Permit Information on Federal Black Bear Hunt

• Federal permits can be obtained at the Kenai or Alaska Maritime Refuge Offices. You will need to bring two pieces of identification, one of which must have your physical address.  You will also need a current ADF&G hunting license.
• To be eligible for the permit you must be permanent resident of Ninilchik.
• You must live within the federally designated Rural Area. (see Rural Area map - pdf).
• You will need to fill out the Federal Subsistence Permit Affidavit (Affidavit). This form validates you are a permanent resident of the rural area (see Federal Residency Affidavit - pdf).
• On the Affidavit you must provide proof of your physical address for the rural area. This can be a driver’s license, vehicle registration, property tax, Kenai borough assessment, voter registration or other official documentation of your physical address. We have been finding that almost all voter and vehicle registrations have the physical address.
• When you come in to obtain a black bear permit you will need at least two pieces of identification one must show the physical address and one with a picture. Refuge staff needs to sign and validate the Affidavit before issuing a black bear permit.

When you apply for the black bear permit you will receive the Federal Subsistence Hunt Report and the Federal Permit. You must keep the Federal Permit with you while hunting..  The permit is for one black bear, except cubs or sows with cubs.

The permit is valid during the 07/01/07-06/30/08 season. Ninilchik residents can take up to two bears but each permit is only valid for one bear, so you will need a second permit if you want to harvest two bears. The permit is valid in Unit 15B and Unit 15A (Except the Skilak Loop Wildlife Management Area and the Russian River Closed Area). The Skilak Loop Wildlife Management Area definition is found on page 75 of the Federal Harvest of Wildlife regulations. The Russian River Closed Area is defined as: the area within 150 yards, and including the river, from the outlet of Lower Russian Lake downstream to the Russian River/Kenai River confluence, then continuing downstream 700 yards along the bank of the Kenai River is closed to hunting for the months of June and July.   

The permit is valid only on federal public land.

Need to report harvesting a black bear within 5 days.  Hunters can report in person at the Refuge office or via phone 262-7021.

All hunters whether successful or unsuccessful and those who did not hunt must return their permits within 15 days after the close of the season (The season ends 06/30/08 so the deadline would be July 15, 2008).

Hide, skull, and edible meat must be salvaged. Hide and skull must be sealed within 30 days of harvest by an Alaska Department of Fish and Game representative.

In addition to the federal black bear permit the hunter must have a valid 2007 ADF&G hunting license.