Board of Game Meetings Scheduled in Fairbanks March 17-28
- ADF&G Press Release

Sam Cotten, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526


Press Release: March 11, 2016

Contact: Kristy Tibbles, Executive Director, Board of Game, Juneau, (907) 465-4110

Board of Game Meetings Scheduled in Fairbanks March 17-28

(Fairbanks) — The Alaska Board of Game (board) will meet in Fairbanks on March 17-28, at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge located at 1850 Hoselton Drive. The board will hold a one-day work session March 17 followed by an 11-day regulatory meeting to address changes to provisions related to hunting, trapping and some regional topics.

All portions of the meetings are open to the public. Live-stream audio is scheduled to be available on the board website at www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov. Other meeting materials, including the agendas and roadmap order of proposals, a list of staff reports, and public and agency comments on proposals can be viewed online at: www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo.

Topics scheduled for the March 17 work session include setting the 2016-2017 schedule; receiving an update on the Dude Creek Critical Habitat Area Management Plan; reviewing bear and wolf management policies; discussion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed rule to amend regulations on Alaska national wildlife refuges; and other administrative and miscellaneous items.

Topics of proposed regulatory changes to be considered at the March 18-28 regulatory meeting include: Statewide seasons and bag limits for Dall sheep; unlawful methods for taking game and furbearers; provisions for the possession, transportation, and use of game; permits; permit hunt conditions and procedures; regulatory definitions; and requirements for licenses, harvest tickets and reports. In addition, the board will consider regulatory changes specific to regions, including seasons and bag limits for caribou in the Western and Arctic Regions, moose in Game Management Unit (GMU) 16, goats in GMU 14, wolves in GMU 20, and antlerless moose hunt reauthorizations for all GMUs. The board also intends to consider a proposal review policy process during its miscellaneous business at the end of the meeting. The Joint Board Subcommittee has reviewed potential budget savings to the board process and recommends both boards of Game and Fisheries consider a proposal review process.

Proposals have been received from the public, local fish-and-game advisory committees, the Department of Fish and Game, and other agencies. The public is encouraged to review the proposal topics available on the board’s website at: www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo&date=03-18-2016&meeting=fairbanks.

The board invites oral public testimony for the regulatory meeting only, beginning late afternoon on Friday, March 18. Anyone wishing to testify before the board must sign up at the meeting location before 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19. Public testimony will continue until all who have signed up have received the opportunity to be heard. Deliberations on proposals will begin following public testimony and continue through the remainder of the meeting.

Documents submitted to the board during the meeting will be posted online throughout the meeting. Written public comments from individuals or groups may be submitted by hand at any time during the meeting; written comments must not exceed 10 single-sided pages, and 20 copies must be provided. Individuals who cannot attend the meeting may submit comments via fax to (907) 465-6094.

Written comments will be accepted on specific proposals for the meeting up until the time the proposal is deliberated. During the meeting, written comments limited in length to 10 pages single sided (or five pages double sided) may be submitted by hand at any time if 20 copies are provided. Individuals not attending the meeting can submit comments by fax to (907) 465-6094.