BIG GAME ABOUNDS IN GMU 24
GMU PrOFILE
Caribou are abundant in Game Management Unit 24, which lies on the southern flanks of the central Brooks Range. It’s part of the range of three herds – Western Arctic, Teshakpuk and Central – and they all make an appearance at one time or another here in this bull hunting haven. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
Editor’s note: From the Alaska Panhandle to the “top of the world” in Barrow/Utqiagvik, Alaska contains 26 game management units that feature land for hunting and other outdoor activities. Our Arctic adventurer Paul Atkins is breaking down some of the units he’s hunted in the past in this ongoing feature. This issue: GMU 24
BY PAUL D. ATKINS
I
guess if I didn’t live and hunt in my beloved Game Management Unit 23, then Unit 24, which lies to the east, would be my second choice for hunting and fishing up here in the North Country. The unit is actually considered by many as the ideal hunting grounds in all of Alaska. Unit 24 isn’t as big as the other northern units, but even with its smaller size, it still holds some of the best hunting in the state. The famous Koyukuk River runs through parts of the unit, which is well known for big moose and bear. Most of Unit 24 is above the Arctic
Circle and contains towns such as Coldfoot, Hughes and famous Anaktuvuk Pass, which literally means “the place of caribou droppings.” My good friend and outdoor writer Scott Haugen lived there for several years, and from what he told me and from the photos I saw, it’s an incredible place.
THE DALTON HIGHWAY CORRIDOR runs through the east side of the unit and is very popular with hunters who want to try their luck at moose, if they’re lucky enough to draw a tag. The area has a
bowhunting-only zone that has become a destination for hunters down south. To get there you must venture up the “haul road,” the Dalton Highway, which can be accessed via Anchorage, but it takes time. Many avid Alaska hunters consider the trip a must-do that everyone needs to experience at least once. But if you do, you have to follow the rules and make sure you are prepared for the long journey. Like other units in the state, GMU 24 is broken down into subareas. From east to west, those are 24A, -B, -C and
aksportingjournal.com | AUGUST 2020
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
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