When I speak with clients, one of the most consistent questions that come up about Alaska are based on how long they will have to wait on a draw to get a ”permit.” More often than not, hunters don’t realize that there are great over the counter (OTC) options in Alaska that may be better than the permits on the draw. There is a misconception that a tag that is on a draw will always be better than the OTC options because of how the process works in other hunting states. This is due to certain populations being managed for trophy in limited draw units or a specific buck to doe ratio. However, that really isn’t the case when it comes to Alaska and the vastness of this wild place.
**I do want to enlighten everyone that tags in most states have a different name in Alaska. They are called “permits” and when you get your permit, you will have to purchase a “metal locking tag” to put on your animal once it is harvested. **
I am here to tell you that there are some great places in Alaska that could be hunted over and over and you never have to get involved with the draw! So the question begs to be asked. “What species can I hunt with an OTC permit?” Below are the 3 must have permits for Alaska.
1. Caribou
Photo Credit- Keith Naylor
According to Alaska Game and Fish, there are roughly 950,000 Caribou in the state that are separated into 32 different herds. This does include herds that are in the Yukon Territories. Each year, there are roughly 22k animals harvested which tells you there are significant amounts of permits out there for hunters to get their hands on. Hunts are specific to an area and a specific season date. Some hunts are bull only, while others are cow only so you will need to pay attention to the specific permit you are looking to snag. Also, season dates are all over the place with some units having multiple date options. If you really want a hunt that will get you into no-man’s land, look to Unit 8 on Kodiak.
2. Blacktail Deer
Photo Credit- Chris Mitchell
Blacktail are a very nice deer that is smaller in body and antler size than their larger ungulate brothers and sisters such as the mule deer and white tails. I would compare them much more to a coues deer from AZ. They are a very fun hunt, tasty meat and there are super liberal seasons for them. Guys and gals could come out, shoot 1-4 bucks depending on the unit and the season dates could be August 1-Dec 31st! Wow! There are many outfitters that use this as a great social hunt to really have a good time and see some action. I would not call this a trophy hunt and instead say it is one hell of a great experience in Alaska. If you want to have a good time and see some animals while exploring Alaska, this is the hunt you want to take advantage of.
3. Moose
Photo Credit- Ryan Menard
Moose are the most sought after big game animal that I’ve seen personally from clients in Alaska. When it comes to over the counter options, you have solid season options and multiple options at that. Some units are remainder permit options while others are purely general permit units. You will also see verbiage such as “One bull with spike-fork antlers or 50-inch antlers or antlers with 3 or more brow tines on at least one side” which is telling you what animal you are allowed to harvest. If you want to get yourself a trophy bull, it is highly suggested that you have great optics so you can tell the size and details of the paddles to ensure you are hunting a legal bull.
So how do you get one of these permits in your hands? You can simply purchase them with your locking tag in a sporting good store in the state of Alaska when you arrive. However, you will have to get all your logistics in line prior to hunting in Alaska since you will need transportation to the state, room and board throughout and travel to your area of hunting. This is usually with a transporter or outfitter depending on the areas. You will also either be taking a kayak down river or you will have a chartered flight getting you in a very remote area. All things considered, you can see why logistics are a big thing to conquer. I like to get the permits over to clients at least a month in advance along with their metal locking tags to ensure that you are not without them when you arrive to Alaska. You can always have difficulty getting something when you need it most and being proactive is the best way to take the stress away.
If you have any questions or would like to talk about getting yourself in position to get a draw permit or one over the counter, please feel contact me and let’s get you headed in the right direction.
Alex~
Comments