Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae)
Management

Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists are monitoring the newly reintroduced wood bison. The management plan suggests that hunting may occur when there is a harvestable surplus of about 20 animals, with the overall population at about 250 animals at that time.

Detailed information regarding the 2007 Environmental Review and Decision regarding the Restoration of Wood Bison in Alaska can be found in these documents:

• 2007 Environmental Review (PDF 2,027 kB)
• Appendix A (PDF 368 kB)
• Appendix B (PDF 362 kB)
• Appendix C-1 (PDF 1,398 kB)
• Appendix C-2 (PDF 52 kB)
• Appendix F (PDF 48 kB)
• ADF&G Decision Notice (PDF 480 kB)

Management Plans

A wide range of interest groups collaborated to create the Wood Bison Management Plan. The seven goals of the plan are:

• Establish a wood bison herd in the Lower Innoko/Yukon River area and manage it for long-term viability.
• Ensure adequate staffing and funding for all phases of wood bison management.
• Minimize conflicts between humans and wood bison.
• Encourage cooperation among land managers to ensure reasonable, standardized land use and access to wood bison.
• Manage harvest allocation to equitably benefit local residents, nonlocal residents and nonresident hunters.
• Minimize wood bison impact on other wildlife species and the ecosystem on which they depend.
• Ensure continuing communication among all user groups.
• You can read the entire plan at:
  Management Plan for Lower Innoko/Yukon River Wood Bison in Westcentral Alaska (PDF 1,444 kB)