An Overview of Alaska Moose Hunting Regulations
The regulations in Alaska pertaining to the hunting of moose are relatively straightforward, however, there are a number of unique rules that must be considered by hunters. The primary legislation detailing these rules is the State of Alaska law on wildlife (AS 16.05.940).
Anyone wishing to hunt moose, with certain limited exceptions, must obtain a license. The license is issued either by the state or a vendor authorized by the state. The state may temporarily issue licenses according to its own standards. A fee must be paid for the license , as well as for any other necessary permit. (AS 16.05.920(16)).
Hunting may not commence at a time earlier than a half hour before sunrise and must conclude by the half hour after sunset. During open hunting season for moose, hunting on Sunday is allowed. (AS 16.05.920(8)).
As a general rule, moose hunting is conducted between August 30 and September 25 and April 10 and May 15. Waterproof bags must be available when a moose has been shot, so that the meat may be properly handled. (AS 16.05.940).
Moose Hunting Licensing and Permits
The requirements for obtaining the necessary licenses and permits to hunt moose in Alaska vary between residents and non-residents. For those planning to hunt in units 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 & 20, you will need a drawing permit. This is because of the high numbers of permits requested by hunters. Drawing permits grant the right to a bull moose hunting permit and do not assure a permit will be granted. Those who don’t get drawn for moose hunting are refunded the price of application, which is $5 for residents and $25 for non-resident, and then entered into a drawing for a Tier I or Tier II Tier II subsistence hunt permit for the area they requested a drawing permit for.
Those who apply for a resident regular season moose permit must also register to hunt in person at the same time. Those who want a Tier I or Tier II subsistence hunt permit must fill out an application, which can be completed on paper or online. Any documents that verify proof of residency or birth should also be included. Residents who don’t take their moose within their current hunt unit are eligible for a new regular permit provided they do not harvest a second moose. They must show their current permit and then pay the fee.
For residents and non-residents looking to hunt moose, there are different categories of licenses available through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game which include hunting permits, moose permits for specific areas and, for non-residents, a non-resident moose hunting license, among others. Any permit application or license fee is payable online or via paper application.
Seasons and Dates for Moose Hunting in Alaska
In the majority of Alaska, there are two seasons for residents and nonresidents alike. Archery moose hunting season generally runs from August 1st through September 20th and the general season is from September 21st through November 20th. There are exceptions to this and these are detailed on the ADFG website. According to the ADFG website at the following link: Statewide Moose Harvest by Season, males harvested can be quite different in these areas. For example, in Unit 17 where there is no antler restriction, the male average is about 18 points and 1,087 pounds. However, in Units 9, 13 and 16 where there is a 50 inch minimum and 4 brow points requirement, the average is 35.2 inches and a total weight of 830 pounds. In some cases the seasons may be shorter and allow for a bull moose to be hunted by qualified hunters. The purpose of these shorter special hunts may be due to poor antler growth, public safety issues, to meet management objectives, or previous density reduction hunts. For example, in Unit 12 no more than 100 moose may be harvested during a competency season. In 2020, there was a short moose hunt that started on September 26, however, all 100 permits were filled. Registered Guide-Outfitters In the case of Registered Guide Outfitters, the hunting season is similar. However, in some cases, the hunts are more difficult due to the distances that must be traveled to reach hunting areas. For some clients, part of the adventure is simply getting to the hunting grounds themselves as the traveling can be difficult. In some cases, a guided hunting trip may be only available on an annual basis. So, in some cases, the only time the area may be available is when this season is open and this could be on a less than convenient basis so it is important to contact an experienced Guide-Outfitter as soon as possible. For as soon as the last year’s hunts are over, Guide-Outfitter are preparing for the next season.
Moose Hunting Gear and Equipment Rules
The equipment allowed for moose hunting can vary with the method of take, or how the animal is killed. For all methods, there are restrictions on caliber, gauge or size, mechanical parts and types of ammunition. Hunters should always double check the state regulations prior to a hunt due to frequent changes and adjustments by Alaska Fish & Game.
For big game gun hunting for a moose in interior regions, there are restrictions on shotgun use. If shotguns are used, only single slug projectiles are allowed. For rifle hunters, the jacketed bullets must be a minimum of .240 caliber (6mm) and be equal to or larger than .240 caliber (6mm). Fuller jacketed bullets are recommended. Bullets used for moose cannot be full metal jacket, hollow point or plastic-tipped. Expanding bullets that are solid, non-expanding (i.e., solid copper) and non-metal jacketed bullets are prohibited.
Bow hunting is regulated differently for the interior compared to South Central, Southeast and Kodiak areas. In most of those regions, arrows and arrows tips are regulated with a 2-3" cutting width requirement. All broadhead blades must be at least 1" apart and not more than 3". The arrows themselves must be a minimum of 26 inches long excluding the size of the broadhead. For interior regions and Kodiak, the broadhead cutting width can be a bare minimum of one inch. Arrows with broadhead blades must have a minimum weight of 1" grains of total arrow weight for each pound of draw weight.
Most states specify requiring exceptional shots and extended monitoring of wounded animals that are not easy to find.
Silencers and scopes with illuminated reticles can be used, but they are illegal for muzzleloaders. Spotted thermal scopes are not allowed. As there is nothing more challenging than spotting a moose out in the wild, allowing hunters to use their own "eyes" on helping them to seek out and point out targets would be unfair competition for guides.
The statewide limit is one moose per season, although some areas have changes based on the number of permits issued or targeted harvest numbers.
Another restriction for hunters is regarding allowable timeframes for taking a moose. For example, in South Central, there are no restrictions for the fall seasons for Federal Starvation and Nelchina Controlled Use Areas. The harvest limit for these two areas is twenty-six cows, or no more than twenty-five by Type A permits, which is for antlerless moose. Moose populations can vary depending on the area so the harvest can be controlled by the date of the permits that are given out. Some permits are only for the registrants of that permit, while other permits do have limits on who can hunt.
Conservation Measures and the Moose Population
Alaska moose hunting laws go hand in hand with conservation efforts to not only manage the population of moose in the state but to preserve the health of the overall ecosystem. It is essential for hunters to know and appreciate the role they play in conservation efforts that keep the population balanced, thus ensuring that it remains healthy.
Population management is handled almost exclusively by the SSF Division of Subsistence, which monitors animal populations and establishes appropriate harvest levels. Since the moose population was estimated at just 4,000 when Alaska became a state in 1960, it is now home to 125,000 to 150,000 moose, thanks in part to the moose population management program. The program, which covers the entire state, includes incremental population surveys, as well as harvest data collections. SSF Manager productivity indexes are tracked through counts on hunter-killed moose so anyone who has ever submitted a moose jawbone to SSF likely contributed to the continuous monitoring of the population.
The surplus of moose in Alaska and, consequently, in areas of heavy human population such as Anchorage, poses a significant challenge to the government and citizens. As the number of moose increases in urban areas, so does the number of dangerous encounters with cars, as well as injuries to both animals and humans. It is estimated that in the Anchorage area alone, there are 145 to 295 moose-vehicle collisions every year, often resulting in more than $500,000 in vehicle and medical costs . Hunting laws, therefore, often include hunter incentives that encourage the removal of moose from urban environments.
The moose population management program uses several methods to keep the herd balanced, including bag limits for residents and non-residents, annual registration hunts, and drawing permit hunts. These different types of hunts are dependent on factors like location, season, and the method of hunting, which range from registration to drawing; an any-weapon season is sometimes prescribed as well. For example, for GMU 13, administrative code 5AAC 85.025 and 5AAC 85.050(b) provides the season and bag limit as follows:
Not all GMUs have regulations provided within the table; some just have regulations incorporated under 5AAC 85.045, while others have a combination of both. For GMUs with no special regulations, a statewide bag limit of one bull moose a day, two per hunter a year is allowed. However, moose hunting laws often allow for registration permits, so hunters who want to hunt without a bag limit must apply through the Alaska State Troopers for drawing permits, which are granted based on availability.
Alaska does not require hunters to use a guide, although residents are required to be licensed in order to hunt moose. Non-residents, however, have to apply for drawing permits, hire a guide, and they are also subject to paying a non-resident fee.
Hunting Zones and Units Explained
The hunting zones and units are significant in the moose hunting laws because it is critical for hunters to know exactly where they are allowed to kill an animal. As a general rule, a moose must be killed in the hunting zone he or she is licensed to hunt in, and it must be done during the same season for that zone. In other words, despite what you’re hearing on the news lately, it is against the law to fly with a moose from one zone to another, or transport it through one zone to another, during the closed season for that zone. In fact, hunting guides and hunting contests and Alaska Department of Fish & Game licenses may specify "legal areas." Legal areas may be described in terms of a specific section number in regulations, by coordinates, or by identifying certain places. So, there is a reasonable chance if your legal area happens to be a section of road that goes through several hunting zones, unless you have a permit that allows otherwise, you’ll be breaking the law if you try to bring back meat from a moose killed in a different hunting zone. That means the exact context of a hunting zone and unit is important – as is the Legal Hunting Areas map published in the Alaska Hunting Regulations.
Hunters can discover hunting zones and units by contacting the Division of Wildlife Conservation at the State Office of Alaska. Google tells me this is in Anchorage.
Alaska Department of Fish & Game Division of Wildlife Conservation John W. Tacoma Peninsular Center 441 W. 5th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501-2297 (907) 267-2195
Unit and zone numbers have a deep historical context in Moose hunting in Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish & Game regulations have gone through several phases, and in 1993 they were consolidated into what we now know as the Alaska Administrative Code. Apparently "Moose Seasons and Hunts" are now found in 5 AAC 85.
It’s worth repeating here, it is against the law to kill a moose outside of your hunting zone or out of the season relevant to that zone. If you have questions about this, or find yourself in a situation where this is confusing, it’s best to ask the ADFG.
Penalties for Violating Moose Hunting Laws
Violating moose hunting laws in Alaska can lead to several consequences. Firstly, Alaska mega fines ranging from $300 to $5,000 can be levied on hunters. Repeat offenders can be charged with administrative fines anywhere between $100 to $1,000. A $500 fine can also be imposed on trophy hunters for shooting female moose in areas where they are restricted. In addition, those who hunt with improper permits may face fines as high as $300.
Other penalties involve misdemeanor charges , with offenders liable to serve up to 60 days of jail time. Those found guilty of illegal poaching may also face felony charges that carry sentences of between one and not more than five years in prison. These penalties are intended to deter individuals who are not aware that such hunting practices are prohibited.
Alongside this, offenders fail to be proficient enough to get new hunting privileges. The taken away hunting privileges and fines affect their future hunting activities. For example, if they have had an animal taken away, they will be subject to a fine of $5,000, twice the sanction they were subject to in the first place.