ADFG Releases Data On Brown Bear Harvest Numbers In Southeast Alaska’s Unit 1D

The following press release is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

GMU 1D 2024 Fall Brown Bear Hunting Season Update

(Juneau) – During 2020, forty-nine brown bears (24F: 23M: 2 Unk) were killed in GMU 1D including 19 harvested by hunters (9F: 10M) and 30 non-hunt kills (15F: 13M: 2 Unk) (agency kills, defense of life and property, and vehicle collisions). This record high mortality level resulted in an estimated 16-20% reduction in the population and prompted ADF&G to develop a plan to recover the brown bear population and sustainable hunting opportunity. The plan does that by temporarily reducing total human-caused mortality (hunting and bear-human conflict) through a harvest cap and educational outreach by ADF&G and our partners.

Beginning in spring 2021 ADF&G limited hunter harvest of brown bears in GMU 1D to five total brown bears including no more than two females in a calendar year.

Because other human caused mortality (DLP, etc.) reduces the population, hunting will also be closed when total brown bear mortality for the calendar year reaches seven total bears (excluding cubs) or three independent female bears. Based on research monitoring the population, in 2020 — 2024, ADF&G managers increased the limit on total female mortality from 2 to 3 per calendar year for the time being. However, to ensure timely recovery of the population and hunting opportunity, human-caused mortality in excess of seven bears may be deducted from the hunting harvest quota in the following calendar year.

We intend to review and update our brown bear management strategy this winter dependent on the research project that was just completed, total mortality in 2024, and population modeling that incorporates previous reproduction and harvest.

As of August 30, 2024, two brown bears have been harvested by hunters (one male & one female). Four additional brown bears (one adult female, one subadult female, one female cub, and one male cub) were killed in defense of life and property in Unit 1D for a total mortality of six bears (four non-cub bears counting towards the seven dead bears allowed). This means that the RB050 hunt will close by emergency order when one independent female or a total of three independent male bears are reported killed.

Since our management strategy was implemented a total of four females have been harvested by hunters (3 guided non-residents, one resident). Hunters are encouraged to target male brown bears to help recover future hunting opportunity. For additional information concerning brown bear hunting in Game Management Unit 1D, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at (907) 465-4266. ########