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Unit 13B - Nelchina - Upper Sustina

Last Updated: Oct 31, 2019
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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
  • Incredible Ptarmigan hunting here
  • Great fly fishing opportunities in the many lakes

On The Ground

This large unit is found in south-central Alaska and offers some great hunting opportunities for a number of species. This unit is fairly close to Anchorage which can bring on some hunting pressure, but good hunting opportunities are still available. Hunters in this unit have multiple options for accessing hunting areas, most of which will hinge on the species to be pursued. A wide array of hunting terrains will be found here and different tactics will need to be used in each one. Good access is offered off the Denali Highway system, but these areas tend to see more hunting pressure.

Good hunting can be found here but escaping hunting pressure can be difficult at times. Trophy potentials tend to be slightly lower than some of the surrounding units.

Terrain

This area features a diverse terrain makeup and is largely split north and south. The southern end of the unit is largely made up of expansive flats with several rivers, streams, and a healthy supply of lakes and ponds. This area is heavily vegetated in spots and can be difficult to glass due to a lack of elevation change. The majority of the northern end of the unit is mountainous and provides more rugged hunting areas where sheep thrive well. With the exception of a few river bottoms, this area is mostly void of any major vegetation, and glassing and cross country travel options are great.

  • Roughly 3,909 square miles

  • 95% Public land

  • Elevations range from 1,800-8,200 feet

Most of the river bottom areas will be comprised of heavy timber stands with some Sitka spruce, but a small bump in elevation will reveal more white spruce, aspen, and hemlock. River bottom areas and marshlands are largely comprised of grasses, sedges, alder, dwarf birch, and black spruce. Higher elevations above treeline will generally see a more mountain hemlock, tundra, berry plants, and small shrubs. Traversing country in and around the river bottom areas can very difficult at times due to dense vegetation, but much of the lower areas are comprised of tundra and small shrubs and are great for glassing. Wading smaller creeks or following established game trails can be effective. Small gains in elevation in these areas can make spotting game from a distance much easier and can reduce the physical output needed to cover multiple areas during the day. High country areas are generally void of vegetation and spotting game from a distance can be fairly easy.

A good highway system covers the eastern and central portions of the unit with several spur roads leading into the interior section. From these roads, several established trails will lead hunters further from roads but these areas see a decent amount of pressure. Several remote airstrips and a handful of small lakes and ponds provide float/brush plane options for hunters looking to reach some of the more remote areas. The Gulkana and Tyone offer good float options but are still popular areas. Generally, floating into an area where you can set up a spike camp and hunting from there will lend itself to more success than constantly moving and hunting the bank's edges like a traditional float hunt.

There are a few options for modern lodging within the unit but traveling from these areas to the hunting locations day after day is not very effective. Most hunters here will generally opt to primitive camp throughout the area whether they are flown in, float hunting, or backpack hunting.

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