By Amber Vaska, Executive Director of Tribal Government & Client Services
What is the Board of Game?
The Board of Game (BOG) consists of seven members serving three-year terms appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the legislature. According to their website, the Board of Game’s main role is to conserve and develop Alaska’s wildlife resources. This includes establishing open and closed seasons, areas for taking game, setting bag limits, and regulating methods and means. The board is also involved with setting policy and direction for the management of the state’s wildlife resources. The board is charged with making allocative decisions, and the Department of Fish and Game is responsible for management based on those decisions.
What does the Board of Game do?
The BOG receives written proposals, comments, and oral testimony from members of the public, local Fish and Game Advisory Committees (ACs), and Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) staff. The BOG then attempts to pass regulations that respond to people’s concerns, while also considering the need for long-term conservation and sustainable use of wildlife. The BOG establishes trapping seasons and bag limits; general and subsistence hunting seasons and limits, intensive management plans, closures and restrictions, areas closed to hunting, and regulating methods.
How often are proposals considered?
Proposed regulations are considered every three years, along with statewide regulations. Interior Region regulations are being considered in 2023/2024; 2026/2027; and 2029/2030. Proposals for the reauthorization of all antlerless moose hunts and all brown bear tag fee exemptions are taken up annually. Click this link to view the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s Game Management Unit’s map: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/hunting/maps/gmumaps/jpg/ak_simple_950.jpg
BOG Proposal Process
- A call for proposals is issued with the due date as May 1 the preceding year.
- Proposals can be submitted by ADF&G, Advisory Committees or the public.
- Proposals can be submitted by ADF&G, Advisory Committees or the public.
- A proposal book is distributed for statewide comment. Click this link to access the report: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/regprocess/gameboard/pdfs/2023-2024/proposals/iea_all.pdf
- Public written comments are due March 1, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
- Comments can be submitted a few ways, including:
- Online: https://survey123.arcgis.com/
- Mail:
AK Dept of Fish & Game
Boards Support Section
PO Box 115526
Juneau, AK 99811-5526 - Fax: (907) 465-6094
- Comments should include:
- Name / Tribe / Organization
- Proposal number(s) commenting on.
- Indicate support or opposition of each proposal.
- Describe reasoning.
- Comments must be no longer than 100 single sided pages.
- Comments can be submitted a few ways, including:
- At the meeting, the BOG hears reports from department staff and comments from the public. The board deliberates each proposal and acts by adopting, rejecting, amending, or deferring.
- Sign up in-person to provide oral comments.
- Written comments and new information can be submitted as a Record Copy (RC) in person that is 10 single sided pages or less, online, or fax (907) 465-6094.
- Adopted or amended proposals are formatted and submitted to the Department of Law for review and Lt. Governor for filing to be effective regulations.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!
- North Pacific Fisheries Management Council – February 5-12, 2024 – Renaissance Hotel, Seattle, WA
- Eastern Interior Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council – March 5-8, 2024 – Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, Anchorage, AK
- Board of Game Interior and Eastern Arctic Region Meeting – March 15-22, 2024 – Pikes Waterfront Lodge, Fairbanks, AK
- North Pacific Fisheries Management Council – April 1-9, 2024 – Hilton Hotel, Anchorage, AK
- 2024-2026 Federal Subsistence Board Wildlife Regulatory Meeting – April 2-5, 2024