Alaska Administrative Code › Title 5 - Fish and Game › Part 3 - Game › Chapter 85 - Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits › Article 2 - Seasons and Bag Limits › 5 AAC 85.065 - Hunting seasons and bag limits for small game

Current through May 31, 2024
(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 sharptailed 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 15 per day, 30 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.