Seward Peninsula Muskox Census, 2005

The Seward Peninsula Muskox Cooperators Group was formed to help guide muskox management on the Seward Peninsula and to avoid user conflicts. Member groups include the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bering Straits Native Corporation, Kawerak Inc., Reindeer Herders Association, Northwest Alaska Native Association, residents of the Seward Peninsula, and representatives of other interested groups. The Seward Peninsula Cooperative Muskox Management Plan, finalized in 1994, outlined management goals developed by the Group. The first hunt, during which 15 bulls were harvested, occurred in 1995 and involved only subunits 22D, 22E, and 23SW.

One of the management goals highlighted in the plan is to conduct a complete census of the entire Seward Peninsula (GMU 22 [except 22A-South and portions of the Nulato Hills that drain east] and the southwest portion of GMU 23) every 2 years. This census has been conducted in March and April by the cooperators every 2 years from 1992 to 2002. It was decided then to conduct the survey every 3 years because of expanding populations and a desire to reduce costs. The results presented here are for the entire census cooperatively conducted by numerous members of the group and compiled by the ADF&G.