AR-News: (AK) Fortymile caribou hunt near Fairbanks postponed

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

By Associated Press 
FAIRBANKS 
The winter hunt for the Fortymile Caribou Herd has been postponed. 
The hunt was set to open Monday, but state wildlife biologists said they 
feared escalating numbers of caribou near Steese Highway would result in hunters 
killing too many of the animals. 
Biologists haven't been able to track the herd for nearly two weeks because 
bad weather has prevented flying. When biologists last flew over the herd, they 
found about one-quarter of the 45,000-animal herd in the vicinity of Birch 
Creek, only 10 to 15 miles from the highway. They don't know how close to the 
road those caribou may be now. 
"We have to take the conservative approach until we can get a better handle 
on the situation to make sure we don't overharvest the herd," biologist Jeff 
Gross told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. 
The quota for the winter hunt is 302 animals, which is split almost evenly 
between the Steese Highway hunt in Unit 25C and the Taylor Highway hunt in Unit 
20E, as well as Units 20B and 20D. The season is still open in those units. 
Biologists said the Steese Highway closure is only temporary and hunters will 
get a shot at caribou in Unit 25C. As soon as weather allows, biologists will 
track the herd's location and movement to determine when the season can be 
opened. 



full story:
http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~26794~1799069,00.html


"To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only 
legitimate hope of survival." -Wendell Berry 
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