The Petersburg office of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game reported an additional 25 moose were harvested during the third week of this year’s season for Petersburg, Wrangell and Kake, bringing the total to 81.
ADFG wildlife biologist Rich Lowell noted the figure represented the highest third-week harvest total in the RM038-area moose hunt’s history. The ongoing tally included 91 moose harvested by Tuesday, and by the season’s end this evening the full figure could be in the mid- to upper-90s.
That would put this season’s count just shy of the last, where a near-record 106 moose were harvested. The largest recorded harvest was 109 bulls in 2009.
Six of the third week’s worth of bulls failed to comply with the local antler restrictions, which brings the total number of illegal moose taken this season to 13. By comparison, in 2009 just nine of 109 bulls were noncompliant with brow tine regulations.
This disproportionate amount of the harvest had ADFG concerned, with early closures for some areas a possibility. With no further illegal moose brought in over the weekend, however, Lowell explained this no longer looks to be necessary.
“We decided to let the season run its course,” he said.
The largest share of moose taken have been on Kupreanof Island, at 32. This includes four illegal specimens. Distantly second was the Stikine River area with 19, considerably lower than last year’s season count of 36. Two of those taken this year were illegal. The reason behind the lower numbers in the Stikine is not known; ADFG was unable to survey the river valley last winter due to a lack of snow and uncompromising weather conditions.
Thirteen moose were also harvested on Mitkof Island, seven at Thomas Bay, three at Kuiu Island, and one apiece at Farragut Bay, Virginia Lake, Wrangell Island, the Wrangell mainland, Etolin Island and Woewodski Island. The sole moose shot on Zarembo Island so far this year was considered illegal.
Hunters have five days from the date of kill to present the antlers of harvested moose to the department for inspection.
The elk drawing rifle hunts are currently underway on Etolin Island. Four bulls were harvested during the first two weeks
of October, and the next group of hunters will be heading into
the field for the second hunt from tomorrow until the month’s end.
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