Title 5 . Fish and Game

Chapter 92 . Statewide Provisions

Section 530. Management areas

5 AAC 92.530. Management areas

The following management areas are subject to special restrictions:

(1) the Fort Richardson Management Area:

(A) the area consists of the Fort Richardson Military Reservation;

(B) the area is open to the taking of big game by permit only; and small game, and fur animals; the department will set conditions under 5 AAC 92.050;

(2) the Eagle River Management Area:

(A) the area consists of the Eagle River drainage upstream from the Glenn Highway in Unit 14(C);

(B) the area is closed to hunting, except

(i) sheep hunting by permit;

(ii) black bear hunting by permit; before hunting black bear, a person wishing to hunt must complete a hunter safety course for which a certification of completion is issued;

(iii) small game may be taken by archery or muzzleloader by permit;

(iv) deleterious exotic wildlife may be taken by air rifle with rifled barrel, bow and arrow (with blunts or other special small-game points), and falconry only;

(v) goat hunting by permit;

(3) the Anchorage Management Area:

(A) the area consists of all Cook Inlet drainages south of the Elmendorf and Fort Richardson military reservations and north of and including Rainbow Creek, but excluding the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge;

(B) the Anchorage Management Area is closed to hunting, except that

(i) moose hunting is allowed by permit only;

(ii) small game and waterfowl may be taken by falconry, except that waterfowl may not be taken in the Ship Creek drainage west of Post Road;

(iii) deleterious exotic wildlife may be taken by air rifle with rifled barrel, bow and arrow (with blunts or other special small-game points), and falconry only;

(4) the Eklutna Lake Management Area:

(A) the area consists of the drainages of Eklutna River and Eklutna Lake in Unit 14(C) upstream from the Glenn Highway, excluding those drainages flowing into the East Fork of Eklutna River upstream from the bridge above the Lake and Thunderbird Creek;

(B) the area is closed to hunting, except that

(i) small game may be taken by bow and arrow only, from the day after Labor Day through April 30;

(ii) moose hunting is allowed by permit with bow and arrow only;

(iii) black bear may be taken by bow and arrow only, from the day after Labor Day to May 20, for one bear only;

(iv) sheep may be taken by permit, and by bow and arrow only, from the day after Labor Day through October 31;

(5) the Chugach State Park Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Chugach State Park outside of the Eagle River, Anchorage, and Eklutna Management Areas;

(B) the area is open to hunting under regulations governing Unit 14(C), except as follows:

(i) black bear hunting is open from the day after Labor Day through May 31 for 1 bear only;

(ii) no hunting is allowed for brown bear, squirrel, wolf, wolverine, coyote and unclassified game;

(iii) small game hunting is prohibited in the Tokle Creek drainage (Arctic Valley Ski Area);

(6) the Skilak Loop Wildlife Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Unit 15(A) bounded by a line beginning at the easternmost junction of the Sterling Highway and the Skilak Loop (milepost 76.3), then due south to the south bank of the Kenai River, then southerly along the south bank of the Kenai River to its confluence with Skilak Lake, then westerly along the north shore of Skilak Lake to Lower Skilak Lake Campground, then northerly along the Lower Skilak Lake Campground Road and the Skilak Loop Road to its westernmost junction with the Sterling Highway, then easterly along the Sterling Highway to the point of beginning;

(B) until June 30, 2007, the area is closed to hunting and trapping, except that small game may be taken only from October 1 through March 1 by bow and arrow only, and moose may be taken by permit only; beginning July 1, 2007, the area is closed to hunting and trapping, except that small game and fur animals may be taken only from October 1 through March 1, and moose may be taken by permit only; a firearm may not be discharged within one-quarter mile of any campground;

(7) the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area:

(A) the area consists of those portions of Units 20 and 24 - 26 extending five miles from each side of the Dalton Highway, including the driveable surface of the Dalton Highway, from the Yukon River to the Arctic Ocean, and including the Prudhoe Bay Closed Area;

(B) the area within the Prudhoe Bay Closed Area is closed to the taking of big game; the remainder of the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area is closed to hunting; however, big game, small game, and fur animals may be taken in the area by bow and arrow only;

(C) no motorized vehicle may be used to transport hunters, hunting gear, or parts of game, within the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area, except that

(i) licensed highway vehicles may be used on the following designated roads: (1) Dalton Highway, (2) Bettles Winter Trail during periods when the Bureau of Land Management and the City of Bettles announce that the trail is open for winter travel, (3) Galbraith Lake Road from the Dalton Highway to the BLM campground at Galbraith Lake, including the gravel pit access road when the gate is open, (4) Toolik Lake Road, excluding the driveway to the Toolik Lake Research Facility, (5) the Sagavanirktok River access road two miles north of Pump Station 2, and (6) any constructed roadway or gravel pit within one-quarter mile of the Dalton Highway;

(ii) aircraft and boats may be used;

(iii) a snowmachine may be used to cross the management area from land outside the management area to access land on the other side of the management area;

(D) any hunter traveling on the Dalton Highway must stop at any check station operated by the department within the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area;

(8) the Minto Flats Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Unit 20 bounded by the Elliott Highway beginning at Mile 118, then northeasterly to Mile 96, then east to the Tolovana Hotsprings Dome, then east to the Winter Cat Trail, then along the Cat Trail south to the Old Telegraph Trail at Dunbar, then westerly along the trail to a point where it joins the Tanana River three miles above Old Minto, then along the north bank of the Tanana River (including all channels and sloughs except Swanneck Slough), to the confluence of the Tanana and Tolovana Rivers and then northerly to the point of beginning;

(B) the area is open to moose hunting except that aircraft and airboats may not be used for moose hunting or to transport moose, moose hunters, or moose hunting equipment within the Minto Flats Management Area;

(9) the Tok Management Area:

(A) the area consists of those portions of Units 12, 13(C), and 20(D) bounded by a line along the Alaska Highway east from the west side of the Johnson River bridge to Tok Junction, then south along the Tok-Slana cutoff (Glenn Highway) to the Slana River; then west along the north bank of the Slana River to its confluence with Lost Creek, then up the north side of Lost Creek to the divide between Lost Creek and Jack Creek, then north to the Unit 12 boundary, then west along the Unit 12 boundary to Mount Kimball (63ΓΈ 17' N. lat., 144ΓΈ 40' W. long.), then west in a straight line to Mount Gakona (63ΓΈ 17' N. lat., 145ΓΈ 12' W. long.), then southwesterly to the head of Canwell Glacier, then northerly to the head of the Johnson Glacier, then northerly along the west bank of the Johnson Glacier and Johnson River to the Johnson River bridge;

(B) the area is open to sheep hunting by permit only;

(10) the Fairbanks Management Area:

(A) this area consists of that portion of Unit 20(B) bounded by a line from the confluence of Rosie Creek and the Tanana River, northerly along Rosie Creek to the middle fork of Rosie Creek through Section 26 to the Parks Highway, then east along the Parks Highway to Alder Creek, then upstream along Alder Creek to its confluence with Emma Creek, then upstream along Emma Creek to its headwaters, then northerly along the hydrographic divide between Goldstream Creek drainages and Cripple Creek drainages to the summit of Ester Dome, then down Sheep Creek to its confluence with Goldstream Creek, then easterly along Goldstream Creek to Sheep Creek Road, then north on Sheep Creek Road to Murphy Dome Road, then west on Murphy Dome Road to Old Murphy Dome Road, then east on Old Murphy Dome Road to the Elliot Highway, then south on the Elliot Highway to Davidson Ditch, then southeasterly along the Davidson Ditch to its confluence with the tributary to Goldstream Creek in Section 29, then downstream along the tributary to its confluence with Goldstream Creek, then in a straight line to First Chance Creek, then up First Chance Creek to the summit of Tungsten Hill, then southerly along Steele Creek to its intersection with the Trans-Alaska Pipeline right-of-way, then southeasterly along the easterly edge of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline right-of-way to the Chena River, then along the north bank of the Chena River to the Moose Creek dike, then southerly along Moose Creek dike to its intersection with the Tanana River, and then westerly along the north bank of the Tanana River to the point of beginning;

(B) the area is open to moose hunting by bow and arrow only;

(11) the Birchwood Management Area:

(A) the area consists of all land bounded on the south and west by Eagle River and the Fort Richardson Military Reservation, on the east by the old Glen Highway, and on the north by Peters Creek;

(B) the area is closed to hunting, except that

(i) small game may be taken by air rifle with rifled barrel, shotgun and bow and arrow only, north and west of the Alaska Railroad;

(ii) moose hunting is allowed by drawing permit, by bow and arrow only;

(iii) deleterious exotic wildlife may be taken by air rifle with rifled barrel, bow and arrow (with blunts or other special small-game points), and falconry only;

(12) the Ferry Trail Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Unit 20(A) bounded on the north by the Rex Trail; bounded on the west by the east bank of the Nenana River from its intersection with the Rex Trail south to the divide forming the north boundary of the Lignite Creek drainage; bounded on the south by that divide easterly and southerly to the headwaters of Sanderson Creek at Usibelli Peak, then along a southwesterly line to the confluence of Healy Creek and Coal Creek, then upstream easterly along the south bank of Healy Creek to the north fork of Healy Creek, then along the north fork of Healy Creek to its headwaters; bounded on the east by a straight line from the headwaters of the north fork of Healy Creek to the headwaters of Dexter Creek, then along the east bank of Dexter Creek to the Totatlanika River, then down the east bank of Totatlanika River to the Rex Trail;

(B) the area is open to caribou hunting by permit only;

(13) the Healy-Lignite Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Unit 20(A) that includes the entire Lignite Creek drainage, and that portion of the Nenana River drainage south of the Lignite Creek drainage and north of a boundary beginning at the confluence of the Nenana River and Healy Creek, then easterly along the south bank of Healy Creek to its confluence with Coal Creek, then northeasterly to the headwaters of Sanderson Creek at Usibelli Peak;

(B) the area is open to hunting by bow and arrow only;

(14) Lime Village Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Unit 19(A) drained by the Stoney River from the mouth of the Stink River, including the Stink River drainage, upstream to but not including the Can Creek drainage;

(B) the area is open to caribou hunting from July 1 through June 30;

(C) repealed 6/16/91;

(15) repealed 7/1/2004;

(16) repealed 7/1/2004;

(17) repealed 7/1/2004;

(18) the Palmer-Wasilla Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Unit 14(A) bounded by a line beginning at the intersection of the George Parks Highway and the Glenn Highway, then east and north along the Glenn Highway to the Palmer Fishhook Road, then west and north along the Palmer Fishhook Road to the Faulk Road intersection, then west along the road and section line to Tex Al Drive and along Tex Al Drive to the Wasilla Fishhook Road, then south along the Wasilla Fishhook Road to Welch Road, then west along Welch Road to the south bank of the Little Susitna River, then west along the south bank of the Little Susitna River to the bridge at North Shushana Drive, then south along North Shushana Drive to Shrock Road, then west along Shrock Road to Church Road, then south along Church Road to the George Parks Highway, then west along the George Parks Highway to Vine Road, then south along Vine Road to Knik Goose Bay Road, then north along Knik Goose Bay Road to Fairview Loop Road, then south and east along Fairview Loop Road to the George Parks Highway, then east along the George Parks Highway to the intersection with the Glenn Highway;

(B) the area is closed to hunting except that

(i) big game may be taken by muzzleloading blackpowder rifle, shotguns with slugs, and bow and arrow only;

(ii) small game and fur animals may be taken by muzzleloading blackpowder firearm, shotgun, air rifle, falconry, and bow and arrow only;

(iii) waterfowl on Finger Lake may be taken by falconry, and bow and flu-flu arrow only;

(19) the Delta Junction Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Unit 20(D) bounded by a line beginning at the confluence of Donnelly Creek and the Delta River, then up Donnelly Creek to the Richardson Highway (Mile 238), then north along the east side of the highway to the "12 Mile Crossing Trail" (Mile 252.4), then east along the south side of the "12 Mile Crossing Trail" and across Jarvis Creek to the 33-Mile Loop Road, then northeast along the 33-Mile Loop Road to the intersection with the Alaska Highway (Mile 1414), then southeast along the north side of the Alaska Highway to the bridge at Sawmill Creek (Mile 1403.9), then down the west bank of Sawmill Creek to its confluence with Clearwater Creek and down the south bank of Clearwater Creek to its confluence with the Tanana River, then down the Tanana River to its confluence with the Delta River, and upstream along the east bank of the Delta River to the point of beginning at Donnelly Creek;

(B) the area is open to moose hunting by drawing permit only;

(20) repealed 7/1/2005;

(21) the Upper Holitna-Hoholitna Management Area:

(A) the area consists of all portions of Unit 19(B) within the Aniak, Kipchuk, Salmon, Holitna, and Hoholitna river drainages;

(B) all hunters in the area passing a check station established by the department must stop at that check station;

(C) a moose or caribou taken in the area by a hunter accessing the area by aircraft must be transported out of the area by aircraft;

(22) the Bison Range Youth Hunt Management Area:

(A) the area consists of two field complexes within the Delta Junction Bison Range in Unit 20(D) as follows:

(i) the Panoramic Field hunting area is located three-quarters of a mile south of the Alaska Highway between Milepost 1404.0 and 1407.6, and bounded by a line beginning at the northeast corner (63ΓΈ 53.299' N. lat., 145ΓΈ 14.714' W. long), then northwest 3.5 miles to 63ΓΈ 54.956' N. lat., l45ΓΈ 20.767' W. long, then southwest 2.4 miles to 63ΓΈ 53.206' N. lat., 145ΓΈ 23.232' W. long, then southeast 1.5 miles to 63ΓΈ 52.537' N. lat., 145ΓΈ 20.758' W. long, then northeast 1.0 mile to 63ΓΈ 53.301' N. lat., 145ΓΈ 19.659' W. long, then southeast 2.0 miles to 63ΓΈ 52.330' N. lat., l45ΓΈ 16.075' W. long, then northeast 1.0 miles to the beginning point; and

(ii) the Gerstle Field hunting area is located three-quarters of a mile south of the Alaska Highway between Milepost 1394.1 and 1396.8, and bounded by a line beginning at the northeast corner (63ΓΈ 48.984' N. lat., 144ΓΈ 57.766' W. long), then northwest 2.9 miles to 63ΓΈ 50.242' N. lat., 145ΓΈ 02.874' W. long, then southwest 1.1 miles to 63ΓΈ 49.102' N. lat., 145ΓΈ 04.197' W. long, then southeast 2.3 miles to 63ΓΈ 48.239' N. lat., 145ΓΈ 00.339' W. long, then northeast 1.6 miles to the beginning point;

(B) the area is open to moose hunting by drawing permit only; the department may issue a permit to a child, as follows:

(i) the permit may be issued to a child aged 10 to 17 who will be accompanied in the field by an adult 21 years of age or older, with the child being the permittee;

(ii) a moose harvested under a permit issued under this section will count against the bag limits of both the child and accompanying adult;

(iii) only the child may shoot a moose, except that the accompanying adult may shoot the animal only to prevent the animal from escaping after having been wounded by the child;

(iv) in addition to the permit specified in this section, the child and accompanying adult must have the licenses, harvest tickets, and tags required under this title and AS 16 in possession while in the field;

(C) the area is closed to motorized vehicles for hunting from July 1 - September 30, including the transportation of hunters, hunting gear, or parts of game in the management area;

(23) Douglas Island Management Area:

(A) the management area consists of Douglas Island in Unit 1(C);

(B) hunting and trapping of wolves is open in the Douglas Island Management Area and, except as specified in (E) and (F) of this paragraph, the harvest cap for hunters and trappers is three wolves; hunting and trapping seasons will be closed by emergency order when three wolves have been harvested;

(C) before trapping wolves in the management area, a person must register with the department; a hunter or trapper who takes a wolf in the management area must report the harvest to the department's division of wildlife conservation office in Douglas within 48 hours of taking the wolf and present the hide for sealing within five days of taking the wolf;

(D) if the department determines that any or all of the following conditions were met during the most recent deer hunting season, deer conservation provisions will be implemented:

(i) more than 11 hunter-days were expended per deer harvested on Douglas Island during the most recent hunting season;

(ii) the average deer harvest-per-hunter-day during the three most recent hunting seasons was lower than the base average with at least 95 percent statistical confidence;

(iii) the deer population is below the base average, but is likely to increase to near the base average within two years if deer conservation provisions are implemented;

(E) the average deer-harvest-per-hunter-day during 1983 - 2003 will be used as a base measurement to determine if deer conservation provisions will be implemented by increasing or lifting the wolf harvest cap during the remainder of the current wolf season and the following season; if the department evaluates available information on the Douglas Island deer population and determines that recent harvest-per-hunter-day statistics do not accurately reflect the status of the deer population and that the population is not significantly below the base average, the department may decide whether or not to implement deer conservation provisions;

(F) regardless of whether conditions in (D) of this paragraph are met, if the department determines that a significant deer decline has occurred or is likely to occur, the department will increase the wolf bag limit and harvest cap as necessary to avoid a decline or rebuild the deer population; as part of this determination, the department will attempt to prevent extirpation of wolves and maintain some level of wolf protection on Douglas Island;

(24) the Petersburg Management Area:

(A) the area consists of that portion of Unit 3 on Mitkof Island north and west of a line from Frederick Point to the highest point in Section 8, T59S, R90E, to the highest point in Section 7, T59S, R80E, to the highest point in Section 13, T59S, R79E, to the highest point in Section 23,T59S, R79E; then due south to the Petersburg city boundary, and at least one-quarter mile from any airport property, dwellings, businesses, highways, roads or streets within the corporate city limits;

(B) the area is open to hunting by bow and arrow only.

History: Eff. 8/20/89, Register 111; am 8/9/90, Register 115; am 8/10/90, Register 115; am 8/12/90, Register 115; am 12/27/90, Register 116; am 6/16/91, Register 118; am 7/1/92, Register 122; add'l am 7/1/92, Register 122; readopt 5/13/93, Register 126; am 7/7/94, Register 131; am 7/16/95, Register 135; am 4/25/96, Register 138; am 6/28/96, Register 138; am 7/26/97, Register 143; am 7/1/98, Register 146; add'l am 7/1/98, Register 146; am 7/1/99, Register 150; am 7/1/2000, Register 154; am 7/1/2001, Register 158; add'l am 7/1/2001, Register 158; am 12/28/2001, Register 160; am 7/1/2002, Register 162; am 7/25/2002, Register 163; am 12/20/2002, Register 164; am 7/1/2003, Register 166; am 7/1/2004, Register 170; am 7/1/2005, Register 174; add'l am 7/1/2005, Register 174; am 7/27/2005, Register 175; am 9/12/2005, Register 176

Authority: AS 16.05.255

AS 16.05.258

AS 16.05.789

Editor's note: At its November 9 - 11, 1992, January 19 - 28, 1993 meeting, the Board of Game readopted 5 AAC 92.530 in its entirety, without change, under ch. 1, SSSLA 1992 (the 1992 subsistence law), which repealed and reenacted AS 16.05.258 .

For the purpose of reporting under 5 AAC 92.530(23) (E), the Department of Fish and Game's division of wildlife conservation office in Douglas, Alaska can be contacted at 802 3rd Street, P.O. Box 240020, Douglas, Alaska 99824-0020; phone: (907) 465-4265; fax: (907) 465-4272.