State Modifies Resident Caribou Hunt In Northwest Alaska (GMU 22B, -D

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

State Modifies Resident RC800 Caribou Hunts in Portions of Unit 22B and 22D

(Nome) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces an emergency order to close caribou hunting in portions of Unit 22B and Unit 22D for residents and nonresidents. That portion of Unit 22B “west of the Golovnin Bay, west of the west banks of Fish and Niukluk rivers below the Libby River (excluding the Libby River drainage and Niukluk River drainage above the mouth of the Libby River)” and the portion of Unit 22D in the Pilgrim River drainage (Figure 1) will both close to caribou hunting unless opened by subsequent emergency order. This change is due to the active reindeer herding operation occurring in these areas and possible presence of reindeer in areas currently open to caribou hunting under the RC800 permit for residents and harvest ticket for nonresidents.

Caribou from the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WAH) have not been documented in these areas since Regulatory Year (RY) 2015. The Department can open the hunting season and provide hunting opportunity if caribou are later confirmed to be in the area.

All other caribou hunting regulations in Unit 22 remain unchanged by this emergency order.