Hunting in Alaska: Top Spots for Hunting in the Last Frontier

Alaska’s icy, untouched landscape draws hunters from near and far. The state, often referred to as “the last frontier,” is a popular destination for glacial explorers, Pacific cruise-goers, and adventurous hunters. It offers a wide range of game, including fowl, moose, deer, and small arctic creatures popular for their pelts.

Whether you are interested in braving the wild on your own or a guided tour that takes you hunting in Alaska, here are the top spots for hunting, divided into the six regions outlined by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

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The Southeast – Hunting season in Alaska generally runs from August through October. At this point in the year, the Southeast region Game Management Units 1-5 experience mild temperatures and overcast skies, with typical rain or drizzle most days. Heavily forested and mountainous, the region has fjords connecting its many islands. It is known for its hunting opportunities of waterfowl, deer, bears, and wolves, according to the Alaska Guide Services’ website directory of Alaska fishing and hunting services.
The Southcentral – The Southcentral region of Alaska spans the area containing GMUs 6, 7, 11, and 13-16. The weather is cooler here than in the Southeast, with snow often beginning in the early fall and lasting at times until April. The river valley, while forested, often clears to open hillsides, ideal for hunting mountain goats, wolverines, and many other species.

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The Southwest – Spanning GMUs 8-10 and 17, the weather here is typically damp, with frequent storms that bring wind, rain, cool temperatures, and possibly snow as early as October. The landscape is mostly covered with shorter trees and shrubs, contrasting the forests of the Southeast and Southcentral regions. The low-rolling hills of the Southwest make it the ideal location to hunt small game, fowl, and bears.
The Interior – The Alaska Guide Services cites the Interior region as popular for its “moose, caribou, bison, Dall sheep, wolves and bears.” Covering GMUs 12, 19-21, 24, and 25, the region is known for its cool and even cold temperatures in early fall, with rain in August and snow beginning in September. At lower elevations, the region is forested, but as it progresses into the Alaska Mountain Range and the Brooks Range, there are high peaks with vegetation typical of mountain ranges.
The Western – This area includes only GMUs 18 and 22, and it is known for its cool temperatures caused by storms off the Bering Sea. It is primarily wet lowlands, bordered by hills, sparsely populated by trees, and low shrubbery. Moose, wolf, some bears, and related species populate this region.
The Arctic – GMUs 23 and 26 cover the northern-most parts of Alaska and are cold nearly year-round. Strewn across the region are small lakes and low hills with little vegetation due to the cold temperatures. The Arctic is known for its animals hunted for pelts, such as wolves, caribou, and small game.