Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Carl Koch closed the Unit 1D brown bear hunt on Thursday after six bears were taken, the first time the hunt has ever closed this early.
The hunt ended because a new quota was implemented after a brown bear population decrease due to human-caused mortality in 2020 when 30 bears were killed outside of the hunting season. The season typically lasts until Dec. 31 and at least 20 bears are typically harvested.
“This record high mortality level resulted in an estimated 16-20% reduction in the population and prompted the development of a new brown bear management plan,” Koch wrote in a press release. “The goal of this new plan is to recover the brown bear population and preserve future sustainable hunting opportunities.”
The plan institutes a harvest cap of five brown bears including no more than two sows, Koch said. Biologists expect the cap to be in effect for five years.
“As of October 19, 2021, a total of five brown bears have been harvested (two males in the spring season, and two males, one female in the fall season),” Koch wrote. “One additional brown bear was killed in defense of life and property in May for a total mortality of six bears.”
Police report brown bear calls are down this year.
“The community’s done a lot with trying to control attractants,” Koch said. “The fish run and the berries are better this year. That obviously plays a role as well.”