Southern Lakes Moose Working Group
Wheaton Valley Rest Area
Yaat G̱alsaa — Let this area rest
Pausing moose hunting supports population growth. Reducing disturbance gives moose space to rest and recover.
REST AREA AT A GLANCE
2025–2030
The Rest Area will be in effect from 2025 to 2030.
What is a Rest Area?
Rest Areas honour a traditional approach to conserving wildlife: leaving an area undisturbed so animals can recover for the future.
Charlie James, a Carcross/Tagish First Nation Elder, explains how Rest Areas were used:
“So they divided the trapline in four pieces or four quadrants you might say, and they always maintained that one area was going to be left for seed. You cannot hunt there. They did their best, they were committed not to use that one area. They would move it around, but they would always have that one area that was just strictly for seed.”
Charlie James · C/TFN Elder
Where is the Rest Area?
Use the map to locate the Wheaton Valley Rest Area. The yellow shading identifies the Rest Area; hatched areas identify First Nation Settlement Land.
Open the full map (PDF) ↗PDF · 5 MB
Wheaton Valley Rest Area · Select the map to open the PDF.
Who is affected and how can you help?
Everyone can help give moose a chance to recover. Follow the guidance for your activities in the Rest Area.
Moose hunters
No moose hunting. Carcross/Tagish First Nation and Kwanlin Dün First Nation respectfully ask their beneficiaries to hunt moose elsewhere until the Rest Area is lifted.
No resident or non-resident moose hunting permits are available for this area.
Motorized vehicle users
Minimize motorized vehicle use in important habitats and during the post-rut period.
- Avoid motorized vehicle use in subalpine areas between October 1 and December 30.
- Stay on main trails, especially in riparian areas and shrub-dominated land cover, and during winter. An expanded winter snow machine trail network can increase the hunting success of wolves.
Local trappers
Local trappers are encouraged to harvest wolves in the area.
Recreators
Respect the land, water and wildlife by minimizing disturbance.
Why is the Rest Area needed?
Giving moose a chance to recover
The moose population has been slowly recovering since high harvest and predation caused population decline in the 1980s. Moose surveys in 2021 showed that the Wheaton population is still lower than neighbouring areas.
Reducing pressure on habitat
The Wheaton faces added pressures from recreation, development and hunting because of its ease of access. First Nation Land Guardians and residents have observed that human activity is forcing moose from important areas, reducing the habitat available to them.
By letting the Wheaton Valley rest, we are giving moose a chance to recover and ensuring there will be enough for future generations.
This is about more than moose
This Rest Area is about honouring the animals, respecting the land and implementing traditional practices.
We invite everyone—citizens, neighbours and visitors—to join us in this shared responsibility.
Who made this decision?
The Southern Lakes Moose Co-Management Working Group recommended the Wheaton Valley Rest Area in 2025.
Carcross/Tagish First Nation · Kwanlin Dün First Nation · Carcross/Tagish Renewable Resources Council · Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board