Wildlife Special Actions

A Special Action Request is an out-of-cycle change in a season, harvest limit, or method of harvest. Special Actions are taken when unusual situations arise, such as a significant change in resource abundance that could not reasonably have been anticipated. The Federal Subsistence Board may take a Special Action to restrict, close, open, or reopen the taking of fish and wildlife on Federal public lands and waters. Such actions are taken to ensure the continued viability of a particular fish or wildlife population, to ensure continued subsistence use, or for reasons of public safety. These guidelines and requirements can be found in 36 CFR 242.19 and 43 CFR 51.

View informational flyer on submitting a Special Action Request.

The table below contains information on wildlife special actions currently in effect.

Effective Date

Unit/Species

Documents

Description

Effective: 12:01 a.m. September 14, 2025

 

Expires: 11:59 p.m. September 30, 2025 

 

Unit 9C, Kukaklek Shelf caribou In Katmai National PreserveThis Emergency Special Action will open the Katmai National Preserve for federally qualified subsistence users in the communities of Kokhanok and Igiugig to hunt caribou. Katmai National Park will be issuing 16 caribou permits, divided equally between Kokhanok and Igiugig. Season will start September 14th and will end September 30th. The in-season manager may announce an extension of the season between November 1st and March 31st.

Effective: 12:01 a.m. September 14, 2025

 

Expires: 11:59 p.m. September 30, 2025 or when harvest limits have been met.

Unit 9C, Kukaklek Shelf caribou in Katmai National Preserve, caribou 

The National Park Service (NPS) will open a federal subsistence hunt on September 14, 2025 for the Kukaklek Shelf caribou in Katmai National Preserve. This hunt is limited to residents of Kokhanok and Igiugig, Alaska who are federally qualified subsistence users. The federal subsistence hunt opens at 12:01 a.m. September 14, 2025 and closes at 11:59 p.m. September 30, 2025 or when harvest limits have been met.


On October 27, 2025 at 6:00pm Alaska Time, a public meeting will be held regarding a possible extension of this caribou hunt. Scan the QR code below for meeting details.

Effective: 11:59 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2025

 


Expiration Date 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2025, unless superseded by subsequent
special action

Unit 4, Lisa Creek Zone, mountain goat

 

This Temporary Special Action closes the Lisa Creek Zone on Baranof Island
near Sitka, Alaska to the harvest of mountain goats.
REGULATION:

Effective Date: 11:59 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2025
 

 

Expiration Date 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2025, unless superseded by subsequent
special action

Unit 4, Mt. Katlian Zone, mountain goat

 

This Temporary Special Action closes Mt. Katlian Zone on Baranof Island near
Sitka, Alaska to the harvest of mountain goats.
August 29, 2025 at noonUnits 20e, 25C, and a portion of 20F, caribou The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Interior Field Office announces an emergency special action to close the fall Fortymile Caribou Federal Subsistence Hunt on federal lands in Units 20E, 25C, and a portion of 20F beginning noon on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. The federal subsistence caribou hunt only applies to federally qualified rural residents hunting on federal public lands.
August 20, 2025Unit 13C, mooseThe Federal Subsistence Board (Board) voted to reject Emergency Wildlife Special Action Request
WSA25-04.

August 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. 

 


Expires: December 31, 2025,  at 11:59 p.m., unless superseded by subsequent
special action

Unit 4, Rosenberg Lake Zone, mountain goatThis Temporary Special Action closes the Rosenberg Lake Zone on Baranof
Island near Sitka, Alaska to the harvest of mountain goats.

August 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. 

 


Expires: December 31, 2025,  at 11:59 p.m., unless superseded by subsequent
special action

Unit 4, Bear Mountain Zone, mountain goatThis Temporary Special Action closes the Bear Mountain Zone on Baranof
Island near Sitka, Alaska to the harvest of mountain goats.

Aug. 16 at 12:01 am 

Expires:  Oct. 14, 2025 at  11:59 p.m.

Unit 7 caribouNews ReleaseThe Seward District Ranger under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is restricting the Unit 7 federal subsistence caribou registration hunt to the harvest of caribou bulls only.

August 1, 2025 at 12:01 a.m.

 

Expires: March 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Portions of Units 17A and 17C caribouNews ReleaseThe Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Manager, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, will open caribou hunting (limited to a total harvest of 200 caribou) on the Nushagak Peninsula. Hunters must obtain an FC1702 permit. Hunt opens at 12:00 am August 1, 2025 and closes 11:59 pm March 31, 2026.

July 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

 

Expires: January 31, 2026

Portion of Unit 5A GoatNews ReleaseYakutat District Ranger is closing the 2025 Federal subsistence mountain goat hunting season for a portion of Unit 5A.

8/9/2024 :

Expires

6/30/2026

Unit 12 MooseNews ReleaseExtend FM1203 moose season by 10 days, closing September 30 for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. 

8/9/2024

Expires

6/30/2026

Unit 13 MooseNews ReleaseClose Federal public lands in Unit 13B to moose hunting by non-federally qualified users for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

05/24/2024

Expires 6/30/2026

Units 20E and 25C SheepNews ReleaseThrough the 2024 regulatory season, closure on Federal public lands in Units 20E and 25C. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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