The Federal Subsistence Board unanimously opposed two special action requests June 8 that would dramatically limit the harvest for the Western Arctic Caribou Herd for communities in the herd’s range.
Following a decline in the herd population, the Northwest Arctic and Western Interior regional advisory councils, groups that advise the federal government on hunting policy, proposed the measures in early March.
Right now, hunters can harvest up to five caribou a day on federal lands in the herd's range — an area roughly the size of California that stretches from the Seward Peninsula to the North Slope. The emergency orders would have cut the limit to four caribou a year. Only one of the four could be a cow.
The Western Arctic Caribou Herd population peaked at 490,000 caribou in 2003. The latest population estimate puts the herd at about a third of that size — a little over 160,000 caribou.
After the board’s decision, bag limits will remain unchanged. Five caribou can still be harvested a day until June 2024.
While federal board members acknowledged that reform is necessary to encourage population growth, some expressed concerns about food security for rural communities in the region. The board said more outreach, public engagement opportunities and time are needed before enacting the dramatic change in harvest limits.
The Federal Subsistence Board is accepting comments on proposed changes for the 2024-26 season. Written comments can be emailed to the board at subsistence@fws.gov.
