A bounty of moose in Western Alaska has prompted wildlife managers to open a special month-long hunt in January with a bag limit of two moose if hunters hadn't taken an animal during the normal fall opening.
Moose in Game Management Unit 17A have enjoyed "high rates of moose calf production and survival (indicating) that the population can sustain additional harvest," according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.
A March 2011 aerial survey estimated 1,166 moose were in the area.
"That was the highest count up to that point," said Andy Aderman, a wildlife biologist for Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, which is within GMU 17. "The moose herd in 17A is relatively new. Some 25 years ago, they got a toehold in the drainage and the population steadily went up. We're still seeing really good calf production. You could say the moose population is exploding."
Warm winters the last two years have limited hunters, however. Two winters ago, Aderman said, it was so warm this time of year that hunters could boat up Togiak River to Togiak Lake.
"The last two winters certainly have been frustrating and trying," Aderman said. "I'm sure people really appreciate the snow we have now."
Fewer caribou from the Mulchatna herd occupy the Togiak River drainage these days, Aderman said, making the expanded moose hunting opportunities especially welcome.
Unit 17A encompasses the drainages between Cape Newenham and Cape Constantine and is near the villages of Togiak and Twin Hills.
Once the harvest quota of 15 bulls and 10 cows has been reached, the January hunt will be closed.
In February, the Alaska Board of Game made two regulation changes in an effort to help hunters:
• The bull moose hunt was changed to an "antlered" bull moose hunt.
• The cow hunt was changed to an "antlerless" moose hunt.
For details, see the Fish and Game website or call 907-842-2334.