ADF&G Strongly Opposes Illegal Closure of Federal Lands to Non-Federally Qualified Alaskans
— ADF&G Press Release

Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526

Press Release: July 31, 2020

CONTACT: Rick Green, ADF&G 267-2228

ADF&G Strongly Opposes Illegal Closure of Federal Lands to Non-Federally Qualified Alaskans

The Federal Subsistence Board recently closed federal lands occupied by the Nelchina caribou herd to non-federally qualified users. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is the principal manager of this herd and strongly opposed this action. There was simply no biological justification to close this hunt to non-federally qualified hunters.

A state authorized youth hunt for caribou opens August 1st. We encourage participation in this hunt. State lands remain open to hunting. This hunt provides Alaskans, whether rural or urban, an opportunity to pass on the hunting heritage that makes Alaska unique. Taking away this the youth hunt on federal lands is an unjustified intrusion into state management rights gained at statehood and reinforced with the passage of ANILCA.

The State is actively exploring its options to challenge this unnecessary and illegal closure of federal lands to non-rural hunters.