Alaska 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Alaska's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Aug 1-Dec 31, 2026.
Big game season opens Aug 1, 2026 and closes Dec 31, 2026.
Big game season opens Aug 1, 2026 and closes Dec 31, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Alaska ADF&G.
- firearm deer
- Aug 1-Dec 31, 2026
- big game
- Aug 1-Dec 31, 2026
- big game
- Aug 1-Dec 31, 2026
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Key seasons by species
How to read Alaska's seasons
Everything starts with your Game Management Unit
Alaska's seasons are organized around Game Management Units (GMUs) and subunits, and dates for the same species can differ widely from one unit to the next. A statewide row is only a starting point — the unit is what determines your actual season and bag limit.
Resident, nonresident, drawing, and registration hunts all layer on top of that. Confirm unit boundaries, permit type, and any subsistence rules with the official Alaska Department of Fish and Game source before you travel.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Alaska ADF&G before hunting.
Deer
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Nonresident
Nonresidents only. Bucks only Aug 1-Dec 31. Federal restrictions may apply.
Zone: Unit 4 remainder
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Nonresident - Bucks Only
Nonresidents only. Two bucks limit Aug 1-Dec 31. Harvest ticket required.
Zone: Unit 4 - Chichagof Island east of Port Frederick and north of Tenakee Inlet, excluding drainages running south into Tenakee Inlet
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Residents and nonresidents. Harvest ticket required. Federal restrictions may apply. Same day airborne hunting allowed. Evidence of sex must remain naturally attached. Harvest tickets must be validated in sequential order.
Zone: Unit 2
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Residents and nonresidents (B). Harvest ticket (HT). Federal restrictions may apply, see pg. 8. Same day airborne hunting allowed, see pg. 19. Harvest tickets must be validated in sequential order, unused tickets must be carried when hunting. Evidence of sex must remain naturally attached to meat or antlers must remain naturally attached to entire carcass.
Zone: Unit 2 - Prince of Wales Island
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Nonresident
Nonresidents only. Bucks only Aug 1-Dec 31. Federal restrictions may apply.
Zone: Unit 4 - Chichagof Island east of Port Frederick and north of Tenakee Inlet, excluding drainages running south into Tenakee Inlet
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Nonresident - Bucks Only
Nonresidents only. Two bucks limit Aug 1-Dec 31. Harvest ticket required.
Zone: Unit 4 remainder
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Resident - Any Deer
Residents only. Harvest ticket (HT). Any deer Sept 15-Dec 31; bucks only Aug 1-Sept 14. Federal restrictions may apply.
Zone: Unit 4 remainder
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Resident - Any Deer
Residents only. Harvest ticket (HT). Any deer Sept 15-Dec 31; bucks only Aug 1-Sept 14. Federal restrictions may apply.
Zone: Unit 4 - Chichagof Island east of Port Frederick and north of Tenakee Inlet, excluding drainages running south into Tenakee Inlet
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Resident - Bucks Only
Residents only. Harvest ticket (HT). Bucks only Aug 1-Sept 14; any deer Sept 15-Dec 31. Federal restrictions may apply. Same day airborne hunting allowed. Harvest tickets must be validated in sequential order.
Zone: Unit 4 - Chichagof Island east of Port Frederick and north of Tenakee Inlet, excluding drainages running south into Tenakee Inlet
Sitka Black-tailed Deer
Resident - Bucks Only
Residents only. Harvest ticket (HT). Bucks only Aug 1-Sept 14; any deer Sept 15-Dec 31. Federal restrictions may apply.
Zone: Unit 4 remainder
Bear
24 listed rowsBlack Bear
Drawing - Nonresidents without guide (DL027)
Nonresident hunters NOT using a registered guide and NOT accompanied by resident second-degree of kindred. Permit hunt DL027.
Zone: Unit 2
Black Bear
General (Nonresidents with guide or kindred)
Nonresidents using a registered guide or accompanied by resident second-degree of kindred. Harvest ticket (HT). See pg. 10.
Zone: Unit 2 - Prince of Wales Island
Black Bear
General (Residents)
Residents only (R). Harvest ticket (HT). Evidence of sex must remain naturally attached. If you wound a black bear, it counts toward your bag limit for the regulatory year.
Zone: Unit 2 - Prince of Wales Island
Black Bear
General - Residents
Residents only. Evidence of sex must remain naturally attached. If you wound a black bear, it counts toward your bag limit for the regulatory year.
Zone: Unit 2
Black Bear
Drawing (Nonresidents without guide or kindred) - DL027
Nonresidents NOT using a registered guide and NOT accompanied by resident second-degree of kindred. Permit hunt DL027. See pg. 10.
Zone: Unit 2 - Prince of Wales Island
Black Bear
General - Nonresidents with guide or kindred
Nonresident hunters using a registered guide, or accompanied by resident second-degree of kindred. Harvest ticket (HT).
Zone: Unit 2
Brown/Grizzly Bear
Nonresident - Drawing Permit (DB077)
Nonresidents guided by resident relative only. Evidence of sex must remain naturally attached to hide.
Zone: Unit 4 - Chichagof Island south and west of line from Rock Point to Rodgers Point including Yakobi and adjacent islands; Baranof Island south and west of line from Nismeni Point to entrance of Gut Ba…
Brown/Grizzly Bear
Nonresident - Registration Permit (RB077)
Nonresidents guided by Alaska-licensed guide. Permit available beginning Aug 14.
Zone: Unit 4 remainder
Brown/Grizzly Bear
Resident - Fall
Residents only. Permit RB077. Available online at hunt.alaska.gov or in person in Douglas, Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka beginning Aug 14. Nonresidents must be accompanied by a guide.
Zone: Unit 4 remainder
Brown/Grizzly Bear
Resident - Registration Permit (RB077)
Residents only. Permit available online at hunt.alaska.gov or in person in Douglas, Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka beginning Aug 14. Nonresidents must be accompanied by a guide. Evidence of sex must remain naturally attached to hide. Hunters must watch brown bear identification video 'Take a Closer Look' before obtaining permit.
Zone: Unit 4 - Chichagof Island south and west of line from Rock Point to Rodgers Point including Yakobi and adjacent islands; Baranof Island south and west of line from Nismeni Point to entrance of Gut Ba…
Brown/Grizzly Bear
Nonresident - Registration Permit (RB077)
Nonresidents guided by Alaska-licensed guide. Permit available beginning Aug 14. Evidence of sex must remain naturally attached to hide.
Zone: Unit 4 - Chichagof Island south and west of line from Rock Point to Rodgers Point including Yakobi and adjacent islands; Baranof Island south and west of line from Nismeni Point to entrance of Gut Ba…
Brown/Grizzly Bear
Nonresident - Drawing Permit (DB077)
Nonresidents guided by resident relative only.
Zone: Unit 4 remainder
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black BearDrawing - Nonresidents without guide (DL028) · Unit 2Nonresident hunters NOT using a registered guide and NOT accompanied by resident second-degree of kindred. Permit hunt DL028. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearDrawing (Nonresidents without guide or kindred) - DL028 · Unit 2 - Prince of Wales IslandNonresidents NOT using a registered guide and NOT accompanied by resident second-degree of kindred. Permit hunt DL028. See pg. 10. | Upcoming | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearResident - Registration Permit (RB077) · Unit 4 remainderResidents only. Permit available online at hunt.alaska.gov or in person in Douglas, Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka beginning Aug 14. | Open | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearNonresident - Fall · Unit 4 remainderNonresidents only. Permit RB077 (guided by Alaska-licensed guide) or DB077 (guided by resident relative). Nonresidents must be accompanied by a guide. | Open | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearNonresident - Drawing Permit (DB088) · Unit 4 - Chichagof Island south and west of line from Rock Point to Rodgers Point including Yakobi and adjacent islands; Baranof Island south and west of line from Nismeni Point to entrance of Gut Ba…Nonresidents guided by resident relative only. Permit available beginning Mar 1. | Upcoming | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearNonresident - Registration Permit (RB089) · Unit 4 remainderNonresidents guided by Alaska-licensed guide. Permit available beginning Mar 1. | Upcoming | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearNonresident - Drawing Permit (DB089) · Unit 4 remainderNonresidents guided by resident relative only. Permit available beginning Mar 1. | Upcoming | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearResident - Registration Permit (RB089) · Unit 4 remainderResidents only. Permit available online at hunt.alaska.gov or in person in Douglas, Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka beginning Mar 1. | Upcoming | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearNonresident - Registration Permit (RB088) · Unit 4 - Chichagof Island south and west of line from Rock Point to Rodgers Point including Yakobi and adjacent islands; Baranof Island south and west of line from Nismeni Point to entrance of Gut Ba…Nonresidents guided by Alaska-licensed guide. Permit available beginning Mar 1. | Upcoming | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearResident - Registration Permit (RB088) · Unit 4 - Chichagof Island south and west of line from Rock Point to Rodgers Point including Yakobi and adjacent islands; Baranof Island south and west of line from Nismeni Point to entrance of Gut Ba…Residents only. Permit available online at hunt.alaska.gov or in person in Douglas, Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka beginning Mar 1. | Upcoming | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearResident - Spring · Unit 4 remainderResidents only. Permit RB089. Available online at hunt.alaska.gov or in person in Douglas, Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka beginning Mar 1. | Upcoming | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearNonresident - Spring · Unit 4 remainderNonresidents only. Permit RB089 (guided by Alaska-licensed guide) or DB089 (guided by resident relative). Nonresidents must be accompanied by a guide. | Upcoming |
Furbearer
Wolverine
General
Residents and nonresidents. Hides must be sealed within 30 days of kill.
Zone: Unit 2
Wolverine
General
Residents and nonresidents (B). Hides must be sealed within 30 days of kill.
Zone: Unit 2 - Prince of Wales Island
Wolverine
General
Residents and nonresidents. Hides must be sealed within 30 days of kill.
Zone: Unit 4
Big Game
Mountain Goat
Registration Permit (RG150)
Residents and nonresidents. Permit available online at hunt.alaska.gov or in person in Douglas, Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka beginning July 15. Some zones may be closed by emergency order due to overharvest concerns. Taking nannies with kids prohibited. Nonresident hunters must be accompanied by a guide. All hunters must complete online Mountain Goat Identification quiz prior to hunting. If you wound a goat it counts toward bag limit.
Zone: Unit 4 - Baranof Island
Mountain Goat
General
Residents and nonresidents. Permit RG150. Available online at hunt.alaska.gov or in person in Douglas, Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Sitka beginning July 15. Some zones may be closed by emergency order due to overharvest concerns. Taking of nannies with kids prohibited; taking of males encouraged. Nonresident hunters must be accompanied by a guide. All hunters must complete online Mountain Goat Identification quiz prior to hunting.
Zone: Unit 4 - Baranof Island
Other
Wolf
General
Residents and nonresidents. Hides must be sealed within 30 days of kill.
Zone: Unit 4
Wolf
General
Residents and nonresidents. All wolves must be sequentially numbered or marked. Hunter must call ADF&G Ketchikan office (907) 225-2475 within 7 days of take. All hides must be sealed within 15 days of take.
Zone: Unit 2
Wolf
General
Residents and nonresidents (B). All wolves must be sequentially numbered or marked by the hunter. Hunter must call ADF&G Ketchikan office at (907) 225-2475 within 7 days of take to report date and location. All hides must be sealed within 15 days of take.
Zone: Unit 2 - Prince of Wales Island
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Alaska Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Alaska?
August 1, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Alaska; it is nonresident sitka black-tailed deer Aug 1-Dec 31, 2026.
When is Alaska's firearm deer season?
Aug 1-Dec 31, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Alaska. Check zone and permit details with Alaska ADF&G before hunting.
Do I need a license to hunt in Alaska?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Alaska hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Alaska ADF&G.