Title 5 . Fish and Game

Chapter 85 . Statewide Provisions

Section 65. Hunting seasons and bag limits for small game

5 AAC 85.065. Hunting seasons and bag limits for small game

(a) In this section, the phrase "General hunt only" means that there is a general hunt for residents, but no subsistence hunt, during the relevant open season. For those units or portions of units within non-subsistence areas established by the Joint Boards of Fisheries and Game (5 AAC 99.015) , there is a general hunt only. Hunting seasons and bag limits for small game are as follows:

Resident Open Season (Subsistence and Nonresident Units and Bag Limits General Hunts) Open Season (1) Grouse (spruce, blue, ruffed, and sharp-tailed) Units 1 - 6 Aug. 1 - May 15 Aug. 1 - May 15 (General hunt only) 5 per day, 10 in possession Units 7 and 15 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only) 10 per day, 20 in posses- sion, of which not more than 1 per day and 2 in possession may be ruffed grouse Units 8 and 10 No open season. No open season. Unit 9 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only) 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion Unit 11 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion Units 12, 20(B), Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 remainder of (General hunt only) 20(D), 20(E), and 25(C) 15 per day, 30 in posses- Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 sion however, a season may be announced by emergency order during which the bag limit is less than 15 grouse per day, 30 in possession Unit 13 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion, of which not more than 2 per day and 4 in possession may be ruffed grouse Units 14(A) and 14(B) Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only) 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion, of which not more than 2 per day and 4 in possession may be ruffed grouse Unit 14(C) Day after Labor Day after Labor Day - Mar. 31 Day - Mar. 31 (General hunt only) 5 per day, 10 in posses- sion, of which not more than 2 per day and 4 in possession may be ruffed grouse Unit 16 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion, of which not more than 2 per day and 4 in possession may be ruffed grouse Units 17 - 19 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only) 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion Units 20(A), 20(C), and 20(F) Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 (General hunt only) 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion Unit 20(D), that portion lying west of the east bank of the Johnson River and south of the north bank of the Tanana River 10 per day, of which not Aug. 10 - Aug. 24 Aug. 10 - Aug. 24 more than 2 may be sharp- tailed grouse, by falconry only; 10 in possession, of which not more than 2 may be sharp-tailed grouse, by falconry only 15 per day, of which not Aug. 25 - Mar. 31 Aug. 25 - Mar. 31 more than 5 may be sharp- tailed grouse, 30 in possession, of which not more than 10 may be sharp- tailed grouse; however, a season may be announced by emergency order during which the bag limit is less than 15 grouse per day, 30 in possession, and less than 5 sharp-tailed grouse per day, 10 in possession Units 21 and 24 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only) 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion Units 22 and 23 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion Unit 25(A), 25(B), Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 and 25(D) (General hunt only) 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion Unit 26 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only) 15 per day, 30 in posses- sion (2) Snowshoe and Arctic hares Units 1 - 5 Sept. 1 - Apr. 30 Sept. 1 - Apr. 30 (General hunt only) Units 6 - 26, except 14(A) No closed season. No closed season. and 14(C) (General hunt only) No limit Unit 14(A) No closed season. No closed season. (General hunt only) 5 per day Unit 14(C) Day after Labor Day after Labor Day - Apr. 30 Day - Apr. 30 (General hunt only) 5 per day (3) Ptarmigan (rock, willow, and white-tailed) Units 1 - 5, 6(A), 6(B), Aug. 1 - May 15 Aug. 1 - May 15 and 6(C) (General hunt only) 20 per day, 40 in possession Units 6(D), 7, 11, 13(C), 13(D) and 14 - 16 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 Aug. 10 - Mar. 31 10 per day, 20 in possession Units 13(A), 13(B), and 13(E) 10 per day, 20 in possession Aug. 10 - Nov. 30 Aug. 10 - Nov. 30 5 per day, 10 in possession Dec. 1 - Mar. 31 Dec. 1 - Mar. 31 however, a season may be announced during which the bag limit is up to 10 per day, 20 in possession Units 8 - 10, 17 - 19, Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 21, 24, 25 (except 25(C)), (General hunt only) and the Dalton Highway Corridor and Prudhoe Bay Closed Area in Unit 26(B) 20 per day, 40 in posses- sion Unit 22 Sept. 1 - Apr. 30 Sept. 1 - Apr. 30 20 per day, 40 in posses- sion Units 23 and 26 Aug. 10 - June 15 Aug. 10 - June 15 (except within the (General hunt only) Dalton Highway Corridor and Prudhoe Bay Closed Area in Unit 26(B)) 50 per day, 100 in possession Units 12, 20, and Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 Aug. 10 - Apr. 30 25(C) (General hunt only) 20 per day, 40 in possession; however, a season may be announced by emergency order during which the bag limit is less than 20 ptarmigan per day, 40 in possession (4) Migratory game birds (except by falconry) 1 (A) Ducks (except sea ducks) 3 Units 1 - 4 7 per day, Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 21 in possession; (General hunt only) however no more than 1 per day, 3 in possession may be canvasbacks Units 5 - 7, 9, 10, (Unimak Is. only), and 14 - 16 8 per day, Sept.1 - Dec. 16 Sept.1 - Dec. 16 24 in possession; (General hunt only) however no more than 1 per day, 3 in possession may be canvasbacks Units 8 and 10 (except Unimak Is.) 7 per day, Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 21 in possession; (General hunt only) however no more than 1 per day, 3 in possession may be canvasbacks Units 11 - 13 and 17 - 26

10 per day, Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 30 in possession; (General hunt only) however no more than 1 per day, 3 in possession may be canvasbacks (B) Sea ducks (except spectacled and Steller's eiders) 3 Units 1 - 4 RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 possession, of which (General hunt only) no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be harlequin ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 7 per day, 20 in possession; however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season Units 5 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Is. only), and 14 - 16 RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 possession, of which (General hunt only) no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be harlequin ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 8 per day, 20 in Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 possession; however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season Units 8 and 10 (except Unimak Is.) RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 possession, of which (General hunt only) no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be harlequin ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 7 per day, 20 in possession; Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season Units 11 - 13 and 17 - 26 RESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 possession, of which (General hunt only) no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be harlequin ducks and no more than 6 per day, 12 in possession, may be long-tailed ducks NONRESIDENT HUNTERS: 10 per day, 20 in Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 possession; however, no more than 4 each of any sea duck species may be taken per season; and no more than 20 sea ducks of all species may be taken per season

(C) Repealed 8/31/94 (D) Repealed 8/26/96 (E) Geese, Dark (including Canada and white-fronted geese combined, except as specified) Units 1 - 4, 7, 9(A) - 9(C), Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 11 - 17, and 19 - 26 (General hunt only) 4 per day, 8 in posses- sion Units 9(D) and 10 (Unimak Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Is. only) (General hunt only) 6 per day, 12 in posses- sion Units 9(E) and 18 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only) 4 per day, 8 in posses- sion; however, no more than 2 per day, 4 in posses- sion may be Canada geese Units 5 and 6 (except Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Middleton Is.) (General hunt only) 4 per day, 8 in posses- sion; however, Canada geese may be taken only from Sept. 28 - Dec. 16 Unit 6 (Middleton Is. only) 4 per day, 8 in posses- Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 sion; however, Canada geese may be taken only from Sept. 28 - Dec. 16 with a limit of 1 per day, 1 in possession, and only by special archery permit Unit 8 - (Canada geese) No open season. No open season. - (White-fronted geese) Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 (General hunt only) 4 per day, 8 in posses- sion Unit 10 (except Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Unimak Is.) (General hunt only) 4 per day, 8 in possession (F) Geese, Light (Snow and Ross') Units 1 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Is. only), and 11 - 26 (General hunt only) 3 per day, 6 in posses- sion Units 8 and 10 (except Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Unimak Is.) (General hunt only) 3 per day, 6 in posses- sion (G) Brant Units 1 - 7, 10 (Unimak Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Is. only), and 11 - 26 (General hunt only) 2 per day, 4 in posses- sion Unit 9 Sept. 17 - Oct. 16 Sept. 17 - Oct. 16 (General hunt only) 2 per day, 4 in posses- sion Units 8 and 10 (except Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Unimak Is.) (General hunt only) 2 per day, 4 in possession (H) Emperor geese Units 1 - 26 No open season. No open season. (I) Cranes Units 1 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Is. only), and 14 - 17 (General hunt only) 2 per day, 4 in posses- sion Units 8 and 10 (except Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Unimak Is.) (General hunt only) 2 per day, 4 in posses- sion Units 11, 12, 13, and 18 - 26 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 (General hunt only) 3 per day, 6 in posses- sion (J) Snipe Units 1 - 7, 9, 10 (Unimak Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 Is. only), and 11 - 26 (General hunt only) 8 per day, 16 in posses- sion Units 8 and 10 (except Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Oct. 8 - Jan. 22 Unimak Is.) (General hunt only) 8 per day, 16 in posses- sion (K) Tundra swans Unit 17 Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 (General hunt only) 3 swans per season, by registration permit only; up to 200 permits will be issued Unit 18 Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 (General hunt only) 3 swans per season, by registration permit only; up to 300 permits will be issued Unit 22 Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 (General hunt only) 3 swans per season, by registration permit only; up to 200 permits will be issued Unit 23 Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 (General hunt only) 3 swans per season, by registration permit only; up to 200 permits will be issued All other units No open season. No open season.

(b) Repealed 6/16/91.

1. Note: The total combined bag and possession limit for migratory game birds taken with the use of a falcon under a falconry permit is three per day and six in possession and may not exceed a more restrictive limit for any of the species listed in 5 AAC 85.065(a) (4).

2. Note: Repealed 8/26/96.

3. Note: The limits for ducks in 5 AAC 85.065(a) (4)(A) include all species of ducks, except those designated as sea ducks. For the purposes of this regulation, sea ducks include harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, eiders, scoters, and common and red-breasted mergansers; however, there is no open season on spectacled or Steller's eiders.

History: Eff. 8/20/89, Register 111; am 9/1/89, Register 111; am 8/9/90, Register 115; am 8/12/90, Register 115; am 12/27/90, Register 116; am 6/16/91, Register 118; am 7/1/92, Register 122; am 5/13/93, Register 126; am 7/1/93, Register 126; am 8/25/94, Register 131; am 8/31/94, Register 131; am 9/8/94, Register 131; am 7/8/95, Register 135; am 7/9/95, Register 135; am 8/1/95, Register 135; am 8/4/95, Register 135; am 6/28/96, Register 138; am 8/26/96, Register 139; am 7/18/97, Register 143; am 7/26/97, Register 143; am 7/1/98, Register 146; add'l am 7/1/98, Register 146; am 8/6/98, Register 147; am 7/1/99, Register 150; am 7/7/99, Register 151; am 7/17/99, Register 151; am 9/29/99, Register 151; am 7/1/2000, Register 154; add'l am 7/1/2000, Register 154; am 7/24/2000, Register 155; am 7/6/2001, Register 159; am 10/27/2001, Register 160; am 7/1/2002, Register 162; am 7/1/2005, Register 174; am 8/31/2005, Register 175

Authority: AS 16.05.060

AS 16.05.255

AS 16.05.258