being a "true subsistence food".... Thanks for the link!

 

[tsunami]

And yes, Bambi, I would think it would be hard to argue their case as it being a "true subsistence food".... Thanks for the link!

Probably no harder for them to do that with moose than it was for APHA/SCI/WSF to make sheep NOT TRUE "subsistence food"

 

[Maverick940]

Copy/Paste from the linked document:

For Immediate Release:
April 24, 2017
Contact: Chris McKee
(907) 786-3572 or (800) 478-1456
[email protected]
Federal Subsistence Board rejects request to close Federal public lands in
Unit 23 to moose hunting by non-Federally qualified users

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) rejected Temporary Special Action Request WSA17-02,
which requested that Federal public lands in Unit 23 be closed to moose hunting by non-Federally
qualified users during the July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018 regulatory year.

Although the overall moose population is currently declining throughout Unit 23, harvest by
Federally qualified subsistence users has remained stable over the last ten years, indicating that local
users are still able to successfully harvest moose despite declines in the overall population. In
addition, non-Federally qualified users make up a minority of moose harvest in the unit when
reported harvest is combined with community household surveys. Therefore, closing Federal public
lands in Unit 23 to non-Federally qualified users will likely not have the desired impact to the overall
moose population in the unit and may be an unnecessary restriction on non-Federally qualified users.
In addition, non-Federally qualified users would still be permitted to harvest moose on State lands
and below the mean high water line on many waterways within Federal lands. Many of these lands
are located adjacent to Native Corporation lands, which could cause more non-Federally qualified
users to harvest moose near these areas. If all non-Federally qualified users harvest moose on State
lands, this could lead to overcrowding and increased user conflicts, and would not lessen overall
moose harvest in Unit 23. Therefore, this closure may not have the intended effect of reducing user
conflict issues within the area.

The Board will assess the effects of recent State actions that eliminated the non-resident season and
the antlerless resident season prior to considering a unit-wide closure to moose harvest by
non-Federally qualified users on Federal public lands.

Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web
at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

As an indigenous American I can say this (circa 1971):

like one and one don't make two
one and one make one
and I'm looking for that free ride [for] me
I'm looking [from] you

 

[twodux]

As an indigenous American I can say this (circa 1971):

like one and one don't make two
one and one make one
and I'm looking for that free ride [for] me
I'm looking [from] you

You could at least attribute your quote to Pete Townshend and call it a "Bargain".

 

[Bushwhack Jack]

Anybody know when the Feds will determine whether or not the restriction will take place for Caribou in unit 23?

 

[Gulkana Rafting]

The fact that the Caribou closer is still on the table and has not been decided on yet is a mess.

When I first posted about this sometime may of 2016 I was forced to cancel and or move 12 hunts out of Unit 23. We took a huge $ hit but we have the flexibility not to allow this to burry the business. I retooled my web site warning all hunters to avoid this unit until the political gamesmanship clean itself up. As an outfitter I am not willing to offer any hunting service in unit 23 because of the mess 2016 was. Yes Moose may have survived but who in their right mind gambled that it would work and really who wants to gamble on 2018.

We are a small operation and no big deal but the pilots who make 70% of their annual income from Aug through September are really hurting.

My advice is look at another unit boys...This will shake out but not quickly. Our 2017 season is down 25% but I don't fear the mess we had in unit 23 last May!

Walt
Northwest Alaska Back Country Outfitters
Drop Camps and Float Hunts- Unit 26 and 25-ANWR
www.northwestalaska.net
907-259-4290