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
- Waders or hip boots are highly recommended when hunting marshy areas
- This area will see heavy hunting pressure near roadways and popular waterways
On The Ground
This enormous unit is located in south-central Alaska along the Cook Inlet. A huge array of terrain types and hunting opportunities exist here and careful planning could lead to the trip of a lifetime. A limited road system is found here and most of the hunting access options will be from a plane or by float hunting. Because of its close proximity to Anchorage, this unit does see some hunting pressure but the logistics of entering the area does restrict a lot of that. Rivers and streams criss-cross through most of this area with huge bogs and muskegs scattered in between which can make cross country travel difficult at times.
This area offers some good hunting opportunities, but there are very few options for easy access. Hunters will need to utilize planes or boats to get into most of the areas.
Terrain
The eastern half of the unit is comprised of large expansive marsh, muskeg, and timberlands with a few small island mountain ranges interspersed throughout. Several rivers and streams wind their way through the unit and provide some good hunting opportunities. Glassing options can be limited at times due to vegetation. Small bumps in elevation can be well worth the hike to gain the ability to see. Cross country travel can be a chore with many creek crossings and finding your way around muskegs -using creek channels and game trails can be advantageous. The western side of the unit sees a far greater exaggeration in terrain with steep climbing ridgelines and impressive peaks. Treeline will generally occur around 2,000-2,500 feet and glassing opportunities and movement options will be much higher here.
Roughly 10,993 square miles
88% Public land
Elevations range from 0-17,300 feet
Vegetation
Most of the unit holds large stands of spruce, birch, hemlock, and aspen intermixed among meadows, marshes, and muskegs. Most of the open areas will see a heavy presence of tundra, native grasses, alder, willows, and dwarf birch. Areas along creek bottoms and river drainages can become heavily vegetated and hard to traverse. The edges of meadows and muskegs can also see very dense vegetation. The more mountainous regions will still see heavy vegetation and timber stands in the lower elevations, but the areas above treeline will be dominated by tundra, mountain hemlock, and large rock fields.
Access
A few remote roads exist around some communities here, but the vast majority of this unit is remote and only accessible via boat or plane. Several airstrips can be found throughout the unit and can be great options for hunters. For hunters looking for a more mobile experience, Lake Creek, Alexander Creek, and the Skwentna River offer great float hunting options.
Camping and Lodging
Hunting and fishing lodges can be found throughout the unit, but the majority of hunters will be using primitive camping methods while hunting this area.
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
April 2025
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3