Northern Alaska Peninsula caribou hunt opens Dec. 1 with quota still unset

Alaska residents may take two caribou in the Northern Alaska Peninsula winter hunt opening Dec. 1, 2026, but the harvest quota is not yet set.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game said the quota will be determined by fall composition surveys and announced before the season begins. The hunt can close by emergency order once the quota is met. ADF&G uses the same quota-driven permit structure in the Fortymile and Unimak Island hunts.

The RC504 registration hunt covers the portion of Unit 9C within the Alagnak River drainage and the portion of Unit 9B south of the south shore of the Kvichak River, Iliamna Lake, Kakhonak River, Kakhonak Lake and Moose Lake, and south of the south bank of the inlet stream to Moose Lake to its source at the subunit boundary. The season runs through 11:59 p.m. March 15, 2027, in Unit 9C and March 31, 2027, in Unit 9B, unless it closes early.

The department closed the Fortymile hunt in Zones 1 and 4 after 48 hours this year, when the 190-bull quota filled as ADF&G expected.

Permits become available Nov. 17 at the King Salmon ADF&G office and on designated days in Igiugig, Kokhanok and Levelock, timing that shapes subsistence access for households relying on caribou. Hunters must be Alaska residents with a valid state hunting license. Two caribou require two RC504 permits.

"The TC505 permit is not valid for this area," the department said.

Successful hunters must report to King Salmon at 907-246-3340 within two days of a harvest. All permit holders must report within 15 days of the season's close, successful or not, by mail, phone, in person at any ADF&G office, or online.