Six new wildlife regulations and reallocated sheep permits for the 2022-23 hunting season

The Government of Yukon has adopted six new wildlife regulations, effective April 1, 2022.

These changes were recommended by the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management board and will help us support sustainable wildlife populations, ensure responsible wildlife management and protect critical habitats.

The six regulation changes are:

• An adaptive management framework for the Hart River caribou herd, which will not result in any immediate changes to licensed harvest opportunities. Hunters with a caribou seal will automatically receive a Wildlife Act permit for this herd.
• The Nelchina caribou herd will be open for licensed harvest on December 1. Management of this herd will be decided with our partners and details about this new hunting opportunity will be announced later in the season. Hunters will be required to re-print their hunting licenses prior to the August 1 hunting season for updated conditions regarding the Nelchina caribou herd harvest opportunity.
• Roadside hunting for grizzly bears is now prohibited south of Whitehorse within 100 metres of either side of the centerline of the Alaska Highway from the M’Clintock River Bridge to Jakes Corner, along the Tagish Road, the Atlin Road to the B.C. border, and on the South Klondike Highway from the Carcross Cutoff to the B.C. border, as proposed by the Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council and the Taku River Tlingit.
• Snowmobiles are prohibited in the Ddhaw Ghro Habitat Protection Area.
• Bison hunters can harvest and recover wolves and coyotes using snowmobiles while bison hunting in Game Management Zone 5, as proposed by the Alsek Renewable Resources Council.
• The Minister can now access monies in the Conservation Fund, which will provide funding opportunities for Yukoners and organizations that relate to conservation, protection and management of wildlife and habitat.

Another important change for the 2022–23 season includes allocating Permit Hunt Authorizations for sheep in Game Management Zone 7 East, mostly by Game Management Subzones, and using Sheep Management Units to evaluate harvest sustainability.

Hunters can find more information about these changes on Yukon.ca, in the Yukon hunting regulations summary booklet or at any Department of Environment office.

Each hunting season is unique and management of wildlife and harvest in the Yukon is adaptive to population surveys, harvest data, and ecological assessments to monitor and assess the sustainability of wildlife populations in the territory. Through our collaboration with Yukon First Nation governments, stakeholders and management partners, we are introducing six new wildlife regulations that will help prevent over-harvesting and population decline of wildlife and support habitat protection.

Minister of Environment Nils Clarke

As the primary instrument of fish and wildlife management, the Board is proud to ensure opportunities for public involvement in the review of proposed changes to Yukon’s Wildlife Act. We believe that your input is a critical part of effectively managing fish and wildlife.

Today we’re announcing six new Wildlife Act regulations that came into effect at the beginning of the month. The Board reviewed and supported these regulatory changes during our 2019-2020 regulation change process and extended public review.

We are confident that these changes are based on the merits of conservation and will have long-term benefits for both wildlife populations and their habitat

Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board Chair Carl Sidney

Quick facts

Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca

Erin Loxam
Communications, Environment
867-334-8390
erin.loxam@yukon.ca

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