Hunting Seasons and Dates

When Can I Hunt?

Getting ready to hunt in Alaska? First things first—make sure you’ve got your license, tags, and a solid plan. Here’s what you need to know about hunting season this year.

In Alaska, season dates and rules depend on what you’re hunting and where you’re hunting it. Everything’s broken down by Game Management Units (GMUs), so double-check your area and species—timing can vary a lot depending on both.

Below is the latest info for the 2025–2026 seasons and regs. We’ll keep updating as new stuff rolls in. Still, it’s always a good idea to check directly with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) to make sure you're working with the most accurate, up-to-date details.

Deer

You can now hunt mule, whitetail, and Sitka black-tailed deer in Alaska. Check the latest regulations (i.e., bag limits for does vs. bucks, bow vs. firearms, etc.) for each species in the units (and the smaller area designations within each unit) you plan to hunt.

Unit 1 (Residents and Non-Residents)
Dates range from August 1 – September 14, 2025, August 1 – November 30, 2025, August 1 – December 31, 2025, or September 15 – December 31, 2025

Unit 2 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 1 – December 31, 2025

Unit 3

• Residents and Non-Residents
  • Petersburg Management Area: August 1 – December 15, 2025
  • Remainder: August 1 – November 30, 2025
• Residents Only: October 1 – November 7, 2025
• Non-Residents Only (Remainder of Mitkof, Woewodski, and Butterworth Islands): October 15 – 31, 2025

Unit 4

• Residents: August 1 – September 14, 2025 or September 15 – December 31, 2025
• Non-Residents: August 1 – December 31, 2025

Unit 5 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 5A: October 15 – 31, 2025 (youth only) or November 1 – 30, 2025
• 5B: No open season

Unit 6 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• Bucks: August 1 – September 30, 2025
• Any Deer: October 1 – December 31, 2025

Unit 7 (Residents and Non-Residents)

No deer season.

Unit 8 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Dates range from August 1 to December 31, 2025 based on hunting in the Kodiak Road System Management Area or the remainder of the unit and the limits on the sex of deer allowed.

Units 9 – 26

No deer seasons.

Mountain Goats

Unit 1 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 1C: October 1 – November 30, 2025 (some areas). No open season (other areas).
• All Other Unit 1 Areas: Season dates are between August 1 – December 31, 2025, with various starting and ending dates, depending on where you hunt and if you're a resident or non-resident.

Units 2-3, 9-10, 12, 16-26

No mountain goat hunting.

Units 4 & 5 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 1 – December 31, 2025

Unit 6 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 6A & 6B: August 20, 2025 – January 31, 2026
• 6C: October 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026
• 6D: September 15, 2025 – January 31, 2026

Unit 7 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10 – October 15, 2025 or November 1 – 14, 2025 (may be announced)

Unit 8 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates starting August 20, 2025 through January 31, 2026.

Unit 11 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1 – November 30, 2025

Unit 13 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 13D: September 1 – November 30, 2025 or August 10 – November 30, 2025
• 13 Remainder: No open season

Unit 14 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 14A (South and east of the Matanuska River): September 1 – 30, 2025
• 14A Remainder & 14B: No open season
• 14C: August 16 – 31, 2025 and September 1 – October 15, 2025

Unit 15 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates starting August 10, 2025 through November 14, 2025.

Black Bear

Unit 1 (Non-Residents Only)

September 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 2 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 or January 1 – June 30, 2026

Unit 3 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Units 4, 8, and 10

No black bear season.

Unit 5 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• September 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 6 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 6A & 6B: August 20, 2025 – June 30, 2026
• 6C: September 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
• 6D: September 10, 2025 – June 10, 2026

Unit 7 (Residents and Non-Residents)

No closed season, but pay attention to where you can hunt and how many bears you can take based on resident vs. non-resident status.

Units 9 – 15, 17-26

No closed season.

Unit 16 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 16B: September 15, 2025 – May 31, 2026
• 16 Remainder: No closed season

Check with the ADFG for details about hunting and harvesting black bears for each unit.

Brown Bear (Grizzlies)

For all Units, check with the ADFG for specifics about the number of bears you can harvest and other details, including season dates based on permit numbers. The limit is usually one bear every four regulatory years with a permit.

Unit 1 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Depending on where you hunt within this unit, season dates are September 15 – December 31, 2025 or March 15 – May 31, 2026.

Unit 2

No brown bear season.

Unit 3 (Residents Only)

September 15 – December 31, 2025 or March 15 – May 31, 2026

Unit 4 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 15 – December 31, 2025 or March 15 – May 31, 2026

Unit 5 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026

Unit 6 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 6A, B, C: September 1, 2025 – June 10, 2026
• 6D: October 15 – December 31, 2025, April 1 – May 25, 2026, or October 15, 2025 – May 25, 2026.

Unit 7 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 8 (Residents and Non-Residents)

October 25 – November 30, 2025 or April 1 – May 15, 2026

Unit 9 (Residents and Non-Residents)

May 10 – 31, 2025, October 1 – 21, 2025, or September 20 – October 21, 2025

Unit 10 (Residents and Non-Residents)

October 1 – December 31, 2025 or May 10 – 31, 2026

Unit 11 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 12 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 13 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 13E: August 10, 2025 – June 15, 2026
• 13: Remainder: No closed season

Unit 14 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 14A: September 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
• 14B: August 10, 2025 – May 31, 2026
• 14C: September 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026 or October 1 – 31, 2025

Unit 15 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 16 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 16A and 16B Remainder: No closed season
• 16B (Within one mile of the mouth of Wolverine Creek): September 15, 2025 – May 31, 2026

Unit 17 (Residents and Non-Residents)

No closed season

Unit 18 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 19

• Residents: No closed season.
• Non-Residents: August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 20 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – June 15, 2026 or August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 21 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 21A: No closed season.
• 21B, C, D, E: August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 22 (Residents and Non-Residents)

All seasons open on August 1, 2025. However, depending on where you hunt in Unit 22, the season ends May 31, 2026, June 15, 2026, June 30, 2026 or October 31, 2025.

Unit 23

• Residents: No closed season.
• Non-Residents: August 1 – October 31, 2025 or April 15 – May 31, 2026

Unit 24 (Residents and Non-Residents)

July 25, 2025 – June 30, 2026 or August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 25

• 25A & 25B: July 25, 2025 – June 30, 2026
• 25C: September 1, 2025 – June 15, 2026
• 25D (Residents): July 1 – November 30, 2025 or March 1 – June 30, 2026
• 25D (Non-Residents): September 1 – November 30, 2025 or March 1 – June 15, 2026

Unit 26 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Be sure to check the federal restrictions before hunting brown bears in this area.

• 26A: No closed season
• 25B: August 10, 2025 – June 15, 2026
• 25C: July 25, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Moose

Units 1

• 1A, B, C (Residents and Non-Residents): September 15 – October 15, 2025
• 1D (Residents): September 15 – October 7, 2025
• 1D (Non-Residents): No open season

Units 2, 4, 8, 10

No moose hunting.

Unit 3 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 15 – October 15, 2025

Unit 5 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Portions of 5A have no open season. The remaining areas of Unit 5 are open September 1 – December 15, 2025, October 1 – November 15, 2025, or October 15 – November 15, 2025.

Unit 6 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1 – November 30, 2025, September 1 – October 31, 2025, or September 1 – 30, 2025, depending on where you hunt in this Unit.

Unit 7 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 20 – September 30, 2025, August 20 – October 10, 2025, or September 1 – 25, 2025, depending on where you hunt in this Unit.

Unit 9 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates starting September 1, 2025 through January 20, 2026.

Unit 11 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 20 – September 17, 2025 or August 20 – September 20, 2025.

Unit 12 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 24 – 28, 2025, August 20 – September 17, 2025, September 8 – 17, 2025, or September 1 – 30, 2025.

Unit 13 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• Residents: August 20 – September 20, 2025 or September 1 – 20, 2025
• Non-Residents: September 1 – 20, 2025

Unit 14 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10 – 19 2025, August 25 – September 25, 2025, November 1 – 30, 2025, or December 1 – 25, 2025, depending on where you hunt in this Unit.

Unit 14C (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from August 20, 2025 through January 15, 2026, depending on where you hunt.

Unit 15 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from August 22 through November 30, 2025 depending on where you hunt.

Unit 16 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 16A: August 10 – 19, 2025 or August 20 – September 25, 2025
• 16B (Residents): August 20 – September 25, 2025, or December 15, 2025 – March 31, 2026
• 16B (Non-Residents): August 20 – September 25, 2025

Unit 17 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from August 20, 2025 through February 28, 2026, depending on where you hunt.

Unit 18

• Residents:
  • Zone 1: September 1 – 8, 2025 or September 1 – 9, 2025
  • Zone 2: September 1 – October 15, 2025, August 1 – September 30, 2025, October 1 – November 30, 2025, September 1 – 30, 2025, December 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026, or December 1 – April 30, 2026
• Non-Residents: No open season.

Unit 19 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from August 10, 2025 through March 31, 2026, depending on where you hunt.

Unit 20 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from August 15, 2025 through February 28, 2026, depending on where you hunt.

Unit 21 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from August 22 through March 15, 2026, depending on where you hunt.

Unit 22 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from August 1, 2025 through March 15, 2026, depending on where you hunt.

Unit 23 (Residents Only)

• North of and including Singoalik River Drainage: July 1 – December 31, 2025 or September 1 – 20, 2025
• Remainder: August 1 – December 31, 2025 or September 1 – 20, 2025

Unit 24 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from September 1, 2025 through April 15, 2026, depending on where you hunt.

Unit 25 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Various dates ranging from September 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026, depending on where you hunt.

Unit 26 (Residents Only)

• 26A: July 1 – September 14, 2025 or August 1 – September 30, 2025
• 26B: September 1 – 14, 2025 (more may be announced)

Wolf

Unit 1 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 1A & 1B: August 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
• 1B Remainder, 1C, 1D: August 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026

Unit 2 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Units 3, 22 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026

Units 4, 5, 12, 19, 23-25 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026

Units 6, 7, 11, 13-18, 21 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10, 2025 – April 30, 2026

Unit 8

No wolf hunting.

Unit 9, 10 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Unit 20 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 20C: August 10, 2025 – April 15, 2026
• 20 Remainder: August 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026

Unit 26 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 26A: August 10, 2025 – April 30, 2026
• 26B & 26C: August 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026

Wolverine

Units 1-5, 13 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – February 15, 2026

Units 6, 7, 12, 15, 17-25 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Units 8 & 10

No wolverine hunting.

Units 9

September 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026

Units 11, 14, 14C (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026

Unit 16 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 16A: September 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026
• 16B: September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Unit 26 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 26A: September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
• 26B: August 20, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Elk

Units 1-2, 4-7, 9-26

No elk hunting.

Unit 3 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open dates start September 1, 2025 and run through November 30, 2025 depending on where you hunt in this Unit.

Unit 8 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open dates start September 25, 2025 and run through November 30, 2025 depending on where you hunt in this area.

Caribou

Units 1-6, 11, 13, 14C, 15, 18

No open season

Unit 7 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 10 – September 20, 2025

Unit 8 (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026

Unit 9 (Residents and Non-Residents)

There is no open season for a few areas within Unit 9. However, some sections have open dates running August 1 – October 21, 2025, August 10 – October 10, 2025, November 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026, November 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026, or November 15, 2025 – March 31, 2026.

Unit 10 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• Adak Island: No closed season.
• Unimak Island: May be announced.
• Umnak Island: No open season.
• Remainder: No closed season.

Unit 12 (Residents Only)

September 1 – 20, 2025 or August 10 – 27, 2025.

Unit 14 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 14A: August 10 – September 20, 2025
• 14B: December 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026

Unit 16 (Residents and Non-Residents)

• 16A: August 10 – September 20, 2025
• 16B: August 10 – September 30, 2025

Unit 17

No open season (currently), but dates may be announced for 17A and 17C.

Unit 19

• 19A, B, E: No open season.
• 19C & 19D: August 10 – September 20, 2025
• 19D (Residents Only): February 1 – 28, 2026

Fortymile Caribou Hunt Zone

Check with the ADF&G offices in Fairbanks, Tok, Delta Junction, Douglas, Anchorage, and Palmer for details and regulations in these zones.

• Zones 1 & 3: August 1 – 21, 2025
• Zones, 1, 3, & 4: August 20 – September 30, 2025
• Zone 2: August 10 – Seeptember 30, 2025
• Zone 1-4 (Residents only): October 27, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Unit 20 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Some areas are open for various dates, including August 10 – September 20, 2025, August 10 – 27, 2025, August 10 – September 30, 2025, and August 10, 2025 – March 31, 2026 depending on where you hunt. More dates may be announced in this Unit.

Unit 21 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open dates range from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.

Unit 22 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open dates range from July 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026. A few areas have no closed season.

Unit 23 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open dates range from July 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026. Some areas have no closed season.

Unit 24 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open season dates range from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 depending on where you hunt and if you are hunting as a resident or a non-resident.

Unit 25 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open season dates range from July 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.

Unit 26 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open season dates range from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.

Muskox

Unit 18 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Season dates range from August 1 – September 30, 2025, January 15 – March 31, 2026, or February 1 – March, 2026, depending on where you hunt within the Unit.

Unit 21

• 21A, B, C, E: No open season
• 21D (Residents only): February 1 – March 15, ,2026

Unit 22 (Residents Only)

Season date ranges include August 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026 or January 1 – March 15, 2026 depending on where you hunt.

Unit 23 (Residents Only)

August 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026, July 1 – October 31, 2025, or June 1 – 30, 2026

Unit 24 (Residents Only)

February 1 – March 15, 2026 (24D only).

Unit 26 (Residents and Non-Residents)

Open season dates vary starting August 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. Several Unit 26 areas do not have an open season.

Bison

Unit 11 (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Unit 13D (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Unit 19C, D (Residents and Non-Residents)

August 22 – October 10, 2025 or March 1 – March 31, 2026

Unit 20D (Residents and Non-Residents)

September 27, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Small Game

• Grouse:
  • Units 1–6: August 1, 2025 – May 15, 2026
  • Units 7 and 15: August 10, 2025 – March 31, 2026
  • Units 8 and 10: no open season
  • Units 9, 17–19, 21–24, and 26: August 10, 2025 – April 30, 2026
  • Units 11-12, remainder of Unit 20, and Unit 25: August 10, 2025 – March 31, 2026
  • Units 13, 14A, 14B, and 16: August 10, 2025 – March 31, 2026
  • Unit 14C: September 1, 2025 – Marhc 31, 2026
  • Unit 20D: August 25, 20225 – March 31, 2026
• Ptarmigan:
  • Units 1-5, 6A, 6B, and 6C: August 1, 2025 – May 15, 2026
  • Unit 15C, that portion north of Kachemak Bay and north of the Fox River: August 10, 2025 – January 31, 2026
  • Units 6D, 7, 11, 13A, 13C, 13D, 14A, 14B, 15A, 15B, 15C remainder, and 16: August 10, 2025 – March 31, 2026
  • Unit 13B: August 20, 2025 – February 15, 2026
  • Unit 13 E: August 10, 2025 – February 15, 2026
  • Unit 14C, excluding Eklutna Management Area: August 10, 2025 – March 31, 2026
  • Unit 14C, Eklutna Management Area: September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
  • Units 8, 10, 17, 19, 21-22, 24, 25A, 25B, 25D, and Unit 26B within the DHCMA and Prudhoe Bay Closed Area: August 10, 2025 – April 30, 2026
  • Unit 9: August 10, 2025 – February 28, 2026
  • Units 12, 20, and 25C: August 10, 2025 – February 28, 2026
  • Unit 18: August 10, 2025 – MAy 15, 2026
  • Units 23 and 26, excluding Unit 26B within the DHCMA and Prudhoe Bay Closed Area: August 10, 2025 – June 15, 2026
• Hare:
  • Units 1–5, and 14C: September 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026
  • Units 18, 22, 23: Snowhose hare (no closed season), Alaska hare (August 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026)
  • All other open units: no closed season

Fur Animals

• Coyote:
  • Units 1-5, 18, and 22: September 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026
  • Units 6-7, 9-17, 19-21, and 23-26: No closed season
• Arctic Fox:
  • Unit 8: September 1, 2025 – February 15, 2026
  • Units 9, 17-18, 22-23, and 26: September 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026
  • Unit 10, Pribilof Islands: September 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026
  • Unit 10, remainder: No closed season
  • Units 24 & 25: September 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026
• Lynx:
  • Units 1–5, 10: No open season
  • Units 7 & 15: January 1 – February 15, 2026
  • Units 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 17: November 10, 2025 – February 28, 2026
  • Units 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20F, and 25C: December 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026
  • Units 12 & 20E: November 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026
  • Unit 18: November 10, 2025 – March 31, 2025
  • Units 19, 21, 24, and remainder of 25: November 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026
  • Units 22, 23, and 26: November 1, 2025 – April 15, 2026
• Squirrels: No close season

For additional details check the latest trapping and hunting regulations from the ADFG.