Shut Down of unit 26?

[FSUhunter1010]

Any word on the units that were shut down? This is supposedly the last year for the closure in unit 26. Any talk of it re-opening?

 

[Larry Bartlett]

not this year, unfortunately. Spring (by March) of 2024 we should start seeing some movement from local ACs and community boards submitting proposals to continue the closures, at least that was their stated plan 18 months ago when this round passed.

 

[william schmaltz]

WP 24-30 and 24-31 propose placing language in the Federal Regulations that would make the closure permanent for non-federally qualified subsistence users. Proposed language for the regulations:

Federal public lands are closed to caribou hunting from Aug. 1-Oct. 31, except for Federally qualified subsistence users hunting under these regulations.

Comments are due at the end of the month if you feel so inclined. https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/proposal/current

Western Arctic units are up for state regulatory cycle this year. Typically, a document with all proposals is released in September and AC meetings shortly after. I would expect proposals to the BOG in relation to GMU23 caribou. We will see how crazy they go with it and what the department's recommendations are based on the confirmed decline observed during the 2022 census. "Proposals received per the above “Call for Proposals” deadline will be considered by the Board of Game at their Western Arctic / Western Region meeting scheduled for January 26-29, 2024."

edit: important note - the proposed federal regulation would be for GMU 23 only. The specific question was about GUM 26.