5 Alaska Admin. Code § 85.065

Current through September 25, 2024

Section 5 AAC 85.065 - Hunting seasons and bag limits for small game

(a) In this section, the phrase "General hunt only" means that there is a general hunt for residents, but no subsistence hunt, during the relevant open season. For those units or portions of units within non-subsistence areas established by the Joint Boards of Fisheries and Game (5 AAC 99.015), there is a general hunt only. Hunting seasons and bag limits for small game are as follows:

	Resident
Units and Bag Limits	Open Season (Subsistence and General Hunts)	Nonresident Open Season
(1) Grouse (spruce, blue, ruffed, and sharp-tailed) Units 1 - 6	Aug. 1 - May 15 (General Hunt only)	Aug. 1 - May 15
5 per day, 10 in possession Units 7 and 15	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - May 31 31
10 per day, 20 in possession, of which not more than 1 per day and 2 in possession may be ruffed grouse Units 8 and 10	No open season.	No open season.
Unit 9	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30
15 per day, 30 in possession Unit 11	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31
15 per day, 30 in possession Units 12, 20(B), remainder of 20(D), 20(E), and 25(C)	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31
15 per day, 30 in possession however, a season may be announced by emergency order during which the bag limit is less than 15 grouse per day, 30 in possession	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31
Unit 13	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31
15 per day, 30 in possession, of which not more than 2 per day and 4 in possession may be ruffed grouse Units 14(A) and 14(B)	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31
15 per day, 30 in possession, of which not more than 2 per day and 4 in possession may be ruffed grouse Unit 14(C)	Sept. 1 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Mar. 31
5 per day, 10 in possession, of which not more than 2 per day and 4 in possession may be ruffed grouse Unit 16	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31
15 per day, 30 in possession, of which not more than 2 per day and 4 in possession may be ruffed grouse Units 17 - 19	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30
15 per day, 30 in possession Units 20(A), 20(C), and 20(F)	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31
15 per day, 30 in possession Unit 20(D), that portion lying west of the east bank of the Johnson River and south of the north bank of the Tanana River 10 per day, of which not more than 2 may be sharptailed grouse, by falconry only; 10 in possession, of which not more than 2 may be sharp-tailed grouse, by falconry only	Aug. 10 - Aug. 24	Aug. 10 - Aug. 24
5 per day, 15 in possession, of which not more than 10 may be ruffed grouse or sharp-tailed grouse; however, a season may be announced by emergency order during which the bag limit is less than 5 grouse per day, 15 in possession, and less than 10 ruffed grouse or sharp-tailed grouse in possession	Aug. 25 - Mar. 31	Aug. 25 - Mar. 31
Units 21 and 24	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30
15 per day, 30 in possession Units 22 and 23	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30
15 per day, 30 in possession Unit 25(A), 25(B), and 25(D)	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31
15 per day, 30 in possession Unit 26	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30
15 per day, 30 in possession	Sept. 1 - Apr. 30	Sept. 1 - Apr. 30
(2) Snowshoe and Alaska hares Units 1 - 5	Sept. 1 - Apr. 30	Sept. 1 - Apr. 30
Units 6 - 26, except 14(A), 14(C), and Alaska hares in Unit 9, 18, 22, and 23	No closed season.	No closed season.
Alaska hares in Units 9, 17, 18, 22, and 23 No limit. Units 9 and 17 Alaska hares only 1 per day, 4 total	Nov. 1 - Jan. 31	Nov. 1 - Jan. 31
Unit 18, 22, and 23, Alaska hares only	Aug. 1 - May 31	Aug. 1 - May 31
2 per day, 6 total Unit 14(A) 5 per day	No closed season. (General hunt only)	No closed season.
Unit 14(C) 5 per day	Sept. 1 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Apr. 30
(3) Ptarmigan (rock, willow, and white-tailed) Kachemak Bay and north of the north bank of Fox River 5 per day, 10 in possession Units 1 - 5, 6(A), 6(B), and 6(C) 20 per day, 40 in possession	Aug. 1 - May 15 (General hunt only)	Aug. 1 - May 15
Unit 15C north of Kachemak Bay and north of the north bank of Fox River 5 per day, 10 in possession	Aug. 10 - Jan. 31	Aug. 10 - Jan. 31
Units 6(D), 7, 11, 13(A), 13(C), 13(D), and 14, remainder of 15, and 16 10 per day, 20 in possession	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31	Aug. 10 - Mar. 31.
Unit 13(B) and 13(E) 10 per day, 20 in possession	Aug. 10 - Feb. 15	Aug. 10 - Feb. 15
Unit 9 10 per day, 20 in possession	Aug. 10 - Last day of Feb.	Aug. 10 - Last day of Feb.
Units 8, 10, 17, 19, 21, 24, 25 (except 25(C)), and the Dalton Highway Corridor and Prudhoe Bay Closed Area in Unit 26(B) 20 per day, 40 in possession	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30
Unit 18 25 per day, 50 in possession	Aug. 10 - May 15	Aug. 10 - May 15
Unit 22 20 per day, 40 in possession	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30
Units 23 and 26 (except within the Dalton Highway Corridor and Prudhoe Bay Closed Area in Unit 26(B)) 50 per day, 100 in possession	Aug. 10 - June 15 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - June 15
Units 12, 20, and 25(C) 20 per day, 40 in possession; however, a season may be announced by emergency order during which the bag limit is less than 20 ptarmigan per day, 40 in possession	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only)	Aug. 10 - Apr. 30
(4) Migratory game birds (except by falconry)1 (A) Ducks (except sea ducks)3
Units 1 - 4 7 per day, 21 in possession; however no more than 2 per day, 6 in possession, may be canvasbacks	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
Units 5 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Is. only), and 14 - 16 8 per day, 24 in possession; however, no more than 2 per day, 6 in possession, may be canvasbacks	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)
Units 8 and 10 (except Unimak Is.) 7 per day, 21 in possession; however, no more than 2 per day, 6 in possession, may be canvasbacks	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)
Units 11 - 13 and 17 - 26 10 per day, 30 in possession; however, no more than 2 per day, 6 in possession, may be canvasbacks	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)
(B) Sea Ducks (except Spectacled and Steller's eiders)3 Units 1 - 4 RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in possession, of which no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be harlequin, ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 7 per day, 20 in possession, however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season Units 5 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Is. only), 14, remainder of 15, and 16		Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in possession, of which no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be harlequin ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 8 per day, 20 in possession; however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season Unit 15(C), that portion in Kachemak Bay east of a line from Point Pogibshi to Anchor Point	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in possession, of which no more than 2 per day, 4 in possession, may be harlequin ducks, no more than 2 per day, 4 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks, and no more than 1 per day, 2 in possession, may be an eider	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 8 per day, 20 in possession, of which no more than 2 per day, 4 in possession, may be harlequin ducks, no more than 2 per day, 4 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks, and no more than 1 per day, 2 in possession, may be an eider; however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season Units 8 and 10 (except Unimak Is.)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in possession, of which no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be harlequin ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 7 per day, 20 in possession; however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season Units 11 - 13 and 17 - 26	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in possession, of which no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be harlequin ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in possession; however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
(C) Geese, Canada and Cackling Combined
Units 1 - 4 Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 4 per day, 12 in possession	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31	Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
Units 7, 9, and 11 - 26 4 per day, 12 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Units 10 (Unimak Is. only) 6 per day, 18 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Unit 5 4 per day, 12 in possession Unit 6 (except Middleton Is.) 4 per day, 12 in possession	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16
Unit 6 (except Middleton Is.) 4 per day, 12 in possession	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16
Unit 6 (Middleton Is. only) Limit of 1 per day, 1 in possession, and only by registration permit	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16
Unit 8 (except Semidi Islands) Limit of 1 per day, 2 in possession	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
Unit 8 (Semidi Islands)	No open season.	No open season.
Unit 10 (except Unimak Is.) 6 per day, 18 in possession	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
(D) Geese, White-fronted
Units 1 - 4 Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 4 per day, 12 in possession	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31	Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
Units 5 - 7, 11 - 16, and 19 - 26 4 per day, 12 in possession	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16
Units 9, 10 (Unimak Is. only), and 17 6 per day, 18 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Unit 18 10 per day, 30 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Unit 8 4 per day, 12 in possession	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
Unit 10 (except Unimak Is.) 6 per day, 18 in possession	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
(E) Geese, Light (Snow and Ross')
Units 1 - 4 Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 6 per day, 18 in possession	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31	Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
Units 5 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Is. only), and 11 - 26 6 per day, 18 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Units 8 and 10 (except Unimak Is.) 6 per day, 18 in possession	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
(F) Brant	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 28 - Dec. 16
Units 1 - 4 Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 2 per day, 6 in possession	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31	Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
Units 5 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Is. only), and 11 - 26 2 per day, 6 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Units 8 and 10 (except Unimak Is.) 2 per day, 6 in possession	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
(G) Emperor geese
Units 1 - 7, 11 -16, 19 - 21, and 24 - 26	No open season.	No open season.
Units 8 and 10 RESIDENT HUNTERS: 1 goose by registration permit only	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 1 goose by drawing permit only; up to 25 permits may be issued in combination with Unit 9 Unit 9, that portion within the Izembek State Game Refuge		Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
RESIDENT HUNTERS: 1 goose by registration permit only	Oct. 16 - Oct. 31
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 1 goose by drawing permit only; up to 25 permits may be issued in combination with Units 8, the remainder of Unit 9, and 10 Unit 9, remainder		Oct. 16 - Oct. 31
RESIDENT HUNTERS: 1 goose by registration permit only	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 1 goose by drawing permit only; up to 25 permits may be issued in combination with Units 8, that portion of Unit 9 within the Izembek State Game Refuge, and 10		Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Units 17, 18, 22, and 23 1 goose by registration permit only	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16	No open season.
(H) Cranes
Units 1 - 4 Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 2 per day, 6 in possession	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31	Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
Units 5 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Is. only), and 14-17 2 per day, 6 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Units 8 and 10 (except Unimak Is.) 2 per day, 6 in possession	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
Units 11, 12, 13, and 18 - 26 3 per day, 9 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
(I) Snipe
Units 1 - 4 Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 8 per day, 24 in possession	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 16 - Dec. 31	Dec. 16 - Dec. 31
Units 5 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Is. only), and 11- 26 8 per day, 24 in possession	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16
Units 8 and 10 (except Unimak Is.) 8 per day, 24 in possession	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only)	Oct. 8 - Jan. 22
(J) Tundra swans
Unit 17 3 swans per season, by registration permit only; up to 200 permits will be issued	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31
Unit 18 3 swans per season, by registration permit only; up to 300 permits will be issued	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31
Unit 22 3 swans per season, by registration permit only; up to 200 permits will be issued	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31
Unit 23 3 swans per season, by registration permit only; up to 200 permits will be issued	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 (General hunt only)	Sept. 1 - Oct. 31
All other units	No open season.	No open season.

(b) Repealed 6/16/91.

1. Note: The total combined bag and possession limit for migratory game birds taken with the use of a falcon under a falconry permit is three per day and six in possession.

2. Note: Repealed 8/26/96.

3. Note: The limits for ducks in 5 AAC 85.065(a) (4)(A) include all species of ducks, except those designated as sea ducks. For the purposes of this regulation, sea ducks include harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, eiders, scoters, and common and red-breasted mergansers; however, there is no open season on spectacled or Steller's eiders.

5 AAC 85.065

Eff. 8/20/89, Register 111; am 9/1/89, Register 111; am 8/9/90, Register 115; am 8/12/90, Register 115; am 12/27/90, Register 116; am 6/16/91, Register 118; am 7/1/92, Register 122; am 5/13/93, Register 126; am 7/1/93, Register 126; am 8/25/94, Register 131; am 8/31/94, Register 131; am 9/8/94, Register 131; am 7/8/95, Register 135; am 7/9/95, Register 135; am 8/1/95, Register 135; am 8/4/95, Register 135; am 6/28/96, Register 138; am 8/26/96, Register 139; am 7/18/97, Register 143; am 7/26/97, Register 143; am 7/1/98, Register 146; add'l am 7/1/98, Register 146; am 8/6/98, Register 147; am 7/1/99, Register 150; am 7/7/99, Register 151; am 7/17/99, Register 151; am 9/29/99, Register 151; am 7/1/2000, Register 154; add'l am 7/1/2000, Register 154; am 7/24/2000, Register 155; am 7/6/2001, Register 159; am 10/27/2001, Register 160; am 7/1/2002, Register 162; am 7/1/2005, Register 174; am 8/31/2005, Register 175; am 8/31/2006, Register 179; am 8/31/2007, Register 183; am 8/31/2008, Register 187; am 7/1/2009, Register 190; am 8/31/2009, Register 191; am 9/1/2009, Register 191; am 7/1/2010, Register 194; am 8/31/2011, Register 199; am 7/1/2012, Register 202; am 8/31/2013, Register 207; am/readopt 8/31/2014, Register 211; am 9/2/2014, Register 211, October 2014; am 7/1/2015, Register 214, July 2015; am 8/31/2015, Register 215, October 2015; am 8/31/2016, Register 219, October 2016; am 7/1/2018, Register 226, July 2018 For amended:; am 7/1/2019, Register 230, June 2019; am 7/1/2019, Register 230, June 2019; am 7/1/2019, Register 230, June 2019; am 7/1/2020, Register 234, July 2020; add'l am 7/1/2020, Register 234, July 2020; am 8/26/2020, Register 235; am 8/31/2020, Register 236, January 2021; am 6/23/2022, Register 242, July 2022; am 8/31/2022, Register 243, October 2022; am 7/1/2023, Register 246, July 2023; am 7/28/2023, Register 247; am 7/7/2024, Register 251, October 2024

Authority:AS 16.05.060

AS 16.05.255

AS 16.05.258