Alaska Federal Subsistence Management Program

08/05/2026

❗️The Federal Subsistence Board will reconvene the public portion of their work session today at 1:30 p.m.

View the latest agenda, meeting materials, and call-in information here:

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08/04/2026

The Federal Subsistence Board is holding a work session today and tomorrow, August 4-5, 2026, in the Gordon Watson Conference Room of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office in Anchorage, at 1011 E. Tudor Road. Today's session begins at 9 a.m. Alaska time and will run until the Board concludes its work; tomorrow's session begins at 1:30 p.m. and will adjourn upon completion.

The Board will review replies to Regional Advisory Councils’ Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Reports, discuss the Chairs’ salmon workshop results and next steps, and address Council correspondence to the Board and Board/Council correspondence to the Secretaries. The Board will also act on Wildlife Special Action Request WSA26-04, requesting a winter moose season in a portion of Unit 24A for the 2026-2028 regulatory cycle (WSA26-04 will be taken up on Aug. 5th at 1:30 p.m.)

The public is encouraged to participate - in person or by teleconference or via Microsoft Teams.

Meeting materials, as well as call-in information and the Microsoft Teams link are available at www.doi.gov/subsistence/upcoming-federal-subsistence-board-meetings

08/03/2026

South Baranof Zone in Unit 4 Closed to Mountain Goat Harvest

Acting Sitka District Ranger, Gregg Dunn, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is closing the South Baranof Zone on Baranof Island to mountain goat harvest. The closure takes effect Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. It remains effective through the rest of the 2026 season, which ends Thursday December 31.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued a concurrent closure in the same zone. Additional mountain goat harvest in this zone could have long term negative effects on the conservation of the mountain goat subpopulation. The remainder of Baranof Island is open to goat hunting until the season closes, unless closed by special action.

A public hearing to discuss the 2026 Baranof Island mountain goat management strategy was held on July 30, 2026, in Sitka, Alaska. The 2026 strategy is similar to the 2025 strategy with distinct male and female harvest levels by zone. Female harvest is more restrictive than male harvest. As mountain goat harvest levels in zones are reached, they are closed.

View full bulletin and special action at

A Special Action Request is an out-of-cycle change in a season, harvest limit, or method of harvest. Special Actions are taken when unusual situations arise, such as a significant change in resource abundance that could not reasonably have been anticipated. The Federal Subsistence Board may take a S...

07/30/2026

Yukon Area Fall Salmon Closure and Non-Salmon Schedule
(District 5)

The Yukon River in-season Fisheries Manager issued a Temporary Special Action closing the harvest of fall chum and coho salmon for all users in the Federal public waters of District 5.

In the mainstem and all areas where salmon are migrating, gillnets are restricted to 4-inch or smaller mesh, limited to 60 feet in length, and must be operated as a set net. These non-salmon gillnets are placed on a schedule and allowed from noon Thursdays to noon Sundays to reduce incidental harvest of salmon.

Selective gear (manned fish wheels, dip nets, beach seines, and hook and line) may be used for non-salmon species. Fish-friendly fish wheel construction is required.

Practice respectful and safe fish handling techniques, releasing any Chinook salmon, chum salmon or coho salmon caught in selective gear types while they are still alive so they may continue upriver to their spawning grounds. If you are catching species closed to fishing in a 4-inch gillnet, please move it to avoid catching these species closed for harvest.

To provide more efficient harvest opportunity for non-salmon in areas without migrating salmon, this special action also allows the use of 6-inch (or smaller) mesh set gillnets to target non-salmon in limited areas carefully selected based on databases and Indigenous and local knowledge to avoid salmon spawning or migration zones. Refer to Temporary Special Action 03-FC-05-26 for a detailed list and map. These 6-inch opportunities for non-salmon harvest are not allowed in the mainstem rivers or streams, or any main channels where salmon are present.

Dates of temporary special action:

Effective Date:

Monday, August 3, 2026, 12:01 a.m. fall salmon closure and 4-inch set gillnet schedule for Subdistrict 5-ABC

Monday, August 3, 2026, 12:01 a.m. 6-inch set gillnets for list of non-salmon harvest areas in District 5

Monday, August 10, 2026, 12:01 a.m. fall salmon closure and 4-inch set gillnet schedule for Subdistrict 5-D Lower and Middle

Saturday, August 15, 2026, 12:01 a.m. fall salmon closure and 4-inch set gillnet schedule for Subdistrict 5-D Upper

Expiration Date:
Thursday, December 31, 2026, 8:00 a.m. unless superseded by subsequent special action

This action is taken in coordination with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). The fishing schedules announced here match those issued concurrently by the ADF&G in State waters (Fall Fishery Advisory Announcement #7).

The Temporary Special Action, 03-FC-05-26, can be found online at https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries-special-actions

07/30/2026

BLM Announces Fall Fortymile Caribou Federal Subsistence Hunt

📢 Fall Fortymile Caribou Federal Subsistence Hunt Announced

The Bureau of Land Management Eastern Interior Field Office will open the Fortymile caribou federal subsistence hunt in Units 20E, 25C and a portion of 20F in August.

For more details, read the BLM Announcement: https://www.blm.gov/announcement/blm-announces-fall-fortymile-caribou-federal-subsistence-hunt-0

👉 Fortymile Caribou Federal Subsistence Hunt – Opening Dates
This year’s hunt establishes different opening dates by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) State Fortymile Caribou Zones, as detailed below:
• Zones 1 & 4 (Steese Highway area): Sunday, August 16
• Zone 2 (Roadless area): Wednesday, August 5
• Zone 3 (Taylor Highway area): Sunday, August 16
🚨 Important:
The BLM may issue emergency special actions to delay opening dates or close zones with short notice to prevent overharvest. An announcement notifying the public of any zone opening delays or closures will be posted at least three days before.
👉 Harvest Limit
One bull caribou. Evidence of s*x must remain attached and reporting requirements apply.
👉Eligibility
This hunt is limited to federally qualified rural residents hunting on federal public lands only, including federal public lands accessible from the Steese and Taylor highways. Federally qualified subsistence hunters must obtain a RC860 joint State/federal permit issued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
👉Maps
Maps are available from the BLM Alaska Public Rooms and in the “Federal Subsistence Hunting Map Series” in the BLM Alaska’s georeferenced PDF map collection. This collection also includes the “Digital Public Information Map Series,” featuring maps with information about BLM recreation sites and motor vehicle access; however, these maps include general land status and do not indicate closures due to land selections.

Georeferenced PDF map collection: https://www.blm.gov/maps/georeferenced-PDFs/alaska

☎️For updates on the RC860 caribou hunt, call the Fortymile Hotline at (907) 267-2310.

📷: Fortymile Caribou bull. BLM photo by Jim Herriges.

07/29/2026

2026 Federal Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Season

The Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Manager, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, has set a harvest quota of 150 caribou and the harvest limit at 2 caribou on the Nushagak Peninsula. Hunters must obtain an FC1702 permit. The hunt opens at 12:00 a.m. August 1, 2026 and closes 11:59 pm March 31, 2027 in the following area:

Units 17A and 17C, that portion of 17A east of the Ungalikthluk River and South of Buchia Ridge, and within the lower Kulukak River drainage south of Buchia Ridge and within the Kanik River drainage downstream of the Tithe Creek, that portion of 17C south of the Igushik River and south of and including the Tuklung river drainage.

The harvest limit is two caribou with a firm quota of 150 total caribou available for harvest. Successful hunters are required to report their harvest within 5 days. Hunters who are unsuccessful or did not hunt must return their Harvest Report within 15 days after the close of season. Only federal lands within the hunt area will be open and only federally qualified rural residents are eligible for this hunt. Permits will be distributed by the tribal councils of Manokotak, Aleknagik, Clark’s Point, Togiak, Twin Hills and Dillingham. Hunters should review the land status of their intended hunt area prior to heading out.

State of Alaska Caribou Registration Permit RC501 (portions of Unit 17A /17C north of the FC1702 hunt area) is closed at this time.

The 2026 population estimate of the Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Herd is approximately 568 which is down from the 2025 population estimate of 659 animals. Under the management plan for this herd, a limited harvest is available. The Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Planning Committee met July 17, 2026 reaching a consensus allowing for a harvest of 150 caribou total with permits going to each Village Council in Manokotak, Dillingham, Aleknagik, Clark’s Point, Togiak and Twin Hills.

Full bulletin:

2026 Federal Nushagak Peninsula Caribou Season

07/28/2026

Federal subsistence goat hunting season to close in a portion of Unit 5A

Yakutat District Ranger Nate Catterson, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is closing the 2026 Federal subsistence mountain goat hunting season for a portion of Unit 5A. The closed area begins on the west shore of Harlequin Lake and the western edge of Yakutat Glacier, then west of Harlequin Lake and Yakutat Glacier to Yakutat Bay and Disenchantment Bay, and south of Russell and Nunatak Fjords. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued a closure to the State season for the same area.

Aerial surveys indicate a decline in the mountain goat population starting in 2006. Harvest of goats in this area could have long term negative effects on the health and recovery of this population.

Hunters are reminded that there is no Federal hunting season for goats in the Nunatak Bench area, defined as the area between the Hubbard Glacier and the West Nunatak Glacier on the north and east sides of Nunatak Fjord.

Seven points (males=1 point and females=2 points) are available for harvest in the area between Harlequin Lake and the Alsek River (i.e. east of Harlequin Lake). The Federal Subsistence mountain goat season in this open area is August 1 to January 31, or until the quota is met. A Federal permit is required to harvest under these regulations. Successful harvesters must bring the complete skull to the Yakutat Forest Service office within three business days of the harvest. Hunters are encouraged to report their harvest as soon as possible. Prompt harvest reporting helps ensure that the quota is not exceeded and the mountain goat population continues to recover.

Hunters are encouraged to become familiar with how to differentiate between male and female goats before initiating their hunt. See: Mountain Goat Identification, ADF&G - https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=goatidentification.main for additional information.

Dates of the closure:

Effective Date: July 31, 2026 11:59 p.m.

Expiration Date: January 31, 2027, unless superseded by subsequent special action

More at https://www.doi.gov/subsistencenewsgeneral/bulletin-federal-subsistence-goat-hunting-season-close-portion-unit-5a

Federal subsistence goat hunting season to close in a portion of Unit 5A

07/27/2026

Public Hearing for Unit 4 Federal Subsistence Mountain Goat Management

The public is invited to provide comments on Federal subsistence mountain goat management in Unit 4 during a public hearing at the Sitka Ranger District conference room on July 30th, 2026. The hearing is hosted by the Sitka District Ranger, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board.

Acting Sitka District Ranger Gregg Dunn is closing the mountain goat season in the South Baranof Zone in conjunction with the State of Alaska’s mountain goat closure (effective July 31, 2026 at 11:59p.m.). During the hearing, information about Unit 4 mountain goat management will be shared, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will also be available to answer questions.

The hearing will take place from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Interested persons may also call in by dialing (202) 650-0123 and entering passcode 591444963 #.

More at

Public Hearing for Unit 4 Federal Subsistence Mountain Goat Management

07/27/2026

Federal Subsistence Sheep Hunt Closed in Round Mountain Area

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Manager, under authority
delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, closed the Federal subsistence Dall sheep hunt within the Round Mountain area of Unit 15. This area is bounded by Fuller Lake Trail, north to D**e Creek, east to the intersection with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Boundary, south to the Sterling Highway, and west to its intersection with Fuller Lake Trailhead.

The Unit 15 portion of Round Mountain has been closed
to the Federal subsistence harvest of sheep since the hunt began
in 2020. The sheep population in this area is very small and isolated. The harvest of a ¾ curl ram could create a conservation concern and threaten the long-term viability of this population. This population is being closely monitored and as soon as a harvestable surplus is available, this area will open to federally qualified subsistence users.

Full news release:

Federal Subsistence Sheep Hunt Closed in Round Mountain Area

07/23/2026

There’s still time to share your thoughts on current fisheries proposals!

The Federal Subsistence Board welcomes your comments on proposed changes to Federal subsistence fish and shellfish regulations for 2027–2029. Review proposals here: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries/2027-2029_Proposals_and_Closure_Reviews

Submit comments by July 31, 2026, to ensure they’re included in Councils fall meeting materials and the Board’s spring 2027 review. The next opportunity to share your oral or written comments will be during the fall Council meetings.

(View upcoming Council meetings calendar at: www.doi.gov/subsistence/regions)