(Taken from 2023 WACH WG Binder)

Decline of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd Continues: BOG is Considering Proposals to Close Hunting to Nonresidents on State Lands

Board of Game Proposal 3 submitted by the Western Arctic Caribou Herd Working Group (WACH WG) demonstrates the significant decline, about 12% per year, of the WACH over the last seven years. Management levels for WACH consider factors such as herd abundance, adult cow survival, and calf recruitment.

“Data from biologists at ADF&G illustrate that there has been continued decline in the Western Arctic caribou herd (WACH). The July 2022 photo census estimated 164,000 caribou in the Western Arctic caribou herd which is down from 188,000 in 2021. Census numbers for past years: 2020 – no census; 2019 – 244,000; 2018 – no census; 2017 – 259,000; 2016 – 201,000. In the two years between the 2019 and 2021 census, the herd declined nearly 12% per year. Additionally, data shows that the cow survival rate is at 71% in 2021, well below the herd’s average of 81% (1981-2020). ADF&G presented this information to the WACH Working Group in December 2022. At its annual meeting the WACH WG assigned the management level “Preservative, Declining” to the herd based on the current census (within the range of 130,000-200,000) and adult cow survival rate less than 80%. In doing so, the WACH WG sees the immediate need to address the current herd decline by limiting caribou harvest to allow the herd population to begin to recover. In a separate proposal, the WACH WG proposes a reduction in harvest for resident hunters. The working group feels that if harvest reductions are placed on Alaskans to allow the herd to recover, there should also he harvest reductions for non-resident hunters. Currently, in the game management units identified above, nonresident hunters are allowed to harvest one (1) bull per year. The WACH WG proposes to close caribou hunting in Units 21D Remainder, 22, 23, 24B Remainder, 24C, 24D, and 26A to nonresidents.” 

In a separate proposal, the WACH WG proposes a reduction in harvest for resident hunters. The working group feels that if harvest reductions are placed on Alaskans to allow the herd to recover, there should also he harvest reductions for non-resident hunters.

Currently, in the game management units identified above, nonresident hunters are allowed to harvest one
(1) bull per year. The WACH WG proposes to close caribou hunting in Units 21D Remainder, 22, 23, 24B
Remainder, 24C, 24D, and 26A to nonresidents.

PROPOSED BY: Western Arctic Caribou Herd Working Group, Vern Cleveland, Chair (EG-F23-209)

The figure below, provided in the Dec. 2023 WACH WG Binder depicts levels of management and criteria for each level, and the current recommendation.

Caribou closures for nonresidents have occurred and continue on some federal lands in the named units in the proposal, but this would eliminate hunting opportunities for non-residents on state lands in these units as well. Data from ADF&G biologist Alex Hansen, from a 2022 Regional Advisory Council Meeting shows harvest data from all non-local residents within the WACH range from the year 2000-2019 below:

While all the factors behind the decline are not known, harvest of caribou is a factor that people can control for. And, the WACH has seen significantly lower herd numbers in the past, and rebounded.

Proposal 38 submitted by the Northwest Arctic Regional Advisory Council requests the closure of all nonresident caribou hunting in Unit 23.

Alaska BHA continues to expect that arguments around these types of proposals will focus on user groups that harvest more caribou. Alaska BHA supports data driven management decisions of wildlife and at this time, non-resident harvest data does not warrant elimination of the non-resident opportunity to hunt caribou from the Western Arctic Caribou Herd.

You can weigh in on these proposals until Friday January 12^th. The Alaska Board of Game will meet in Kotzebue, Alaska January 26-29.

Tentative Agenda