Kodiak Deer limit change

[ElGuapo]

Well that kills my desire to do that….. CRAP

 

[AK Troutbum]

Closed sheep hunting to NR in an area.

What area did they close only to NR hunting?

 

[Nick Muche]

19C

 

[AK Troutbum]

19C

They closed it to non-res. only? Sorry, I'm an idiot, I can't seem to find where to access that info on my own. Also, sorry to the OP for derailing your thread.

 

[Steve O]

I always buy two tags and take one deer at most. Don’t need a 4000 mile trip to haul a pile of deer home. I guess now I’ll buy one tag and take at the most one deer. Been going there for 20 years, figured 4-5 years ago that would be the next spot the influencers ruined so decided to go every year while I can before they destroyed it like Arizona. And Colorado. And Idaho.

Still looking forward to November and a spot where I won’t see any people for two weeks.

 

[william schmaltz]

They closed it to non-res. only? Sorry, I'm an idiot, I can't seem to find where to access that info on my own. Also, sorry to the OP for derailing your thread.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/regprocess/gameboard/pdfs/2022-2023/sc/soa_3-22-23.pdf

Voted today at around noon so took a bit to update actions. Prop 204 is 19C. Prop 73 at the same link is what relates to this thread to try and keep things relevant.

 

[Homer]

I have a trip booked for 24’ very disappointing to hear. I will not be going back for deer again

I would imagine that right there is a large reason the limit was changed.

 

[BRTreedogs]

AK keeps it up and ill just move up there, just try me.

 

[buzzy]

I wonder how many hunters who have a boat based transporter lined up will now change their mind and not go. Probably not many but I’m sure some won’t think the trip is worth it for just 1 deer.

 

[MattB]

I wonder how many hunters who have a boat based transporter lined up will now change their mind and not go. Probably not many but I’m sure some won’t think the trip is worth it for just 1 deer.

I would think otherwise. I’ve bowhunted Kodiak 5 times and taken 2 deer more often than 1. Being limited to 1 deer flips the decision. As crazy as this may sound, paying ~$6K for the prospect of 2 deer was OK to me but for 1 I will pass.

 

[actionshooter]

If this hurts anyone, it's going to be the local businesses, I don't care if the majority of NR hunters only take 1 deer, they want 2+ tags in their pocket to make the trip... I'll go again, but will think twice if there are other opportunities available in November.

 

[kwackkillncrew]

The transporters and locals will be just fine. Maybe the boat based hunts will take a hit but then again I am sure wealthy non res will still come up and shoot a deer, ducks and catch fish.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[LoggerDan]

I approve. Local business will be just fine. Maybe it’ll free up a lot of flights.. Lots of changes up here, and aside from some trapping changes, most is for the better.

 

[kodiak725]

As someone who grew up in and currently resides in Kodiak, I feel it was in part an answer to a different problem. Limiting to one deer will likely discourage the number of transporters hauling people around the island. It has gotten absolutely insane and there are no limits or regulations on the number of transporters operating in an area, nor how many clients they cycle through in an area. Not to mention the boats offering this service are predominately from Homer. Transporting although legal here really is grey area. I don’t believe that anyone could say with a straight face that they aren’t guiding. The truth is winters predominantly determine the deer population, however it’s only a matter of time before the ever increasing pressure starts to impact it as well. I could be completely wrong in my assessment but I think it in part addressed transporting without actually making changes to their regulations.

 

[Ryan Avery]

FYI: 66% of nonresident hunters shoot 1 deer, 27% shoot 2, 7% shoot 3.

I was in the 7%… Sweet!

Interesting… Just go right past two deer to one deer… sounds fishy.

How’s the reindeer population??

 

[Chumsnagger]

What area did they close only to NR hunting?

What area did they close only to NR hunting?

I was in the 7%… Sweet!

Interesting… Just go right past two deer to one deer… sounds fishy.

How’s the reindeer population??

2009-2018: estimate 350-400
2019-2022: estimate 250-300

Most hunters are nonresident. Proposal 68 changed nonresident harvest to bull only.

 

[Rich M]

Why are all the animal populations falling so much? Is it the harvest? Most NR shoot bucks/bulls...

 

[MallardSX2]

And the NR beatings will continue until moral improves.

 

[SaltySailor]

Idk why id spend the money to come from lower 48 for 1 deer now. If I'm going to spend $2500 -4k bucks I'd like a little more to chew on then that.

I don't know know why you would spend that much to shoot three of them.

 

[william schmaltz]

I could be completely wrong in my assessment but I think it in part addressed transporting without actually making changes to their regulations.

I think you're pretty spot on. A transporter even gave comments at the meeting that it's out of control. The pilot I use won't even drop people on the salt after October 1st anymore. Some claim there's a camp every couple miles of shoreline in October and November plus a couple dozen boats. Seems every year in my quick search there are a few new boat operators each time I look. There were a few proposals to limit and restrict transporters in Unit 8 but the board does not have authority to regulate transporter activity. So I agree that's large part of why this action was taken. The same local that submitted those proposals also submitted prop 73.

Why are all the animal populations falling so much? Is it the harvest? Most NR shoot bucks/bulls...

They're not. With social media, youtube, and forums sending more and more people to various places to hunt each year, things eventually need to be restricted. Kodiak has been the place everyone has been talking about as the next great affordable adventure the last few years and now we're seeing the results. No different than when Newberg has a video titled "Why you should he hunting Colorado OTC elk as a NR every year" and then when its overrun and needs a bit of restriction its all the fault of the greedy residents.

I wonder how many hunters who have a boat based transporter lined up will now change their mind and not go. Probably not many but I’m sure some won’t think the trip is worth it for just 1 deer.

According to the public comments, everyone and their dog claims they were cancelling their trip if this proposal went through. We will see.