Delta Bison Early Hunt

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In an effort to help delay bison movement into agricultural lands and reduce bison-caused crop damage, the Department of Fish and Game is opening the Delta Bison hunting season early this year.

The Delta bison hunting season will open on July 26 on private agricultural lands and public land north of the Alaska Highway, and on one parcel of private agricultural land south of the highway. Hunting will not be opened early on the Delta Junction Bison Range (DJBR) or military lands south of the Alaska Highway.

The early season is being tried this year to determine if it can help reduce conflicts between bison and agriculture. The concept of an early season was suggested by land owners during discussions about Delta bison management and the idea was recently endorsed by the Salcha Big-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District and the Delta Bison Working Group.

“We’re hoping an early hunt can be a helpful management tool,” said Delta Area Biologist Steve DuBois. “If we can encourage bison to stay on the Bison Range longer, it benefits both the animals and farmers.”

In an effort to avoid conflicts with farming operations during August and September, the Delta bison hunting season normally opens on October 1.

Hunters with bull bison permits (hunt DI403) have the option of hunting beginning in late July or wait until October. They are not required to hunt early, but DuBois hopes they will to test if the early season has an effect on bison movements.

Hunters must complete their bison orientation and receive permission from the landowner to hunt on private land before they can participate. The standard Delta bison hunting season will begin on October 1 with assigned hunt dates for hunters that did not kill a bison during the early season.

ADF&G will maintain a phone line (907-895-5550) with current information about bison locations so hunters can call and get the latest information. Landowners can also participate in the phone information by letting ADF&G staff know if bison are on their property and if they want the Department to direct hunters to their land.

ADF&G is also going to be collecting bison location information during aerial survey flights, crop damage assessment flights, and other routine aerial over flights of the area and will provide this information to hunters via the phone line also.

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