PETERSBURG-AK The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says the season will remain open until May 31st. Petersburg area Wildlife Biologist Rich Lowell says wolf predation is one of the reasons deer populations have declined in game management unit three, around Petersburg and Wrangell.<br />
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“We’ve had three consecutive deep snow winters in 2006 through 2008. We’ve got predation by wolves and black bears. We’ve got continued reduction in deer carrying capacity resulting from the harvest of productive old growth stands that are important for deer over-winter survival. We’ve got a lot of second growth stands that are entering stem exclusion. So, there are a number of factors at play that contribute to the low deer numbers we are now having.” <br />
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Lowell says the department’s voluntary hunter survey shows the area’s deer harvests have fallen well short of the state’s objective for the past six years. <br />
He says the Game Board considered the longer wolf season as an alternative to more extensive efforts.<br />
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“Rather than enter into an intensive, directed predator control action, the Board said, 'Well at this point why don’t we extend the wolf season by one month and see what impact that has on the wolf harvest in your area and also whether that proves to be beneficial to deer and gets them back up towards or above the harvest objective for deer in our area.'” <br />
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The wolf season extension includes unit three as well as 1-A in the Ketchikan area and part of 1-B south of the Bradfield canal.<br />
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Meanwhile, the state is also trying to get a better handle on deer harvest numbers. Starting this fall, hunters will be required to report their harvest after the season.
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