Concern over lake trout stocks is prompting another round of proposals for tighter fishing restrictions on lakes in southern Yukon that have campgrounds.

Environment Yukon is seeking reductions in catch and retention limits for Kusawa, Fox, Frenchman and Twin lakes.

The call for tighter restrictions was released Thursday. It was among 15 proposed changes to fishing and hunting regulations the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board is now circulating for public input.

Yukoners have until Nov. 27 to comment on the 15 proposals, most of which have been advanced by the Yukon government.

The Whitehorse Archery Club, on the other hand, is seeking a regulation change that would allow bow hunters to hunt bison.

There are a handful of regulation proposals aimed at creating more hunting opportunities on the expanding bison population which are well above the desired level established by the bison advisory team.

Environment Yukon is also seeking a formal regulation that clearly states the use of drones is not allowed for hunting, just as hunters are not allowed to stalk an animal within 48 hours of spotting it from an aircraft.

Proposed changes to wildlife regulations are released every fall by the management board after it’s had an opportunity to review the various proposals submitted by the June deadline.

Following the public input, the board forwards a recommendation to the Environment minister regarding whether the changes should be made, not made or looked at further.

A public meeting in Whitehorse to discuss the proposals has been scheduled for Nov. 17, the board announced Thursday.

In advancing a call for tighter fishing restrictions, Environment Yukon has raised a red flag regarding fishing pressure on the four popular lakes that is rising along with campground use and easy access for anglers.

In general terms, the department points out, there were approximately 25,000 overnight stays at Yukon campgrounds in 2007.

By 2013, the number had jumped to 35,000, Environment Yukon indicates in its case for tighter restrictions.

With more campers comes more fishing pressure, it suggests, and more fishing pressure leads to a higher harvest and declining trout stocks.

For Fox Lake, the government is recommending the lake be taken off the list of general waters and designated as a special management lake.

Under the proposed regulation changes, the daily catch limit for lake trout on Fox Lake would fall from three to one. The possession limit would drop from six to one.

Currently, of the six trout anglers are permitted to have in their possession, only one can be longer than 65 centimetres.

Under the proposal, anglers would not be allowed to keep any trout longer than 65 inches.

The special management designation for Fox Lake would also decrease catch, possession and size limits for Arctic grayling and northern pike, and it would require anglers to use barbless hooks.

Similar adjustments are being recommended for Kusawa, Frenchman and Twin lakes.

Environment Yukon and the wildlife management board went through the same exercise in 2013 for the Snafu, Tarfu, Pine and Jackson lakes, resulting in regulation changes announced earlier this year.

Among the 15 proposals is a recommendation to raise the fees for moose and caribou tags from $5 to $10, to keep them in line with other fees for big game tags.

As part of the recommendation, the Yukon government has agreed to look for a way to divert the additional revenue to the wildlife enhancement trust fund.

There is a proposal from Environment Yukon to re-classify five game management sub-zones west of Whitehorse from open for sheep hunting to sub-zones requiring a permit.

It’s recommended ATVs be permitted for the retrieval of harvested bison in certain areas, but only for retrieval, as it can be difficult to bring meat out of the bush by snowmobile when snow levels are low early in the season.

There’s a recommendation from the Yukon Fish and Game Association to re-open moose hunting in an area northwest of Carmacks.

The four sub-zones were closed in 1989, when the moose density was at a troubling 50 moose per 1,000 square kilometres.

A 2007 census by Environment Yukon estimated the density at 129 moose per 1,000 square kilometres.

“A permit hunt for this area can be developed that would enable a controlled hunt that can be carefully managed within the sustainable harvest level for this population of moose,” says the recommendation.

Of the 15 proposed changes to regulations, Environment Yukon has advanced 12 on its own or in partnership with the wildlife management board.