Fort WW training lands available for outdoor rec Published Aug. 22, 2007 By Keneth J. Steinnerd Fort Wainwright Environmental Natural Resource specialist FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- With the arrival of the fall hunting seasons it is a good time to welcome you to use Alaska Army training lands for your outdoor recreation. We would like to take this opportunity to inform you of a few safety requirements before you enter training lands. From time to time the Army has to close an area to all recreation to meet its first need to train its soldiers. This August and September some training areas will be closed to accommodate military training. In the Yukon Training Area the AFTAC area and Stuart Creek Impact areas are permanently closed to all recreation. Impact areas contain live ordnance and are too dangerous to enter. Training Area 2 is open is open to recreation south of Quarry Road. Training Area 3, north of Beaver Creek Road is open to recreation. Access to the Yukon Training Area along Johnson Road, Quarry Road and Brigadier Road will be limited from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30. The Tanana Flats Training Area will be open with the exception of permanent closures in the Alpha and Blair Lakes Impact Areas. The Small Arms Range Complex, south of the Richardson Highway and north of the Tanana River is also permanently closed to all forms of recreation due to ongoing live-fire exercises and the presence of live ordnance. In the Donnelly Training Area, a portion of 33-Mile Loop East 1 area is open south of String Lake. Winter Trail West 1, Delta Assault West 3, Other West 4 and Bennet Strip West 2 are open to recreation. Some access routes may be closed due to construction and live-fire support operations. Prior to entering training lands for recreation the Army requires everyone 16 years of age or older to obtain a recreation access permit. This permit is free and can be obtained at the visitor's center, at the main gate of Fort Wainwright. Before entering training lands you must also check-in by calling the U.S. Army Alaska Recreation Tracking System phone in system. USARTRAK is a convenient and easy to use check-in phone system that provides information and advisements on training land closures or other information relating to using training lands. Information about USARTRAK will be provided to you when you obtain your recreation access permit. The Army will also provide a printed outdoor recreation regulation supplement which describes in detail Army regulations relating to outdoor recreation in training lands. The USARTRAK phone number for the Fairbanks and Eielson areas is 353-3181, and Delta Junction 873-3181. Calling and checking in on USARTRAK is required prior to entering military training lands and the only means to learn if an area is open to recreation. Unexploded military ordnance may be found anywhere within the boundaries of the military reservations. If you come across an item you believe may be live ordnance do not touch or handle it in any way. Flag and if possible, use global positioning system to track the location and contact the Provost Marshal Office at 353-7535 or Range Control at 353-1266. All hunters on Army lands nationwide must have a National Rifle Association or equivalent hunter education safety card. Cards issued by any of the 50 states are valid. Bow hunters must have a state issued International Bow Hunting Education Proficiency Card. Army lands are open to all users on an equal basis when training is not occurring. No permanent structures including tent frames or tree stands are allowed. Please remove all of your equipment and trash when leaving the field. Fort Wainwright Conservation Officers, Army Natural Resources Personnel and Alaska State Troopers will be in the field to support hunters and enforce applicable regulations and laws. If you need assistance, have a question, or wish to report a violation please do not hesitate to contact a supporting agency. Maps of the areas open for recreation and those portions closed for training will be posted at www.wainwright.army.mil, http://www.usarak.army.mil/pao/images/05-maps.swf and on the website for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at www.wildlife.alaska.gov/gis/index.cfm. We hope you have an excellent outdoor recreation experience on Army training lands. If you have any questions please call the Fort Wainwright Army Conservation Officers at 361-7692, Fort Wainwright Natural Resources at 361-6490, or the Public Affairs Officer at 384-1542. Have a safe and enjoyable outing.