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Western Arctic Caribou Herd

Western Arctic Caribou Herd. Population Information. WAH Census Results: 1970-2007. WAH Calf:Cow Ratio: June (calving), October & Spring (April-May). Western Arctic Herd: Recruitment vs. Adult Cow Mortality. WAH Overview – slide 13. WAH Fall Bull:Cow Ratio: 1976-2008. Harvests.

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Western Arctic Caribou Herd

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  1. Western Arctic Caribou Herd

  2. Population Information

  3. WAH Census Results: 1970-2007

  4. WAH Calf:Cow Ratio: June (calving), October & Spring (April-May)

  5. Western Arctic Herd: Recruitment vs. Adult Cow Mortality WAH Overview – slide 13

  6. WAH Fall Bull:Cow Ratio: 1976-2008

  7. Harvests

  8. Average Annual WAH Subsistence Harvest * Numbers based on community harvest data; ~14,000 WAH caribou taken annually by people living within the range of the WAH (95-98% of total annual harvest)

  9. Western Arctic Herd Harvests by Visiting Hunters (Resident and Nonresident Hunters Combined) Data from statewide harvest ticket system; average annual harvest all GMUs=617 caribou (SD=118; range=500-800 caribou); 1998-1999 through 2008-2009 WAH Overview – slide 17

  10. Western Arctic Herd: Numbers of Visiting Hunters by Residence Data from statewide harvest ticket system WAH Overview – slide 18

  11. 2009 Collaring Project Buckland and Deering participated in the project this year.

  12. Collared 49 caribou: • 10 satellite collars for ADF&G (9 bulls & 1 cow) • 39 GPS collars for NPS (all cows)

  13. Collected blood from 83 caribou (30 bulls & 53 cows) - Routine disease monitoring - Provided samples to geneticist comparing caribou from Teshekpuk and Western Arctic Herds

  14. Percentage of WAH Caribou Positive for Brucellosis

  15. Percentage of WAH Caribou Handled at Onion Portage during September: Skinny or Very Skinny Body condition evaluated during September

  16. Fall Calf Weights

  17. Average Sept. Calf Weights (lbs) (sample size in parentheses)

  18. Body condition of caribou was generally good at OP We saw no cases of hoof rot as in 2008

  19. Board of Game Meeting Results Proposal to establish Same-Day-Airborne hunting for caribou year round in any portion of Unit 22 with an open season: FAILED Proposal to require all pilots that fly hunters, gear or game off-airport to pass an orientation course before operating in Unit 23: PASSED Four proposals to increase the nonresident caribou bag limit in Unit 23 from 1/yr to 2-5/yr: PASSED proposal to make the nonresident bag limit 2 caribou/yr Proposal to redefine “edible meat” to include meat affected by disease: TABLED until the statewide BOG meeting in January, 2009.

  20. ADF&G Management Activities • Calving Surveys • June, annually • calf production and delineation of calving area • Photocensus • July every 2-3 years • Collaring project • September, annually • deploy radio collars • weigh calves • collect blood samples – disease and genetic work • collect jaws • student involvement • Jaw collection • just beginning to do this • year round; rely on hunter participation • age, body condition, size of caribou • Spring & Fall range-wide telemetry surveys • distribution & movements • monitor adult mortality

  21. ADF&G Management Activities (cont.) • Fall sex/age composition surveys • October-November every other year • bull:cow and calf:cow ratios • Monitor harvests • Community harvest assessments • selected communities annually • lead by Div. of Subsistence • cooperative efforts with local organizations and federal agencies • statewide harvest ticket system • Recruitment surveys • April-May annually • estimate calf survival through 1st winter • Satellite collars – monitor distribution & movement • ADF&G, NPS, BLM & FWS • PTT and GPS collars • Health assessment • every 2-3 years • fall (Onion Portage) & spring (Red Dog?)

  22. Questions? (Summary of herd movements to follow)

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