NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE
REGULATIONS 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. The subject matter areas to be addressed concern Game Management Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C; and statewide reauthorization of antlerless moose hunts and brown bear tag fee exemptions. The board will also address additional topics for other Game Management Units and statewide provisions as described below:
A. TRAPPING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C, including but not limited to: beaver, coyote, mink, marten, otter, muskrat, squirrel, marmot, fox, weasel, lynx, black bear, and wolves. In addition, the definition of bucket foot snare.
B. HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS in Units 12, 19, 20 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C for all species including, but not limited to: bison, muskox, moose, caribou, black bear, Dall sheep, brown bear, wolves, wolverine, lynx, fur animals, small game, unclassified game, and deleterious exotic wildlife. In addition, the potential for Tier I or Tier II subsistence hunting for each population and the reauthorization of antlerless moose hunts in all Units.
C. LICENSES, HARVEST TICKETS, HARVEST REPORTS, TAGS, FEES, AND PERMITS in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C, including, but not limited to: discretionary and required permit hunt conditions and procedures including requirements for antler locking tags and same day airborne assistance for taking bison; taking of game by proxy; permits for hunting black bear and brown bear with the use of bait or scent lures; special provisions for moose and Dall sheep hunts; guide requirements for nonresidents; maintaining bait stations by guides and assistant guides; special hunts for youth and disabled individuals; hunter education requirements; community subsistence harvest hunts, areas and conditions; and reauthorization of brown bear tag fee exemptions. In addition, discretionary trapping permit conditions and procedures including black bear trapping requirements for age, residency, salvage, sealing, evidence of sex and identity, identification and checking bear bait and snare stations; and taking bear with snares and with the use of artificial light.
D. HUNTING AND TRAPPING METHODS AND MEANS in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C including, but not limited to: lawful methods of taking game, big game, and furbearers, including taking bear at bait stations the same day airborne; allowing the use of helicopters to access to trapping; and requirements for checking traps.
E. POSSESSION, TRANSPORTATION, AND USE OF GAME in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C including, but not limited to: sealing of bear skins and skulls; salvage of game meat, furs, and hides; taking cub bears and female bears with cubs; and purchase and sale of game.
F. RESTRICTED AREAS AND GAME MANAGEMENT UNITS in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C including, but not limited to: areas closed to hunting and trapping; closures and restrictions in state game refuges; management areas including Minto Flats and Fairbanks Management Areas; controlled use areas including Yanert, Koyukuk, Kanuti, Wood River, Ladue, and new Controlled Use Areas in Unit 20. In addition, restrictions for use of motorized vehicles; allowing the use of crossbows; and taking of small game by falconry in the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area.
G. INTENSIVE / PREDATOR MANAGEMENT in Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C for all prey populations and populations having a positive finding as identified big game prey populations. In addition, predation control areas implementation plans for Units 20, 24, 9, 17 and 19, including habitat manipulation, population and harvest objections, and related findings.
H. CUSTOMARY AND TRADITIONAL USES OF GAME POPULATIONS for Units 12, 9, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26B and 26C including but not limited to: amounts reasonably necessary for subsistence uses for game including wolves.
I. STATEWIDE AND OTHER PROVISIONS: Seasons and bag limits for bear and moose in Units 9B and 9C; the sale of big game trophies; moose hunting in Unit 11; discretionary permit conditions for methods and means for recipients of Governor’s tags; sealing and salvage requirements for black bear; bait station seasons for taking black bear; taking cub bears and female bears with cubs; and statewide seasons and bag limits for black bear; and permits for falconry.
You may comment on the proposed regulations, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes by submitting written comments to the Alaska Board of Game, Boards Support Section at P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK 99811-5526. Comments may also be submitted by fax to (907) 465-6094.
Written comments may be submitted to the Board of Game at any time before the proposal is taken up by the board in deliberations, but as a practical matter, written comments should be submitted to the Boards Support Section office at the above address or fax number by 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2012 to ensure inclusion in the board workbooks.
Written comment over 100 single sided or 50 double sided pages in length from any one individual or group relating to proposals will not be accepted. Written comments submitted after February 17, 2012 will be limited to 10 single sided or 5 double sided pages in length from any one individual or group. Written comments that are submitted are public record and are subject to public inspection.
The public hearing portion of the meeting will begin immediately after staff reports and 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 meeting. The deadline to sign up to testify will be announced at the meeting. The board will take oral testimony only from those who register before the cut-off time. The length of oral statements may be limited to three to five minutes, or less.
Additional public hearings may be held throughout the meeting just before consideration and adoption of proposed changes in the regulations. A live audio stream of the board meeting is intended to be available and can be accessed on the Board of Game website at:
www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov .
Tentative Meeting Schedule
Interior Region Meeting
Wedgewood Resort
212 Wedgewood Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
March 2 – 11, 2012
An agenda will be posted daily during the meeting. Any changes to meeting locations, dates or times, or rescheduling of topics or subject matter will be announced by news release. Please watch for these announcements in the news media or call (907) 465-4110.
If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodations in order to participate in this process, please contact Scott Crass at (907) 465-4110 no later than February 17, 2012 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
The proposed regulation changes are available on the Board of Game website
www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo or through the ADF&G Boards Support Section Office at (907) 465-4110.
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 use.
After the public hearing, 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 should comment during the time allowed if your interest could be affected.
Statutory Authority: AS 16.05.255; AS 16.05.258; AS 16.05.270
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 16.05.255; AS 16.05.256;
AS 16.05.258; AS 16.05.407; AS 16.05.346; AS 16.05.340; AS 16.30.010 – .030;
AS 16.05.330, and AS 16.05.783
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: January 27, 2012
Kristy Tibbles, Executive Director
Alaska Board of Game
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(d))
1. Adopting agency: Alaska Board of Game
2. General subject of regulation: Interior Region
3. Citation of regulations: 5 AAC 84, 85, 92, 98, and 99
4. Reason for the proposed action:
( ) compliance with federal law
( ) compliance with new or changed state statute
( ) compliance with court order
( ) development of program standards
(X) other: Regularly scheduled topics for the Interior Region, 2012 Board of Game meeting and other miscellaneous provisions. Implement, interpret, or make specific the provisions of AS 16.05– AS 16.30
5. Program category and RDU: Natural Resources and all RDUs
6. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding: It is not possible to estimate cost. However, this action is not expected to require an increased appropriation.
7. The name of the contact person for the regulations:
Name: Kristy Tibbles
Title: Executive Director, Board Game
Address: Boards Support Section
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game
PO Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526
Telephone: (907) 465-4110
8. The origin of the proposed action:
__X__ staff of state agency
__X__ federal government
__X__ general public
____ petition for regulation change
_____ other (please list)
9. Date: January 27, 2012 Prepared by:
Kristy Tibbles
Executive Director, Board of Game
907-465-4110
