If passed, the proposal to increase harvest limit from 2 to 3 would apply to the current season; the Federal Subsistence Board is holding a public hearing in Dillingham Thursday.
The Federal Subsistence Board will take public comment this week on a request to increase the harvest limit for Nushagak Peninsula caribou from two to three animals.
"The bottom line is, we have a lot of caribou right now on the Nushagak Peninsula," says Susanna Henry, Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Manager. "The number of caribou is very large and the land just cannot support that many. We’re headed for a downfall, and if we could do our best to harvest a number of them, it would lessen the impact that these animals have on the plants down there."
If passed, the special action would allow hunters who have already taken two caribou, or who already have two tags, to go to the Curyung Tribal office and pick up another federal permit. The change would be in effect for the remainder of the current season, ending March 31st.
A separate proposal before the Board would allow three tags per person during the fall hunt, which starts in August, and extend that season through November; the Federal Subsistence Board will deal with that request at a later time.
The public can weigh in on the special action request during a hearing this Thursday, January 21, from 6-8 p.m. at the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.
Those unable to attend in person may join by teleconference: 1-866-916-7020, passcode 37311548
Or send comments via fax at 907 842-5402 or by email to: andy_aderman@fws.gov prior to the hearing.
