Federal Subsistence Board to Meet to Consider Hunting and Trapping Proposals

*Correction to the telephone passcode for calling into this meeting by telephone. Please use: toll-free (833) 436-1163, then when prompted enter the phone conference ID: 865 934 846#The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) will meet at the Egan Civic and Convention Center located at 555 W. 5th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska, April 21 -24, 2026, to consider proposed changes to Federal subsistence hunting and trapping regulations for the 2026-2028 regulatory years and to review wildlife closures. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. (AKST) daily and conclude at 5:00 p.m. or when recessed.

Three proposals relevant to the Copper Basin are on the “Consensus Agenda.” According to the Department of Interior Agenda materials, “These are proposals for which there is agreement among Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils (RAC), the Federal Interagency Staff Committee, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) concerning Board action.” The board is likely, but not guaranteed, to follow unified recommendations. 

Proposals WP26-25/26, submitted by the Eastern Interior Alaska Subsistence RAC and Southcentral Council, would increase the harvest limit for brown bears in Unit 13 to two bears. This proposal received support from staff and relevant RACs. The proposal has two numbers because two separate proposals were submitted by different groups with the same intent. 

Proposal WP26-71, submitted by the Eastern Interior Alaska Subsistence RAC, would increase the harvest limit for brown bears to two bears. This also received unified support. 

Proposal WP-26-74, submitted by Bruce Gordon, requests that the board “recognize the customary and traditional uses of sheep in Unit 12 by residents of Chitina and Kenny Lake.” Staff and relevant RACs oppose this proposal. 

Several of the proposals have mixed support from consulting entities, which will likely require more deliberation by the board.

The Bureau of Land Management submitted proposal WP26-27, which would “ change the caribou harvest limit in Units 13C, 13D, and 13E from “2 bulls” to “up to 2 caribou,” and that authority to determine harvest limit and sex be delegated to the in-season manager.” This proposal is supported, with a modification “to delegate additional authority to define harvest area and simplify regulatory language” by the Office of Subsistence Management (OSM) and the Southcentral RAC. It is opposed by ADF&G.

Three proposals regarding moose season will be considered as a whole. WP26-28, submitted by the Southcentral Alaska RAC would extend the moose season by ten days, closing September 30. WP26-29, submitted by Nick Jackson, would shift the moose season opening and closing date five days later. WP26-30, submitted by Shirley “Tursy” Smelcer, would shift the moose season ten days later.

The shifts towards a later moose season are a reaction to warmer summer temperatures, during which moose tend to lie around and which also pose a hazard to safe meat handling. 

The Southcentral Alaska RAC and the OSM chose to support the ten day extension and take no action on the other two time shift proposals. ADF&G opposes the proposal. 

Proposal WP26-31, submitted by Kirk Wilson, “requests that the Bureau of Land Management lands in Unit 13 be closed to moose hunting by non-federally qualified users.” This proposal is opposed by OSM and ADF&G, and supported by the Southcentral RAC. 

The Board will also discuss other subsistence-related topics as outlined in the meeting agenda. Thursday evening April 23, the Board will hold a closed executive session to receive counsel and updates from their Solicitor; no regulatory actions will be taken.

 The agenda and meeting materials may be viewed and downloaded at www.doi.gov/subsistence/upcoming-federal-subsistence-board-meetings.

 The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this meeting. To join the meeting by teleconference, dial toll-free (833) 436-1163, then when prompted enter the phone conference ID: 294 062 777#. The meeting can also be joined via Microsoft Teams. CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MEETING.

There will be opportunities for the public to testify on both agenda and non-agenda items throughout the meeting. Public comments on general, non-agenda subsistence issues will be welcomed at the start of each day. The public will be provided opportunities to comment on specific hunting and trapping proposals and closures as the Board considers them.

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.