Kenai bear hunt opens up after long break

For the first time in many years, a registration hunt is planned for brown bears in Game Management Units 7 and 15 on the Kenai Peninsula. The hunt opens October 1. Permits became available beginning Wednesday, Sept. 19, through the Alaska Department of Fish. The hunt is open to residents and non-residents; a guide must accompany non-residents.

For the past five years, brown bear hunting on the Kenai Peninsula has been available through a drawing system. At the January 2012 meeting, the Alaska Board of Game changed this system to a registration hunt. Hunters awarded a Kenai brown bear drawing permit for 2012 can still hunt as planned, unless the season closes by emergency order. 

 The registration brown bear hunt on the Kenai will remain open from Oct. 1 until Nov. 30, or until 10 reproductive-aged female brown bears are killed. According to ADF&G’s current management objectives for the Kenai, no more than 10 sows can be killed by human causes in a calendar year. So far in 2012, ADF&G has received just one report of a reproductive-aged female brown bear killed by human causes. Human-caused mortalities include any brown bear death associated with people such as Defense of Life or Property killings, agency killings, bears killed by highway vehicles and hunting.

  · Hunt dates: Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, or until all human-caused mortalities of reproductive-age female brown bears reaches 10.

· Hunt area: Game Management Units 7 and 15 where hunting is legal.

· Eligiblity to hunt: Residents and non-residents (non-residents must be accompanied by a guide). The Kenai area bag limit is one brown bear every four regulatory years. If you have harvested a brown bear within the past four years, please check page 26 in the state hunting regulations to verify whether you are eligible for this hunt. 

·Obtaining a permit: Permits will be available starting Sept. 19, only at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game offices in Soldotna and Homer.

·Brown bear tags required: Hunters are required to purchase a $25 brown bear tag before applying for a permit. Also, hunters must have the tag with them when applying for the permit. ADF&G’s computer system will not allow a permit to be issued otherwise. Brown bear tags are available at vendors who sell hunting licenses or online.

·Number of permits: An unlimited number of permits will be issued.

·Report all successful hunts within three days: Notify Kenai Area Biologist Jeff Selinger by phone at (907) 260-2905, or in person at the Soldotna Fish and Game office within three days of harvesting a bear. Bears must be sealed at ADF&G offices in Soldotna, Homer, or Anchorage within five days of the kill. Hunters are reminded to attach the brown bear tag to the hide immediately after skinning.

·Also report unsuccessful hunts: Unsuccessful hunters must report within 10 days of the close of the season (either Nov. 30 or sooner if the season closes by emergency order prior to Nov. 30.)