State Expects Fall Fortymile Caribou Hunts To Close By August 21

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

Fall Fortymile Caribou Season in Zones 1 and 4 to Close August 21

(Tok) – The State of Alaska fall registration hunt (RC860) for Fortymile caribou in Zone 1, accessible from the Steese Highway and Chena Hot Springs Road, and in Zone 4 (White Mountains) will close on August 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Harvest success of Fortymile caribou in Zones 1 and 4, near the Steese Highway, is expected to be high based on the current distribution of the herd.

We expect the harvest quota to be met within the first 48 hours of the hunt opening on August 20, 2026. As a conservation measure, the RC860 hunt in Zones 1 and 4 will close on August 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM. The state caribou hunting season (RC860) opened on August 10, in Zone 2, and will open in Zone 3 on August 20, 2026 as scheduled.

The fall harvest quota is subdivided between 4 zones within the RC860 registration hunt area, each with its own quota. The overall 2026 fall quota is 415 bulls, with 190 allocated to Zones 1 and 4 combined, 100 for Zone 2, and 125 for Zone 3.

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 inTok. 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 October 15.

Hunters are urged to obtain a receipt when submitting hunt reports or use mail with delivery confirmation

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.