Title 16, Fish and Game

(a) The following state-owned land, including tide and submerged land, and excluding privately owned land, is established as the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge: Beginning at U.S.C.G.S. Triangulation Station “Salmon” located on the northeastern shore of Douglas Island, lyin…

(a) The following state-owned land, including tide and submerged land, and all land, including tide and submerged land, acquired in the future by the state lying within the parcels described in this subsection is established as the Susitna Flats State Game Refuge: (1) Township 13…

(a) The following state-owned land and water is established as the Minto Flats State Game Refuge: (1) Township 1 North, Range 6 West, Fairbanks Meridian Sections 2 — 11 Sections 14 — 23 Sections 26 — 34; (2) Township 1 North, Range 7 West, Fairbanks Meridian Sections 1 — 36; (3) …

(a) The following state-owned land, including tide and submerged land, and all land, including tide and submerged land, acquired in the future by the state lying within the parcels described in this subsection is established as the Trading Bay State Game Refuge: (1) Township 9 No…

(a) The following state-owned land and water is established as the Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge: (1) commencing at the Section Corner on the Fairbanks Base Line common to Sections 33 and 34, Township 1 North, Range 1 West, Fairbanks Meridian, Point of Beginning, the…

[Repealed or reserved.]

(a) The following state-owned land and water, including the tideland but exclusive of marine water and submerged land, lying within the parcels described in this subsection is established as the McNeil River State Game Refuge: Township 10 South, Range 29 West, Seward Meridian Sec…

Where the use, lease, or disposal of real property in state game refuges created by AS 16.20.010 — 16.20.080 is under the control or jurisdiction of the state, whether through federal permit or state ownership, the responsible state department or agency shall notify the commissio…

If the commissioner so determines, the commissioner shall, in the letter of acknowledgment required under AS 16.20.050, require the person or governmental agency to submit full plans for the anticipated use, full plans and specifications of proposed construction work, complete pl…

AS 16.20.050 and 16.20.060 do not affect AS 16.05.871 — 16.05.891.

The board shall, under AS 16.05, adopt regulations governing the taking of game on state game refuges it considers advisable for conservation and protection purposes.

Article 2. State Game Sanctuaries. In AS 16.20.010 — 16.20.080, (1) “board” means the Board of Game; (2) “game” means any species of bird and mammal, including a feral mammal, but excluding domestic birds and mammals.

(a) The legislature recognizes that (1) the Walrus Islands are the sole remaining place in the state where walruses annually haul out on land and all similar “hauling grounds” in the state which were formerly utilized have been abandoned by walruses due to excessive molestation a…

The following land areas in Bristol Bay and adjacent state waters are established as a state game sanctuary to be known as the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary: (1) Round Island; (2) Crooked Island; (3) High Island; (4) Summit Island; (5) The Twins; (6) Black Rock.

The boards may adopt regulations governing entry, development, construction, hunting, fishing, and all other uses or activities not in conflict with AS 16.20.096 and 16.20.098 for the purpose of preserving the natural habitat and the fish and game of the Walrus Islands State Game…

Oil and mineral exploration and development is permitted on the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary in accordance with state or federal laws and regulations, subject to the limitations of AS 16.20.098 and to additional limitations jointly determined by the commissioner of natural…

Land in the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary may not be sold. It may be leased only as mineral land as authorized in regulations of the Department of Natural Resources.

[Repealed or reserved.]

[Repealed or reserved.]

(a) The state-owned tide and submerged land and water within the following described parcels is established as a state wildlife sanctuary to be known as the Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary: Township 46 South, Range 69 East, Copper River Meridian Section 5: W1/2, W1/2E1/2 Sect…

The following state-owned land and water, including the tidelands but exclusive of marine water and submerged land, lying within the parcels described in this subsection is established as the McNeil River State Game sanctuary: Township 12 South, Range 29 West, Seward Meridian Sec…

(a) The McNeil River State Game Sanctuary is established to (1) provide permanent protection for brown bear and other fish and wildlife populations and their habitats, so that these resources may be preserved for scientific, aesthetic, and educational purposes; (2) manage human u…

Article 3. Endangered Species.

The legislature recognizes that, due to growth and development, certain species or subspecies of fish and wildlife are now and may in the future be threatened with extinction. The purpose of AS 16.20.180 — 16.20.210 is to establish a program for their continued conservation, prot…

On land under their respective jurisdictions, the commissioner of fish and game and the commissioner of natural resources shall take measures to preserve the natural habitat of species or subspecies of fish and wildlife that are recognized as threatened with extinction.

(a) A species or subspecies of fish or wildlife is considered endangered when the commissioner of fish and game determines that its numbers have decreased to such an extent as to indicate that its continued existence is threatened. In making this determination the commissioner of…

A species or subspecies of fish or wildlife listed as endangered under AS 16.20.190(b) may not be harvested, captured, or propagated except under the terms of a special permit issued by the commissioner of fish and game for scientific or educational purposes, or for propagation i…

A person who, without a permit issued under AS 16.20.195, harvests, injures, imports, exports, or captures a species or subspecies of fish or wildlife listed under AS 16.20.190, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

In AS 16.20.180 — 16.20.210, “fish or wildlife” includes birds.

[Repealed or reserved.]

[Repealed or reserved.]

[Repealed or reserved.]

Article 4. State Range Areas.

The following described areas, excluding valid existing rights, are established as the Delta Junction Bison Range Area: (1) Township 11 South, Range 12 East, Fairbanks Meridian Section 28: S 1/2 SW 1/4, SW 1/4 SE 1/4 and that portion of the NW 1/4 SW 1/4 east of the west bank of …

(a) The commissioner shall develop and may amend a game management plan for bison in the area described in AS 16.20.300. After holding public hearings in accordance with AS 44.62.310 — 44.62.319 (Open Meetings Act), the commissioner shall implement the game management plan. (b) T…

The Department of Natural Resources, division of forestry and fire protection, shall provide for the sale of timber in the Delta Junction bison range area in a manner that does not delay implementation of the game management plan required under AS 16.20.310.

Nothing in AS 16.20.300 — 16.20.320 shall be construed as prohibiting activities on land described in AS 16.20.300 that are otherwise permitted in accordance with the laws and regulations of this state, including, but not limited to, hunting, trapping, engaging in recreational ac…

The purpose of AS 16.20.340 — 16.20.360 is to establish the area described in AS 16.20.360 as the Matanuska Valley Moose Range. The primary purposes of the Matanuska Valley Moose Range are to maintain, improve, and enhance moose populations and habitat and other wildlife resource…

(a) The Department of Fish and Game is responsible for the management of fish and game resources on the state land and water described in AS 16.20.360 consistent with the purposes of AS 16.20.340 — 16.20.360. (b) Management of the surface and subsurface estate is the responsibili…

Article 5. Fish and Game Critical Habitat Areas. The state-owned land and water, vacant and unappropriated, and all that acquired in the future by the state, lying within the boundary described in this section, are designated as the Matanuska Valley Moose Range, and are reserved …

The purpose of AS 16.20.500 — 16.20.690 is to protect and preserve habitat areas especially crucial to the perpetuation of fish and wildlife, and to restrict all other uses not compatible with that primary purpose.

The Board of Fisheries and the Board of Game, where appropriate, shall adopt regulations they consider advisable for conservation and protection purposes governing the taking of fish and game in state fish and game critical habitat areas.

Before the use, lease, or other disposal of land under private ownership or state jurisdiction and control, within state fish and game critical habitat areas created under AS 16.20.500 — 16.20.690, the person or responsible state department or agency shall notify the commissioner…

(a) When a board determines that the following information is required, it shall instruct the commissioner, in the letter of acknowledgment required under AS 16.20.520, to require the person or governmental agency to submit: (1) full plans for the anticipated use; (2) full plans …

The following described area is established as the Port Moller Critical Habitat Area: (1) Township 50 South, Range 71 West, Seward Meridian Sections 7 — 8 Section 14 Sections 15 — 17 Sections 21 — 23 Section 32; (2) Township 51 South, Range 71 West, Seward Meridian Section 3 Sect…

The following described area is established as the Port Heiden Critical Habitat Area: (1) Township 38 South, Range 59 West, Seward Meridian Sections 13 — 15 (not tide or submerged land) Section 16 Section 21 Sections 22 — 27 (not tide or submerged land) Section 28 Sections 33 — 3…