The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the United States Forest Service announced an early closure to the moose hunting season in a portion of the Game Management Unit 5(A) west of the Dangerous River, but not including Nunatak Bench. The hunt in this area is managed under joint state and federal registration permit RM061.
Biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game set the 2023 harvest objective at 30 bull moose for the portion of the Yakutat Forelands west of the Dangerous River. As of Sunday evening, October 15, 2023, at least 29 bulls have been harvested under the Federal and State Hunting regulations.
In a press release, the ADF&G stated, “We suspect more moose are down and we expect the harvest will meet or exceed the objective by October 16, 2023 @ 11:59 pm. To prevent overharvest, this emergency order is being issued closing the moose hunting on the west side of the Dangerous River this year.”
This Emergency Order (R1-12-23) closes the state moose hunting season in this area on Monday, October 16, 2023 @ 11:59 pm. The United States Forest Service has also issued a news release closing the Federal moose hunting season in this area, effective October 16, 2023.
Hunters are reminded that the remainder of Game Management Unit 5A east of the Dangerous River will remain open for moose hunting through the 15th of November or until the harvest of bull moose on the east-side Forelands reaches 30 bulls.
