Caribou are abundant near the Steese highway in Zones 1 and 4, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game expects the harvest quota to be exceeded in less than a day if opened as scheduled on August 11. As a conservation measure, the hunt in Zones 1 and 4 will only open if caribou numbers near the Steese highway decrease enough to avoid overharvest of the herd. The state caribou hunting season will open in Zones 2 and 3 on August 11, as scheduled.
The fall harvest quota is subdivided between 4 zones within the registration hunt area, each with its own quota. This year, the overall fall quota is 425, with 195 allocated to Zones 1 and 4 combined, 100 for Zone 2, and 130 for Zone 3.
Hunters are reminded to call the Fortymile Caribou Herd Hotline (907) 267-2310 for updates about the hunt quota and bag limit before departing for the field to learn of zone closures.
These seasons and bag limits only apply to state caribou hunts in these areas. Hunters with questions about federal subsistence regulations should call (800) 474-2200.
Successful hunters must report within three days of a kill online at (http://hunt.alaska.gov), by phone (907-883-2971), or in person at the ADF&G office in Tok. Hunters who report by phone must also mail their permit reports or drop them off at the Tok ADF&G office. Unsuccessful hunters must return their reports to the Tok office or report online at http://hunt.alaska.gov by October 15.
Hunters are urged to obtain a receipt when they turn in their hunt reports or to mail them by delivery confirmation receipt. Permit holders who fail to report will not be eligible to receive any permits (Draw, Targeted, Tier II, or Registration, including Tier I Nelchina caribou) during the next regulatory year and may be cited.