Chisana Caribou Hunt. Information From National Park Service

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
News Release

Caribou with Calf. (Photo to the Journal, BLM)

2026 Federal Subsistence Hunt of Chisana Caribou Herd

Release Date: July 20, 2026

COPPER CENTER, Alaska –The 2026 federal subsistence hunt for the Chisana caribou herd was announced by acting Wrangell-St. Elias Superintendent, Joshua Scott, the designated federal manager for the hunt. Consistent with the cooperative management plan for the herd, the harvest quota is six bull caribou which has been the same since 2023. The hunt will open on August 10 and close on September 30 or when the quota is reached.

Hunters must report their harvest within three days of taking an animal or report an unsuccessful hunt at the end of the season. The hunt area is Federal public lands in Unit 12 located east of the Nabesna River and Glacier and south of the Winter Trail running southeast from Pickerel Lake to the Canadian border.

Eligibility for the hunt is limited to permanent residents of Unit 12, Chistochina, Dot Lake, Healy Lake, and Mentasta Lake. Permits will be available on Monday, July 20 at the Slana Ranger Station, at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge office in Tok, or by contacting park staff at (907) 822-7284, or wrst_subsistence@nps.gov

The Chisana Caribou Herd: This small, international herd lives on the Klutlan Plateau and near the headwaters of the White River in Yukon Territory and in the State of Alaska. In Alaska, the herd’s range is primarily within the boundaries of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The herd population currently appears stable with a fall 2022 population estimate of approximately 582 animals. The current 3-year average (2023-2025) calf-to-cow and bull-to cow-ratios are above population objectives. The herd management plan provides recommendations and strategies to guide its management and conservation. This year’s hunt is consistent with the heard management plan.

The harvest quota was developed through the cooperative management plan for the herd, which is designed to support long-term conservation while providing subsistence hunting opportunities. For more information, please contact wrst_subsistence@nps.gov or call (907) 822-7284.