Alaska Hunting Dates

Alaska Hunting: Discovering 2025-2026 New Seasons and Top Spots

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Alaska, nicknamed “The Last Frontier,” boasts a majestic wilderness teeming with diverse wildlife and unparalleled hunting opportunities.

However, before embarking on your Alaskan hunting expedition, familiarizing yourself with the latest regulations is crucial. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) meticulously manages wildlife populations to ensure sustainability. Here, we’ll delve into some key regulations you need to know for the 2025 season, followed by top game locations to consider.

Alaska Game Schedule 2025-2026

Here’s a unique, cleanly formatted version of the hunting seasons with short bullet points for high readability:

🦌 Moose Hunting

General Seasons

  • Early: Aug 20 – Sept 17 (Units 11, 12, 20E)
  • Peak: Sept 1 – Sept 25 (most units)
  • Late: Oct – Nov (select permit hunts)

Key Units

  • 20A-F: Registration permits, high success
  • 13: Drawing permits, trophies
  • 19: Harvest tickets available
  • 21-24: Remote, low pressure

Rules

  • Spike-fork or 50″ antlers minimum
  • Brow tine rules vary
  • Meat on bone in some units

🦌 Caribou Hunts

Major Herds

  • Fortymile: Units 20B, 20E, 25C (RC860/RC867 permits)
  • Western Arctic: Units 22, 23, 26 (15-caribou limit)
  • Central Arctic: Unit 26 (Dalton Hwy access)
  • Mulchatna: Units 9, 17, 19 (limited permits)

Seasons

  • Fall: Aug 1 – Sept 30
  • Winter: Oct – Mar (weather-based)
  • Spring: Limited units

🐻 Bear Hunting

Black Bear

  • Season: No closed season (most units)
  • Limit: 3–5/unit
  • Methods: Rifle, bow, bait (allowed areas)
  • Den hunting: Units 19, 21, 24, 25 (residents only)

Brown/Grizzly

  • Coastal: Units 1–10 (trophies)
  • Interior: Units 11–26 (easier access)
  • Limit: 1/4 years OR 1–2/year (varies)
  • Permits: Required in most areas

🐏 Dall Sheep

Prime Units

  • 13: Chugach Range
  • 20: Alaska/White Mts.
  • 23–26: Brooks Range
  • 14: Talkeetna Mts.

Rules

  • Full-curl horns required
  • Seal within 30 days
  • Extreme terrain

🐐 Mountain Goat

Top Units

  • 1–5: Southeast coasts
  • 6–7: Chugach Mts.
  • 8: Kodiak Island
  • 13–15: Southcentral

Season: Aug 1 – Oct 15

Rules

  • No nanny harvest
  • Online ID quiz
  • Rugged terrain

🦫 Furbearers

Lynx

  • Nov 1 – Feb 28
  • Limit: 2
  • Seal within 30 days

Beaver

  • Units 16, 18, 22, 23: No season/limit
  • Units 21A, 21E: Sept 1 – June 10

Wolf

  • Aug 1 – Apr 30
  • Limit: 5–20/unit

Wolverine

  • Sept 1 – Mar 31
  • Limit: 1
  • Seal within 30 days

🐦 Upland Birds

Ptarmigan

  • Willow/Rock/White-tailed
  • Units 1–5: Aug 1 – May 15 (20/day)
  • Units 23, 26: Aug 10 – June 15 (50/day)

Grouse

  • Aug 10 – Mar 31
  • Limits: 5–15/day (varies by unit)

🦆 Waterfowl

General Season

  • Sept 1 – Mar 10 (federal rules)
  • Emperor goose: Closed
  • Youth Days: Early Sept

Swans

  • Permit-only (western units)

🎯 Special Species

Bison

  • Units 11, 13, 19, 20: Draw permits
  • Nonresident limit: 1 lifetime

Muskox

  • Unit 18 (Nunivak Island)
  • Units 22, 23, 26: Subsistence focus

Elk

  • Unit 8: Sept 25 – Nov 30
  • Unit 3: Etolin Island (limited)

🧒 Youth & Special Hunts

  • Extended seasons for youth
  • Disabled hunter proxy options
  • Military discounts

Feral Non-Native Game Birds

Alaska welcomes hunting of various non-native game birds year-round throughout all units (1-26) with no bag limit restrictions. This applies to Chukar, Partridge, Pheasant, Quail, and Turkey.

Unpacking the Latest Alaska Hunting Regulations

The ADF&G meticulously regulates hunting seasons and bag limits to ensure the sustainability of Alaska’s wildlife populations. Staying informed about these regulations is paramount for a responsible and legal game experience. Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect for the season:

  • Focus on Big Game Permits: The application period for many big game hunts, such as moose, caribou, and Dall sheep, typically occurs in December or January of the preceding year. Don’t miss out; ensure you submit your application well within the designated timeframe.
  • Drawing System: Alaska employs a drawing system for certain high-demand hunts. This system provides a fair chance for hunters to secure coveted tags for specific species and regions.
  • Hunting License Requirements: Every hunter in Alaska requires a valid license. Additional permits or tags may be necessary depending on the species you target.
  • ADF&G Website: The ADF&G website (link: Alaska Department of Fish and Game) is a valuable resource for all regulations, licensing information, and downloadable maps

Top Alaskan Hunting Locations to Consider

Alaska boasts a diverse landscape teeming with a variety of game species. Choosing the ideal game location hinges on your target animal and preferred terrain. Here are a few of Alaska’s most sought-after hunting destinations:

  • Interior Alaska: Renowned for its vast caribou herds, roaming bears, and abundant moose populations, Interior Alaska beckons big game hunters. Areas like the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Gates of the Arctic National Park offer unparalleled hunting opportunities.
  • Southcentral Alaska: This region caters to hunters seeking a mix of coastal and mountainous terrain. Kodiak Island, renowned for its giant brown bears, and the Kenai Peninsula, teeming with moose, sheep, and deer, are prime examples.
  • Southeast Alaska: Lush rainforests and a network of islands characterize Southeast Alaska. This region provides a unique opportunity to hunt for Sitka black-tailed deer, mountain goats, and black bears.
RegionNotable Game Species
Interior AlaskaMoose, Caribou, Bear
Southcentral AlaskaBrown Bear, Black Bear, Mountain Goat
Southeast AlaskaSitka Black-Tailed Deer, Waterfowl
Kodiak IslandBrown Bear
Alaska PeninsulaCaribou, Elk, Dall Sheep

Eric Hale
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