The controversial topic of Kenai Peninsula brown bear hunting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge will be addressed at a March 2015 Board of Game meeting.
Board of Game Chair Ted Spraker of Soldotna said the main proposals to be discussed will be how to manage brown bear hunts on the Refuge versus other areas.
Spraker: “I feel that it should be managed as one population, personally I’m not in favor of splitting this into front country and back country and having a fleet of confusing proposals for the public, I’m not in favor of that. I’m willing to take a very close look at the number of adult females to be taken, I think we need to take a very scientific based look at that and see where we are, I think there may be some room for negotiation there. As far as the total of 70 I’m not fearful of that number at all.”
One topic that has been suggested in regards to the controversy is that the number of brown bears allowed to be taken should be lowered so that there could be hunting each year and Spraker said although it is not written into any proposals he has discussed it before and the board may look into it.
He also encouraged the public to submit comments on the Southcentral Region proposed changes before the February 27, 2015 deadline.
January 9-13 the Board of Game will meet in Juneau to discuss Southeast Region proposals and the Southcentral Region meeting is scheduled for March 13-17 in Anchorage.
Currently brown bear hunting is closed across the peninsula however all other areas beside the Refuge will open again on January 1. Brown bear hunting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is closed until May 31, 2015 due to a federal move earlier this year.