CRAIG, Alaska – Biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), announce that the Game Management Unit (GMU) 2 wolf harvest quota for regulatory year (RY) 2018 will be set at 45 wolves.A hunting friend of mine has confirmed that there is a pack of wolves near Hollis and Hydaburg. Packs of wolves range between 10-20 which is a size able group. While subjective, this friend has regularly hunted these regions and has never seen or heard so many wolves in the region before.
On a personal aside, I saw a wolf for the first time in my life this summer just running on the side of the highway in Hollis with no fear and I followed him in a truck for a good 200 feet before he finally decided to go back into the woods.
Data collected from October through December 2017 resulted in a GMU 2-wide population estimate of 225 wolves, with high confidence that the actual number of wolves in GMU 2 prior to the autumn 2017 hunting and trapping seasons was within the range, 198 to 264 wolves. This is the most current population estimate. Results of the autumn 2017 survey were similar to those of the autumn 2016 survey, suggesting the rapid population growth from 2015 to 2016 has stabilized. ADF&G and the USFS attribute growth of the population to conservative harvest management since 2015. Based on documented growth of the population since 2014 and the most recent population estimate, the RY2018 GMU 2 harvest quota was set at 45 wolves, the maximum allowed by USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
The length of the state seasons will depend on the number of wolves taken during the Federal hunting and trapping seasons prior to Dec. 1. The State and Federal seasons will be closed when managers believe harvest is approaching 45 wolves.Please call the ADF&G Ketchikan area office at907-225-2475 for more information.For more information from the U.S. Forest Service, please call District Ranger Matt Anderson at 907-826-1600. Maps of Federal lands within GMU 2are available at Forest Service offices. Maps and additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program can be found on the web at http://www.doi.gov/subsistence/index.cfmThe thing that a lot of activists don't understand is that Alaskans know a LOT about sustainable management of our resources and CARE MORE about keeping it "sustainable" because it's our income at stake and we depend on getting "steaks" to the table. Be it trees, fish or dive fisheries we care about all living things and understand the dangers of not keeping predators in check. And sometimes the predators are ones you don't expect...
The wolf hunting season for subsistence users started September 1st. Subsistence trapping starts November 15th.
State wolf hunting and trapping both open on the first of December.
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