Alaska Federal Subsistence Management Program

05/07/2026

We’ve added a new page on our website with additional information on a few of the recent actions from the Federal Subsistence Board wildlife regulatory meeting (April 21-24). Check out this page for maps showing adopted changes for:

-Unit 13 and Unit 25D moose (WP26-31 and WP26-75),
-Unit 2 deer (WP26-03); and
-Customary & Traditional Use Determination for brown bear in Unit 8 (WP26-32):

https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/recent-board-actions-how-do-they-affect-you

You can also contact the Office of Subsistence Management if you'd like more information on other recent actions: [email protected] or by phone: (907) 786-3888 or (800) 478-1456

How recent Federal Subsistence Board actions affect the public

04/30/2026

*Regulatory Meeting Results*

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) met April 21-24, 2026, to consider proposed changes to Federal subsistence hunting and trapping regulations. On April 20, 2026, the Board also conducted Tribal and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation consultations on wildlife regulatory proposals and closures.

For each proposal, the Board considered analyses presented by Office of Subsistence Management (OSM) staff, as well as comments from members of the public, Regional Advisory Councils, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Tribes and ANCSA Corporations, and the Interagency Staff Committee. The Board adopted 52 of 78 proposals, deferred 5, approved the withdrawal of 3 (WP26-27 and WP26-41/42), rejected 12, and took no action on 11. The Board acted on 17 wildlife closures, voting to retain status quo on 12 of them.

Some of the more significant decisions, which will be implemented in the 2026–2028 regulatory years (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028), include:

• Closing sheep hunting to all users on Federal public lands within Yukon-Charley National Preserve and Glacier Mountain Controlled Use Areas in Units 20E and 25C (WP26-76)
• Establishing a brown bear hunt in Unit 6 (WP26-13b/14b)
• Establishing a may-be-announced antlerless moose hunt (September 1– October 15) and extending the closing date of the winter moose hunt to March 31 in Zone 2 of the Kuskokwim hunt area in Unit 18 (WP26-43/44)
• Closing moose hunting to non-federally qualified users (NFQUs) from September 10–20 along river corridors in Unit 25D remainder (WP26-75)
• Extending the wolf hunting season to open August 1 and increasing the harvest limit to 20 on all Federal public lands in Unit 23 (WP26-66)
• Extending mink/weasel season in Unit 23 to close April 15 (WP-69)
• Rescinding all closures to moose hunting by NFQUs on Federal public lands in Unit 22A (WP26-54)
• Establishing a muskoxen hunt in Unit 22A (1 bull, August 1–March 15) (WP26-62b)
• Recognizing the customary and traditional uses of brown bear in Unit 8 for all residents of the Kodiak Island road system, east of the line from Crag Point south to the westernmost point of Saltery Cove, including Anton Larsen Bay, excluding residents of Kodiak Station Census Designated Place (WP26-32); Up to four brown bear permits are allocated for this hunt (WP26-33)
• Rejecting the proposed closure of Hawkins and Hinchinbrook islands in Unit 6D to deer hunting by NFQUs (WP26-15)
• Establishing a late fall season for moose in Unit 7 (October 20–November 10) (WP26-17)
• Establishing 50-yard setbacks for trapping around Quartz Creek, Crescent Creek, and Russian River campgrounds in Unit 7 (WP26-19)
• Extending the moose season in Unit 13 to close September 30 (WP26-28b) and closing the BLM-managed lands in Unit 13 to moose hunting by NFQUs (WP26-31)
• Closing deer hunting to NFQUs in all of Unit 2 from July 24–August 15 and reducing the harvest limit for NFQUs to one buck (WP26-03)
• Closing deer hunting in Unit 2 to federally qualified subsistence users (FQSUs) from Units 1C, 1D, 4, 5, and Ketchikan from July 24–July 31 and from January 1–31, and reducing their harvest limit to two bucks. Closing deer hunting in Unit 2 to FQSUs from Units 3, 1B, and the remainder of Unit 1A (including Metlakatla and Saxman) from January 1–31, and reducing their harvest limited to four bucks (WP26-04)
• Modifying the closure of moose hunting by NFQUs in Unit 5A by retaining status quo for Unit 5A west and rescinding the closure in Unit 5A east (WCR26-02)
• Rejecting a proposed 47-day guaranteed wolf trapping season in Unit 2 (November 15– December 31) (WP26-10)
• Rejecting a closure of black bear hunting in Unit 6D (WP26-11)

The Board will consider the following deferred wildlife proposals at their fisheries regulatory meeting, February 1–5, 2027:
• WP26-01 (proposal to move authority delegated in letters to unit specific regulations)
• WP26-77 (proposal to recognize customary and traditional use of wood bison in Units 12, 20, and 25 by residents of these units)
• WP26-22 (proposal to require 100-yard setbacks for trapping along Quartz Creek Road, Old Sterling Hwy, and Sterling Hwy pullouts in Unit 7)
The Board will consider the following deferred proposals at their next wildlife regulatory meeting in 2028:
• WP26-63 (proposal to combine hunt areas and Federal permits for Unit 22D muskoxen)
• WP26-51 (proposal to establish muskoxen hunts in Units 21D, 24D)

The Board held an executive session Thursday evening, April 23, attended by the Board, select OSM personnel, the Alaska Region DOI Solicitor, and members of the Interagency Staff Committees. The Board was briefed on RFR25-01/02, Requests for Reconsideration of Nonrural Determination Proposal NDP25-01 and the legal framework for reviewing RFRs. During the public portion of the meeting on April 24, the Board rejected RFR25-01/02, determining the requests did not meet the threshold for a full analysis to take place.

The Board adopted Fisheries Proposal FP25-02 as modified by the Southeast Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council, closing the Federal public waters throughout District 1 to the harvest of Eulachon except by FQSUs in the Unuk River.

A full list of all the Board’s actions on non-consensus agenda items at this meeting is posted at: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fsb_materials2_April2026
Actions on consensus agenda items are posted at: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fsb_materials1_April2026

Office of Subsistence Management staff gave an update on Regional Advisory Council correspondence. Additionally, the Board decided to defer discussion of the ADF&G Lower Tanana Wood Bison Management Plan to the Board’s summer work session.

The Board confirmed their upcoming meeting dates as follows: June 3, 2026: Board Meeting on WSA26-01/02/03 (via Microsoft Teams); August 4–5, 2026: Board Summer Work Session (Anchorage); and February 1–5, 2027: Board Fish and Shellfish Regulatory Meeting.

Transcripts from the April 2026 meeting will be posted at www.doi.gov/subsistence/library/transcripts/federal-subsistence-board when available.

04/28/2026

We received so many wonderful art contest submissions, we wanted to share a few more! There was so much talent showcased in this year’s art, and it really showed Alaska students’ knowledge of subsistence resources and species. In addition to our first and second place winners (Ella Refshaw and Maddison Keesler), posted earlier, here are a few more highlights from this year’s contest. Look for these and more inside our 2026-2028 wildlife regulations booklet, to be published later this year.

04/27/2026

🏆Congratulations to Ella Refshaw, 1st place winner, and Maddison Keesler, 2nd place winner of the 2026 Subsistence Student Art Contest!!!🎉

Ella Refshaw, 17, of Sitka submitted a Dall sheep ram, which will be featured on the cover of the 2026-28 federal subsistence wildlife regulations booklet. Maddison Keesler, 17, of North Pole submitted art featuring two caribou, which will be prominently displayed at the beginning of the unit regulations inside the book.

We will also include many of the other amazing submissions throughout the booklet. When published, it will be available here: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/wildlife

A huge thank you to all the students, teachers, and parents who made this art contest possible!

04/27/2026

The federal subsistence Chinook Salmon fishery in the Stikine River is closed May 15−June 20. This action is necessary for Chinook Salmon conservation in the Stikine River and to meet obligations of the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

WRANGELL, Alaska – Wrangell District Ranger Victoria Houser, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board is closing the federal subsist

04/25/2026

The Federal Subsistence Board wildlife regulatory meeting is now adjourned.

Their last few actions included:

The Board adopted the Consensus Agenda as presented.

They rejected RFR25-01/02, Requests for Reconsideration of Nonrural Determination Proposal NDP25-01, determining they did not meet the threshold for a full analysis to take place.

The Board adopted Fisheries Proposal FP25-02 as modified by the Southeast Alaska Regional Advisory Council.

04/25/2026

The Board has concluded Southeast Alaska region proposals and closure reviews, and will next take up the Consensus Agenda (https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fsb_materials1_April2026), followed by a threshold vote on RFR25-01/02 Requests for Reconsideration of Nonrural Determination Proposal NDP25-01.

The Board’s actions on the Southeast Alaska proposals and closure reviews were as follows:

WP26-03/04/05: WP26-03/04: Adopted as modified by the Southeast Alaska RAC; WP26-05: took no action
WP26-06/07: Took no action
WP26-08: Took no action
WCR26-01: Took no action
WP26-10: Rejected
WCR26-02: Closure modified as recommended by OSM

04/24/2026

The Board has concluded Southcentral Alaska region proposals, and will next begin consideration of Southeast Alaska region wildlife proposals/closures.

The Board’s actions on the Southcentral Alaska proposals were as follows:
WP26-12/13a/14a: Adopted
WP26-13b/14b: Adopted as modified by OSM
WP26-15: discussed on 4/23/26, and rejected
WP26-16: Adopted
WP26-17: Adopted
WP26-22: Deferred until the 2027 fisheries regulatory meeting
WP26-24: Adopted
WP26-27: Withdrawn
WP26-28a: Adopted with Board modification
WP26-28b/29/30: Adopted WP26-28b and took no action on WP26-29 and WP26-30
WP26-31: Adopted

04/24/2026

*Secretary of the Interior Appoints Members to Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils*

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, with the concurrence of Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, has made appointments to the 10 Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils. The Councils advise the Federal Subsistence Board on subsistence management regulations and policies and serve as a forum for public involvement in Federal subsistence management in Alaska. Voting Council members represent either subsistence users (S) or commercial/sport users (C/S), and non-voting Council members represent young leaders (YL) (developmental position). With these new appointments (shown with an * by their name*), the current membership of the Councils is:

Southeast Alaska
*Larry R. Bemis, Jr., Yakutat – S
*Frank G. Wright, Jr., Hoonah – C/S
*Calvin H. Casipit, Gustavus – S
*Michael A. Douville, Craig – S
*Matthew R. Beck, Whale Pass – S
Theodore F. Sandhofer, Petersburg – S
Albert H. Howard, Angoon – S
Donald C. Hernandez, Point Baker – S
Patricia A. Phillips, Pelican – S
Louie A. Wagner, Jr., Metlakatla – S
John Smith III, Juneau – S
Lewis M. Hiatt, Craig – C/S
*Shania R. Murphy, Ketchikan – YL

Southcentral Alaska
*Edward H. Holsten, Cooper Landing – S
*Michael V. Opheim, Seldovia – S
*Richard Greg Encelewski, Ninilchik – S
*Diane A. Selanoff, Valdez – S
*Dennis M. Zadra, Cordova – C/S
Angela K. Totemoff, Anchorage – S
Faye Ewan, Kluti Kaah – S
Andrew T. McLaughlin, Chenega Bay – S
Edward T. GreyBear, Kluti Kaah – S
Hope L. Roberts, Valdez – C/S
Heath Q. Kocan, Cordova – S
Judith C. Caminer, Anchorage – C/S
*Jacob Stockhausen, Cooper Landing – YL

Kodiak/Aleutians
*Patrick B. Holmes, Kodiak – S
*Samuel I. Rohrer, Kodiak – C/S
Coral A. Chernoff, Kodiak – S
Rebecca L. Skinner, Kodiak – C/S
Daniel J. Smith, Kodiak – S
Natasha M. Hayden, Kodiak – S
Brett J. Richardson, Dutch Harbor – S

Bristol Bay
*Karla R. Jensen, Pedro Bay – S
*Melissa A. Paul, Manokotak – S
*Nanci Morris Lyon, King Salmon – C/S
John C. Rhyshek, King Salmon – C/S
*Justin E. Ryan, King Salmon – S
Kenneth R. Nukwak, Sr., Manokotak – S
Dan O. Dunaway, Dillingham – C/S
Walter M. Kanulie, Togiak – S
*Pansy B. Alakayak, Manokotak – S
Richard J. Wilson, Naknek – S

Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
*Henry Parks, Nunapitchuk – S
*Norma T. Evan, Marshall – S
*John W. Andrew, Kwethluk – S
*Walter Morgan, Sr., Lower Kalskag – S
Jacqueline K. Cleveland, Quinhagak – S
Francis Prince, Jr., Kotlik – S
Alissa Nadine Rogers, Bethel – S
Phillip K. Peter, Sr., Akiachak – S
Wassilly B. Alexie, Russian Mission – S
*Robert J. Pitka, Sr., Toksook Bay – S
Myron P. Naneng, Sr., Bethel – S
Tiffany D. Agayar, Alakanuk – S
Frederick P. Beans, Mountain Village – S
*Mary H. Simeon, Bethel – YL

Western Interior Alaska
*Donald V. Honea, Jr., Ruby – S
*Po***ck Simon, Sr., Allakaket – S
Jack L. Reakoff, Wiseman – S
Robert A. Walker, Anvik – S
Timothy P. Gervais, Ruby – C/S
Darrell M. Vent, Sr., Huslia – S
Jenny K. Pelkola, Galena – S
Tommy Kriska, Nulato – S

Seward Peninsula
Kelsi M. Ivanoff, Unalakleet – S
*Allison M. Johnson, Nome – S
*Louis H. Green Jr., Nome – S
Martin A. Aukongak, Golovin – S
Elmer K. Seetot, Jr., Brevig Mission – S
Robert F. Moses, Sr., Golovin – S
Ronald D. Kirk, Stebbins – S

Northwest Arctic
*Raymond E. Lee, Buckland – S
*Thomas C. Baker, Kotzebue – S
*Tristen S. Pattee, Ambler – C/S
*Michael C. Kramer, Kotzebue – C/S
Wilbur M. Howarth, Sr., Noorvik
Clyde F. Ramoth, Sr., Selawik
*Elmer Armstrong, Jr., Noorvik – S
Verne J. Cleveland, Sr., Noorvik – S
*Percy J. Wesley, Noatak – S

Eastern Interior Alaska
*Misty D. Walsh, Tok – C/S
*Dorothy Shockley, Fairbanks – S
*Linda M. Evans, Rampart – S
*Eva D. Burk, Fairbanks – S
*Renee A. Gilbert, Arctic Village – S
Andrew W. Bassich, Eagle – S
Robert C. Wright, Sr., Tanana – S
Galen D. Gilbert, Arctic Village – S
Donald A. Woodruff, Eagle – S
Gerald K. Alexander, Fort Yukon – S

North Slope
Leonard A. Barger, Point Hope – S
*Wanda T. Kippi, Atqasuk – S
*Peter E. Williams, Anaktuvuk Pass – S
John Q. Adams, Utqiaġvik – S
Martha A. R. Itta, Nuiqsut – S
Esther S. Hugo, Anaktuvuk Pass – S
Brower A. Frantz, Utqiaġvik – S
Jenysa L. Ahmaogak, Wainwright – S


For more information on Council membership, visit www.doi.gov/subsistence/regions/membership.

04/24/2026

The Federal Subsistence Board has returned from break and is starting up again, resuming with Southcentral region propsoals.

04/24/2026

The Federal Subsistence Board is starting up for today! The meeting will begin with the public comment period on non-agenda items. Later there will be an opportunity for public to comment on Consensus Agenda items. (Public may also comment on Non-Consensus agenda items as they are considered by the Board).

Next, the Board will begin consideration of Southcentral region wildlife proposals/closures.

View the full meeting agenda and meeting materials at

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