Alaska Board Of Game Accepting 2021-22 Proposal Comments

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Board of Game:

2021/2022 Meeting Cycle

The Alaska Board of Game calls for proposed changes to hunting and trapping regulations for the Central/Southwest Region, Statewide Regulations, Areas of Jurisdiction for Antlerless Moose Hunts, and other topics.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE:  FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021

Note: Proposals previously published for the 2021 Central/Southwest Region and Statewide Regulations meetings, and those approved as agenda change requests, will be retained and scheduled for board action at the 2022 meetings. Submitters of previously published proposals may modify and update their proposals by submitting new proposals and providing a written explanation in the justification statement. 

Central/Southwest Region

The Alaska Board of Game (board) is accepting proposed changes for hunting and trapping regulations for the Central/Southwest Region (Game Management Units 9, 10, 11, 13, 14A, 14B, 16, and 17) including the following topics:

Hunting seasons and bag limits including subsistence and general hunts for all species; trapping seasons and bag limits; big game prey populations and objectives for intensive management; predation control areas implementation plans; community subsistence harvest areas; restricted areas including controlled use areas, management areas, closed areas, and closures in state game refuges.

Proposed changes to 5 AAC Chapter 92, Statewide Provisions, specific to Game Management Units (GMUs) within the Central/Southwest Region will be accepted. This includes regulations under the categories of general provisions, permits, permit conditions and provisions, methods and means, possession and transportation, and the use of game. Proposed changes to Statewide Provisions that do not reference Game Management Units will not be accepted for the region meeting. Please specify Game Management Units or areas/regions for which the proposal applies. 

Additional topics: Proposals addressing the Mulchatna caribou herd will be accepted for the entire range, including Units 9A, 9B, 17, 18, the portion of 19A south of the Kuskokwim River, and 19B.

Statewide Provisions

The board is also accepting proposed changes to specific regulations having statewide applicability under 5 AAC Chapter 92, Statewide Provisions, and 5 AAC 98.005, Areas of jurisdiction for antlerless moose seasons. The regulations open on the Call for Proposals are listed are listed on pages 2 and 3, and do not include trapping and hunting seasons and bag limits under 5 AAC Chapters 84 and 85. Proposed changes must be for statewide applicability; proposals specific to regions or Game Management Units will not be accepted unless submitted for the Central/Southwest Region Call for Proposals described above.

Additional topics: Proposals for amending 5 AAC 85.050(a)(3) to open a musk ox hunt in a portion of Unit 26A and proposals to amend portions of 5 AAC 85.025(a)(15) and (20) for the targeted hunt for Fortymile caribou in Units 20 and 25C will also be accepted.

The following topics will be considered for all Game Management Units:

Brown Bear Tag Fee Exemptions

Reauthorization of Antlerless Moose Hunts (State statute requires all antlerless moose hunts be reauthorized annually.)

Statewide Regulations Open on the 2021/2022 Call for Proposals

General Provisions and Definitions:

92.001     Application of this Chapter

92.002     Liability for Violations

92.003     Hunter Education and Orientation Requirements

92.004     Policy for Off-Road Vehicle Use for Hunting and Transporting Game

92.005     Policy for Changing Board Agenda

92.008     Harvest Guideline Levels

92.009     Obstruction or Hindrance of Lawful Hunting or Trapping

92.990     Definitions

Licenses, Harvest Tickets, Harvest Reports, Tags, and Fees:

92.010     Harvest Tickets and Reports

92.011     Taking of Game by Proxy

92.012     Licenses and Tags

92.013     Migratory bird hunting guide services

92.018     Waterfowl Conservation Tag

92.019     Taking of Big Game for Certain Religious Ceremonies

Permits:

92.020     Application of Permit Regulations and Permit Reports     

92.028     Aviculture Permits       

92.029     Permit for Possessing Live Game    

92.030     Possession of Wolf Hybrid and Wild Cat Hybrids Prohibited       

92.031     Permit for Selling Skins, Skulls, and Trophies        

92.033     Permit for Science, Education, Propagative, or Public Safety      Purposes

92.034     Permit to Take Game for Cultural Purposes

92.035     Permit for Temporary Commercial Use of Live Game      

92.037     Permit for Falconry       (Note: 92.037 will be addressed every 6 years)

92.039     Permit for Taking Wolves Using Aircraft      

92.040     Permit for Taking of Furbearers with Game Meat  

92.041     Permit to Take Beavers to Control Damage to Property   

92.042     Permit to Take Foxes for Protection of Migratory Birds     

92.043     Permit for Capturing Wild Furbearers for Fur Farming      

92.044   Permit for Hunting Bear w/the Use of Bait or Scent Lures

92.047     Permit for Using Radio Telemetry Equipment

92.049     Permits, Permit Procedures, and Permit Conditions

92.050     Required Permit Hunt Conditions and Procedures

92.051     Discretionary Trapping Permit Conditions & Procedures

92.052     Discretionary Permit Hunt Conditions and Procedures

92.057   Special Provisions for Dall Sheep and Mountain Goat Drawing Permit Hunts

92.061     Special Provisions for Brown Bear Drawing Permit Hunts

92.062     Priority for Subsistence Hunting; Tier II Permits

92.068     Permit Conditions for Hunting Black Bear with Dogs

92.069     Special Provisions for Moose Drawing Permit Hunts

92.070     Tier II Subsistence Hunting Permit Point System

92.071     Tier I Subsistence Permits

92.072     Community subsistence harvest hunt area and permit conditions

Methods & Means:

92.075   Lawful Methods of Taking Game

92.080   Unlawful Methods of Taking Game; Exceptions

92.085   Unlawful Methods of Taking Big Game; Exceptions

92.090   Unlawful Methods of Taking Fur Animals

92.095   Unlawful Methods of Taking Furbearers; Exceptions

92.100   Unlawful Methods of Hunting Waterfowl, Snipe, Crane

92.104   Authorization for Methods and Means Disability Exemptions

Intensive Management and Predator Control:

92.106   Intensive Management of Identified Big Game Prey Populations

92.110   Control of Predation by Wolves

• Control of Predation by Bears
• Special Provisions in Predation Control Areas

Possession and Transportation:

92.130   Restrictions to Bag Limit

92.135   Transfer of Possession

• Unlawful Possession or Transportation of Game
• Transport, Harboring, or Release of Live Muridae Rodents Prohibited

92.150   Evidence of Sex and Identity

92.160     Marked or Tagged Game

92.165     Sealing of Bear Skins and Skulls

• Sealing of Marten, Lynx, Beaver, Otter, Wolf, and Wolverine
• Sealing of Dall Sheep Horns

Use of Game:

92.200     Purchase and Sale of Game

92.210   Game as Animal Food or Bait

92.220   Salvage of Game Meat, Furs, and Hides

92.230   Feeding of Game

92.250   Transfer of Musk oxen for Science and Education Purposes

92.260   Taking Cub Bears & Female Bears with Cubs Prohibited

Emergency Taking of Game:

92.400     Emergency Taking of Game

92.410   Taking Game in Defense of Life or Property

92.420   Taking Nuisance Wildlife

Game Management Units:

92.450   Description of Game Management Units

Antlerless Moose Reauthorization:

98.005   Areas of Jurisdiction for Antlerless Moose Seasons

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Proposals may be submitted by mail, fax, or online:

Online:             www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.proposal

Email:               dfg.bog.comments@alaska.gov (attachments only)

Mail:                 ADF&G, Boards Support Section

                         P.O. Box 115526

                   Juneau, AK  99811-5526

Fax:                   (907) 465-6094                                                

Proposals must be received by Friday, May 28, 2021 at the Boards Support Section office in Juneau. (A postmark is NOT sufficient for timely receipt).

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You are encouraged to submit proposals at the earliest possible date on Board of Game proposal forms available from the Boards Support Section regional offices and on the website at: www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov. All proposals must contain an individual’s first and last name and an organizational name if appropriate, contact telephone number, and address. Regional proposals must specify the applicable region or Game Management  Unit.

Providing clarity on the proposal form helps the board, advisory committees, and the public more fully understand the proposed regulatory changes. Proposals that are incomplete or unclear may be omitted from the proposal book. You are encouraged to contact the Boards Support Section staff if you have questions or need assistance with completing the proposal form. Proposals published in the proposal book will be referenced with the appropriate Alaska Administrative Code citation and include a brief description of the action requested.  Proposals with emotionally charged language will be rejected or redacted as they detract from the substance of the proposal, may draw opposition not germane to the element(s) of the proposal, and may elicit nonresponsive charges from the public/board members. Proposals not meeting this call or submitted late will not be published.

Proposal books will be available to the advisory committees, agencies, and the public at www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov for review and comment.

Proposals received per the above “Call for Proposals” deadline will be considered by the Board of Game at their Central/Southwest meeting in January 2022 and Statewide Regulations scheduled for March 2022. For more information, please contact the ADF&G Boards Support Section at (907) 465-4110, or email kristy.tibbles@alaska.gov.