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Ahtna Kanas Spring 2021

Ahtna Kanas > Spring 2021 > AITRC Now Authorized to Issue Community Harvest System Hunting Permits

AITRC Now Authorized to Issue Community Harvest System Hunting Permits

By Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission Staff

It is with great pleasure that the Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission (AITRC) informs you that on January 27, 2021, the Federal Subsistence Board adopted and approved a community harvest system for moose and caribou for the eight Ahtna villages.

In 2016, the U.S. Department of the Interior and AITRC membership entered into a Memorandum of Agreement that allows AITRC to cooperatively manage wildlife on Federal lands within the Ahtna Traditional Use Territory. Since 2017, AITRC has worked with the Alaska Federal Subsistence Management program to develop a community harvest system for moose in Unit 11 and for moose and caribou in Units 12 and 13. This system allows AITRC to manage the community harvest system by registering federally qualified rural residents of the eight Ahtna tribal communities, where individual federal bag limits can be pooled for the benefit of participants.

What does this mean?

  • Federally qualified residents of Cantwell, Mentasta, Chistochina, Gakona, Gulkana, Copper Center, and Chitina Census Designated Places (CDPs) are eligible to participate in the Community Harvest System, but are not required to.
  • Being a resident of one of these CDPs doesn’t mean that you can hunt anywhere in Units 11, 12, and 13, as you must still meet existing customary and traditional use determination eligibility. Contact AITRC for additional information.
  • You do not have to go to the BLM and the NPS for your federal permit, but to one location at AITRC.
  • Seasons and bag limits will be the same as other federally managed hunts in those units.

AITRC will be traveling this summer to the eight communities to issue hunting permits for federally qualified individuals who wish to participate in this hunt. Watch for our flyers and check our website (www.ahtnatribal.org) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Ahtnatribal) for dates and locations.Additional information on qualifying for the community harvest system and where you can hunt can be found online at www.ahtnatribal.org/harvest or by calling the AITRC office: (907) 822-4466.