Plans Announced for 2017 Federal Subsistence Hunt of Chisana Caribou Herd

Consistent with the cooperative management plan for the herd, the harvest quota will be 7 bull caribou, and a maximum of 25 federal registration permits will be issued to federally qualified subsistence users. The hunt will open on August 10 and close on September 30 or when the quota has been reached. Hunters are asked to report back within three days of harvesting an animal or at the end of the season if unsuccessful. The hunt area is Federal public lands in Unit 12 that lie east of the Nabesna River and Glacier and south of the Winter Trail running southeast from Pickerel Lake to the Canadian border.

Eligibility for the hunt is limited to permanent residents of Unit 12, Chistochina, Dot Lake, Healy Lake, and Mentasta Lake. Permits will be available starting July 31st at the Slana Ranger Station, the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge office in Tok, and by contacting Barbara Cellarius, Subsistence Coordinator, at 822-7236 or barbara_cellarius@nps.gov.

The Chisana caribou herd is a small international herd occurring in Yukon and Alaska on the Klutlan Plateau and near the headwaters of the White River. In Alaska, its range is primarily within the boundaries of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. From the late 1980s through 2003, the herd experienced a decline in population and almost all hunting was stopped in 1994. From 2003 to 2006, a recovery effort designed to increase recruitment and calf survival was conducted. The herd population currently appears stable at approximately 700 animals. The herd management plan provides recommendations and strategies to guide its management and conservation. The conditions for this hunt are consistent with the plan.

For more information, contact Barbara Cellarius, Subsistence Coordinator, at (907) 822-7236 or barbara_cellarius@nps.gov.

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