Effective: Alaska; Wildlife, Harvest, and Access

The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final rule to restore the regulatory framework for hunting, fishing, and trapping in Alaska that existed from 1981 until 2015. This action rescinds regulatory changes made in 2015, 2017, and 2024, aiming to align NPS management with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and restore the complementary roles of the State of Alaska and the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The rule is effective November 18, 2026. Key changes include the removal of prohibitions on harvesting bears over bait, the elimination of mandatory permit requirements for collecting animal parts for handicrafts, and the removal of restrictions on the collection of live raptor chicks for falconry. The rule also restores specific procedural requirements for park closures, including mandatory public hearings and locally focused notice requirements in newspapers, radio broadcasts, and post offices. Additionally, the rule clarifies that general limitations on park visitors do not apply to federally qualified subsistence users. It reinstates pre-2015 definitions and procedures, ensuring that subsistence users can conduct activities in compliance with applicable state and federal law. The NPS maintains that these changes provide greater clarity, predictability, and consistency in park administration while upholding the federal subsistence priority established by ANILCA.