USFWS Proposal On Nonsubsistence Predator Hunts

A brown bear and her cub walk through sunrise at Kodiak NWR. (LISA HUPP/USFWS)
A brown bear and her cub walk through sunrise at Kodiak NWR. (LISA HUPP/USFWS)

The following press release is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing changes to regulations for National Wildlife Refuges (refuges) in Alaska that would clarify allowable practices for the non-subsistence take of predators on refuges in Alaska and update existing Alaska refuge regulations for closures and restrictions.  The proposed rule and associated environmental assessment was published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2016 with a 60 day comment period that will end on March 8, 2016.

The proposed rule and the notice for the public hearings are available at the following links:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/01/08/2016-22/non-subsistence-take-of-wildlife-and-public-participation-and-closure-procedures-on-national#addresses

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/01/08/2016-21/non-subsistence-take-of-wildlife-and-public-participation-and-closure-procedures-on-national
These proposed regulatory changes for the non-subsistence take of wildlife would apply only to State regulated general hunting and trapping and intensive management activities on Alaska National Wildlife Refuges. These proposed regulations would not change Federal subsistence regulations (36 CFR 242 and 50 CFR 100) or restrict taking of fish or wildlife for subsistence uses under Federal subsistence regulations.

You may submit comments by any one of the following methods:

    1. Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–R7–NWRS–2014–0005, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then click on the Search button.  On the resulting page, you may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment Now!”

 

  1. By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R7–NWRS–2014–0005; Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us.  To obtain general information and to stay informed about the process, please check back on this website.

We will hold nine open houses and public hearings on the proposed rule as follows:

Date City Time of Open House Time of Public Hearing City Location Information
January 26 , 2016 Kotzebue, Alaska 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kotzebue, Alaska Selawik National Wildlife Refuge Conference Room at the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, 160 Second Avenue, Kotzebue, Alaska; 907-442-3799
January 27, 2016 Kodiak, Alaska 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Kodiak, Alaska Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 402 Center Ave, Kodiak, Alaska; 907-487-2600
February 8, 2016 Bethel, Alaska 4 :00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Bethel, Alaska Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Conference Room, 807 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway, Bethel, Alaska; 907-543-3151
February 10, 2016 Fairbanks, Alaska 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fairbanks, Alaska Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center, 101 Dunkel St., Fairbanks, Alaska; 907-456-0440
February 11, 2016 Tok, Alaska 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tok, Alaska Tok School, 249 Jon Summar Road, Tok, Alaska; 907-883-5312
February 16, 2016 Soldonta, Alaska 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Soldonta, Alaska Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Ski Hill Road, Soldotna, Alaska; 907-260-2820
February 18, 2016 Anchorage, Alaska 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office, Gordon Watson Conference Room, 1011 Tudor Rd. Anchorage, Alaska; 907-786-3872
March 1, 2016 Dillingham, Alaska 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dillingham, Alaska Dillingham City Council Chambers, 141 Main Street, Dillingham, Alaska; 907-842-1063
March 3, 2016 Galena, Alaska 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Galena, Alaska Charlie Larsen Community Hall, Galena, Alaska; 907-656-1231