Registration Opening For Fortymile Caribou Winter Hunt In Zones 1 and 4

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

Winter Fortymile Caribou Registration Season in Zones 1 and 4 to Open

(Tok, Alaska) – The State of Alaska winter registration hunt (RC867) for Fortymile caribou in Zone 1, accessible from the Steese Highway and Chena Hot Springs Road, and in Zone 4 (White Mountains) will open on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. The RC867 hunt in Zones 1 and 4 was not opened as scheduled on October 27, 2025 to avoid over harvest of large numbers of caribou near the Steese Highway. Caribou have dispersed enough over the past 2-weeks to allow the RC867 hunt to open in these Zones without a conservation concern.

The remaining quota for Zones 1 and 4 combined is 190. The state hunting season is scheduled to remain open in Zones 2 and 3. There are currently 112 caribou remaining in the zone 3 quota, with no recent harvest reported. The closing date for all hunt zones is March 31, 2026, unless closed early by emergency order.

Hunters are reminded to call the Fortymile Caribou Herd Hotline (907) 267-2310 for updates about the hunt quota and bag limit before departing for the field to learn of zone closures.

These seasons and bag limits only apply to state caribou hunts in these areas. Hunters with questions about federal subsistence regulations should call (800) 474-2200.

Successful hunters must report within three days of the kill online at (http://hunt.alaska.gov), by phone (907- 883-2971), or in person at the ADF&G office in Tok. Hunters who report by phone must also mail their permit reports or drop them off to the Tok ADF&G office. Unsuccessful hunters must return their reports to the Tok office or report online at http://hunt.alaska.gov by April 15, 2026.

Hunters are urged to obtain a receipt when they turn in their hunt reports or to mail them by delivery confirmation receipt. Permit holders who fail to report will not be eligible to receive any permits (Draw, Targeted, Tier II, or Registration, including Tier I Nelchina caribou) during the next regulatory year, and may be cited.