A proposed rule change by the Federal Subsistence Board would allow for the harvest of an additional 20 moose in state Game Management Unit 3 on Kuiu and Kupreanof islands north of Wrangell. One group thinks it’s a bad idea.
The Wrangell Fish and Game Advisory Committee sent a letter to the subsistence board in January opposing the change because “taking more bulls from the herd by drawing could be counterproductive to the intent of this proposal.”
According to Frank Robbins, a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Petersburg, said the current state permit hunt RM038, which includes Unit 3 and the mainland, allows for one bull with spike fork antlers with three or more brow tines on at least one side, or two brow tines on both sides.
“The current antler restrictions are designed to provide hunting opportunity while allowing for moose population expansion and long-term hunt sustainability,” Robbins said. “The proposed (federal) drawing hunt would have a bag limit of one bull with any antler configuration or one antlered bull of any age.”
WP22-06, the proposed rule, states: “On Kupreanof and Kuiu islands, up to 20 bull moose may be taken by federal permit. Harvest limit is one bull moose per federal draw permit. Only one bull moose permit will be issued per household.”
The proposed change came about because, as the federal board stated, “Over the past years it has become more challenging for subsistence hunters to harvest sufficient moose under the antler restricted hunt and this would offer additional opportunities for harvest.”
Not so, said the advisory committee.
“Our group hunts up the Stikine quite a bit. We work hard. We’ve been successful under the anti-bull tag,” said Chris Guggenbickler, a member of the Wrangell advisory committee.
Robbins echoed that statement.
“There is no evidence that it has become more difficult for hunters to harvest moose in (Unit 3),” he said. “In fact, data provided by (Unit 3) moose hunters indicate they are enjoying the greatest success ever and harvest is increasing under the current antler-restricted hunt.
The proposed federal rule change admits that over-harvest could be a problem: “May result in overharvest since the populations of moose in Unit 3 are unknown.”
“If that happens, it likely would take several years to recognize the over-harvest, implement management changes, and for the population to recover,” Robbins said. “During those years, harvest opportunity would be lost, likely reducing total harvest over the long-term.”
But monitoring herd sizes in Unit 3 has historically been a problem since it is mostly dense rainforest and aerial surveys are impractical, Robbins said. “For that reason, ADF&G has opted for a hunt strategy based on self-limiting regulations. Antler restricted hunts ensure sustainability and allow the … moose population to continue expanding while also providing substantial harvest. The increasing moose harvest on Kuiu and Kupreanof islands is a result of that management strategy.”
Guggenbickler said the intent of the proposed change is well-meaning, even if it’s short-sighted.
“The federal subsistence board is kind of a different animal. They don’t always manage things sustainably,” he said. “If I say I need four deer, they give me four deer rather than see if it’s sustainable. The intent is a good thing.”
The federal government has managed subsistence harvesting on federal lands in Alaska for more than 30 years after conflicting state and federal laws blocked state management.
The deadline for the comment period on proposed changes was last July and the board meeting to vote on the rules doesn’t take place until April 22. Though the advisory committee sent their letter of opposition half a year late, they along with ADF&G hope their concerns are heard.
“We’ve commented at this point and it’s out of hands,” Robbins said.
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