1. Objective

The harvest strategy is designed to complement and fulfil the management objective of the plan which is to maintain herd growth at no more than 8% annually until a population of 500 is reached when annual growth will be maintained at 0% thereafter, unless otherwise indicated following review of the ecosystem impact study.

2. Guidelines

Harvesting bison will be conducted according to the following basic guidelines:

• Bison in the vicinity of any major Yukon highway will be dealt with according to the Highway Contingency Plan.
• No bison hunting in the Bison Viewing Zone.
• Hunting will be focused in areas where bison are deemed a problem to local residents.
• Hunting will also be focused in areas with potential for competition with moose and caribou.
• No bison will be permitted to remain in the Buffer Zone between Yukon and Alaska.

3. Annual Harvest Program

Unlike the harvest of other wildlife in the Yukon, the following program is designed to ensure that the required numbers of animals are taken in appropriate regions of the herd's range. Failure to do so could seriously hamper effective control of the herd's size and its impacts on the ecosystem.

The annual harvest will be recommended to the Minister based on a meeting of technical representatives from governments that have a harvest allocation. The annual harvest will be based on a review of:

• Annual population count
• Calf survival
• Mortality (accidents, predation)
• Last year's harvest
• Herd distribution
• Guidelines for what sex/age animals should be harvested and where
• Need to distribute the harvest
• Location of problem bison
• Number of bison removed as "problem" bison
• Population goals for the herd

The total annual harvest for the upcoming year will be assigned to governments according to the allocation formula. The harvest will also be targeted in specific regions of the herd's ranges. Administration of the harvest will be by "permit hunt" as follows:

• Harvests will be recorded from June 1 to the following May 31 (subject to reassessment)
• Regular hunting season: any bison November 1 to March 31 (subject to reassessment)
• Number of permits issued will be related to harvest allotment and allocation
• Compulsory hunter attendance at information session prior to hunting
• Compulsory harvest report after hunt
• Conditions in permit will direct hunters to specific areas and ensure a safe, efficient harvest
• Hunters may indicate willingness to harvest bison after season closure and would be contacted if removal of problem bison was required.

4. Highway Contingency Plan

The following protocol will be undertaken upon notification of the Yukon government Renewable Resources department that bison are located near a major Yukon highway:

• A Conservation Officer will immediately verify the report
• For the period of 2-3 days after verification of the presence of bison near the highway, the following response will be made:
  1. If the harvest allotment for the year has not been filled, the Conservation Officer will notify certain hunters who have indicated an interest in hunting after the regular season and they will harvest the bison under the Conservation Officer's supervision
  2. If the harvest allotment has already been filled for the year, attempts will be made to deter bison immediately following verification of their presence near the highway.
• if, after 2-3 days, the bison cannot be deterred from the highway:
  1. Hunters will be contacted to dispose of male bison which will be taken off the following year's allotment.
  2. Attempts will be made to capture female bison until either success is met or the Conservation Officer determines that capture is not likely, at which time the Officer will contact the Department of Renewable Resources for further direction on whether to continue capture efforts or to dispose of the animals.

5. Harvest Allocation

The annual harvest allotment will be allocated on an annual basis according to a formula determined by the Minister of Renewable Resources.