Seven (Unlucky) Bull Moose Are Targeted In Winter Federal Hunt Of Some Of Unit 11

Hunters Must Live In Specific Parts Of The Copper Valley 

Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Kenny Lake, Lower Tonsina, McCarthy, Mentasta Lake, Slana, Tazlina, and Tonsina

Harvest Quota Announced for Winter Federal Subsistence  
Moose Hunt in a Portion of Unit 11 

 

NOTICE FROM WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS PARK 

COPPER CENTER, AK— The harvest quota for the winter federal subsistence hunt for moose in a portion of Unit 11 was announced on October 11 by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Superintendent Ben Bobowski, the designated federal manager for the hunt. For the 2023-24 hunt, the quota is 7 bull moose. The hunt will open on November 20 and close on January 20 or earlier if the quota has been reached. Hunters are asked to report back within three days of harvesting an animal or at the end of the season if unsuccessful. For recorded information about the status of the hunt, hunters can call (907) 822-7203.

A federal registration permit is required to participate in the hunt. Permits are available at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Headquarters Administrative Building in Copper Center during regular business hours (M-F, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding federal holidays). Due to weather and road conditions as well as staff schedules, please call Barbara Cellarius at 907-822-7236 or email WRST_subsistence@nps.gov before coming to the office to ensure that someone will be available to issue a permit. Please do not wait until the last minute; same-day pick-up may not be available. Additionally, hunters are encouraged to apply for permits by no later than November 17, as staff schedules may affect permit availability after that date.

Please bring your State of Alaska resident hunting license, a photo ID (such as an Alaska driver’s license), and proof of local physical address when you pick up your permit. Documentation of physical address can include a voter registration card or a recent telephone or electric bill listing your physical address.

Eligibility for the hunt is limited to rural residents of Units 11, 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D, and Chickaloon. To hunt in the national park, hunters must also live in one of the park’s resident zone communities. The resident zone communities with C&T for moose in the hunt area are Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Kenny Lake, Lower Tonsina, McCarthy, Mentasta Lake, Slana, Tazlina, and Tonsina. The annual harvest limit for moose in Unit 11 is one, regardless of permit, hunt area, or hunt dates. Hunters who harvested a moose during the fall season are not eligible to harvest a moose during the winter season.

The hunt area is Federal public lands in Unit 11 that lie south and east of a line running along the north bank of the Chitina River, the north and west banks of the Nizina River, and the west bank of West Fork of the Nizina River, continuing along the western edge of the West Fork Glacier to the summit of Regal Mountain. The permit is not valid on Native Corporation or other non-federal land within the hunt area. There is no direct road access to this area. Much of the hunt area is designated as national park, and the use of aircraft to access the national park for subsistence hunting is not allowed under NPS regulations. Maps of the hunt area are provided with each permit issued.

For more information, contact Barbara Cellarius, Subsistence Coordinator, at (907) 822-7236 or barbara_cellarius@nps.gov.