Quick Tips
- 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
On The Ground
This enormous unit is found in northern Alaska along the Arctic Ocean. It is generally very rare that nonresident hunters will make their way to this area with most of the hunting consisting of native residents. This area is part of the North Slope and is almost entirely tundra. This region is incredibly remote with the only access options lying in the use of bush planes. The primary species that is targeted here will be caribou although some other opportunities for additional animals do exist. **On March 30, 2022, the Federal Subsistence Board (Board) approved Temporary Wildlife Special Action WSA21-01 with modification to close some Federal public lands in Units 23 and 26A to caribou hunting by non-Federally qualified users for the 2022-2024 regulatory cycle. For caribou, the closure only applies to Noatak National Preserve (including the Nigu River portion of the Preserve in Unit 26A) and BLM-managed lands between the Noatak and Kobuk rivers in Unit 23. Collectively, this area is approximately 11,300 square miles.
Very few nonresidents will ever reach this unit with most of the hunting being done by native residents primarily during the winter months.
Terrain
This area is entirely treeless tundra. Some river bottoms and drainages with see small collections of willow and berry bushes but exceptional glassing options will be found here. The very southern end of the unit will see a few small stretches of mountainous areas stemming from the Brooks Range. The mountains in this area are very jagged and comprised largely of granite.
Roughly 56,210 square miles
78% Public land
Elevations range from 0-7,000 feet
Vegetation
Because this area is primarily tundra hunters will find very little in a diversity of vegetation. Grasses, wildflowers, berry bushes, scattered willow, and tundra are about what hunters can expect.
Access
Access into this unit is very limited and most hunters will need to be flown either into Kotzebue or Bettles. From either of these two locations, hunters could then hitch a flight into more remote country or to one of the many rivers. The Chandler and Colville Rivers are among some of the most popular floats but many small streams and rivers can be found distributed through the range.
Camping and Lodging
This area is entirely remote and hunters here will very likely be stuck to primitive camping options whether they are float hunting or dropped off at a base camp.
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