The state has announced a winter moose hunt in the Goodnews River drainage. That’s the area that drains into Kuskokwim Bay south of the Carter Bay drainage.
The bag limit for the Goodnews River area winter hunt is one moose, either a bull or a cow. The opening began Dec. 1 and ends Mar. 15, but it could end early if the quota is reached.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game said that 12 bulls were harvested in the Goodnews River drainage during the fall hunt. Biologists say that the population can accommodate 18 more moose being taken. If that number is reached, the hunt will end.
About a week earlier, the state announced a winter moose hunt near Quinhagak. State biologist Phillip Perry said that’s the first time in at least 20 years that a winter moose hunt has been opened in that area.
He said that Quinhagak wrote a letter to the department requesting the winter hunt, which pointed out that the fall harvest was low due to poor weather. Perry said that only six bulls were harvested near Quinhagak in the fall, and that the population could accommodate 15 more bulls being taken.
Perry said that in contrast, RM 615, the hunting area around the Kuskokwim River, had around 220 bulls taken, which is near the expected harvest.
