Alaska North Slope Moose Hunt Reopens
Alaska's North Slope will see its first moose hunting season in years with an emergency order establishing a residents-only bull moose hunt from April 1-14. The hunt had been closed for an extended period due to low population numbers, but the reopening suggests some recovery in local moose herds. Wildlife managers will be watching the results closely to gauge the sustainability of future seasons.
The spring hunt, authorized for Game Management Unit 26B, is a direct response to the local moose population exceeding its management objective. The 2024 survey estimated 390 moose in this area, nearly double the target of 200 animals. This hunt is for Alaska residents only, who will be able to take one bull moose with a general season harvest ticket between April 1st and 14th. This reopening marks a significant turnaround from a decade ago. In 2014, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game shut down the North Slope moose hunt due to a dramatic population decline. That year, the number of moose in Unit 26B had plummeted to just 109, a steep drop from an estimated 400 the previous year. The history of moose on the North Slope is one of fluctuation. The population expanded into the region's river drainages in the early 1950s and peaked at an estimated 1,400 animals in the 1980s. However, a decline in the 1990s led to a hunting closure, followed by a recovery and another reopening in 2006, before the subsequent decline and closure in 2014. The current hunt in Unit 26B comes with specific restrictions. The Canning River drainage is excluded from the hunting area. Additionally, within the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area, hunters are restricted to using only bow and arrow, and they must have a bowhunter education certification. All hunters are required to report their success or lack thereof within 15 days of the season's close.
