Unique Big Game Regulations

Joined
Jan 3, 2020
Messages
833
Location
Becker Ridge, Alaska
Alaska has some big game laws that may be unique:

1) No published shooting hours for big game, as long as you can see it my natural light, you can shoot it.

2) No hunting of most big game species same day airborne. So if you take a bush plane into a remote camp, illegal to shoot until the next day.

3) Illegal to pack out the antlers unless all the meat has been packed out first.

4) You can bag an species of lesser value on your tag (if it is open season).
So for example, if you have a non-resident moose tag ($800), you could shoot a caribou or black bear instead as those tags are less than $800.

5) Nonresidents who hunt brown/grizzly bear, sheep, or goats must be personally accompanied in the field by
an Alaska-licensed guide OR an Alaska resident relative 19 years or older within second-degree of kindred** holding a current Alaska hunting license.

6) In some units, the quarters must be packed out bone-in. So for a moose hindquarter that is typically over 100 pounds.

7) An Alaska resident may proxy hunt caribou, deer, moose, or muskox, for another Alaska resident that is
blind, 70-percent physically disabled, 65 years of age or older, or are developmentally disabled.

8) Game animals taken in defense of life or property belong to the state.
If in defense of life or property, you kill a bear, wolf, wolverine, coyote, beaver, fox, lynx, mink, weasel, muskrat, marten or river otter, you must salvage the hide and skull and surrender them to the state.
If in defense of life or property, you kill a bison, caribou, deer, elk, moose, muskox, sheep, or mountain goat,
you must salvage horns or antlers and the meat and surrender them to the state.

9) It is illegal to use or being in immediate possession of urine from any species of the deer (Cervidae) family, including scent lures.

10) Alaska has youth-only big game hunts, some by draw, some open depending on big game species.

11) For residents free over the counter tags for black bear, grizzly bear, Dall sheep, caribou, moose, deer in some units.

12) Free tags for predators and liberal bag limits in some units.
In some units residents can harvest 3 black bears and no closed season on black bears.
In some units residents can harvest 2 grizzly bears from Aug 10 - June 30.
In some units grizzly bears may be baited in addition to black bears.
In some units 10 wolves can be harvested from Aug 1 - April 30.

13) Free hunting/fishing/trapping license for residents 60 years or older.
 

KsRancher

WKR
Joined
Jun 6, 2018
Messages
556
Kansas

Cell cams are legal but you cannot use a cell phone to tell a person the location of big game to pursue
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2018
Messages
389
Location
Palmer Alaska
Alaska has some big game laws that may be unique:

1) No published shooting hours for big game, as long as you can see it my natural light, you can shoot it.

2) No hunting of most big game species same day airborne. So if you take a bush plane into a remote camp, illegal to shoot until the next day.

3) Illegal to pack out the antlers unless all the meat has been packed out first.

4) You can bag an species of lesser value on your tag (if it is open season).
So for example, if you have a non-resident moose tag ($800), you could shoot a caribou or black bear instead as those tags are less than $800.

5) Nonresidents who hunt brown/grizzly bear, sheep, or goats must be personally accompanied in the field by
an Alaska-licensed guide OR an Alaska resident relative 19 years or older within second-degree of kindred** holding a current Alaska hunting license.

6) In some units, the quarters must be packed out bone-in. So for a moose hindquarter that is typically over 100 pounds.

7) An Alaska resident may proxy hunt caribou, deer, moose, or muskox, for another Alaska resident that is
blind, 70-percent physically disabled, 65 years of age or older, or are developmentally disabled.

8) Game animals taken in defense of life or property belong to the state.
If in defense of life or property, you kill a bear, wolf, wolverine, coyote, beaver, fox, lynx, mink, weasel, muskrat, marten or river otter, you must salvage the hide and skull and surrender them to the state.
If in defense of life or property, you kill a bison, caribou, deer, elk, moose, muskox, sheep, or mountain goat,
you must salvage horns or antlers and the meat and surrender them to the state.

9) It is illegal to use or being in immediate possession of urine from any species of the deer (Cervidae) family, including scent lures.

10) Alaska has youth-only big game hunts, some by draw, some open depending on big game species.

11) For residents free over the counter tags for black bear, grizzly bear, Dall sheep, caribou, moose, deer in some units.

12) Free tags for predators and liberal bag limits in some units.
In some units residents can harvest 3 black bears and no closed season on black bears.
In some units residents can harvest 2 grizzly bears from Aug 10 - June 30.
In some units grizzly bears may be baited in addition to black bears.
In some units 10 wolves can be harvested from Aug 1 - April 30.

13) Free hunting/fishing/trapping license for residents 60 years or older.
Great post. I just moved up to Alaska and I’m trying to figure out all the rules. It’s like learning how to walk again.
 

Marbles

WKR
Classified Approved
Joined
May 16, 2020
Messages
3,707
Location
AK
For AK add

-You cannot kill an animal you learned about through wireless communication until after 3 am the following day.

-Using a helicopter for hunting or for transporting hunters, hunting gear, game meat, trophies, or any equipment used to pursue or retrieve game.

-Shooting on, from, or across the driveable surface of any constructed road or highway.

-No drones, cell cams, night vision, or infrared can be used.
 

mi650

WKR
Joined
Dec 19, 2021
Messages
1,472
Location
Central Michigan
Alaska has some big game laws that may be unique:

snip

2) No hunting of most big game species same day airborne. So if you take a bush plane into a remote camp, illegal to shoot until the next day.

snip
That's a helluva list, but I've always wondered the reasoning behind #2. 🤷‍♂️
 
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