Daniel_M
WKR
Official link HERE
8/8/2014
Today, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) issued an emergency order
announcement closing
sheep hunting in
Units
23 and 26(A)
due to severe decline in sheep numbers in
the contiguous shee
p populations of the De Long Mountains, Schwatka Mountains, and state managed
lands in Unit 26(A). General season hunts by harvest ticket for residents and nonresidents with full
-
curl
bag limits are closed by this action. Resident registration subsistence
permit hunts for any sheep (RS388
and RS389) are closed on August 9, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. Due to the low population status, no harvest of
sheep is warranted.
Preliminary 2014 survey results indicate a population decline of 50
-
75% since 2011. This declin
e follows
on the heels of a 30% decline from 2009
-
2011.
The total number of sheep observed on
survey
transects
in 2014 (n=102
sheep
) was 70% lower than the number seen on transects in 2011 (n=330 sheep).
Sheep populations in the western Brooks Range within Units 23 and 26(A) experienced severe winter
conditions in 2013
-
2014. Starvation and loss of protective habitat resulting from ground
-
fast ice have
contributed to increased declines of sheep populations
in the De Long Mountains and Schwatka
Mountains. Previous declines during 2009
–
2011, low reproductive potential, and poor lamb production
over a multi
-
year period have significantly reduced the number of sheep in Units 23 and 26(A).
Other
contributing f
actors may include predation, disease, range deterioration from when sheep numbers
were higher, and large numbers of migratory caribou competing for, and impacting, sheep forage
habitat at lower elevations.
Similar
sheep season
closures applying to
federal subsistence hunting have been recommended by
federal managers, and at the time of this release are under consideration by the federal program.
###
8/8/2014
Today, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) issued an emergency order
announcement closing
sheep hunting in
Units
23 and 26(A)
due to severe decline in sheep numbers in
the contiguous shee
p populations of the De Long Mountains, Schwatka Mountains, and state managed
lands in Unit 26(A). General season hunts by harvest ticket for residents and nonresidents with full
-
curl
bag limits are closed by this action. Resident registration subsistence
permit hunts for any sheep (RS388
and RS389) are closed on August 9, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. Due to the low population status, no harvest of
sheep is warranted.
Preliminary 2014 survey results indicate a population decline of 50
-
75% since 2011. This declin
e follows
on the heels of a 30% decline from 2009
-
2011.
The total number of sheep observed on
survey
transects
in 2014 (n=102
sheep
) was 70% lower than the number seen on transects in 2011 (n=330 sheep).
Sheep populations in the western Brooks Range within Units 23 and 26(A) experienced severe winter
conditions in 2013
-
2014. Starvation and loss of protective habitat resulting from ground
-
fast ice have
contributed to increased declines of sheep populations
in the De Long Mountains and Schwatka
Mountains. Previous declines during 2009
–
2011, low reproductive potential, and poor lamb production
over a multi
-
year period have significantly reduced the number of sheep in Units 23 and 26(A).
Other
contributing f
actors may include predation, disease, range deterioration from when sheep numbers
were higher, and large numbers of migratory caribou competing for, and impacting, sheep forage
habitat at lower elevations.
Similar
sheep season
closures applying to
federal subsistence hunting have been recommended by
federal managers, and at the time of this release are under consideration by the federal program.
###