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.

Upcoming Public Hearings
* There will be a Public hearing for Unit 4 Federal subsistence mountain goat management:
July 30, 2026, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Sitka Ranger District conference room
Call-in number: (202) 650-0123    Passcode: 591444963#

 

The sections below contain information on both pending wildlife special actions, and those currently in effect. There are currently pending wildlife special actions in the Bristol Bay, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and Western Interior regions.

Southeast Alaska Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
  Goat - Unit 4July 30 Public Hearing for Unit 4 Federal Subsistence Mountain Goat Management
12-SA-01-26

Effective Date: Friday, July 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

 

Expires: Sunday, January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m., unless superseded by subsequent  special action

Goat - in a portion of Unit 5AFederal subsistence season for mountain goat closed in a portion of Unit 5A
Southcentral Alaska Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
15-DS-01-26

Effective Date: Monday, August 10, 2026 at 12:01 a.m.

 

Expires: Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., unless superseded by subsequent Federal special action

Sheep - Unit 15, Round Mountain AreaFederal Subsistence Sheep Hunt closed in Round Mountain Area, Kenai Peninsula
07-DS-01-26

Effective Date: Monday, August 10, 2026 at 12:01 a.m.

 

Expires: Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., unless superseded by subsequent Federal special action

Sheep -  Unit 7 in the Cooper Landing Closed Area (CLCA)Federal Subsistence Sheep Hunt closed in the Cooper Landing Closed Area
Kodiak/Aleutians Region

No current or pending wildlife special actions.

Bristol Bay Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
WSA26-05PENDINGCaribou - Units 17A and 18RequestRequests the opening of federal public lands in a portion of Units 17A and 18 for caribou, in the Cape Pierce Area; opportunity limited to residents of Togiak, Twin Hills, Goodnews, and Platinum.
WSA26-06July 10, 2026; Expires September 30, 2026Caribou - Unit 9C within Katmai National PreserveHarvest limit for fall caribou hunt (August 1 - September 30) is increased to "up to 2 caribou" for the 2026 season. Authority is delegated to provide additional opportunities for residents of Iguigig and Kokhanok.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
WSA26-05PENDINGCaribou - Units 17A and 18RequestRequests the opening of federal public lands in a portion of Units 17A and 18 for caribou, in the Cape Pierce Area; opportunity limited to residents of Togiak, Twin Hills, Goodnews, and Platinum.
Western Interior Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
WSA26-04PENDINGMoose - Unit 24ARequestRequests the opening of a winter moose season in Unit 24A for the 2026-2028 regulatory cycle.
Seward Peninsula Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
WSA26-01

July 1, 2026; 
Expires June 30, 2028 (elimination of cow hunt through 2027/28)

 

*Action on reducing bull harvest limit is PENDING

Caribou - Units 22, 23, and 26A, west of the Colville River drainage upstream from the Nuka River and drainages of the Chukchi Sea, south and west of and including the Kuk and Kugrua River drainages (Unit 26A SW) 

Eliminates cow caribou hunt for the 2026-2028 regulatory cycle.

 

*At its June 3 public meeting, the Federal Subsistence Board adopted WSA26-01 with a modification to eliminate the cow caribou hunt through the 2027/28 regulatory year but deferred action on reducing the bull caribou harvest limit until the Board’s fisheries regulatory meeting in February 2027.

WSA26-02 and WSA26-03July 1, 2026; 
Expires June 30, 2028		Caribou - Units 22 and 26A, west of the Colville River drainage upstream from the Nuka River and drainages of the Chukchi Sea, south and west of and including the Kuk and Kugrua River drainages (Unit 26A SW) Closes federal public lands in these units to caribou hunting by non-federally qualified users for the 2026-2028 regulatory cycle.
Northwest Arctic Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
WSA26-01

July 1, 2026; 
Expires June 30, 2028 (elimination of cow hunt through 2027/28)

 

*Action on reducing bull harvest limit is PENDING

Caribou - Units 22, 23, and 26A, west of the Colville River drainage upstream from the Nuka River and drainages of the Chukchi Sea, south and west of and including the Kuk and Kugrua River drainages (Unit 26A SW) 

Eliminates cow caribou hunt for the 2026-2028 regulatory cycle.

 

*At its June 3 public meeting, the Federal Subsistence Board adopted WSA26-01 with a modification to eliminate the cow caribou hunt through the 2027/28 regulatory year but deferred action on reducing the bull caribou harvest limit until the Board’s fisheries regulatory meeting in February 2027.

Eastern Interior Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
 Effective August 10; Expires September 30 or when quota is reachedCaribou - Unit 12, located east of the Nabesna River and Glacier and South of the Winter Trail running southeast from Pickerel Lake to the Canadian border.2026 Federal Subsistence Hunt of Chisana Caribou Herd
WSA26-07July 10, 2026; Expires September 30, 2026Sheep - Units 20E, within Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve and Glacier Mountain Controlled Use Area and Unit 25C, within Yukon-Charley Rivers National PreserveCloses federal public lands to sheep hunting by all users for the 2026 season. 
North Slope Region
Wildlife Special Action #Effective DateUnit/SpeciesDocumentsDescription
WSA26-01

July 1, 2026; 
Expires June 30, 2028 (elimination of cow hunt through 2027/28)

 

*Action on reducing bull harvest limit is PENDING

Caribou - Units 22, 23, and 26A, west of the Colville River drainage upstream from the Nuka River and drainages of the Chukchi Sea, south and west of and including the Kuk and Kugrua River drainages (Unit 26A SW) 

Eliminates cow caribou hunt for the 2026-2028 regulatory cycle.

 

*At its June 3 public meeting, the Federal Subsistence Board adopted WSA26-01 with a modification to eliminate the cow caribou hunt through the 2027/28 regulatory year but deferred action on reducing the bull caribou harvest limit until the Board’s fisheries regulatory meeting in February 2027.

WSA26-02 and WSA26-03July 1, 2026; 
Expires June 30, 2028		Caribou - Units 22 and 26A, west of the Colville River drainage upstream from the Nuka River and drainages of the Chukchi Sea, south and west of and including the Kuk and Kugrua River drainages (Unit 26A SW) Closes federal public lands in these units to caribou hunting by non-federally qualified users for the 2026-2028 regulatory cycle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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