Alaska requires sheep hunters to pass perfect-score quiz before 2026 season

Every hunter pursuing full-curl Dall sheep in Alaska's general season harvest ticket hunts must complete an online orientation course and pass a 20-question quiz with a perfect score before hunting, under a new Alaska Board of Game requirement beginning in the 2026 season. The rule applies to all general season harvest ticket hunts where the bag limit is full-curl horn or larger, running Aug. 10 through Sept. 20. Guided and unguided, resident and nonresident, youth and adult hunters all must clear the same bar. Proof of completion must be carried in the field. The certification is a one-time, lifetime requirement.

The new orientation requirement is intended to help hunters avoid common mistakes, specifically the challenges of judging full-curl sheep in the field. ADF&G's own data shows that sublegal ram harvest has averaged approximately 5 to 6 percent in recent years. The agency's position is direct: "Accurate field identification of full-curl Dall sheep rams is critical to the conservation of sheep populations and to maintaining hunting opportunity. Hunters are responsible for knowing and following Alaska's full-curl regulations."

What the Orientation Covers

The orientation is designed to help hunters correctly identify full-curl rams before taking a shot. ADF&G recommends reviewing the Dall Sheep Full-Curl Identification guide before attempting the quiz. Under 5 AAC 92.990, a full-curl horn is defined as one where the tip has grown through 360 degrees, both tips are broken, or the sheep is at least eight years old.

The perfect-score threshold means a hunter who misses even one of 20 questions cannot legally hunt under this requirement. Hunters with questions about sheep hunting opportunities or completing the orientation should contact the ADF&G office closest to their planned hunt area. Media inquiries may be directed to Regulations Coordinator Natalie Weber at (907) 861-2107 or [email protected].