| Alaska is a big state with a big reputation to | | | | Nonresident aliens (someone who is not a resident |
| uphold when it comes to big game hunting. With | | | | of Alaska NOR a US citizen) must have a guide |
| 350,000,000 acres, Alaska alone is one-fifth the | | | | for hunting all species of big game. |
| size of the entire United States, making finding | | | | SOME PLACES TO FIND A GUIDE |
| and taking big game a challenge. Hunting in Alaska | | | | -References. Ask friends, colleagues, |
| offers many challenges that hunting in the lower | | | | acquaintances about their experiences. |
| 48 does not - lower game density, seasonal | | | | -Trade shows in the lower 48 during the winter. |
| movement of game and the distances of | | | | Many guide services are represented at these |
| movement. Careful consideration of seasons and | | | | shows. Ask them for references and follow up on |
| species is the key to a successful trip. The Alaska | | | | the references offered. |
| Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife | | | | -Advertising sections in the back of outdoor |
| Conservation have put together a "Plan Your Hunt | | | | magazines. |
| Workbook" that is available on their website as a | | | | -Web sites. |
| downloadable PDF. This document encourages you | | | | -Obtain a list of big game guide-outfitters that |
| to think your adventure through, then gives you | | | | provide services for a particular species. This is |
| the tools to organize and choose the options to | | | | available from ADF&G, Wildlife Conservation |
| make the most of your trip whether this is a | | | | (907-465-2376). |
| guided adventure or a lone venture. | | | | ALASKA HUNTING LICENSES |
| Below is additional information essential to the | | | | Licenses, big game tags, duck stamps and hunting |
| success of your trip: | | | | permits are available from the Alaska Department |
| TYPES OF HUNTS | | | | of Fish and Game, Wildlife Conservation and are |
| In Alaska, there are two types of hunts: | | | | obtainable online. Purchase ahead of time and bring |
| - General season hunts - the type of hunts most | | | | them with you. Licenses are good from the date |
| people are familiar with. Purchase a license, get | | | | of purchase through December 31 of the license |
| tags or harvest tickets for big game, and follow | | | | year. Big game tags are necessary for |
| the general season dates and bags limits. | | | | nonresidents if you plan to hunt brown/grizzly |
| - Permit hunts - Harvest is restricted by permit | | | | bear, black bear, bison, caribou, deer, elk, goat, |
| when hunter demand is higher than game | | | | moose, bull musk ox, sheep, wolf or wolverine. |
| population can sustain. | | | | HUNTING SEASONS |
| Three kinds of permit hunts | | | | Alaska's 350,000,000 acres are broken up into 26 |
| 1. Drawing hunts | | | | Game Management Units (GMUs). Each unit sets |
| -Available to residents and nonresidents | | | | its own seasons for the various species of big |
| -Require an application fee and awarded by | | | | game. A map of these units and the regulations |
| lottery | | | | pertaining to them can be found on the web. Click |
| -Two lotteries each year - winter and spring | | | | on the GMU of interest and a document defining |
| -ADF&G publishes supplements outlining hunt | | | | the seasons will open. A complete copy of the |
| opportunities and hunt boundaries | | | | Alaska Hunting Regulations can also be |
| 2. Registration hunts | | | | downloaded at the ADF&G site. |
| -Most available to residents and nonresidents | | | | A general calendar for hunting seasons is as |
| -Generally do not limit the number of registrations | | | | follows: |
| -Seasons are closed by emergency order is | | | | April - Most spring bear seasons open |
| harvest quota is met | | | | May - Many spring bear seasons close |
| 3. Tier II hunts | | | | August - Some Dall sheep, caribou, deer, and |
| -Subsistence hunts available only to residents | | | | moose seasons open. |
| Details for permit hunts are available on the | | | | September - Most fall seasons open, include |
| ADF&G web site | | | | moose |
| FINDING A GUIDE SERVICE | | | | November - Some last winter moose hunts open |
| A nonresident who hunts brown/grizzly bear, Dall | | | | OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST |
| sheep, or mountain goat must be accompanied by | | | | If you are a nonresident alien (meaning you are |
| a licensed guide OR by an Alaska resident over 19 | | | | not a resident of Alaska NOR a U.S. citizen, some |
| years of age who is within the "second degree of | | | | restrictions exist on bringing your own gun into |
| kindred" (which means a father, mother, brother, | | | | Alaska. Regulations require a filled out form and a |
| sister, son, daughter, spouse, grandparent, | | | | hunting license. Details are available from The U.S. |
| grandchild, brother- or sister-in-law, son- or | | | | Department of Justice/Bureau of Alcohol, |
| daughter-in-law, father- or mother-in-law, | | | | Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) at |
| stepfather, stepmother, stepsister, stepbrother, | | | | 202-927-8320 or from their website. |
| stepson, or stepdaughter who ARE residents). | | | | |