For Immediate Release:
August 31, 2010
Contact: Erin Uloth
(907) 228-6201
Federal Subsistence Board
News Release
Federal Subsistence Board Closes Female Deer Hunting on Federal Lands in a Portion of Unit 4 in Southeast Alaska
The Hoonah and Sitka District Rangers, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, are taking action to prohibit the taking of female deer (does) in the Northeast Chichagof Controlled Use Area (NECCUA) of Unit 4 to allow recovery of the deer population. The closure will be effective at 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, September 14, 2010 and will remain in effect for the remainder of the season which runs through January 31, 2011. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) will issue a similar closure in the NECCUA effective, September 15, extending through the end of the State season on December 31, 2010.
Record snowfall and a late spring melt during the winter of 2006-2007 resulted in substantial winter mortality of deer. Similar weather occurred in the winters of 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, delaying any significant recovery. Deer pellet surveys, winter mortality surveys, condition assessments, radio collar work, and testimony from hunters in the NECCUA still indicate a significant reduction in the deer population compared to the population before the winter of 2006-2007. Although the winter of 2009-2010 was mild, restricting the taking of female deer is necessary to allow the deer population to recover quicker.
A map and description of the NECCUA are located on page 32 and 33 of the 2010- 2012 Federal Subsistence Hunting Regulation booklets, available at Forest Service offices. Information on Federal subsistence management special actions for the Tongass National Forest can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/subsistence/subsistence.shtml. For additional information, contact U.S. Forest Service Hoonah District Ranger, Rich Jennings at (907) 945-1201 or the Sitka District Ranger, Carol Goularte at (907) 747-4218.
-FSB-
Erin Uloth
***
Partnerships and Public Affairs Staff Officer
Tongass National Forest
w. 907.228.6201 / f. 907.228.6292 / c. 907.617.8668
euloth@xxxxxxxxx
Attachment:
100831NRNECCUADoeClosure.pdf
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