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GMU spotlight: Big game

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

Iguess 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

You can hunt Dall sheep on a harvest ticket in GMU 24, a rarity. Indeed, many hunters head north hoping for a chance at one of the most coveted animals in Alaska – or the world, for that matter. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

-D. Each has its own rules for hunting, drawing tags and species requirements. As I mentioned, moose are very popular in the unit, but so are caribou, which, like Unit 23, have a pretty liberal harvest limit for residents. Black bear along with grizzly can also be taken and residents can harvest two per year, which is also similar to Unit 23.

Something that is not like 23 is that

KEY OPENERS Aug. 1: Most Dall sheep seasons Aug. 1: Wolf season Aug. 1: Wolverine season Aug. 10: Brown bear season Aug. 10: Caribou season Sept. 1: Most resident moose seasons Sept. 5: Most nonresident moose seasons Year-round: Black bear season

On the far northern edge of the unit is the town of Anaktuvuk Pass, the name of which means “the place of caribou droppings.” It’s one of the last great hunting/ subsistence villages in the Arctic. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

Moose may be the most prized attraction here. Author Paul Atkins, who hails from just to the west, calls this unit one of the best-kept secrets, as many don’t realize the quantity and quality of its big game. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

Most of Unit 24 is above the Arctic Circle and its eastern side has a bowhunting-only zone that parallels the Dalton Highway. (ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME)

there is a sheep season still in place. Most resident hunts are on a harvest tag, which are easy to get, but getting to some of the places where sheep can be found may be a different story. Nonresidents can hunt there as well, but you still need a guide for sheep as well as grizzly.

GMU 24 MIGHT BE the best-kept secret to some; to others it is a hunting mecca. The area contains some of the most beautiful country during the summer and fall, but it can also be some of the harshest and deadliest in the winter. Do your research, plus check out the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website for details and make your plans today. ASJ

Editor’s note: For a detailed map, season dates and access regulations specific to Game Managment Unit 24, go to adfg.alaska .gov and look under the Hunting tab. Follow Paul Atkins on Twitter @AKTrophyHunter.

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