Alaska Bear Season 2026-27
Alaska bear season dates start with Sep 1, 2026-Jun 30, 2027. The table below keeps every listed bear row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
Alaska's listed 2026-27 bear season runs Sep 1, 2026-Jun 30, 2027.
General - Nonresidents with guide or kindred Black Bear opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Jun 30, 2027.
Drawing - Nonresidents without guide (DL027) Black Bear opens Sep 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.
Bear
24 listed rowsBlack 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
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
Black 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 (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 (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
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
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
Nonresident - Fall
Nonresidents only. Permit RB077 (guided by Alaska-licensed guide) or DB077 (guided by resident relative). 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. 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
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.
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 BearNonresident - Registration Permit (RB077) · Unit 4 remainderNonresidents guided by Alaska-licensed guide. Permit available beginning Aug 14. | Open | |
| Brown/Grizzly BearNonresident - Drawing Permit (DB077) · Unit 4 remainderNonresidents guided by resident relative only. | Open | |
| 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 | |
| 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 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 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 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 (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 |
The Friday Hunting Briefing.
Gear deals worth grabbing, the week's hunting news, and field-tested picks — curated every Friday by a hunter, for hunters. Free, unsubscribe anytime.
Alaska Bear Season FAQ
When does bear season open in Alaska?
September 1, 2026 is the earliest listed bear opener in Alaska — general - residents black bear runs Sep 1, 2026-Jun 30, 2027. Confirm zone and permit details with Alaska ADF&G.
What are the 2026-27 bear season dates in Alaska?
Alaska lists 24 bear season windows: General - Residents Black Bear (Sep 1, 2026-Jun 30, 2027); General - Nonresidents with guide or kindred Black Bear (Sep 1, 2026-Jun 30, 2027); Drawing - Nonresidents without guide (DL027) Black Bear (Sep 1-Dec 31, 2026); General (Residents) Black Bear (Sep 1, 2026-Jun 30, 2027); General (Nonresidents with guide or kindred) Black Bear (Sep 1, 2026-Jun 30, 2027); Drawing (Nonresidents without guide or kindred) - DL027 Black Bear (Sep 1-Dec 31, 2026); Drawing - Nonresidents without guide (DL028) Black Bear (Jan 1-Jun 30, 2027); Drawing (Nonresidents without guide or kindred) - DL028 Black Bear (Jan 1-Jun 30, 2027); and more. Always verify against Alaska ADF&G before hunting.
Are there different bear seasons in Alaska?
Yes — Alaska lists separate bear seasons for General - Residents Black Bear, General - Nonresidents with guide or kindred Black Bear, Drawing - Nonresidents without guide (DL027) Black Bear, General (Residents) Black Bear, General (Nonresidents with guide or kindred) Black Bear, Drawing (Nonresidents without guide or kindred) - DL027 Black Bear. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and Alaska ADF&G.
Do I need a license to hunt bear in Alaska?
Yes. Alaska generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and bear hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with Alaska ADF&G.