Hearings Set on Wildlife Hunting Regulations

Date: February 24, 2014
Contact: John Quinley, 907-644-3512

The National Park Service is holding public hearings in March on temporary restrictions for certain sport hunting practices in several national preserves in Alaska. Public comments on these provisions will be taken from March 9 through March 22.

The restrictions generally mirror those in place last year. These restrictions are in response to decisions by the Alaska Board of Game to liberalize hunting seasons and methods for wolves, coyotes, and bears. The board has also rejected proposals by the National Park Service to exclude preserves from these practices, an action that would have made federal restrictions unnecessary. The NPS restrictions do not affect subsistence harvest under Federal Subsistence Regulations.

The restrictions include:

• Shortening the open season for wolves and coyotes. Under the proposed rule, wolf and coyote hunting would be open from August 10 through April 30. This would prevent the taking of wolves and pups at den sites during the early summer when the animals are vulnerable and their pelts are in poor condition.
• Prohibiting the use of bait for the taking of brown bears. Until recently, the practice had been prohibited since Statehood and is the only such allowance in North America. The NPS is proposing to prohibit the practice to avoid public safety issues which can arise with bears conditioned to finding human food.
• Prohibiting the use of artificial light when taking black bear sows or cubs at den sites. This practice was opened to all resident hunting license holders in 2010.
  

The full text of the restrictions for each affected national preserve will be posted before March 9 online. In accordance with 36CFR 13.50, public hearings will be held in a community in or near each of the affected national preserves during the weeks of March 10 and March 17. In addition, hearings will be held in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and written comments may be mailed. The NPS will also open a Facebook chat on the topic on March 20 from 10 a.m. to Noon and postings will be retained for the record.

The public hearing schedule is listed below. In certain locations, a toll-free number will be open for commenters to phone in to the hearing and make comments. Comments on any of the restrictions may be made at any of the venues.

The dial-in number, available where noted below, is 888-921-5898; users will then dial in a passcode, 5499349#, to be connected to the hearing.

Park & Date Location

Gates of the Arctic National Preserve
Fairbanks Monday, March 10, 6-7:30 p.m. Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center
Bettles Monday, March 10, 6-7:30 p.m. Bettles Ranger Station
Dial-in available

Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve
Eagle Tuesday, March 11, 6-7:30 p.m. Eagle Public Library

Noatak National Preserve
Kotzebue Tuesday, March 11, 6-7:30 p.m. NPS Heritage Center, Kotzebue
Dial-in available

Lake Clark National Preserve
Port Alsworth Wednesday, March 12, 6:30-8:00 p.m. NPS Visitor Center, Port Alsworth
Dial-in available

Denali National Preserve
Denali Park Thursday, March 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Murie Science and Learning Center

Katmai National Preserve
Aniakchak National Preserve
King Salmon Thursday, March 13, 7-8:30 p.m. Bristol Bay Borough Assembly Chambers

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
Nome Monday, March 17, 6-7:30 p.m 214 Front Street, Beringia Room in Nome
Dial-in available

Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve
Copper Center Monday, March 17, 4-5:30 p.m. Wrangell-St. Elias N.P. Visitor Center
Dial-in available

NPS Alaska Region
Anchorage Tuesday, March 18, 6:45-8:15 p.m. Russian Jack Springs Park Chalet
Dial-in available

Comments in writing should be sent to 240 W. 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 or emailed .