Movements and Distribution of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd Across the Buckland Valley and Nulato Hills, Winter of 1987-88

Movements and distribution of Western Arctic Herd (WAH) caribou (Rangifer tarandus grand) were monitored in the Buckland Valley and Nulato Hills by personnel from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) during the 1987-88 winter. This undertaking was part of a much larger multi-agency project, including participation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Park Service (NPS). Locations of reindeer (R.t. tarandusi in Merlin Henry's allotment were also noted whenever possible. This report summarizes caribou movements across the Buckland Valley and Nulato Hills, and fulfills partial implementation of the Buckland Valley Habitat Management Plan (HMP) (Adams 1982). Results from previous caribou surveys for this area were reported by Adams and Connery (1983), Smith (1984, 1985), Smith and Machida (1986), and Robinson and Field (1987). Funding was provided by each agency for its respective share of the accomplished work.

Objectives of this project are (1) to document seasonal migration patterns and winter range of WAH caribou in the Buckland Valley and Nulato Hills and (2) to make available for public inquiry timely information concerning caribou distribution and movements.