Permits Available For Nonresident Caribou Hunt In Western Alaska

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

Permits Available for GMU 23 Nonresident Caribou Hunt

(Kotzebue) – Surplus drawing permits for the GMU 23 nonresident caribou hunt (DC923) will be issued on a first come-first served basis to hunters whose faxed, mailed, emailed or in-person applications are received at the Kotzebue Alaska Department of Fish &Game (ADF&G) office. Applications will continue to be accepted until all permits are issued.

Applicants must submit a completed Undersubscribed Hunt Application by fax, mail, email or in person to the Kotzebue ADF&G office to receive a permit. Applications are available from the Division of Wildlife Conservation website or from DWC offices. Hunters are limited to 1 application per hunt. Applications submitted prior to March 7 will not be accepted. Applications must be downloaded, completed, signed, and then mailed, emailed, or faxed to Kotzebue ADF&G office.

Specific information for this hunt can be found in the 2025-2026 Alaska Drawing Permit Hunt Supplement available at ADF&G offices, or online at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/web/nocache/license/huntlicense/pdfs/2025- 2026_draw_supplement.pdfE7FD71F247785E1D4067FF662ADCD026/2025-2026_draw_supplement.pdf.

The Undersubscribed Hunt Application and Drawing Permit Hunt Supplement which fully describes hunt conditions is available at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=huntlicense.undersubscribed.

Applicants should be aware that all Federal lands within GMU 23 are closed to nonresident caribou hunters which drastically reduces the huntable area. Inquiries about the Federal land closure should be directed to Lisa Grediagan, Office of Subsistence Management, at lisa_grediagin@fws.gov or (800) 478-1456. Hunters are encouraged to contact the Kotzebue ADF&G office for additional information prior to applying.

Hunters with questions about the application process for this hunt can call the Kotzebue ADF&G office at (907) 442-3420.

Submit Unit 23 applications to:

Alaska Department of Fish and Game PO Box 689
Kotzebue, AK 99752

Fax: (907) 442-2420
Email: dfg.dwc.gmu23@alaska.gov