9/27/2016 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mail BLM Special Action Request for Unit 13 Delegation of Authority to extend subsistence caribou season
Howard, Amee
BLM Special Action Request for Unit 13 Delegation of Authority to extend subsistence caribou season 1 message
Sharp, Daniel
Chris, The BLM Glennallen Field Office is submitting a Special Action Request to the Federal Subsistence Board, through OSM, seeking temporary authority from the Board to allow the BLM Glennallen Office Field manager to open a 10 day season should caribou enter federally managed lands between October 1 and October 21, 2016 when the Unit is closed for three weeks between seasons.To date approximately 70 caribou have been harvested by subsistence hunters whereas in a more normal year, the federal subsistence harvest would be in the 100's. There is a 5day reporting requirement. The State has extended their season by 10 days due to lack of accessibility to caribou by hunters due to the delayed migration. The BLM manager is requesting delegated the authority to open a 10 day season between October 1 and October 21 should caribou finally migrate in the vicinity of or across federal lands. This would require the flexibility to announce a season rather than extend the current one. Should their migration not occur before the October 21 start of the winter season, the extension would not be announced. As the season ends September 30, an expedited discussion and decision will be helpful. This delegation is only being sought for the 2016 season but if the migration pattern seen this season repeats itself, a long term delegation may be in order and should be considered by the appropriate RAC. Dan
Daniel Sharp Statewide Subsistence Coordinator Bureau of Land Management 222 West 7th Avenue, #13 Anchorage, Alaska 99513 9072715713(w) 9072428121(c) 9072715479(f)
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=2b1807129b&view=pt&search=inbox&th=1576de325b061162&siml=1576de325b061162 1/1 STAFF ANALYSIS WILDLIFE SPECIAL ACTION WSA16–05 ISSUES
Wildlife Special Action Request WSA16-05, submitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), requests that the BLM Glennallen Office Field Manager be allowed to open a ten day caribou season on Federal public lands in Unit 13 between Oct. 1 and Oct. 21, 2016.
DISCUSSION
The State extended the Nelchina Basin caribou (CC001, RC566, and DC485) hunt season by 10 days from Sept. 21 – 30, 2016 by Emergency Order 04-08-16 (ADF&G 2016) due to the lack of accessibility to caribou by hunters as a result of delayed migration. The proponent states that as of September 27, 2016, approximately 70 caribou had been harvested by Federally qualified subsistence users, while in a normal year, the Federal subsistence harvest would be in the hundreds. The harvest numbers are approximate, as there is a five day reporting requirement. The proponent also states that hunting pressure from roads and trails has pushed the NCH into more remote areas in Unit 13. If the caribou migrate in the vicinity or across Federal public lands, the proponent requests that the BLM land manager be given delegated authority to open a ten day season between October 1 and October 21, 2016. If the caribou migration does not occur before October 21, the start of the winter season, the requested season extension would not be announced.
Existing Federal Regulation
Unit 13—Caribou
Units 13A and 13B
Units 13A and 13B - 2 caribou by Federal registration permit Aug. 1-Sept. 30 only. The sex of the animals that may be taken will be announced Oct. 21-Mar. 31 by the Glennallen Field Office Manager of the Bureau of Land Management in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interior Subsistence Regional Advisory Council and the Southcentral Subsistence Regional Advisory Council.
Unit 13 remainder
Unit 13 remainder - 2 bulls by Federal registration permit only Aug. 1–Sept. 30 Oct. 21–Mar. 31
Proposed Federal Regulation
Unit 13—Caribou
Units 13A and 13B
Units 13A and 13B - 2 caribou by Federal registration permit Aug. 1-Sept. 30 only. The sex of the animals that may be taken will be announced Oct. 21-Mar. 31 by the Glennallen Field Office Manager of the Bureau of Land Management in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interiorl Subsistence Regional Advisory Council and the Southcentral Subsistence Regional Advisory Council.
2 caribou by Federal registration permit only during a 10 period between Oct. 1 and Oct 21. The season and sex of the animals that may be taken will be announced by the Glennallen Field Office Manager of the Bureau of Land Management in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interiorl Subsistence Regional Advisory Council and the Southcentral Subsistence Regional Advisory Council.
Unit 13 remainder
2 bulls by Federal registration permit only Aug. 1–Sept. 30 Oct. 21–Mar. 31
2 bulls by Federal registration permit only during a 10 day period between Oct. 1 and Oct. 21. The season for the 10 day period will be announced by the Glennallen Field Office Manager of the Bureau of the Land Management in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interiorl Subsistence Regional Advisory Council and the Southcentral Subsistence Regional Advisory Council.
Existing State Regulation
Unit 13 – Caribou
Unit 13 Resident: One caribou by permit RC566 Aug. 10–Sept.20 per household, available only by Oct.21–Mar. 31 application. See the Subsistence Permit Hunt Supplement for details.
OR
Resident: One by permit per CC001 Aug. 10–Sept.20 household, available only by Oct.21–Mar. 31 application. See the Subsistence Permit Hunt Supplement for details.
OR
Resident: One caribou by permit DC485 Aug. 10–Sept.20 Oct.21–Mar. 31
Nonresident: No open season
Extent of Federal Public Lands
Federal public lands comprise approximately 25% of Unit 13 and consist of 16.6% Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managed lands, 6.1% National Park Service (NPS) managed lands, and 1.8% U.S. Forest Service managed lands (See Unit 13 Map).
Customary and Traditional Use Determinations
Rural residents of Units 11, 12 (along the Nabesna Road) 13, and Chickaloon have customary and traditional use determination for caribou in Units 13A and 13D.
Rural residents of Units 11, 12 (along the Nabesna Road and Tok Cutoff Road, mileposts 79-110), 13, 20D (excluding residents of Fort Greely) and Chickaloon have a customary and traditional use determination for caribou in Units 13B.
Residents of Units 11, 12 (along the Nabesna Road and Tok Cutoff Road, mileposts 79-110), 13, Chickaloon, Dot Lake, and Healy Lake have a customary and traditional use determination for caribou in Unit 13C.
Residents of Units 11, 12 (along the Nabesna Road), 13, and Chickaloon have a customary and traditional use determination for caribou in Unit 13D.
Residents of Units 11, 12 (along the Nabesna Road), 13, Chickaloon, McKinley Village, and the area along the Parks Highway between mileposts 216 and 239 (excluding the residents of Denali National Park headquarters) have a customary and traditional use determination for caribou in Unit 13E.
Regulatory History
The Nelchina Caribou Herd (NCH) is an important resource for many rural and non-rural users due to its proximity to Anchorage and Fairbanks and its distribution within Units 11, 12, 13, and 20E (Tobey 2003). A State Tier II system for NCH harvest was established in 1990 for Unit 13. A State Tier I permit was added for the 1996/97 and 1997/98 seasons to allow any Alaskan resident to harvest cows or young bulls, in order to reduce the herd to the management objective. In 1998, the Tier I hunt was closed, as the herd was brought within management objective due to increased harvest and lower calf recruitment.
The two Federal registration hunts in Unit 13 are for residents of Units 11, 13, and residents along the Nabesna Road in Unit 12 and Delta Junction in Unit 20. In 1998 the Federal Subsistence Board (Board) adopted Proposal P98-036 to extend the winter caribou season from Jan. 5–Mar. 31 to Oct. 21–Mar. 31 (FWS 1998a). This gave Federally qualified subsistence users the same opportunity to harvest an animal as those hunting under the State regulations. In 1998, the Board adopted Proposal P98-034, which opened the Federal registration hunt to residents of Unit 12, Dot Lake, Healy Lake and Mentasta between November and April when the NCH migrate through the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (FWS 1998b).
In 2001, the Board adopted Proposal WP01-07, which changed the harvest limit from 2 caribou to 2 bulls by Federal registration permit only, for all of Unit 13 (FWS 2001).
In 2003, the Board adopted Proposal WP03-14, which changed the harvest limit for Units 13A and 13B back to 2 caribou from 2 bulls, with the harvest of bulls being allowed only during the Aug. 10 – Sept. 30 season. For the Oct. 21 – Mar. 31 winter season, the BLM Glennallen Field Office Manager was delegated authority to determine the sex of animals taken in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) area biologist and the Chairs of the Eastern Interior Alaska and Southcentral Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils. For the remainder of Unit 13, the harvest limit remained 2 bulls for the Aug. 10 – Sept. 30 and Oct. 21 – Mar. 31 season (FWS 2003).
In 2005, the Board adopted Proposal WP05-08 for Unit 13A and 13B to allow the sex of caribou harvested to be determined for both seasons by the BLM Glennallen Field Office Manager in consultation with the ADF&G area biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interior Alaska and Southcentral Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils. This was in effect for the entire season (Aug. 10 – Sept. 30 and Oct. 21 – Mar. 31), not just the winter season (FWS 2005).
Emergency Order 02-01-07 closed the remainder of the 2006/2007 State season for the NCH on February 4, 2007 due to high State hunter success in the State Tier II hunt. Likewise, Emergency Order 02-08-07 closed the 2007/2008 Tier II hunt on September 20, 2007 and was scheduled to re-open on October 21, 2007. However concerns about unreported harvest in the State and Federal hunts resulted in a closure for the remainder of the season.
For the 2009/2010 season, the State Tier II hunt was eliminated. Two hunts were added: a Tier I hunt and a Community Harvest hunt for residents of Gulkana, Cantwell, Chistochina, Gakona, Mentasta, Tazlina, Chitina, and Copper Center. The harvest limit for each was one caribou (sex to be announced annually) with season dates of Aug. 10 – Sept. 20 and Oct. 21 – Mar. 31 with a harvest quota of 300 caribou. A Federally qualified subsistence user could opt into the State community harvest system or use a State registration permit to harvest one caribou and then get a Federal permit to harvest an additional caribou since the Federal harvest limit was two caribou.
In July 2010, the Alaska Superior Court found that elimination of the Tier II hunt was arbitrary and unreasonable (ADF&G 2010a). In response, the Board of Game held an emergency teleconference in July 2010, and opened a Tier II hunt from Oct. 21 – Mar. 31, maintained the existing Tier I season, awarded up to 500 additional Tier I permits (ADF&G 2010a).
Emergency Order 04-1-10 closed the remainder of the winter Nelchina Tier II season due to harvest reports indicating that approximately 1,404 bulls and 547 cows were harvested and the unreported harvest was expected to raise the total harvest above the harvest objective (ADF&G 2010b, FWS 2102).
In 2012, the Board adopted Proposal WP12-25, which added an additional 9 days to the beginning of the fall caribou season to provide more opportunity for Federally qualified subsistence users. The season was extended from Aug. 10–Sept. 30 to Aug. 1 –Sept. 30 (FWS 2012).
In 2016, the Board rejected Proposal WP16-16, which requested Federal public lands within the Paxson Closed Area in Unit 13 be closed to hunting big game by Federally qualified subsistence users (FWS 2016a). Federally qualified subsistence users are allowed the opportunity to harvest big game species on Federal public lands within the Paxson Closed Area in Unit 13B.
In 2016, the Board adopted Proposal WP16-17, which removed the restriction prohibiting Federally qualified subsistence users from hunting caribou within the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline right-of-way in Unit 13 remainder (FWS 2016b). Removal of restrictions for hunting in the Trans–Alaska Pipeline right–of– way will allow the Federally qualified subsistence users to use the Pipeline corridor without fear of incurring hunting violations, and will provide the same opportunity provided under State regulations.
Emergency Order 04-08-16 extended the Nelchina fall caribou season from Sept. 21 – 30, 2016 due lack of accessibility of caribou to hunters due to the delayed migration (ADF&G 2016).
Biological Background
NCH calving occurs in the eastern Talkeetna Mountains from the Little Nelchina River north to Fog Lakes, with the core calving area from the Little Nelchina River to Kosina Creek. Core calving areas are also used during post calving and early summer (Schwanke 2011). The NCH disperses during the summer and early fall. Their fall distribution can extend from the Denali Highway near Butte Lake, across the Alphabet Hills and Lake Louise flats, and as far east as the Gulkana River (Schwanke 2011, Schwanke and Robbins 2013).
The NCH rut, which occurs in different areas depending on the year, typically occurs from late September through mid-October. In 2009 and 2010, the rut occurred in the center of Unit 13, primarily in Units 13A, 13B, and 13E. In 2011, the rut started after the NCH started to migrate and occurred in the area from Tangle Lakes through the Chistochina River drainage in Units 13B and 13C, and in Drop Creek in the northern part of Unit 11. In 2012, the rut was scattered across Unit 13 with groups rutting in the Paxson area, in the west between the Upper Susitna and MacLaren rivers, and in the Upper Talkeetna River drainage (Schwanke and Robbins 2013). Disturbance during the fall rut often results in extremely elevated stress levels (Calef et al. 1976, Jakimchuck 1980, Schideler et al. 1986). Disturbances may result in increased risk of physical injury, herd fragmentation, disruption of normal mating behavior, increased daily expenditure levels, and decreased reproductive success (Webster 1997).
The NCH typically leaves Unit 13 in October for wintering areas in Units 11, 12, and 20E and typically does not return until April. Some caribou remain in the northern portion of Unit 13 and are an important food source for Federally qualified subsistence users during the winter season. Winter range in Unit 20E is generally considered high quality due to high lichen biomass as a result of old burns (>50 years) (Dale 2000, Joly et al. 2003). In 2004, a large proportion of NCH winter range in Unit 20E burned which resulted in avoidance of the burned areas, increased use of adjacent unburned areas, as well as use of previously unused areas such as Mosquito Fork, Kechumstuk Mountain, and areas east into the Yukon (Schwanke and Robbins 2013). Many caribou (60-95%) still winter in Unit 20E, although caribou now utilize adjacent unburned areas (Schwanke 2011). In addition to winter habitat loss in Unit 20E, competition with the Fortymile caribou herd, which also uses Unit 20E year round (Boertje and Gardner 1998) and is increasing in population, could impact the NCH. Winter distribution for the NCH in 2006 extended into Unit 13E, across 13A and 13B, and northeast into Units 11, 12 and 20E (Tobey and Kelleyhouse 2007). In some years, a small number of caribou winter in Unit 13D and have been observed as far south as the Edgerton Highway.
The NCH population has fluctuated widely since the 1940s. The caribou population was estimated to be between 5,000 –15,000 in the1940s, 70,000 in the mid–1960s, 7,000–10,000 in 1972, and 50,000 in 1995.
State management goals and objectives for the NCH are as follows (Schwanke and Robbins 2013):
Maintain a fall population of 35,000–40,000 caribou, with a minimum of 40 bulls:100 cows and 40 calves:100 cows.
Provide for the annual harvest of 3,000–6,000 caribou.
From 2001 to 2013 fall population estimates for the NCH have remained relatively stable, with an estimated herd size between 30,000-50,000 animals (Table 1). Relatively mild winters and low predation during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 have allowed the Nelchina caribou population to increase (ADF&G 2016). Recent analysis from a July 2016 photo survey estimates that the Nelchina caribou population is near last year’s estimate of 48,700 (Table 1) (ADF&G 2016). There is concern that if the NCH remains above 40,000, productivity could be reduced due to a decline in range conditions (Schwanke and Robbins 2013).
Historically, the productivity and recruitment of the NCH has been high, with an average of 52 calves:100 cows (1985-1996). The annual harvestable surplus of Nelchina caribou is dependent on productivity and survival of calves, which is determined from surveys in June and October conducted by ADF&G (ADF&G 2010c). From 2001–2010, there was an average of 42 calves:100 cows, which is above State management objectives (Toby and Kellyhouse 2007, ADF&G 2008, Schwanke 2011). From 2010-2016, an average of 40 calves:100 cows were counted during fall composition surveys (Schwanke 2011, Robbins 2016, pers. comm.).
Between 2001 and 2008, the bull:cow ratio was below the State management objective with an average of 32 bulls:100 cows. The lowest bull:cow ratio was in 2006/2007 with 23 bulls:100 cows. The average bull:cow ratio from 2008 to 2015 was 46:100 (Table 1).
Table 1. Nelchina caribou fall composition counts and estimated herd size, regulatory years 2001-2016 (Tobey and Kelleyhouse 2007l ADF&G 2008, Schwanke 2011, Schwanke and Robbins 2013, Robbins 2015, 2016, pers. comm.)
Total bulls: Calves: Total Post Regulatory 100 100 Calves Cows bulls Composition Total calving Year cows cows (%) (%) (%) Sample size Adults counta 2001-2002 37 40 22 57 21 3,949 26,159 35,106
2002-2003 31 48 27 56 17 1,710 25,161 35,939
2003-2004 31 35 21 60 19 3,140 23,786 31,114
2004-2005 31 45 26 57 17 1,640 27,299 38,961
2005-2006 36 41 23 57 20 3,263 28,071 36,993
2006-2007 24b 48b 25 61 14 3,300 NA N/A
2007-2008 34 35 21 59 20 3,027 26,124 33,744
2008-2009 39 40 22 56 22 3,378 NA N/A
2009-2010 42 29 17 58 25 3,076 28,198 33,146
2010-2011 64 55 25 46 29 5,474 33,646 44,954
2011-2012 58 45 22 49 29 3,907 32,404 40,915
2012-2013 57 31 16 54 30 5,249 43,386 46,496
2013-2014 30 19 13 67 20 4,256 40,121
2014-2015 42 45 24 54 22 5,079 -
2015-2016 36 45 25 55 20 5,855 48,700
Harvest History
The NCH continues to be a popular hunt for many users because of its easy accessibility and proximity to Fairbanks and Anchorage. In 2015/2016, 595 caribou were harvested under Federal subsistence regulations, which was above the long -term average of 410 caribou per year (range 273-610) from 2003– 2013 (Table 2). Between 2009 and 2016, State hunts (TC566/RC566) were the primary source of harvest of the NCH and accounted for 86% of the overall harvest (Table 3). Federal registration hunts (FC1302; formerly RC513/514), administered by the BLM comprised 14% of the harvest from 2004 to 2016. From 2004 to 2016, harvest under a Federal registration permit has averaged 410 caribou annually (range 273 to 610) (Table 2).
Table 2. Number of Federal harvest permits, sex composition, and caribou harvest in Unit 13 between 2003-2013 (Bullock 2015, FWS 2015, Robbins 2015, pers.comm.).
Number of Number of Caribou Year Permits Bulls Cows Unknown Permits Issued Harvest Hunted
2003/04 2,574 1,240 322 317 2 3 2004/05 2,555 1,337 335 248 85 2 2005/06 2,557 1,499 610 365 238 7 2006/07 2,631 1,317 570 318 238 14 2007/08 2,403 1,094 385 259 120 6 2008/09 2,532 1,229 273 180 89 4 2009/10 2,576 1,339 349 342 7 0 2010/11 2,852 1,535 451 316 129 6 2011/12 2,980 1,425 395 281 113 0 2012/13 2,953 1,518 537 326 203 6 2013/14 2,789 1,305 279 210 68 0 2014/15 2,953 1,397 237 177 59 0 2015/16 3,083 1,564 595 444 147 0 Mean 2,726 1,369 410 291 115 4
Table 3. State and Federal caribou harvest in Unit 13. Year State Harvest Federal Harvest 2009/2010 754 349 2010/2011 1,905 451 2011/2012 2,033 395 2012-2013 3,718 537 2013-2014 2,301 279 2014-2015 2,760 237 2015-2016 3,550 595
A majority of the caribou harvested in Unit 13 are taken under State regulations (Table 3), which is expected given that Federal lands account for only about 15% of the total lands in Unit 13. Much of the Federal harvest occurs when caribou cross along the Richardson Highway between Paxson and Sourdough during the fall migration. Additional caribou are available to Federally qualified subsistence users throughout the entire season in small areas of Unit 13E near Broad Pass in Denali National Park and on BLM lands along the Denali Highway near Tangle Lakes (Tobey 2005). The mean annual caribou harvest from 2010/2011 to 2015/2016 was 3,450 caribou, (Table 4) which is greater than the previous long-term annual average harvest of approximately 2,500 caribou between 1989 and 2010 (Schwanke 2011).
Most of the caribou harvest each year in Unit 13 occurs during the fall (August and September) versus the winter season. Federally qualified subsistence users currently have an additional 10 days at the end of September. The harvest within the first week of August is minimal compared to the State harvest during the same time period. Success in the winter season is largely dependent upon the number of caribou that remain within Unit 13 and the success of the fall hunt. Successful harvests in the fall make the winter season more susceptible to emergency closures when the harvest quota is reached before the end of the season on March 31. The winter hunt can be important to Federally qualified subsistence users because snow machines often make caribou more accessible during a period when there is typically less competition with other hunters (Tobey and Kelleyhouse 2007).
Table 4. Harvest quota, harvest estimate, and estimates of the fall population for the Nelchina Caribou Herd in Unit 13 (Robbins 2015, pers. comm.) Regulatory Year Harvest Quota Reported Harvest Fall Populationa 2010/2011 2,300 2,439 48,000 2011/2012 2,400 2,515 41,000 2012/2013 5,500 4,429 50,000 2013/2014 2,500 2,640 37,000 2014/2015 3,000 2,818 2015/2016 5,000 3,550 44,000 Mean 3,450 3,065 44,000 a General estimate for comparison
Cultural Knowledge and Traditional Practices
References to the harvest and use of large land mammals like caribou by Ahtna Athabascans begin as early as the late 1800s and continue to the present day. Members of H. T. Allen’s 1884 Copper River expedition documented the drying of meat by the Ahtna when they passed through the area (Allen 1889). The tradi- tional practices of drying and smoking meat, as well as the proper and respectful treatment of harvested resources such as caribou and moose, are described in several ethnographic accounts of the Ahtna (de Laguna and McClellan 1981; Mishler et al. 1988; Reckord 1983). In recent comprehensive subsistence surveys conducted by ADF&G, it has been noted that while salmon composed a majority of the community harvest in most villages along the upper Copper River, large land mammal harvest is high (ranging between 17% and 57%) and in some communities surpassed that of fish (Kukkonen & Zimpleman 2012; La Vine, et al. 2013; La Vine & Zimpleman 2014). An ethnographic study of contemporary subsistence fishing in the Copper River Basin highlighted the significance of caribou and other large game animals to residents’ diets and cultural practices. Many of the study’s participants reported that they valued the fall hunt as a cultural institution as much or more than annual fish camps and almost all, if offered a choice, stated that they would choose shared meat over shared fish (McCall et al. 2014).
Effects of the Proposal
If approved, this special action would provide flexibility to provide additional opportunity for Federal qualified subsistence users to harvest caribou in Unit 13. Due to herd movements, Federally qualified subsistence users have reported harvesting approximately 70 caribou during the Aug . 1 – Sept. 30 season, whereas the harvest is usually much higher.
The extended season would not only provide more opportunity for subsistence users but also help increase the harvest for management concerns. There is concern that if the NCH remains above 40,000, productivity could decline due to degradation in range conditions (Schwanke and Robbins 2013). Currently the NCH is above the State’s fall management objective of 35,000-40,000 animals.
The NCH ruts from late September through mid-October and the three week period between the fall and winter hunts was set aside to minimize disturbance during the rut. The response to human-related harassment may result in anything from a slight increase in vigilance to panicked flight (Jakimchuck 1980, Schideler et al. 1986, Webster 1997). While there is concern with increased disturbance, it is expected that many hunters will not choose to hunt bulls during the rut because the meat is not desirable.
LITERATURE CITED
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Tobey B. and R. Kelleyhouse. 2007. Units 13 and 14B caribou management report. Pages 83-99 in P. Harper, editor. Caribou management report of survey and inventory activities 1 July 2004-30 June 2006. ADF&G. Juneau, AK.
Webster, l. 1997. The effects of human related harassment on caribou (Rangifer tarandus). Report prepared for Jim Young, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Ministry of the Environment. Williams Lake, B.C. Canada. 29 pp.
INTERAGENCY STAFF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Support Emergency Special Action WSA16–05 with modification to create a may-be-announced ten (10) day season between October 1 and October 20, 2016. Depending on the movements of the NCH relative to Federal public lands, the BLM Glennallen Field Office manager, in consultation with the ADF&G Area Biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interior Regional Advisory Council and the Southcentral Regional Advisory Council, will announce a season if caribou move onto Federal public lands within Unit 13 during this time period.
The modified regulations should read: Unit 13—Caribou Units 13A and 13B 2 caribou by Federal registration permit only. The sex of the Aug. 1-Sept. 30 animals that may be taken will be announced by the Glennallen Oct. 21-Mar. 31 Field Office Manager of the Bureau of Land Management in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interior Regional Advisory Council and the Southcentral Regional Advisory Council.
2 caribou by Federal registration permit only up to 10 days. Oct. 1-Oct. 20 The season and sex of the animals that may be taken will be May be announced announced by the Glennallen Field Office Manager of the Bureau of Land Management in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interior Regional Advisory Council and the Southcentral Regional Advisory Council.
Unit 13 remainder
2 bulls by Federal registration permit only Aug. 1–Sept. 30 Oct. 21–Mar. 31
2 bulls by Federal registration permit only up to10 days. The Oct. 1-Oct. 20 season will be announced by the Glennallen Field Office May be announced Manager of the Bureau of the Land Management in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interior Regional Advisory Council and the Southcentral Regional Advisory Council.
Justification
The Interagency Staff Committee unanimously supports Emergency Wildlife Special Action WSA16-05 based on the following justifications. The NCH within Unit 13 has been increasing in the past several years and is currently at levels above the State’s population objective of 35,000 to 40,000 animals. The early fall harvest for Unit 13 remains below objectives. Providing an additional may-be-announced season up to 10 days will provide more opportunity for Federally qualified subsistence users to harvest caribou if caribou are present on Federal public lands. This additional opportunity may also help to reduce the herd and address concerns for future population declines due to decreased range conditions. The modified regulation clarifies that the BLM Field Office Manager will be able to announce an additional may-be-announced season up to 10 days between Oct. 1 – 20, 2016 should caribou move onto Federal public lands within Unit 13 during this time period. This should provide the needed flexibility for BLM land manager. Since the winter season starts on October 21, October 20 was chosen as the ending date for the potential hunt during the rut.
Federal Subsistence Board USDA 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 121 Anchorage, Alaska 99503
FISH and WILDLIFE SERVICE FOREST SERVICE BUREAU of LAND MANAGEMENT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BUREAU of INDIAN AFI<'AIRS OCT O 7 2016 FWS/OSM 16090.PM
Daniel Sharp Statewide Subsistence Coordinator Bureau of Land Management 222 West 7lh Avenue # 13 Anchorage, Alaska 99513
DearMr. Sharp:
This letter responds to your Emergency Special Action Request WSA16-05, requesting that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Glennallen OfficeField Manager be given delegated authority to open a ten day caribou season on Federal public lands in Unit 13 between October 1 and October 21, 2016.
As authorized by the Federal Subsistence Board, the Officeof Subsistence Management has reviewed therequest and with unanimous support of theInteragency StaffCommittee, has approved this Emergency Special Action with modificationto create a may be announced ten day season between October 1 and October 20, 2016. Depending on the movements of the Nelchina Caribou Herd (NCH) relative to Federal public lands, the BLM Glennallen Field Office manager, in consultation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Area Biologist and Chairs of the Eastern Interior Subsistence Regional Advisory Council and the SouthcentralSubsistence RegionalAdvisory Council, will announce a season if cariboumove onto Federal public lands within Unit 13 during this time period.
The NCH withinUnit 13 has been increasing in the past several years and is currently at levels above the State's population objective of 35,000 to 40,000 animals. The early fall harvest for · Unit 13 remains below management objectives. Providing an additional may-be-announced season up to 10 days will provide more opportunityfor Federally qualified subsistence users to harvest caribou if they are present on Federal public lands. Since thewinter season starts on October 21, October 20 was chosen as the ending date for the potential hunt. Mr. Sharp 2
The enclosed copies of the staff analysis and Interagency Staff Committee recommendation provide further informationand justification forthis action. If you have any questions, please contact Chris McKee, Wildlife Division Chief, Office of Subsistence Management at (907) 786-3572.
Sincerely,
Eugene R. P Assistant Regional Director Officeof Subsistence Management
Enclosures cc: Federal Subsistence Board Stewart Cogswell, Acting Deputy Assistant Regional Director Office of Subsistence Management Chris McKee, Wildlife Division Chief, Office of Subsistence Management Chair, South Central Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Donald Mike, Council Coordinator, Office of.Subsistence Management Jill Klein, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Dennie Teitzel , Glennallen Field Office Manager, Bureau of Land Management Interagency Staff Committee Administrative Record