Elk Hunting in Alaska

The elk of Alaska were transplanted from Washington.

Alaska is well-known for big-game hunting opportunities, including brown bear, caribou, moose, mountain goat, Dall's sheep and Sitka black-tail deer. However, elk hunting in Alaska is often overlooked. The elk of Alaska can weigh up to 1,300 pounds with 700 pounds of meat for the hunter to pack out after the harvest. Combining the weight of the Alaskan elk with the rugged terrain, heavy timber and harsh weather, elk hunting in Alaska will result in a physically and mentally demanding hunt.

History

Alaska contains two subspecies of elk--Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain--that have been introduced to the state. The original eight calf Roosevelt Elk were transplanted in 1929 on Afognak Island from the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. The elk on Afognak Island eventually grew to about 1,500 elk by 1965 but then suffered severe winters in the late 1960s and early 1970s. By the mid-1980s, the elk population had recovered to 1,200.

Seasons

Alaska offered its first elk hunting season in 1997. The seasons are divided into four different units that open on Aug. 1 and close on Dec. 31. Compared to other states that offer elk hunting, the Alaskan hunting season is considerably longer. For the 2008-2009 hunting season, the total elk harvest was 88.

Permits

Every hunter--nonresident of resident--must purchase a valid hunting license and elk permit before hunting. Before applying for an elk permit you will need to purchase the $25 resident hunting license or $85 nonresident hunting license. Then the elk tag will cost $300 for the U.S. nonresident and $400 for the foreigner nonresident as of March 2010. Licenses and permits may be applied for and purchased online at an Alaska Department of Fish and Game office or license vendors.

Regulations

Similar to other big-game species in Alaska, after successfully harvesting an elk, you must submit a hunting report card via U.S. mail. The report card is designed to track the number of successful hunters. After purchasing an elk tag, you may use the tag to harvest an animal with a license fee equal or lower in price. For example, the nonresident elk tag costs $300, and if you don't harvest an elk, you may use the tag to harvest a black bear instead. Foreign nonresidents must be accompanied by an Alaska-licensed guide to hunt elk. If you have a bull tag, you must keep enough of the sex organs on the hide to identify the sex of the elk after the kill, and you must salvage all edible meat.

Considerations

Hunting in Alaska poses serious dangers to any hunter with the extreme weather and high concentration of brown bears. On average, Afognak Island has two brown bears every 3 square miles. This may be a serious concern with an elk carcass on the ground after the harvest. Elk success rates are relatively low with only 5 percent of hunters successfully harvesting an elk in Game Management Unit 3.

References

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Elk
• Elk Hunting: Types of Elk
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: 2009 Elk Hunting Forecast
• Afognak Wilderness Lodge: Elk, Deer and Duck Hunting
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Elk Hunting in Alaska

Resources

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game: 2009-2010 Alaska Hunting Regulations