Alaska Outdoor Digest

The source for important, timely news on hunting, fishing and the outdoors in Alaska.

Governor supporting Combat Fishing Tournament
Governor Bill Walker was a surprise drop in guest at Thursday’s Combat Fishing Tournament at the Hard Rock Cafe.  Walker expressed his support for Alaska’s active duty military, for whom the tournament is dedicated. This year’s tournament is in late May in Seward. Read more
Combat fishing fundraiser Thursday
The fundraiser and auction to benefit the annual Seward Combat Fishing Tournament will be Thursday at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Anchorage. The tournament is hosted by the Seward charter fishing industry in concert with the Alaska Armed Services YMCA. The tournament in late May takes several hundred... Read more
ADFG Legislative schedule April 24-28
Here are bills and action pending in the Alaska Legislature this week that affect hunting, fishing and wildlife.  House Floor Session Apr 24 Monday 11:00 AM BILL SHORT TITLE STATUS DATE HB 127 CRIM. CONV. OVERTURNED: RECEIVE PAST PFD 3RD RDG, 4/24 CAL(H) 04/19/17 HB 211 NONRESIDENT HUNTING REQUIREMENTS:... Read more
Chugach Electric cancels plans for Snow River dam project
In a dramatic turn of events Thursday, Chugach Electric announced that it is dropping all plans to pursue building three hydroelectric dams on the Snow River, a tributary of the Kenai. Early this week the Anchorage utility held public meetings in Anchorage and in Moose Pass, near the proposed... Read more
SE King fishery still closed
Yes, the Southeast King Salmon fishery still closes April 15. The release from ADF&G this week on regional king salmon regulations created some confusion on whether sport fishing for spring kings was in fact closing. That regional update on limits and gear was for the entire Southeast. Last month’s... Read more
Juneau’s Territorial Sportsmen is hosting a seminar Thurday, April 13  “Taku and Chilkat Chinook Salmon Crisis–Status, Management and Research of Chinook Salmon of Northern SE Alaska. The program is a followup to a similar seminar in 2015, intended to increase public awareness on the conditions that have forced a... Read more
The 2017 Kenai River early-run king salmon preseason projection is for 6,500 large (longer than 34 inches) king salmon. This falls within the optimal escapement goal (OEG) of 3,900 to 6,600 large king salmon. In February, the Alaska Board of Fisheries amended the Kenai/Kasilof Early-run King Salmon Management Plan so... Read more
North Pacific Fisheries Council in Anchorage today debating whether Alaska salmon fisheries management should go from State back to the Feds.  Complete agenda online here: https://www.npfmc.org Read more
Multiple sources are reporting that PacRim Coal has suspended plans for a coal mine on the Chuitna River on the west side of Cook Inlet. PacRim officials told Alaska DNR staff on Friday that the project was being on hold.   Cook Inlet conservation and fishing groups have opposed... Read more
Outdoorsmen have a chance to speak directly to pending and new fish and game regulations in the next few days. This is a unique opportunity in Alaska, for direct input into how resources are managed. Fish & Game advisory committees representing most South Central regions will meet in early... Read more