Alaska Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Alaska Game Hunting

There are several hunting opportunities in Alaska, some of which are not available in other parts of the United States. The games are spread out across the entire state. Depending on the season or month of the year, there are different hunting chances for everyone, including children. Alaska is endowed with both big and small game, making it one of the ideal states for hunters across the country.

Hunting regulations in Alaska

Alaska has many regulations, including limits and other legislation, that all hunters in the state must follow. The following are provisions of the law:

While hunting in the state, you are not permitted to discharge a firearm from a highway, motorway, or constructed road.
Alaska hunting regulations ban herding, harassing, or utilizing vehicles such as aircraft, motorboats, and airboats to disturb game. There are a few exceptions to this rule.
Motor-driven boats and land vehicles are not permitted unless they have been turned off. There are other exceptions for using these vehicles to hunt wolves after obtaining a permit from the state’s hunting department. Caribou can also be hunted using motorized boats.
You can also use snow machines to hunt caribou, wolves, and bears, and the state allows you to shoot a caribou with a rifle from a parked snow machine. A snow machine can also aid in the capture of a caribou. However, it must be at least 300 yards away from the game, the vehicle must not exceed 15 miles per hour, and it must not be operated in such a way that the animal flees. In the same way that a caribou can use a snow machine to hunt bears and wolves in the state,
The use of devices such as electric tasers to weaken game or wildlife prior to shooting is prohibited in Alaska. There may be exceptions if you have permission from the Alaska hunting and game departments.
Without the authority of the Alaska Board of Game or the fish and Game Department, the use of poison or similar agents to disable or incapacitate wildlife and games is prohibited.
The law forbids archery hunters from using any form of bow that fires more than one arrow in a single shot.
The use of firearms such as shotguns, machine guns, and set guns with gauges greater than 10 gauges is prohibited by the Alaska Fish and Game Department.
In Alaska, hunters are not permitted to chase running game or wildlife with any sort of vehicle.
A helicopter or any other sort of aircraft cannot be used to carry yourself for hunting, shoot at games, transport captured games, or transfer hunting equipment, instruments, or gear. The use of aircraft to rescue hunters in perilous situations where lives are at stake is an exception to this rule.
Crossbows are not permitted for use in games in Alaska, and hunting is restricted to arrows and bows. However, you may be permitted to use a crossbow for hunting activities where the use of weapons is not restricted.
It is illegal to use fire, pits, night vision instruments, a remotely operated instrument, airborne device, infrared equipment, laser vision, cameras for locating games, sensory instruments to communicate wirelessly, or chemicals to hunt or lure games for hunting. Except for moose, this legislation allows for the use of electronically generated calls for all animals and games.
It is also illegal to use the urine and odors of game animals as lures. Moose, reindeer, and caribou are among the creatures protected under this law.
Before 3 a.m., it is forbidden to use wireless communication or another device for a similar purpose, such as to hunt wildlife or play games. In Alaska, hunting with a communication device is only permitted for safety and security purposes, not for animal capture. There are, however, exceptions for finding and hunting bison. In addition, for moose hunting, the use of ground-based wireless devices to locate and hunt moose is permitted.
There is also a ban on using simulated or artificial lighting. There is an exemption to this rule for lights used to track injured players. Artificial lights from automobiles, on the other hand, are not permitted to track injured animals. There are other exceptions for resident hunters in the state who can use artificial light to hunt or capture black bears.
It is illegal to use traps and snares to hunt or catch fur and big wildlife. The use of traps and snares to hunt animals such as hares and grouses is an exception to this rule.
It is unlawful to intentionally feed bears, elks, wolves, foxes, and other similar creatures human meals, animal feeds, or any other form of supplement in order to attract these games and wildlife. Wolverines, foxes, and wolves are exempt, with only specified foods permitted for baiting. Using any other form of bait except these specific ones is prohibited under wildlife feeding restrictions.
You are not permitted to hunt near streams or other bodies of water while wearing foot gear made of fibers or textures that absorb water.

Alaska Hunting Licenses, Tags, and Permits

The Alaska Fish and Game Department provides hunters with a variety of licenses, tags, and permits. Among them are the following:

Locking Tags for Large Game

This hunting tag is designed specifically for nonresident Alaskans who want to pursue big game. Alaska offers a number of hunting tags, and non-resident hunters must buy the ones for the game they want to hunt. The tag will be applied to the animal as soon as the hunter captures it and will remain on it throughout the processing and exportation of the animal from the state. Some resident hunters may require a hunting tag in addition to an Alabama hunting license issued by the state to take specified game. Brown bears and muskox are two big game species for which resident hunters require tags.

Stamps of Waterfowl

To shoot waterfowl in Alaska, hunters must have both a federal duck stamp and an Alaska duck stamp. Hunters will also be required to undergo a harvest information program and provide proof of completion. Furthermore, several areas of the state demand permission before catching or hunting waterfowl in their region.

Permits for drawing

Every year, from November to December, you can apply for a hunting permit. The permit is available to Alaska citizens, while non-residents can obtain it through a lottery run by the Alaska Board of Games.

Permits for Registration

Registration permission is required to participate in registration hunts. It is available to residents as well as Alaskan nonresident hunters.

Permits by Tier

Tier permits are necessary in Alaska for subsistence hunting. Tier I and Tier II permits are available, and only citizens of the state can apply for them. To apply, you must be at least 10 years old.

A small game allows

Although hunting small game does not require a permit in most areas of the state, some areas of Alaska still require a permit to hunt small game under their authority.

Season tickets in general

To hunt and purchase big game in the state during the regular season, hunters will need to purchase tickets, tags, licenses, and permits. All hunters must adhere to the specified dates of the season as well as the bag limits for the games.

Permits for target hunting

Target hunting in the state reduces the number of animal and car accidents. Residents of the state will be authorized to kill and catch animals that pose a threat to the general population or are predicted to die as a result of wounds and injuries.

Permits for Auction

In 1997, Alaska’s fish and game agency began auctioning off big game hunting permits. They use a raffle mechanism, and only the most deserving applicants will receive this auction authorization.

Alaska Fishing License, Tags, and Permits

In Alaska, fishing licenses are classified as follows:

Sport Fishing Permit

Citizens of Alaska who are 18 years old or older, as well as citizens of other states who are 16 years old or older, must have an Alaska sport fishing license before participating in fishing sports or other fisheries activities in the state. This license is the same whether the sport is performed in fresh or salt water. Sport fishing licenses can be purchased online through the State Department of fishing and game or at fish and game retailers.

Alaska residents aged 60 and up, as well as disabled veterans, are permitted to participate in fish sports even without a license. However, they must have a valid Alaska identity card.

A king salmon stamp is required to catch king salmon. However, citizens under the age of 18 who have a state identity card and non-residents under the age of 16 are excluded.

Fishing License for Subsistence and Personal Use

This permit is only valid for Alaska residents who wish to fish for personal or subsistence purposes. Subsistence and personal fishing rules differ in Alaska. A resident who already has a sport fishing license may utilize it in the state for personal fishing. However, sport fishing licenses are not valid for subsistence fisheries in Alaska.

The following are some things you should know about subsistence and personal use licenses in the state:

Permits from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are required for certain subsistence and personal-use fisheries.
Some Alaskan water bodies are confined to personal usage and subsistence fishing.
The federal government manages and oversees the halibut subsistence fishery.
Some fish species have their own seasons, fishing gear, and bag limits.
Contact the nearest Alaska Department of Fish and Game office for subsistence or personal use fishing for shellfish or fish harvesting.

Commercial Permits

The commercial fishing business in Alaska is one of the most important components of the state’s and nation’s economies, which is why it is heavily regulated. To maintain the sustainability of the resources, Alaska oversees the commercial fisheries through licensing and reporting. There are numerous commercial fishing agencies in Alaska, so it is critical that you contact the correct agency to secure the correct license for your fishing operation.

Wildlife, Game, and Fish in Alaska

Although there are numerous areas of the state where you can hunt multiple species at the same time, the chances of an excellent hunting session with multiple species in a specific location of the state are quite rare. This is why it is critical to be familiar with the state’s major games.

Alaska has more big-game hunting opportunities than any other state in the United States. Because most of these large game areas overlap, multi-hunting is a viable option.

The following are some of the most popular Alaska games:

Hunting for Alaska bison

In Alaska, there are two types of bison: huge timber bison and plains bison. Bison are the state’s largest wildlife and big game hunting species. Alaska grants hunting permits and licenses for these species. However, there are rare exclusions for a few private herds on Kodiak Island. Farmers own these grounds and will charge hunters a fee before allowing them to capture animals.

Black bear hunting in Alaska

Black bears are widely distributed throughout Alaska, with only roughly 5 regions devoid of them. Because of their availability, they are a game for both the spring and fall seasons. The spot-and-stalk approach is one of the most prevalent ways used by Alaskan hunters to capture black bears. Bears are also hunted at bait stations, but hunters must observe certain rules before baiting them.

Brown Bear Hunting in Alaska

Brown bears grow larger than black bears. However, in terms of laws, bag limits, and hunting season in some zones, the Alaska Fish and Game Department makes no distinction between the two sorts of bears. Brown bears, on the other hand, can be taken with archery, muzzleloaders, and rifles. The state forbids the capture of cubs and discourages hunters from killing sows.

Caribou hunting in Alaska

Caribou is one of the state’s most exciting large game species to hunt. because they are naturally herd animals and wanderers. They wander thousands of miles per year between the winter and summer ranges. This means that caribou hunting in Alaska is not restricted to specific regions.

Dall Sheep Hunting in Alaska

Sheep are widely distributed throughout Alaska, particularly in mountainous areas. The Southeast and the Alaska Peninsula are the sole outliers. The Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska Range, Kenai Mountains, Wrangell Mountains, Brooks Range, and other areas in the state are known for Dall sheep hunting. Hunting is limited in certain areas and is done from the road. The majority of hunters in these areas travel by plane.

Deer hunting in Alaska

Alaska is home to only one deer species, the blacktail deer, which may be found in the state’s southeast. In the Afognak archipelago, deer are more common.

Elk hunting in Alaska

In Alaska, there are two types of elk: the Rocky Mountain elk and the Roosevelt elk. Both species are located in the state’s southeast but are more prevalent on the Raspberry and Afognak islands. Elk hunting in Alaska is based on drawing licenses.

Goat hunting in Alaska

Mountain goat hunting is also popular in Alaska, particularly in the southeast and south-central sections of the state. Rocky Goat Mountains are large game to hunt in the state, and Alaska has some of the nicest scenery for gun shooting in the country.

Moose hunting in Alaska

The northern part of America is home to four moose species, one of which is the Alaska Yukon Moose, which lives in the state’s western half. The Alaska Yukon moose is the largest of four species of moose that live in the northern United States, and they are the second largest terrestrial mammal in North America after bison. In Alaska, moose hunting is easier than other big game hunting.

Muskox hunting in Alaska

Muskoxen numbers in Alaska have declined significantly in recent years, although they are still available for hunting in the state. Because of the restricted number of tags available, competition for hunting them is frequently severe, and permits are awarded through a lottery system.

Hunting for Alaska Wolves

Wolves are prevalent throughout the state, and their howling can be heard early in the morning and late at night. Wolves, on the other hand, are extremely intelligent animals, making hunting them extremely tough. They travel in groups and are extremely watchful animals.

2020-2021 Alaska Hunting Season

Alaska’s hunting season differs greatly from that of the other states in the United States. It boasts the most big games, and unlike most states, the season for most games can last a year. Animals, seasons, and places are examples of seasonal variations. Alaska has 26 hunting zones, each with its own set of seasons.

Because nonresident hunters are not permitted in all seasons in Alaska, the hunting season varies according to residency. Non-residents will be restricted from hunting in Alaska in various years or seasons due to limited games. The Alaska Fish and Game Department also establishes bag restrictions for the state’s game management.

Alaska’s shooting season for various wildlife in 2020–21 includes the following:

Alaska’s Wild Boar Hunting Season

Season of the Black Bear (September 1st to June 30th)
Brown Bear Season (September 15th to June 30th)

The dates for both bear seasons may vary depending on the state’s hunting zones. Also, in some areas, the bag restrictions of a bear season may have an impact on other years of hunting in the state.

Muskox hunting season in Alaska

General Hunting Season (August 1st to March 31st)

Muskox season dates may differ from one hunting zone to the next.

Caribou hunting season in Alaska

General Hunting Season (August 1st to March 31st)

The season for Caribous varies according to zone. Open hunting season is allowed in some zones, although only two caribous are allowed each year.

Deer Hunting Season in Alaska

General Hunting Season (August 1st to March 31st)

The date will differ depending on your location.

Mountain Goat Hunting Seasons in Alaska

General Hunting Season (August 1st to March 31st)

Moose Hunting Season in Alaska

General Hunting Season (August 1st to March 31st)

Wolf hunting season in Alaska

General Hunting Season (August 1st to March 31st)

Wolverine Hunting Season in Alaska

from September 1st to March 31st

Small Game Hunting Season in Alaska

Grouse (August 1st to May 15th)
Ptarmigan (August 1st to June 15th)
Hare (1st September to 30th April, with certain hunting zones having open seasons)
Crow (September 1st to November 17th and March 1st to April 15th)
Pika (open season in some hunting zones, closed season in the majority)
Snowy owl season (September 1st to April 1st) and nonresident hunters’ close season
Open Season: Pheasant, Quail, Wild Turkey, Chuckar, Crow, and Feral Ferrets

Shooting Range in Alaska

In Alaska, the Department of Fish and Game maintains three shooting ranges and training facilities. They are as follows:

Anchorage’s Rabbit Creek Shooting Park
Hunter Education Indoor Shooting Range in Fairbanks
Hunter Education Shooting Complex in Juneau

Lease and Sale of Alaska Hunting Lands

The following hunting lands are available for lease or sale in Alaska:

20 acres near Anchorage at Point Mackenzie for duck and predator game hunting.
13 pristine Alaskan acres back up to 42 usable acres of outstanding hunting land for birds, moose, black bear, coyote, and small game.
Elk hunt on 30 acres surrounded by 1 million acres of Alaskan wilderness.
Alaska Arms Ltd. sells Ruger Quick Release Scope Rings.
South Alabama has a 4,000-acre hunting club for turkey, hog, deer, and other game.