- Plan your transportation and lodging options around the season and species you will be hunting
- Bear fences can be a good idea for camps
- Rain gear is a necessity
- Waders or hip boots are highly recommended when hunting marshy areas
This unit is found in central Alaska and contains the city of Fairbanks. This area will see heavy hunting pressure thanks in part to the sheer population of hunters in this area, as well as a heavy road system found throughout the western half of the unit. The eastern end of the unit sees far more remote country but hunting pressure still exists here due to accessibility via ATV and jetboats. Compared to surrounding units, this area consists of heavily timbered low mountains which can pose some issues when locating game. The eastern side of the unit sees a more general makeup of marshy and muskeg areas and lots of water. As with most areas of boreal forest and low alpine, cross country travel can be difficult in this area.
The eastern portion of this unit can be a good option for a combination hunt to pursue caribou, moose, and bear. Good hunting can be found despite high hunter densities. Access options are easy for most and trophy potentials tend to be lower. Some remote country can still be accessed via jet boat or ATV but hunting pressure will still exist in these areas.
The majority of the eastern half of the unit is mountainous with heavy stands of timber and dense river bottoms. Glassing opportunities do exist in periodic meadows, logging cuts, and burned areas. In some of the higher elevations, ground vegetation will give way to large rock slides and cliff faces. The lands on the western side of the unit are primarily marshy with many small pockets, ponds, lakes, and plenty of muskeg areas. These areas are sparsely timbered and lend themselves to much better glassing as opposed to the eastern side of the unit.
Low elevation areas throughout the unit are timbered with birch, spruce, and aspen stands and can grow very dense at times. Areas near and around water sources will see heavy growth of willows and alder and timber. Expansive tundra and muskeg with scattered glassing options are intermixed around the mountainous regions of the unit. Mid-elevation foothill areas will still see heavy timber at times but vegetation begins to decrease quickly and glassing opportunities increase. High elevations will see a greater distribution of tundra, grasses, berry bushes, and rock faces.
Seeing as Fairbanks is located in the unit, there are plenty of very well used options for access. There will be a lot of hunting pressure in any easy to access area as well as locations where the use of planes is necessary.
There are many modern lodging options in the unit, but most of these locations will leave hunters dealing with heavy hunting pressure and a lack of options. Being flown into the interior portions of the unit will generally lead to better hunting conditions but hunting pressure can still be an issue at times. Fairbanks is a launch point for a high percentage of Alaska hunts. Hunters can get tags, licenses, gas, food, supplies, rental vehicles, lodging, and all common services & amenities there.
Roughly 9,099 square miles
88% Public land
Elevations range from 300-5,600 feet