Federal and state managers have expanded the moose hunt in the Lower Kuskokwim area to 240 bull moose. That’s 85 more moose than last year’s quota.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is opening a 15-day moose huntin the Unit 18 Kuskokwim area from September 1 to 15. Residents of Lower Kuskokwim communities between Eek and Kalskag, including the Johnson river, will be allowed to harvest one antlered bull moose on federally managed lands.
The harvest goal is 90 bull moose. That’s double last year’s quota. To accommodate the expansion, managers have extended the hunt opening one week.
USFWS want to cut the bull population in half. There are about 83 bulls per 100 cows. USFWS wants to reduce that ratio to 40 bulls per 100 cows.
The hunt on federally managed land will not close before the September 15 end date.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has also announced a moose hunt on state managed lands beginning September 1. Residents in the Unit 18 Lower Kuskokwim area from the mouth of the Kuskokwim to Kalskag, and the tributaries in between, will be allowed to harvest one antlered bull moose on state managed lands.
The harvest quota for state managed land is 150 bull moose. That’s 40 more moose than last year’s quota. The hunt will reduce the moose population to about 40 bulls per 100 cows.
The moose hunt on state managed land will close once the quota is met. For the last two years, when quotas were smaller, the hunt lasted four days.
Registration permits are free and available until August 25 at the ADF&G and USFWS offices in Bethel and at license vendors within the hunt area.
Successful hunters will have 72 hours to report their harvest. Unsuccessful hunters will have until September 25 to report.
