Sitka Deer to the Kenai Peninsula

[wildwilderness]

I was unaware of this proposal by Alaska Fish and Game to introduce deer to the Southern Kenai Peninsula. Sounds like a great idea to me to have deer where they might be able to be hunted off the road system, or at least closer for a lot of folks to access. I hope it goes through and the populations grow to huntable numbers in the near future.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/publicnotification/2025/releases/R2-AA-25-3338.pdf

The notice was released last week,

What are your thoughts?

I also hope the new Wood Bison herd does well. Its nice AK is at least doing something to increase wildlife opportunities. Would be nice to see something directly to help Dall's Sheep numbers and recover in areas they are no longer being hunted.

 

[PORK]

I was unaware of this proposal by Alaska Fish and Game to introduce deer to the Southern Kenai Peninsula. Sounds like a great idea to me to have deer where they might be able to be hunted off the road system, or at least closer for a lot of folks to access. I hope it goes through and the populations grow to huntable numbers in the near future.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/publicnotification/2025/releases/R2-AA-25-3338.pdf

The notice was released last week,

What are your thoughts?

I also hope the new Wood Bison herd does well. It’s nice AK is at least doing something to increase wildlife opportunities. Would be nice to see something directly to help Dall's Sheep numbers and recover in areas they are no longer being hunted.

To clarify this wasn’t a proposal by ADFG. The days are long gone where ADFG would be proactive on something like introducing an ungulate somewhere they’ve never been historically.

I think it’s critical for the powers at be to force our game agency to stop sitting on their asses “researching” and do something. The agency as a whole is currently a huge failure so what’s the harm in trying a few blacktail deer on the peninsula?

Might as well as drop a few elk off on montague and hitchinbrook while they are at it.

 

[wildwilderness]

Ahh yes, I see it was proposed by outside. At least they took the idea and are working on it. Many other states would be opposed to creating more hunting opportunities.

 

[WRO]

There’s already a few on the peninsula in random spots, but not in high quantities.


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[PORK]

Ahh yes, I see it was proposed by outside. At least they took the idea and are working on it. Many other states would be opposed to creating more hunting opportunities.

They were forced to do it. There is no state more opposed to creating more hunting opportunities than AK. Take 15 mins and sit with a biologist in this state and if you walk away feeling all warm and fuzzy about the future of game management in AK you’re not seeing clearly.

The discussions at ADFG while bear sealing this week was all negative by ADFG regarding the deer transplant. Saying it’s going to fail, ballot biology etc. The few good biologists left are so close to retirement there’s not much they can do.

 

[Bighorse]

What was their rationale for anticipated failure?

I'm also curious about the statement regarding AK being opposed to creating hunting opportunities?

Thank you

I've enjoyed the hunting afforded by the transplant of Deer on Kodiak, Mt. Goats on Revillagegedo and Baranof, and Elk on Etolin. The concept of AK and developing opportunities feels real and tangible to me in the past. The only transplanted game I've hunted in the lower 48 is pheasant. Has there been a cultural shift or something I'm unaware of?

As for the deer....I hope they can survive and provide food for folks. Sitka deer are the best!

 

[kwackkillncrew]

They were forced to do it. There is no state more opposed to creating more hunting opportunities than AK. Take 15 mins and sit with a biologist in this state and if you walk away feeling all warm and fuzzy about the future of game management in AK you’re not seeing clearly.

The discussions at ADFG while bear sealing this week was all negative by ADFG regarding the deer transplant. Saying it’s going to fail, ballot biology etc. The few good biologists left are so close to retirement there’s not much they can do.

Who did you talk to at adfg? Was it in anchorage? If so, I hope it wasn't the dude who told my non resident friend that he could shoot 2 deer in kodiak this past October, 1 with a bow on the road system and 1 with a gun off the road system.... I immediately said he was wrong.

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[Snowwolfe]

I vote we put F&G in charge of managing Alaska's mosquitos. Once that happens I bet $100 within 5 years there will not be any left in the state.
(Just kidding)

 

[PORK]

What was their rationale for anticipated failure?

I'm also curious about the statement regarding AK being opposed to creating hunting opportunities?

Thank you

I've enjoyed the hunting afforded by the transplant of Deer on Kodiak, Mt. Goats on Revillagegedo and Baranof, and Elk on Etolin. The concept of AK and developing opportunities feels real and tangible to me in the past. The only transplanted game I've hunted in the lower 48 is pheasant. Has there been a cultural shift or something I'm unaware of?

As for the deer....I hope they can survive and provide food for folks. Sitka deer are the best!

Really? Simply look at available draw tags for 2025 vs 2015. Something like 70% less available. I could go on and on.

There wouldn’t be elk, deer or goats in any of the areas you mentioned if it was up to anyone at ADFG in the last 30+ years.

 

[PORK]

Who did you talk to at adfg? Was it in anchorage? If so, I hope it wasn't the dude who told my non resident friend that he could shoot 2 deer in kodiak this past October, 1 with a bow on the road system and 1 with a gun off the road system.... I immediately said he was wrong.

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I don’t doubt it in the least. They couldn’t even seal the bears correctly. Wrote down the GMU subunit down wrong after asking for it twice. Didn’t pull any teeth nor put seals on the hides.

Like I said if you have any faith in our ADFG you’re a fool.