Remainder Caribou Hunt In Unit 26B To Feature Bull Harvests Only

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

Unit 26B Remainder Caribou Bag Limit is Bulls only for 2026

(Fairbanks) – The Alaska resident caribou bag limit in 26B Remainder will be 5 bull caribou starting 1 July 2026. The 2025 population estimate for the Central Arctic caribou herd (CAH) showed that the herd has declined below the management objectives and cow harvest will be curtailed until the population rebounds. The 2025 population estimate was 26,600 caribou, a decline from the 2022 population estimate of 35,000 caribou.

The CAH are currently managed with a population objective of 28,000 to 32,000 caribou. Although elimination of cow caribou from the bag limit is necessary until the herd recovers to the population objectives, high bull:cow ratio’s in the herd support liberal opportunity to harvest bulls. For these conservation reasons, beginning July 1, 2026, the resident bag limit for Unit 26B Remainder will be changed to 5 bulls. The Board of Game may address the future harvest strategy for Central Arctic caribou at their March 2027 meeting.