2020 Fall Federal Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Season Opening

The Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Manager, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, will open caribou hunting on the Nushagak Peninsula. Hunters must obtain an FC1702 permit.  Hunting opens at 12:00 am August 1 and closes 11:59 pm September 20, 2020 in the following Units:

Those portions of Units 17A and 17C consisting of the Nushagak Peninsula south of the Igushik River, Tuklung River and Tuklung Hills, west to Tvativak Bay.  Hunters should review the FC1702 permit conditions before heading afield, as some portions of the units remain closed to caribou hunting.   

The harvest limit is one bull caribou.  Successful hunters are required to report their harvest within 5 days.  No winter season will be announced.  Only Federal lands within the hunt area will be open to federally qualified rural residents of Manokotak.  Hunters should review the land status of their intended hunt area prior to heading afield.

State of Alaska Caribou Registration Permit RC501 (portions of Unit 17A /17C north of the FC1702 hunt area) is closed. 

Justification:

Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Herd harvest limits for the 2019-2020 season were liberalized to reduce the herd to a more sustainable level, and hunters harvested a minimum of 307 caribou. The summer 2020 population estimate of the Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Herd is 226 animals, which is near the lower end of the population objective of 200-600 established for this herd.  An October 2019 composition survey estimated 33 bulls and 26 calves per 100 cows.  The Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Planning Committee met July 28, 2020 and a majority recommended allowing a harvest of 5 bulls total with the 5 permits going to the Manokotak Village Council. Since receiving management authority, the Togiak Refuge staff, working along with staff from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, determined there is a minimal number of bulls which can be harvested; however, all cow harvest must be avoided to allow for herd growth. 

For additional information, contact Kenton Moos at (907) 842-1063.

Information about the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

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