Dalton Highway Corridor In Unit 26B Opening For Muskox Hunt On October 1

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Muskox registration hunt RX110 to open in Unit 26B

Muskox registration hunt RX110 to open in Unit 26B (Fairbanks) – The muskox population in Unit 26B has declined recently, but the current harvestable surplus of bulls is sufficient to allow a limited registration hunt east of the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area. Four bull only permits will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis; two permits will be issued in Nuiqsut at 9:00 am on 1 October and two permits will be issued in Kaktovik at 4:00pm on 1 October.

Muskoxen were reintroduced to the North Slope in 1969 and 1970. The population has expanded and declined over time. The current population estimate is 220 muskoxen which is below the management objective but there is still a harvestable surplus of bull muskox available for this limited registration hunt. There are three hunt opportunities for muskoxen in 26B; TX108, DX112, and RX110 but this Advisory Announcement is only in reference to RX110.

RX110 is a subsistence only hunt which further restricts hunters by limiting transportation, requiring trophy destruction, and limiting permits to one per household.

Hunters are prohibited from the use of aircraft for transporting muskox, muskox hunters, or muskox hunting gear. Trophy destruction is required if the horns are transported out

of Unit 26. Trophy destruction involves cutting through both horns within 2 inches of the eye and hunters must submit the distal (end portion) of the horn to ADF&G in Fairbanks within 3 days of leaving Unit 26. The bag limit is one bull muskox, and season dates are December 15, 2026 – March 31, 2027.