🏹 Alaska’s 2025-2026 Hunting Calendar: Big Game Seasons, Units & Regulations

Are you planning a wilderness adventure in the Last Frontier? Alaska’s vast landscapes offer some of the most diverse and rewarding game hunting opportunities in North America. From towering moose to elusive ptarmigan, the hunting experience here is truly one-of-a-kind. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about pursuing game in Alaska – including season dates, licensing requirements, and wildlife management zones.

Understanding Alaska’s Hunting Calendar

The great northern territory follows a unique seasonal pattern that hunters should be familiar with. Most excursions begin during late summer and early fall, with the majority of seasons opening in August and September before concluding by October. However, certain areas maintain extended opportunities through winter months, while some species may be available year-round in regions with abundant populations and where subsistence needs are met. The timing of your expedition is crucial – for example, caribou migrate seasonally, making locations that offer excellent hunting in August potentially empty by September! Alaska Department of Fish and Game

AK Hunting Summary Table: Key Species & Seasons 2025-2026

Species	Season Dates	Method	Tags/Permits Required
Moose	Aug 20 – Sept 30 (varies by unit)	Rifle, Bow	Harvest ticket, some permit hunts
Caribou	Aug 1 – Sept 30 (varies by unit)	Rifle, Bow	Harvest ticket, Registration permits
Black Bear	No closed season (most units)	Rifle, Bow	Harvest ticket
Brown/Grizzly Bear	Aug 10 – June 30 (varies)	Rifle, Bow	Registration permit, locking-tag
Dall Sheep	Aug 10 – Sept 20	Rifle, Bow	Harvest ticket
Mountain Goat	Aug 1 – Dec 31 (varies)	Rifle, Bow	Drawing/Registration permits
Turkey	No established seasons	N/A	N/A
Ptarmigan	Aug 10 – May 15 (varies)	Shotgun	None
Grouse	Aug 1 – May 15 (varies)	Shotgun	None

🦌 Big Game: Archery & Rifle

Moose Opportunities 🫎

Alaska’s premier big game species offers excellent opportunities statewide:

General Season Dates:

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

Popular Units:

• Unit 20A-F (Fairbanks area): Registration permits required, excellent success rates
• Unit 13 (Nelchina): Drawing permits, trophy potential
• Unit 19 (McGrath): Harvest tickets and permits available
• Units 21-24: Remote areas with less pressure

Requirements:

• Most areas require spike-fork or 50-inch antlers minimum
• Brow tine restrictions vary by unit
• Meat must remain on bone until transported in some units

Caribou Adventures 🦌

Multiple herds provide diverse opportunities:

Major Herds & Units:

• Fortymile Herd (Units 20B, 20E, 25C): Registration permits RC860/RC867
• Western Arctic Herd (Units 22, 23, 26): Up to 15 caribou with permits
• Central Arctic Herd (Unit 26): Excellent access via Dalton Highway
• Mulchatna Herd (Units 9, 17, 19): Limited permits due to population concerns

Season Structure:

• Fall seasons: Aug 1 – Sept 30 (prime time)
• Winter seasons: Oct – Mar (weather dependent)
• Spring seasons: Limited in select units

Bear Hunting Excellence 🐻

Black Bear (No Closed Season Most Units)

• Bag Limits: 3-5 bears depending on unit
• Methods: Rifle, bow, over bait (permitted areas)
• Special Opportunities: Den hunting in Units 19, 21, 24, 25 (residents only)

Brown/Grizzly Bear 🧸

• Coastal Areas (Units 1-10): World-class trophy potential
• Interior (Units 11-26): Excellent populations, easier access
• Bag Limits: 1 bear every 4 years OR 1-2 bears annually (varies by unit)
• Permits Required: Registration permits in most areas
• Nonresident Guide Required: For brown bear, sheep, and goat

Dall Sheep Mountaineering 🐏

Alaska’s signature mountain species:

Prime Units:

• Unit 13: Chugach Range access
• Unit 20: White Mountains and Alaska Range
• Units 23-26: Brooks Range wilderness
• Unit 14: Talkeetna Mountains

Requirements:

• Full-curl horn restrictions (most units)
• Horns must be sealed within 30 days
• Physical conditioning essential

Mountain Goat Challenges 🐐

Top Destinations:

• Units 1-5: Southeast coastal ranges
• Units 6-7: Chugach Mountains
• Unit 8: Kodiak Island (limited permits)
• Units 13-15: Southcentral access
• Opportunities typically run August 1 – October 15

Special Notes:

• Nanny harvest prohibited in most areas
• Online identification quiz required
• Extremely challenging terrain

🦃 Turkey Season: Spring, Fall, Youth

Current Status: Alaska does not have established wild turkey populations or turkey seasons. The state focuses on native gallinaceous birds like ptarmigan and grouse.

🦫 Furbearers

Lynx 🐱

• Season: Nov 1 – Feb 28 (most units)
• Bag Limit: 2 lynx
• Sealing Required: Within 30 days

Beaver 🦫

• Units 16, 18, 22, 23: No closed season, no limit
• Units 21A, 21E: Sept 1 – June 10
• Other units: Closed to hunting

Wolf 🐺

• Season: Aug 1 – Apr 30 (most units)
• Bag Limits: 5-20 wolves (varies by unit)
• Methods: Rifle, bow, some same-day airborne restrictions

Wolverine

• Season: Sept 1 – Mar 31 (most units)
• Bag Limit: 1 wolverine
• Sealing Required: Within 30 days

🐦 Upland Birds

Ptarmigan Paradise

Three Species Available:

• Willow Ptarmigan: Largest, open country
• Rock Ptarmigan: High alpine areas
• White-tailed Ptarmigan: Limited to specific mountain ranges

Seasons & Limits:

• Units 1-5: 20/day, 40 possession (Aug 1 – May 15)
• Units 23, 26: 50/day, 100 possession (Aug 10 – June 15)
• Most other units: 10-25/day (Aug 10 – Mar 31)

Grouse Hunting 🐦

Grouse species including Ruffed, Spruce, and Sharp-tailed varieties share similar August 10 – March 31 opportunities with 15 daily bag limits and 30 possession limits.

Species Include:

• Spruce Grouse: Boreal forests statewide
• Ruffed Grouse: Deciduous areas
• Sharp-tailed Grouse: Limited to Unit 20D
• Sooty Grouse: Southeast coastal

Bag Limits:

• Units 1-6: 5/day, 10 possession
• Units 9, 17-19, 21-24, 26: 15/day, 30 possession
• Units 7, 15: 10/day, 20 possession

🐾 Upland Animals

Snowshoe Hare 🐰

• Season: No closed season (most units)
• Bag Limit: No limit
• Requirements: Must salvage hide or meat

Alaska Hare

• Units 9, 17: 1/day, 4 total (Nov 1 – Jan 31)
• Units 18, 22, 23: 2/day, 6 total (Aug 1 – May 31)
• Requirements: Must salvage hide or meat

🐦 Other Small Game

Species	Units	Season	Bag Limit
Squirrel (all types)	1-26	No closed season	No limit
Porcupine	1-26	No closed season	No limit
Pika	12, 20E	No closed season	No limit
Crow	1-9, 15	Sept 1-Nov 17, Mar 1-Apr 15	5/day
Marmot		Aug 10 – May 31	5

🦆 Migratory Birds

Important Note: Migratory bird seasons are set by federal regulations and published separately in mid-August. These include:

Waterfowl Seasons

• Ducks: Various species with specific seasons
• Geese: Canada, snow, white-fronted, and brant geese
• Swans: Tundra swan by permit only
• Requirements: Federal duck stamp, state waterfowl stamp

Other Migratory Birds

• Sandhill Crane: Sept hunting in select units
• Snipe: Fall seasons align with waterfowl
• Mourning Dove: Limited populations, check regulations

🦆 Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese

• General Season: Sept 1 – Mar 10 (federal framework).
  • Special note: Emperor goose harvest is closed statewide.
• Subsistence Harvest: Apr 2 – Aug 31 for eligible rural communities

Season Structure (Federal regulations apply):

• Early Seasons: September dates vary by zone
• Late Seasons: October through January
• Youth Days: Special early seasons for hunters under 16

Popular Areas:

• Copper River Delta: World-class waterfowl hunting
• Minto Flats: Excellent duck and goose populations
• Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta: Remote but productive
• Cook Inlet: Accessible waterfowl opportunities

Others

• Scaup & Mergansers: Follow general duck dates.
• Swans: Permit-only in designated units.

🦢 Other Waterfowls

Tundra Swans

• Season: By drawing permit only
• Units: Limited areas in western Alaska
• Requirements: Special permit, federal stamps

Sea Ducks

• Common Eider: Coastal areas
• King Eider: Arctic coast
• Scoters: Various species coastally
• Requirements: Follow federal migratory bird regulations

🎯 More Games & Additional Opportunities

Bison (Limited Opportunities)

• Units 11, 13, 19, 20: Drawing permits only
• Delta Junction Herd: Most accessible
• Nonresident Lifetime Limit: One bison only

Muskox

• Nunivak Island (Unit 18): Premier destination
• North Slope (Units 22, 23, 26): Subsistence hunts primarily
• Requirements: Expensive tags, challenging conditions

Elk (Limited)

• Unit 8: Afognak and Raspberry Islands
• Unit 3: Etolin Island (very limited)
• Requirements: Drawing permits, island access needed
• Elk on Kodiak Island offer September 25 – November 30 opportunities

Deleterious Exotic Wildlife

No Closed Season, No Limit:

• Belgian Hare
• English Sparrow
• European Starling
• Rock Dove (pigeons)
• Feral swine (if present)

Special Opportunities

Youth Hunts 🧒

Many units offer special youth-only seasons with:

• Extended seasons
• Reduced competition
• Educational opportunities
• Adult supervision required

Disabled Hunter Provisions

• Proxy hunting available
• Special access permits
• Modified seasons in some units

Military Provisions

• Reduced fees for active duty
• Special permit transfer options
• Deployment considerations

Alaska Hunting Zones Map 🗺️

Alaska is divided into 26 Game Management Units (GMUs), often further subdivided into smaller units. Each unit has specific regulations regarding seasons, bag limits, and hunting methods. Hunters should carefully review the regulations for their intended hunting area.

For detailed maps of Alaska’s hunting zones, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Map Portal.

License Requirements 🎟️

Resident Licenses

• Annual Hunting License: $45
• Hunting & Fishing Combo: $60
• Youth (under 18): $5
• Senior (60+): $5

Non-Resident Licenses

• Annual Hunting License: $160
• 7-Day Hunting License: $80
• Small Game Only License: $60

Required Tags (Non-Residents)

• Brown/Grizzly Bear: $1,000
• Black Bear: $450
• Moose: $800
• Caribou: $650
• Dall Sheep: $850
• Mountain Goat: $600
• Deer: $300

Resident Alaskans need harvest tickets for most big game species, which are free with license purchase. Additional drawing or registration permits may be required for certain hunts. Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Frequently Asked Questions 🤔

Q: Do I need a guide to hunt in Alaska?

A: Non-residents must have a guide for brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep, and mountain goat hunts. Other species can be hunted without a guide, though guides are recommended for unfamiliar terrain.

Q: What public lands can I hunt on in Alaska?

A: Alaska offers millions of acres of public lands open to hunting, including state lands, BLM lands, national forests, and some national wildlife refuges. Always check local regulations.

Q: Is night hunting permitted in Alaska?

A: Generally, no. Hunting is typically restricted to daylight hours, though specific regulations vary by species and area.

Q: How early should I apply for drawing hunts?

A: Applications for drawing hunts are accepted from November 1 to mid-December for the following regulatory year. Plan well in advance!

Q: Can I hunt year-round in Alaska?

A: Some species like snowshoe hare and certain squirrels can be hunted year-round, but most game animals have specific seasons.

Related Resources

• Montana Hunting Seasons
• Wyoming Hunting Seasons

Prepare for Your Alaska Wilderness Adventure

The Last Frontier offers truly extraordinary opportunities for sportsmen and sportswomen seeking authentic wilderness experiences. From the coastal rainforests of Southeast Alaska to the vast tundra of the Arctic, each region presents unique wildlife, terrain, and challenges.

Before embarking on your expedition, thoroughly research your target species, familiarize yourself with the regulations governing your specific hunting zone, and prepare for Alaska’s notoriously unpredictable weather conditions. The wilderness may be challenging, but proper preparation ensures both safety and an increased chance of success.

Remember that in Alaska, hunting isn’t just about the pursuit—it’s about respecting the land, honoring the wildlife that inhabits it, and participating in a tradition that connects you to the natural world in ways few other experiences can. Whether you’re a seasoned wilderness veteran or planning your first northern adventure, Alaska’s wild spaces await.

Sources: Alaska Department of Fish and Game Regulations ADF&G Hunting Main Page