Federal migratory bird subsistence rules take effect across Alaska

Revised federal rules governing when and where Alaska Native communities may harvest migratory birds and their eggs this season took effect June 23, 2026.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized the regulations, which revise the migratory bird subsistence harvest rules in Alaska to allow for the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds and to establish when and where the harvesting of certain migratory birds may occur within each subsistence region. The rules were developed through a cooperative process that included the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native representatives working through the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council.

Key Changes This Season

The 2026 regulations set species-specific seasons and regional boundaries across Alaska's subsistence regions. The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2026, was developed with input from subsistence users and state and federal partners. Public comments on the proposed rule can be reviewed at regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R7-MB-2025-1694.