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News Release U.S. Army Garrison Fort Wainwright 1047 Nysteen Road, Apt. 1, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703 Phone: (907) 353-6700
United States Army Alaska 724 Postal Service Loop #5900 Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, AK 99505-5900 Telephone: (907) 384-2072/353-0498 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release # 16-06-08-23
Military prepares for moose season June 30, 2016
FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – Fort Wainwright and U.S. Army Alaska will publish a
list of the available Interior Alaska military lands available for moose hunting no later than July
22, 2016, to allow hunters time to schedule and resource their hunts.
General moose season on military lands will coincide with hunting season as determined
by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Hunting-related activities are only permitted during
the ADFG-directed hunting season. USARAK intends to make all training area not actively
being used for military training available for hunting and other recreational uses.
Information about available and restricted lands will be published through the
USARTRAK iSportsman web page http://usartrak.isportsman.net, local news media, the Fort
Wainwright website and Facebook page, local fliers, community meetings and at the Fairbanks
and Delta Junction Alaska Department of Fish and Game offices.
All sportsmen 16 and older choosing to recreate on military lands must register for a free
access permit which can be obtained online at http://usartrak.isportsman.net, or at one of three
kiosk locations: Fort Wainwright Visitors Center, Fort Greely Visitors Center and the Fort
Wainwright Natural Resource Office.
The public will have online access to view which military lands are open to recreation, to
include hunting, but will be required to have a Fort Wainwright Recreation Access Permit in
their possession prior to entering Fort Wainwright lands.
To ensure the safety of both sportsmen and military personnel, Fort Wainwright Law
Enforcement in partnership with Alaska Wildlife Troopers, will significantly increase active
patrolling and enforcement of hunting regulations on military lands. Sportsmen will need to be
extra vigilant to ensure they are accessing only those lands available to public recreation.
Fort Wainwright and USARAK understand the importance of hunting in the Interior and
are working diligently to provide reasonable access to training lands during moose season. Fort
3July 15, 2016 NEWS
How to Gain Recre-ational Access to Fort Wainwright Training Lands:
1. Obtain a RecreationAccess Permit. This can be obtained online or at one of our three kiosk lo-cations: Fort Wainwright Visitor Center, Fort Gree-ly Visitor Center, and Fort Wainwright Natural Re-sources Office.
2. Check in by callingthe USARTRAK auto-mated phone system or online. This must be done before entering the train-ing lands and you will need your RAP number to access the system. This permit is free, good for two years, and is required by those 16 years of age and older.
USARTRAK Online Check-In System: http://usartrak.isports-man.net
To check-in online, you will need your permit number and pin number.
Users can check in the day before or the day of their outing for up to two weeks at a time online or by telephone. They can also check online or listen through our automated phone system for training area closures. This check in system is for public safety.
Online Options:• Check into trainingareas for recreating• Update and renewRAP cards• Reprint existing RAPcards• Purchase Wood Cutting Permits online with a credit card• Complete Bear Baiting and Trapping Harvest Reports• View and print FortWainwright Recreation Maps
USARTRAK Phone Numbers: Fairbanks Area: 353-3181Delta Junction: 873-3181Eielson Area: 353-3181USARTRAK: (877) 250-9781
Important Fort Wain-wright Phone Numbers:Natural Resources: 873-1616Military Police: 353-7535
Please visit usartrak.isportsman.net to view more detailed recreation maps and to find the lat-est information regarding training area and road clo-sures.
Remember that en-tering restricted areas is a criminal offense.
Fall 2016 Recreation Maps
Moose season begins Sept. 1. Keep an eye out for an article right here in the Alaska Post about hunting safety, like leaving informa-tion with family and friends about your hunting trip, and other precautions hunters should take before heading out.
Things to remember
• Get your Rec-reation Access Pass: http://usartrak.isports-man.net/
• Read the 2016-2017 Alaska Hunting Regulations and the Fort Wainwright Outdoor Recreation Regulation Sup-plement; both are available at https://usartrak.isportsman.net/regulations.aspx with additional infor-mation at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlife-regulations.hunting. Read thoroughly as you may need to know about Hunter Educa-tion Cards, Bow Hunt-er Certification, etc.
• Follow Alaska State hunting regula-tions
• Know whose landyou are recreating on
• Above all, be safe(proper gear/clothing and communication)
• If you havequestions, call DPW Environmental at 361-9686.
Division of Wildlife Conservation Bruce Dale, Director Region III, Fairbanks Area Office 1300 College Road Fairbanks, AK 99701-1551
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sam Cotten, Commissioner
PO Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 www.adfg.alaska.gov
PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Bob Schmidt
For Immediate Release: July 19, 2016 Wildlife Biologist Delta Junction, (907) 895-7491 [email protected]
Macomb Caribou Numbers Dip, Prompt Reduced Harvest; Abbreviated Hunting Season Expected
(DELTA JUNCTION) – Hunters planning to pursue the Macomb caribou herd in August under an RC835 permit
are advised that the harvest quota has been reduced and an abbreviated hunting season is likely.
The registration hunt’s harvest quota was decreased from 70 bull caribou to 40 bull caribou after aerial surveys
in June indicated that 700-800 animals are within the hunt area. This number is within the population objective,
and a harvest of 40 bull caribou continues the Department’s conservative harvest management of the Macomb
caribou herd.
Scheduled to open August 10, the hunt will close by emergency order once the harvest quota of 40 bull caribou
is met. Biologists expect the closure will occur prior to August 26, when motorized access in the Delta
Controlled Use Area would otherwise be allowed.
“We know many people look forward to two days of motorized hunting in the Delta Controlled Use Area for the
Macomb herd, but that’s very unlikely to happen this year,” said Area Biologist, Bob Schmidt. “We want to get
the word out early – before people make the big trip or buy plane or ferry tickets.”
The Macomb caribou herd roams the eastern Alaska Range between Delta River and Yerrick Creek south of
the Alaska Highway. Since the early 1970s, the herd’s numbers have ranged from 350 to around 1,500
animals. Today the Macomb herd is managed for a fall population of 600-800 with a sustainable harvest of 30-
70 caribou.
For more information, contact Wildlife Biologist Bob Schmidt in Delta Junction at (907) 895-7491, or e-mail
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Hunting and Outdoors Safety Staff Report Fort Wainwright Safety Office
The hunting season is upon us. Many of you will be going into the Alaskan
backcountry for the first time hunting. You’re eager and ready to go get your first moose or caribou, but have you taken
the time to think the trip through utilizing the five steps of risk management? This is the Last Frontier — anything and everything can go wrong making a
simple trip turn into a nightmare. If you think your trip through utilizing risk management, you will be able to identify and plan for all hazards that may be encountered and make your trip an enjoyable one.
It’s time to go over the gear that has been stored away for a year; change out the batteries and put fresh hand and foot warmers into your pack.
Carry a survival kit, saw, flares, fire starter, spare batteries, and carry your dry clothes in a waterproof bag or storage box.
Update your outerwear if it is old and worn and the waterproofing is marginal; if you don’t, you can get cold and wet and have hypothermia set in. It is wet weather and cool temps that can bring on hypothermia. Even if you are only going out into the backcountry for a day, having all of this on your ATV can save your life.
Get out and become familiar with your machine, if you just purchased it. Know how it handles in all conditions, especially side hills. Build your riding skills so that you are comfortable and confident riding your machine in any terrain here in Alaska.
Check your ATV over completely, do your PMCS, ensure you have spare spark plugs and fuses should you need them, and carry more than the basic tool set that comes with the ATV.
Cell phone coverage is iffy out in the backcountry; do not count on a cell phone to get you out of trouble. If you are going to be in the backcountry, you might want to think about renting a satellite phone for $75 a week from Surveyors Exchange over on College Road. Iridium phones are the ones to use here in the interior as they have complete coverage; it is a worthwhile investment should an emergency arise.
Ensure you let friends and family know where you are going to be hunting and when you will be back.
Good luck in your hunt and enjoy your time in the backcountry, but do so safely
be unpredictable in Alaska’s interior and poor preparation for weather or other conditions is not an excuse for regulation violation. Are there any weapon or transportation restrictions you need to follow? Access rules to different areas may apply. There are multiple sources of information on hunting in interior Alaska. Visit the Fort Wainwright USARTRAK/isportsman website at https://usartrak.isportsman.net/default.aspx. This site will give information about hunting restrictions on Army Land and links to many other sites with information about Federal, State, and private land ownership; Be sure to read the hunting circular published with the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner for maps of Alaska Native Corporation and other private lands to avoid. Stay Safe and enjoy your hunting experience
Preparing for the hunt
Shawn Osborn Forester/Recreation Specialist Elizabeth Cook Cultural Resources Manager/Native Liaison Alaska Post August 12, 2016 With September swiftly approaching, Alaskans across the Interior are preparing for hunting season. This fall there will be hundreds of hunters from the Army community looking for moose on and off Fort Wainwright lands. A total of 1,291 drawing permits alone have been issued to the public for hunting units on Fort Wainwright lands for this season. This means that the chance of encountering other hunters, or at least using the same hunting area as others, is fairly high. This raises issues of hunting etiquette, ethics and practice. These can be sensitive subjects among hunters and non-hunters, many people having strong opinions. To help with this, it is vital that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Alaska Hunting Regulations be studied closely. Studying the regulations can also help new or experienced hunters improve their skills, understand changes to state regulations, and avoid common etiquette pitfalls. Some common violations are noted in the Hunting Regulation. Included in these is wasting salvable meat—also known as wanton waste. Be sure to understand salvage rules and to dispose of any gut piles or other unwanted parts in a respectful manner. Leaving animal parts on public roads, right-of-ways, or even at water’s edge is also a problem. Leaving a mess only helps to give hunters a bad image, and can be illegal. When hunting in a multi-cultural state such as Alaska, it is also good to remember that everyone’s hunting practice may not be the same. One culture’s dinner might wind up in another culture’s gut pile. Whatever you discard, think about other options. If properly handled, meat and organs that you might not eat can be donated to agencies that will use them to feed the needy or at special cultural events. If you wish to donate unwanted game meat, the Food Bank of Alaska will accept moose, caribou, and deer. Call (907) 272-3663 or visit their website at https://ssl.foodbankofalaska.org/index.php, for more information. When preparing for the hunt, some simple logic and self-assessment can prevent many mistakes—and regulation violations. Most of these questions can be answered by carefully reading the ADF&G hunting regulations. Follow the who, what, where, when and how rule when planning your hunt. Who is going on the hunt? Different rules apply to residents, non-residents, youth or disabled persons. What are you going to hunt? There are many species in Alaska to hunt and special restrictions may apply depending on what game management unit you are hunting in. Where do you want to hunt? It is important to know which unit or sub-unit you will hunt within and who owns the land within each GMU. State, federal, and private land such as Native Corporation lands may all be in one GMU and the restrictions for public access, needs for permit, and other details may be different. When do you plan to hunt? Be prepared for whatever nature throws at you. Fall weather can
Wainwright and USARAK are partnering closely with the U.S. Air Force, the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alaska State Troopers, the
Alaska Fire Service and the Bureau of Land Management to ensure a safe and enjoyable hunting
season for everyone involved.
The Army reserves the right to adjust the available lands for hunting in order to facilitate
unscheduled critical training in support of worldwide deployments. Maintaining military
readiness to respond to worldwide contingencies is our No. 1 priority.
For more information, contact the Fort Wainwright Natural Resource Office at (907) 361-
9686 during normal business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If no one is available to take your
call please leave a message and they will return your call.
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