Tongass National Forest

Outfitters and Guides

Issue

The number of outfitter guide permits issued on the Tongass National Forest has increased by approximately 75% since 1999. With this increase in demand for new permits several controversies have surfaced; specifically related to brown bear and goat hunting.

Background

The Forest Service prepared a draft environmental impact statement on the potential effects of authorizing commercial outfitting and guiding activities on the shoreline of the Tongass National Forest in northern Southeast Alaska. Five alternatives are analyzed and presented in the EIS.

• Through the Shoreline Outfitter/Guide analysis we are working to manage the recreation setting by regulating the number of commercially guided groups by Use Areas within the shoreline zone. We are not regulating guided recreation use on the saltwater or on non-national forest lands. The Forest Service is trying to balance needs of both guided and unguided visitors by providing recreation opportunities within the ecological capabilities of the forest while maintaining a high quality experience.
• Recreation opportunities are very important to the quality of life for residents.
• Commercial recreation is becoming an increasingly important part of Southeast Alaska’s regional economy, especially in some of the smaller towns as commercial fishing and timber decline in importance.
• Guided recreation affects each of the communities in the study area uniquely.
• The number of guided recreationists has increased approximately three-fold in the last decade but has appeared to level off in the past several years.
• The number of cruise ship passengers visiting Southeast Alaska continues to grow at about a rate of 10% per year, however, few of these people are actually guided on the national forest shoreline zone.
• We found that most of the perceptions of crowding is due to use on the adjacent saltwater. This analysis does not cover saltwater use, it only applies to guided recreation use on National Forest land.
• Once finalized, the Shoreline EIS will allow the Forest Service to make new outfitter guide permit decisions in a comprehensive manner and willl expedite the issuance of new permits.

Current Situation

The final EIS will be released in the spring of 2004. Meanwhile, the current moratoriums on brown bear outfitting permits will remain in affect. Additional goat hunt permits will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The Forest Service is working very closely with the outfitters to find the best alternative to address the issues surrounding brown bear and goat hunting.

More Information

Scott Fitzwilliams, Recreation, Lands, Minerals (907) 747-4236.

Current as of March 2004

USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest Accessibility Statement
Last Modified: November 25, 2007