Alaska Wildlife Management Plans - Interior Alaska

211 Pages·2015·17.92 MB·English

-
•
ALASKA HILDLIFE ''ANAGEMENT PLAHS
A PUBLIC PROPOSAL FOR THE HAHAGEHEKT
OF ALASKA'S WILDLIFE
STATE OF ALASKA
Jay S. Hanmond, Governor
Department of F1sll and Game Division of Game
James W. Brooks, Comniss loner Robert A. Rausch, Director
Financed In part through Federal Aid In Wildlife Restoration, Project W-17-R
Tl:esc Alaaka WadUft: ftlaru:~<ncnt f'iaria ill'<' fi1•ut ;:nd forariost proposals
fol' uildlifa l'ltl>Ul(;cr.ient dcudopcd b;J tl1e Division of Gar.le for ccmsidaration
by tho p:.bli.a. The ~.any ideas contained in the plans arc ,nzy a beainning -
thay form a lxzaia r.pon JJhich the public can c°"""'nt and r.1cr:mr.iand. The
plana ara not infle:ri.bl~. a11d eUt'll afte1• they attain a more /inal fo.,..
and '"'" implcMcntcd, they 1.1ilZ be aub,iect to change as 1.1ildlif• popula&~"e
In addition to pl'Opoaing management directiona, the plano contain a
1.»alth of info~ticm on the atatus and use of Alaaka'a 1.1ildlife populations.
Thie valuable infol'fflQ.tion .us compiled from a nwobdr of 1.1idely acatteNtd
souraao and m!<Ch of it i.uo not pNuiousZy available in 1.1rittan form.
Thasa plans 1'11p1'8Hnt th11 MOat aacu:rate assessment of uildlifn Rt.nt11tt
and uoa available to the Cane l>iuision at the time of writing in 1976.
Howval', t.>ildli.fe populations arc dynar.ric, and much of tha information
cm population statr.a tJiZZ l'Bquire rcavalu:ation rJith time.
Virtu.ilty tha entire cams l>ivisi.0>1 otaff pa1'ticipated in tho FNparation
of thasc pl'Opoaals. Coming aa it did t=idat many other important task.a
of the Oiviaion, this pla>tning a/fort 1.1as moat demanding. I am gratified
by my staff'o cooperation and sr.pport in thia endeavor; their accomplishment
rcfleata th11i1' pl'Of'16Bionali11111 and ®di.cation.
i
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
PA RT I : WIL OLI FE MANAGEMENT m AI .AS KA
THE PLANS, THE OEPARTHENT OF flSH AND GAHE ANO THE PUBLIC
What the Plans Contain 2
Regional Booklets. 3
HANAGEHENT GOALS, . . . . . . . . • , . . • . , . . • . , . • • . . • . 5
HANAGOIENT BACKGROUND 10
The Legal Basis for Wildlife Management In Alaska. 10
Legl s lature . . , . . . • • . . . • • . . .• 11
Governor ••... ... ...•...•...• .· 12
Connissloner of the Department of Ffsh and Game 12
Division of Game •.. 12
Board of Game . . . . l4
Public . .. ..•.• 15
Biological Considerations. 16
Wlldl lfe llabltat •. 16
Population Dynamics 17
Proble•s of Management 18
Natural Factors • 19
Land Use •...• 21
Use of Wildlife .••. 25
Management U111itations. 28
PART II : IN D IV JDUAL SPEC I ES llANAGEMENT PLANS • . . . . . . . • . • 31
BLACK BEAR ••.•.••..••..••..••. 31
1. Interior-Western Alaska Black Bear Management Plan. 33
2. Prospect Black Bear Management Plan ••.. . , ••.•••• 36
3. Upper Birch-Preacher-Beaver Creeks Black Bear Management Plan 38
4. Minto-Murphy Dome Black Bear Management Plan. • . . • • • . 41
BROWN BEAR •..•..••..•••.••..••..••• 44
l. Brooks Range Brown Bear Manageiaent Plan • • • • . 46
2. Upper Yukon-Porcupine Brown Bear Management Plan ..••••• 49
6. Upper Birch-Preacher-Beaver Creeks Brown Bear Management Plan 51
7. Yukon-Tanana Brown Bear Management Plan • • • • 53
8. Central Alaska Range Brown Bear Hanagetnent Plan 55
WOLF. 58
l. Alaska Wolf Management Plan 61
II
BARREN GRO\JNO CAR !BOU . . . . . . .
I. Porcupine Caribou Management Plan 71
Z. Dietrich Caribou Management Plan. . . . 74
3. Western Arctic Caribou Management Plan. 76
5. Fortymi le Caribou Management Pl an .• . 79
6. Chisana Caribou Management Plan •..• 6Z
7. McComb Plateau Caribou Hana~ement Plan. • 83
8. Delta Caribou Management Plan . .... • 8!1
9. McKinley Caribou Management Plan. . 88
BISON 90
1. Delta Bison Management Plan 91
DALL SH£EP ... 94
3. Southern Drooks Range Sheep 11.lnagcr.tcnt Plan g6
5. White Mountains Sheep Management Plan • , . . 98
6. Tanana Hills Sheep Management Plan. , ..• .. • .100
7. llrangel l-Hentasta Mountains Shet!p Haua~ement Plan .103
8. Tok Sheep Hanagement Plan . . . . . . • • . . . . lD5
9. Delta Sheep Management Plan ...•. .107
10. Central Alaska Range Sheep Management Plan. .109
HOOSE .. • ll 1
2. Dietrich Hoose Management Plan ...• .113
7. Southwestern Brooks Hoose Management Plan .115
8. Southeastern Brooks Hoose Management Plan .117
13. Kantishna River Hoose Management Plan .119
14. Yukon-Tanana Hoose Management Plan .• .121
15. Beaver Creek Hoose Management Plan .• .125
16. Chena-Salcha Hoose Management Plan .. .127
17. Charley River Hoose Management Plan .131
18. Stxtymile Butte Hoose Management Plan .13Z
19. Little Tok Hoose Management Plan ..• .134
20. Gers t1 e River f1oose Management Pl an . . • .136
21. Donnelly-Clearwater Hoose Management Plan .13B
22. Fairbanks Moose Hanagemen t Pl an • . . • . • . \40
23. Central Alaska Range Moose Management Plan. .14Z
FURBEARERS. . . • • . . . • . • . . • • . . • .145
1. Greater Alaska Furbearer Management Plan. .147
SHALL GAME ..•..•........... .160
1. Al a ska Sma 11 Game Management Pl an .164
WATERFOlll .170
l. Northern Alaska Waterfowl Hanagement Plan .173
2. Southern Alaska Waterfowl Management Plan .176
3. Fairbanks Waterfowl Management Plan . .181
5. Hlnchumina Waterfowl Management Plan. .183
UNCLASSIFIED GAME ...•..••...•. .185
la. Alaska Raptor Hana9ernent Plan • . .190
lb. Alaska Bald Eagle Management Plan . . • • . • .19Z
7. Upper Yukon Peregrine Falcon Management Plan. . • 194
B. Tanana Cl tffs Peregrine Falcon Management Plan. . • • .196
11. Twelve Hile-Eagle Sulllllit Unclassified Game Management Plan .. 198
GEHERAl SPEC I ES PLAHS . . • . . .199
Ht. McKinley National Park Wildlife Management Plan • 199
it i
PART I:
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN ALASKA

WI LD U FE /1AHAGEMENT IN ALAS KA
THE PLANS, THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME AND THE PUBLIC
Alaska's Wildlife Management Plans are the result of a long-tenn planning
effort which first resulted In the developnoent of the Alaska Galle Management
Policies In 1973. These plans are another step toward developing a
program for wise husbandry of Alaska's wildlife resources and, basically,
are recomnendations to the public by the Department of Fish and Game for
the management of all wildlife In the state.
The infonnatlon and rec01111endattons contained In these plans represent a
concerted effort by Department staff to coaiplle and review existing
Information on the status, distribution, and uses of Alaskan wildlife
populations. Current and projected land use patterns and natural resource
potentials and developments are also considered. Synthesis of these
plans began at the field level where local needs and conditions were
best understood.
The need for planning in the management of wildlife, and particularly In
the allocation of use of wildlife, has become pressing in recent years.
Alaska is experiencing unprecedented growth In human population at the
same time that lnmense land areas, conveyed to private ownership or
federal single-purpose classification, 111ay be lost to ~ultlpurpose
public use. Development and aiobiltzation of resources are Impacting
wildlife and Its habitat and are bringing 1110re people into contact with
once-remote wildlife populations. ·rn simplest terms, Alaska faces a
rapidly growing demand for wildlife use which is In sharp contrast to
the shrinking resource area available to support such use. Moreover,
as pressures on wildlife populations Increase, there are Increasing
possibilities that any given use will have detrimental effects. There
ts, therefore, need for greater precision In 111anagement.
The complexity of resource allocations requires the systematic approach
provided by planning. In keeping with mandates of Alaska's constitution,
the Department's planning efforts are Intended to eventually achieve
opti11U111, diversified use of Alaska's wildlife throughout the forseeable
future.
Publication and distribution of these recomnendat1ons mark the beginning
of the second phase In this planning process: the public's review of
the staff's rec011111endatlons and Its involvement and participation In
shaping the initial proposal Into a statement of direction for wildlife
111anagenient fn Alaska.
The responsibility of the Department Is to manage Alaska's wildlife
resources for the benefit of the people. Therefore, ft Is Incumbent on
the Department to detennlne what the public wants from Its wildlife
resources. It 1s clear also that the Department will not be able to
lllil.lntaln the continuity of long•te~ lllilnagement programs without the
support of Alaska's people.
Development and Implementation of the wildlife plans will affect Alaskans
In several ways. First, the public will participate In the Initial
formulation of the basic long-term management direction. Second, the
plans as presented for review will tnfonn the public about Alaska's
wildlife populations and their current and potential uses. They will also
give the public a clearer understanding of the role and responsibilities
of the Deparbnent of Fl sh and Game. Third, If Implemented, the plans
will provide Alaskans and other Interested persons with an array of
alternative uses of wildlife which can be maintained through purposeful
iaanageinent.
All interested people are invited to contribute to the wildlife management
planning effort. The Division of Game recllllllll!ndat1ons contained in this
and other booklets and maps are being distributed to the public throughout
the state. Included ts a questionnaire soliciting opinions about the
manage111ent the Division is proposing. In addition to printed circulation
of the proposed plans, the Division will hold public meetings in many
Alaskan cOlllll.lnities to obtain cOCRnent and discussion.
All public response will be considered in evaluating and modifying the
proposed plans. Allocation of wildlife values among competing users and
between conflicting uses is a complex problem which will have to be
resolved through careful consideration of expressed public desires and
the biological capabilities of the wildlife populations In question.
Minority as well as rujor1ty demands should be accomodated if we are to
retain the values afforded by a spectru~ of w1ldl1fe-or1ented experiences.
The Division will work closely with the Alaska Board of Game and with
the Board's local advisory coll'llllttees during the entire public review
process. As the principal forum for the public's voice in Alaska's
wildlife management, the Alaska Board of Game will modify and make the
final delennlnation on proposed wildlife plans. The Division of Game
will assist the Board by providing a full report of the public review
process and the response It engenders.
After the public review process, and revision and adoption by the Board
of Game, the plans will be published and distributed to the public.
Needless to say, the plans are not intended to be inflexible. Conditions
change with time, and the plans will need to be adaptable. Revision of
plans may occur as the result of periodic reviews or when individual
situations require ~od!fication. Revision of plans will be made with
participation by the public.
l~plementation of the plans will begin as soon as practical after final
acceptance by the Board of Game. Those areas or species now receiving
the greatest use or in danger of losing those attributes called for by
the plans should receive the earliest attention. Implementation will
Involve development of operational plans, formulation of regulations,
internal Department actions such as research and management activities,
and interagency cooperative actions as required.
Development and iiaplementation of these management plans wll 1 be strongly
affected by conveyance of 40 mlllton acres of land into private ownership
and by Inclusion of up to 80 million acres of classified federal withdrawals
into "Four Systems" federal management under terms of the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act. Development of staff recoanendations has proceeded
with the knowledge that many changes ln the contents of the final plans
are Inevitable. Management of wildlife on lands under federal jurisdictlon
or under private ownership will necessarily be connensurate with the
land-use policies of the respective landowners. l111portant land-use
decisions are being made now and In the next few years that will affect
wildlife and Its future use in the state. By developing wildlife plans
now, we can improve the rationale by whlch land-use poltcles will be
formulated.
WHAT THE PLAHS COHTAIN
Thls regional booklet Is only one portion of a comprehensive public
proposal by the Division of Game, Department of Fish and Game, for the
planned management of Alaska's wildlife resources. The proposal consists
of: 1) seven regional booklets (of which this is one) containing
recomnendations for management of each species of wildltfe, and 2) a
set of eleven statewide ..p s outlining boundartes of indtvtdual species
2
management plan areas. The maps are intended to complement the material
presented in the regional booklets. For complete understanding of the
plans, the maps and appropriate regional booklets should be used toqether.
These plans are for your review. Questionnaires have been included with
the maps and booklets for your written cornnents. In addition, public
meetings will be held throughout the state to explain plans and receive
COlmlent. You are invited to contact the Game Division staff to discuss
these plans.
REGIONAL BOOKLETS
Each regional booklet is arranged In two parts. Part I contains an
explanation of the planning effort and how the public will participate
In the development of the plans. Included is an explanation of the
management goals upon which the recornnendations are structured. In
addition, Part I presents a brief discussion of wildlife management in
Alaska, reviewing the formal structure of management, the biological
bases for wildlife use, and the problems encountered in managing wildlife.
Part II contains the individual species/area management recomaendatlons.
Each of the regional booklets corresponds to one of seven geographic
regions of the state, depicted In the figure below.
....
~
l