The fall season for Kenai Peninsula brown bear hunting will open Thursday, and registration permits are available, the State Department of Fish and Game said in an advisory announcement Friday.
The announcement says that brown bear hunting on the peninsula is managed to keep “human-caused brown bear mortalities” below a certain threshold. That total is 50-60 human-caused brown bear deaths, of which only eight to 12 may be adult females on a three-year average.
This year, the announcement says, there have been 21 human-caused brown bear deaths, of which four have been adult females. The three-year average is at 39 and eight, respectively, allowing for the opening of the hunt. The announcement notes that the fall season was closed by Emergency Order last year in September when the three-year average for adult female mortalities exceeded 12.
Successful hunters have to report any kill to the department either by phone at 907-260-2950 or in person at the Soldotna office of the department within five days.
The brown bear must also be sealed by a department official at a department office in Soldotna, Homer, Palmer or Anchorage within seven days — recently reduced from 10.
“Reducing the sealing period improves the Department of Fish and Game’s ability to collect data in a timely manner for in-season management consistent with established mortality caps,” the announcement reads.
Permits will need to be reported in person, online or by mail within 10 days of the season’s close even if unsuccessful or unused. Those who don’t report will be ineligible for next year’s hunt and may face “enforcement action” from Alaska Wildlife Troopers.
Brown bear hunting will be open on the Kenai Peninsula from Thursday, Aug. 10 until June 30, unless closed by emergency order. The announcement says those orders can be released “on short notice,” and urges hunters to verify the opening before venturing out.
For more information about hunting regulations and opportunity, visit adfg.alaska.gov.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
