The weeklong season extension has a harvest limit of 3 caribou, with no same-day airborne allowed, and the season ends May 10 to avoid overlap with calving season.
The Nushagak Peninsula caribou season, which closed April 15, has now been reopened for May 3-10.
The Manokotak Traditional Council requested the latest emergency action, which was approved this week by the Federal Subsistence Board.
It will be the first time the Nushagak Peninsula caribou hunt has been closed and then opened again, according to Togiak Refuge biologist Andy Aderman. But he says there’s enough caribou in the area to justify the additional harvest.
"I fully expected somebody would request [another extension]," says Aderman. "April 15th is the longest we've ever hunted down there for caribou. And biologically, it’s justified to hunt, but it is approaching calving season here mid-month, so that’s the reason it closes on May 10th.
It’s the same hunt as in March and April; it requires a federal registration permit and there’s a harvest limit of three caribou. The only difference, says Aderman, is that same-day airborne take is not allowed during this May hunt.
"People that have turned in their harvest reports or got rid of their permits because they thought the season was over on April 15th, if they plan to hunt, give me a call," says Aderman, "and I'll do what I can to get you a duplicate permit issued."
Aderman says only 60-70 caribou have been harvested out of a herd of 1300-1400 since last summer. That means about 600 more animals would have to be taken in order to cull the herd down to what managers say is an optimal number of 750.
The Nushagak Peninsula caribou season is open from Tuesday, May 3 until Tuesday, May 10. Call the Togiak Refuge at 842-8406 for more information.