Welcome to the 2017 Mendenhall Wetlands Online Waterfowl Permit Page

Mendenhall Wetlands Sate Game Refuge Summary Information

Mendenhall Wetlands Sate Game Refuge (MWSGR) created by Alaska Legislature in 1976. Established to protect and preserve natural habitat and game populations. Provide for recreational activity, to include hunting.

Cooperative MWSGR Management Plan completed in 1990. Goals and policies adopted as regulation by Board of Game.

In 2000 an exemption to CBJ ordinance allows discharge of shotguns within refuge boundary during waterfowl hunting season.

Accreted lands held in private title are not part of the refuge; discharge of shotgun exemption is not applicable.

ADFG registration permit (WU001) required to hunt waterfowl on the refuge beginning in 2003. Gather refuge use data and provides an opportunity to discuss refuge issues

with hunters.

Hunting on the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game RefugeBeginning in 2003, all persons interested in hunting waterfowl, snipe, or cranes on the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refugehad to register with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Douglas, Alaska.

Why is Fish and Game requiring a permit? This registration permit and accompanying map are meant to increase the awareness of hunters to the layout of the refuge, and where the sensitive residential areas are.

During the past few years, the department has received a number of complaints from homeowners living adjacent to the refuge about their homes being hit by shot.

Before shooting at waterfowl, be aware of your surroundings and only shoot in a safe direction!

Be aware of private property and no-trespassing signs and respect them.

Use public access points to come and go from the refuge.

In addition to providing for better-informed hunters, this permit will allow ADF&G to collect valuable data on the hunting effort and harvest on the refuge, as well as some of the patterns of use exhibited by hunters.

Data from this permit will also provide a measure of the importance of the refuge to the local waterfowling community.

Please do your part in providing for a safe waterfowling season:

..for yourself,

..for other hunters,

..and for adjacent homeowners.###

Hunting on the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge

Beginning in 2003, all persons interested in hunting waterfowl, snipe, or cranes on the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge had to register with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Douglas, Alaska.

Why is Fish and Game requiring a permit?

This registration permit and accompanying map are meant to increase the awareness of hunters to the layout of the refuge, and where the sensitive residential areas are.

During the past few years, the department has received a number of complaints from homeowners living adjacent to the refuge about their homes being hit by shot.

Before shooting at waterfowl, be aware of your surroundings and only shoot in a safe direction!

Be aware of private property and no-trespassing signs and respect them.

Use public access points to come and go from the refuge.

In addition to providing for better-informed hunters, this permit will allow ADF&G to collect valuable data on the hunting effort and harvest on the refuge, as well as some of the patterns of use exhibited by hunters.

Data from this permit will also provide a measure of the importance of the refuge to the local waterfowling community.

Please do your part in providing for a safe waterfowling season:

..for yourself,

..for other hunters,

..and for adjacent homeowners.

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Total No. Permits Hunters

Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge Registration Hunt Data

2006-2016

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Examples of data collected by permit reports!

The department not only uses the information provided in permit reports to help manage the refuge, we also use the number of permits to gauge hunter activity. The number of permits issued and the number of hunters in 2016 remained roughly the same since 2008. The consistent number of permits and hunters suggests the refuge remains an important part of the hunting community in Juneau.

Examples of data collected by permit reports!

On average, hunters spend 8 days waterfowl hunting on the refuge. The number of days hunted per hunter has not varied much since the department began collecting data in 2006 and suggests hunter effort on the refuge is consistent year to year.

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Examples of data collected by permit reports!

Access is a very important piece of data used by managers of the refuge and is often used to provide comments to proposed construction projects and other activities involving the refuge. The Airport Dike Trail continues to be the top access point followed by Sunny Point. Both the Lemon Creek viewing platform and North Douglas access points have gained popularity with hunters in the last few years.

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Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge Access Point Use

2012-2016

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1-Mendenhall Penninsula 8-Twin Lakes 2-Engineer's Cut-Off Road 9-Salmon Creek 3-Industrial Blvd. 10-Nine Mile Creek Rd. 4-Airport Dike 11-Nine Mile Creek 5-Sunny Point Drive 12-Fish Creek 6-Switzer Creek 13-North Douglas Boat Ramp 7-Refuge Viewing Platform 14-Unknown

Refuge Hunting issues During fall 2005 and winter 2006, ADFG met with Juneau Assembly Lands Committee to discuss waterfowl hunting related concerns on the refuge.

Several Juneau residents with homes adjacent to the refuge complained that irresponsible acts by a few hunters have caused property damage and individual safety concerns

The irresponsible acts were described as shooting in an unsafe direction, hunting too close to homes, trespassing and falling shot landing on individuals and homes and unfortunately some of these behaviors continue

In response to homeowner and city concerns, ADFG agreed to do the following to help ensure safety and continued hunting opportunities on the refuge.

Waterfowl clinic, stressing safety on the refuge. Waterfowl hunter letter with description of this process, new permit

requirements and conditions. Preseason radio announcements. Permits available only online or in Douglas wildlife office. Investigate all reported incidents. Improved incident tracking and agency coordination (AWT, CBJ, ADFG,

USFWS). ADFG will be present on the refuge as often as possible.

Refuge Hunting Issues

During fall 2006 the Alaska Board of Game adopted regulations zoning the Mendenhall Refuge and requiring hunter education for all waterfowl hunters on the refuge beginning in 2008.

In cooperation with Territorial Sportsmen, Inc. and the Mendenhall Refuge Citizens Advisory Group, zone guidelines and management policies were developed. A zone map, and guidelines and policies can be viewed at (http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=duckhunt.main)

This year, permits are available either online or at the Douglas Area Wildlife office. In addition (*NEW*), all waterfowl hunting activity may now be reported online in an effort to create an efficient waterfowl permit process

All Mendenhall Refuge waterfowl hunters are required to either complete a basic hunter education course or demonstrate, upon request, the previous completion of a basic hunter education course.

Contact the ADFG Hunter Education office at (907) 267-2187 if the course was in Alaska and for assistance in locating hunter education contact information in other states

Online Permit Application Overview

In order to apply for and receive your online permit you will need the following information:

Drivers license or State ID number Date of Birth First, Middle and last Name Mailing Address, City, State and Zip Code If you are an Alaskan Resident or Nonresident Community of Principal Residence Hunting license number or age if under 16 years or age Phone number Email Address This information is necessary to complete your permit so it can be printed on your home equipment once the educational material has been viewed and you have agreed to the permit conditions.

A short quiz will follow the education material. You must answer 8 of 10 questions correctly to receive a permit or you will be required to view the material again and retake the quiz. Thank you in advance for your time and good luck hunting!

Juneau Area Waterfowl Regulations Refer to the 2017-2018 Alaska Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations Summary for more information, this is only a portion of the regulations.

SOUTHEAST UNITS 1-4 Sept. 16-December 31 Ducks1 7 per day, 21 in possession Sea Ducks2 Residents 10 per day, 20 in possession Nonresidents 7 per day, 20 per season Dark Geese 4 per day, 12 in possession White Geese 6 per day, 18 in possession Brant 3 per day, 9 in possession Emperor Geese NO OPEN SEASON Tundra Swans NO OPEN SEASON Common Snipe 8 per day, 24 in possession Sandhill Cranes 2 per day, 6 in possession

1 DUCKS (except sea ducks): General duck limits may include no more than 2 canvasback per day, 6 in possession. SEA DUCKS: Includes harlequin, long-tailed duck (oldsquaw); common, king, Stellers and spectacled eiders; surf, black and white-winged scoter; and common and red-breasted merganser. Stellers and spectacled eiders are closed statewide. For purposes of these regulations, bufflehead and goldeneyes (Barrows and common) are not considered sea ducks. 2 Residents may take no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession of harlequin ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession of long-tailed ducks. Nonresidents may not take or possess more than 20 sea ducks per season, including no more than 4 each of any sea duck species. Stellers and spectacled eiders are closed statewide.

GEESE: Dark geese include any combination of cackling/Canada and white-fronted-geese. White geese include snow and Rosss geese.

FALCONRY: A falconry permit is required to take, possess or hunt with an authorized species of raptor. Total combined limits for all migratory game birds taken by falconry are 3 per day, 9 in possession.

UNIT 1C RESTRICTED OR CLOSED AREAS

Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge is closed to hunting, except for waterfowl, snipe and cranes. No person may use any off-road or all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, or other motorized vehicle (except a boat) within the refuge. All waterfowl hunters are required to complete a certified hunter education course. Hunters under 10 may complete a course or hunt under the supervision of an adult. Before hunting in the refuge, all hunters must register with the department and carry proof of registration in the field. Check for local zone closures.

Mendenhall Lake Closed Area is closed to hunting within mile of the Mendenhall Lake, the U.S. Forest Service Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center and the centers parking area.

Auke Lake is closed to the taking of waterfowl.

Firearm Safety Four Rules of Firearm Handling Safety

1. Always control the muzzle of your firearm (point it in a safe direction).

2. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.

3. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. 4. Know your target and what is beyond

(watch for houses, people, roads, etc.)

..for yourself,

..for other hunters,

..and for adjacent homeowners

Addressing Your Comments Hunters can now report successful waterfowl harvest online at

www.hunt.alaska.gov!

Trail improvements continue We are working hard to ensure you have a pleasant hunt on the refuge by

reinforcing muddy trails with wooden walk ways. The Department plans to make access improvements to the refuge at

Sunny Point. Some access points (Industrial Blvd) start on private property before

hunters enter the refuge boundary; the Department cannot make trail improvements on non-State lands.

Maintaining a quality hunt and a refuge experience everyone can enjoy

Please be respectful of private property and other hunters. It just takes a few bad people to ruin a great opportunity for all.

DO NOT litter! Its not only bad for waterfowl and other wildlife but is an eye sore. Please pick up your trash and shells.

Help keep our refuge clean by participating in the annual Southeast Alaska Land trust Wetlands Cleanup each spring (April/May).

http://www.hunt.alaska.gov/

2017 Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge Permit Quiz

You will now be required to complete a short quiz before your 2017 permit will be issued.

The quiz will consist of 10 questions. It is recommended that you have a copy of the latest Alaska

Waterfowl Hunting Regulations available for reference This quiz is intended to highlight waterfowl hunting safety and

regulatory considerations. You must correctly answer 8 of 10 questions to receive a 2017

waterfowl permit. If fewer than 8 questions are answered correctly, you will be required to view the education material again and retest until 8 of 10 questions are answered correctly.

Parents may wish to assist young hunters.

GOOD LUCK & GOOD HUNTING!

Slide Number 1Mendenhall Wetlands Sate Game RefugeSummary InformationSlide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7Refuge Hunting issuesRefuge Hunting IssuesOnline Permit Application OverviewJuneau Area Waterfowl RegulationsRefer to the 2017-2018 Alaska Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations Summary for more information, this is only a portion of the regulations.Firearm SafetyAddressing Your Comments2017 Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge Permit Quiz