Hunting

From Alaska Outdoors Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Alaska Hunting Regions 3 Alaska Game Animals 4 Alaska Hunt Planning 5 Alaska Hunting Methods 6 Alaska Hunting Strategies 7 Hunting Gear for Alaska Conditions 8 Commercial Services for Alaska Hunting 9 Strategies for Avoiding Bear Problems 10 Meat Care 11 Trophy Care 12 Determining Land Ownership 13 Alaska Hunting Licenses, Tags, Permits and Regulations 14 Alaska Hunting Information Resources

Introduction

Hunting opportunities throughout the state vary from deer hunting Southeast Alaska's coastal rain forest, to muskox hunting on the windswept tundra of western Alaska, to hunting for moose in the hills of the Interior, to high mountain Dall sheep hunting in Southcentral, to brown bear hunting Kodiak Island and more. If you are interested in hunting Alaska, your task is to determine what species you want to hunt, what kind of country in which you want to hunt, and how you will hunt.

Alaska hunting is unusual when compared to much of the rest of the developed world in that wilderness hunting is normal, given the largely urban settlement pattern of the state. Hunting trips often involve boat, aircraft or all terrain vehicle transportation to hunting areas.

Alaska Hunting Regions

Alaska is so large and diverse that hunting can best be described by regions. Alaska hunting environments range from the thick coastal rain forests of the Alexander Archipelago to the nearly treeless Brooks Range in Alaska's arctic. Some parts of the state are comprised of coastal fjørds, other parts are mountainous with nearby glaciers, others treeless tundra, and others forested rolling hills or flats. Alaska regions can be broken down in a number of ways; here are four regional descriptions:

• Southeast Alaska Hunting
• Southcentral Alaska Hunting
• Interior Alaska Hunting
• Western and Arctic Alaska Hunting

Alaska Game Animals

Alaska game animals are divided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game into big game, small game, fur animals, and unclassified game.

Big game species are:

• Black bear hunting
• Brown / grizzly bear hunting
• Bison hunting
• Caribou hunting
• Dall sheep hunting
• Deer hunting
• Elk hunting
• Moose hunting
• Mountain goat hunting
• Muskox hunting
• Wolf hunting
• Wolverine hunting

See also An Introduction to Big Game Hunting in Alaska from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

• Fur animal hunting
• Small game hunting
• Unclassified game hunting

Alaska Hunt Planning

• Preparing for the hunt
• During the hunt
• Post hunt

See Planning Your Alaska Hunt, an online resource from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Alaska Hunting Methods

• Bowhunting
• Handgun Hunting
• Rifle Hunting

Alaska Hunting Strategies

• Bear baiting
• Spot and stalk
• Hunting from boats
• Road Hunting
• ATV Hunting
• Float Hunting

Hunting Gear for Alaska Conditions

• First Aid kit
• VHF/Sat Phone
• Firearms
• Bows
• Clothing
• Tents
• Sleeping
• Meat Care
• Navigation
• Maps

Commercial Services for Alaska Hunting

• Fly In Hunting
• Guided Hunting
• Hunting With Transporters

Strategies for Avoiding Bear Problems

1. Portable Electric Fences have emerged as a reasonable method for avoiding bear problems. Here are some threads from the Alaska Hunting Forum where they are discussed:
   1. Electric Fence for Bear Protection
2. Cracker shells (exploding shotgun projectiles)
   1. [http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/akforum/akhunting/37989.htm Anybody experienced with cracker shells?

Meat Care

Good meat care is critical for transforming the harvested game to high quality meat for the table. Meat must be kept clean, cool and dry until it is processed for long-term storage. Ideally, game should be harvested in a location where it can be transported without undue difficulty. Large game animals like moose and large bears should normally be harvested within a mile of a vehicle of some sort because of the substantial weights of meat and/or hides involved. Individual hunter capabilities must be taken into account in each case.

This subject is covered in detail in the meat care article.

Trophy Care

Every hunter dreams of harvesting that perfect critter, in reality we take what we are given, and get little time or opportunity to cape, flesh, turn and salt a hide from a trophy. Here's some basics techniques to take care of your trophy.

Determining Land Ownership

While there are vast areas of Alaska public lands which are open to hunting, large areas are privately owned. These lands are not often posted against trespass because of the large areas involved. It is possible to determine land ownership in most cases using material available on the Internet, from government, or from large corporate landowners.

• Land ownership maps (Alaska Hunting Forum thread)

Alaska Hunting Licenses, Tags, Permits and Regulations

All hunters must have licenses for hunting in Alaska, except Alaska residents 15 years of age or younger. Alaska residents 60 or older may obtain a free permanent identification card in lieu of a license. Licenses must be on the person while hunting. There are different license classes and costs for residents, non-residents, and others. Licenses may be purchased online.

In addition to the license, all hunters must carry appropriate harvest tickets, permits, tags and/or duck stamps. Non-resident hunters must obtain metal locking tags for big game. Residents must have brown/grizzly locking tags in most locations and for hunting muskoxen.

Drawing hunt permits are required for some hunts. These must be applied for months in advance. Alaska residents may apply for Tier II (subsistence) hunts. Registration permits are required for some hunts. These are normally obtained over-the-counter at ADF&G offices.

This information is contained in the Alaska hunting regulations. Printed copies of the regulations are normally available from sporting goods stores and other sources beginning in late spring each year.

Alaska Hunting Information Resources

• Alaska hunting books and periodicals: a bibliography
• Alaska & Hunting and Trapping Information ADF&G
• The Alaska Hunting Forums
• Alaska Hunting and Outdoors Forum
• Alaska Hunting Forum
• Alaska Hunting Today forums
• Alaska Outdoor Journal forums