NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE REGULATION 
OF THE ALASKA BOARD OF GAME

The Alaska Board of Game proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the use and taking of game. Regulations subject to board action are in 5 AAC 84, 85, 92, 98, and 99 for the Western, Arctic, and Interior Regions. The board will also address topics for other Game Management Units and statewide provisions including statewide reauthorization of antlerless moose hunts and brown bear tag fee exemptions as described below.

The following subject matter areas are to be addressed for the Western Arctic/Western Region (Game Management Units 18, 22, 23, and 26A) and the Interior and Eastern Arctic Region (Game Management Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B, and 26C):

A.  TRAPPING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS for furbearers, including: Lynx and wolverine. 

B.   HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS for all species including: Moose, muskox, caribou, black bear, brown bear, Dall sheep, wolf, and small game.  In addition, the potential for identifying general, Tier I or Tier II hunting for each population, and the reauthorization of antlerless moose hunts.

C.   LICENSES, HARVEST TICKETS, HARVEST REPORTS, TAGS, FEES, AND PERMITS including: Discretionary and required permit hunting and trapping conditions and procedures including trophy destruction of moose antlers; special provisions for moose and Dall sheep permit hunts; permits for hunting bear with the use of bait or scent lures; big game tag requirements; and hunter education requirements. 

D.  METHODS AND MEANS FOR TAKING BIG GAME, GAME, FUR ANIMALS, AND FURBEARERS, including: Lawful and unlawful methods of taking big game, game, and furbearers including with the use of crossbows, snow machines, boats under power, off-road vehicles, urine as scent lures, dogs, and minimum sized calibers for rifles and ammunition. In addition, restrictions on the use of traps near dwellings and other trapping requirements.

E.   POSSESSION, TRANSPORTATION, AND USE OF GAME including: Salvage and sealing requirements; restrictions on the sale of antlers; and allowing the use of game birds as bait.  

F.  RESTRICTED AREAS including: Areas closed to hunting and trapping including closed areas for taking wolves near Denali National Park. Management areas including the Dalton Highway Corridor and Healy-Lignite Management Areas and establishing new management areas for Arctic Village, Stampede Trail, and Badger Slough areas. Controlled use areas including the Wood River and Yanert Controlled Use Areas, restrictions for the use of boats in the Holitna-Hoholitna Controlled Use Area and establishing a new controlled use area in the Kaiyuh Flats area.

G. INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT AND PREDATOR CONTROL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS including: Prey populations and populations having a positive finding as identified big game prey populations, and predation control areas implementation plans including reauthorizing existing programs and establishing new programs.

H.  CUSTOMARY AND TRADITIONAL USES OF GAME POPULATIONS AND AMOUNTS REASONABLY NECESSARY FOR SUBSISTENCE including for: Bear, muskoxen, Alaska hares, migratory game birds and waterfowl, and grouse and ptarmigan.

1. ADDITIONAL TOPICS: In addition to items described above, the Board of Game will address the following topics for other units which were approved through the agenda change request process, or in the case of antlerless moose hunts and brown bear tag fees, must be authorized annually: Annual reauthorization of antlerless moose hunts and brown bear tag fee exemptions for all units statewide; and requirements for big game tags.

The board will also take action on non-regulatory items during the meetings such as resolutions, findings, letters, and delegations. Miscellaneous actions occur typically at the end of the meeting under miscellaneous business but action may occur earlier in the meeting. 

The proposed regulation changes are available on the Board of Game meeting information websites at www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo or from the ADF&G Boards Support Section Office at (907) 465-4110. Additional information will be added to the meeting websites as it becomes available for each meeting. 

You may comment on the proposed regulations including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes by submitting written comments, limited to no more than 100 single sided or 50 double sided pages. Written comments can be submitted to the Board of Game online at www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov; by fax to (907) 465-6094; or by email to dfg.bog.comments@alaska.gov (PDF format only). Comments can also be mailed to the Alaska Board of Game, ADF&G Boards Support Section at P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526.

Comments must include a first and last name, community of residence, and the proposal numbers for which the comments pertain. Comments without this information will not be part of the board meeting workbook, indexed, or cross referenced with proposals, but they will be compiled and posted on the meeting information website. Written comments that are submitted are public records and are subject to public inspection.

The deadlines for receiving comments are January 3, 2020 for the Western Arctic/Western Region meeting, and February 21, 2020 for the Interior and Eastern Arctic Region meeting.  Submission of written comments after the announced deadlines is limited to ten single-sided or five double-sided pages in length from any one individual or group and will be provided to the board members at the beginning of the meeting. During the meeting, written comments may be submitted by hand delivery if 20 copies are provided. Individuals not in attendance at a meeting may fax comments to 907-465-6094. As a practical matter, comments submitted after the board begins deliberations on relevant proposals are likely to receive less consideration than comments submitted earlier.

The Board of Game shall consider all factual, substantive, and relevant comments in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, Alaska Statute 44.62.210. Comments having disparaging statements or personal attacks will be withheld or redacted. 

The public hearing portion of the meetings is scheduled at the beginning of each meeting following staff reports, and will continue until everyone who has signed up and is present when called has been given the opportunity to be heard. However, state advisory committee representatives may elect to provide testimony at a later portion of the meetings. Additional public hearings may be held throughout the meetings just before consideration and adoption of proposed changes in the regulations. The board will take oral testimony only from those who register before the cut-off time announced by the board chair at the meeting.  The length of oral statements may be limited to three to five minutes, or less for the public and 10 to 15 minutes or less for fish and game advisory committee and regional advisory council representatives. Everyone interested in, or affected by, the subject matter contained in this legal notice should provide written or oral comments if they wish to have their views considered by the board.

Tentative BOARD OF GAME Meeting DATES & LOCATIONS

Western Arctic/Western Region Meeting

January 17-20, 2020

Mini Convention Center

409 River Street

Nome, Alaska 99762

Interior and Eastern Arctic Region Meeting

March 6-14, 2020

Pike’s Waterfront Lodge

1850 Hoselton Drive

Fairbanks, Alaska  99709

Any changes to meeting location, dates or times, or rescheduling of topics or subject matter will be announced by news release and posted on the board’s website.  Please watch for these announcements or call (907) 465-4046. Please carefully review the PROPOSAL INDEX and the additional proposal listing on the above-mentioned websites for all specific proposal issues to be addressed by the board.

Anyone interested in or affected by subsistence and general hunting or trapping regulations is hereby informed that, by publishing this legal notice the Board of Game may consider any or all of the subject areas covered by this notice. THE BOARD IS NOT LIMITED BY THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE OR CONFINES OF THE ACTUAL PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC OR STAFF. Pursuant to AS 44.62.200, the board may review the full range of activities appropriate to any of the subjects listed in this notice. The board may make changes to the hunting and trapping regulations as may be required to ensure the subsistence priority in AS 16.05.258 including reexamining customary and traditional use findings and determinations for amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence uses. After the public hearings, the Board of Game may adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or amend, reject, supplement, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations.  YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED.

If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodations in order to participate in this process, please contact ADF&G, Boards Support Section at (907) 465-4046 no later than two weeks prior to the beginning of each meeting to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

Statutory Authority: AS 16.05, AS 16.30.

Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 16.05.255; AS 16.05.256;

AS 16.05.258; AS 16.05.330; AS 16.05.340; AS 16.05.346; AS 16.05.405; AS 16.05.407; AS 16.05.780; AS 16.05.783, and AS 16.30.010 – .030.

Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
                                            

            DATE:  December 6, 2019                                                                  /S/

Kristy Tibbles, Executive Director
Alaska Board of Game 
465-6098