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
- Most access into the unit will come from air taxis services located outside of the area
- If utiliizing the Haul Rd, be sure your rental vehicle can be driven there
On The Ground
This unit is found in central Alaska and is home to the greater portion of the Gates of the Arctic National Park. The park itself is closed to hunting but portions of the Gates of Arctic National Preserve are open although none of these lands are found within the unit. This unit is comprised largely of boreal forest and tundra on the southern half and high alpine mountain peaks to the north and some of the most iconic Alaskan scenery offered. This unit is primarily remote with a handful of settlements being found on the Koyukuk River. Most of the hunting here will be conducted on fly-in or float trips utilizing some of the many available rivers.
Good hunting can be found here but hunters will need to remain aware of park boundaries when hunting the northern half of the unit. This unit experiences great access option and hunters have many options when planning their hunt. Great possibilities for combination hunts are found here.
Terrain
New Section ContentThe southern end of the unit is primarily comprised of large rolling hills with timber stands and tundra in the lower elevations and large expansive tundra on the tops of ridgelines. Many creeks and rivers cover this area and make for a diverse area with plenty of room for game to hide. The northern end of the unit is the foothills area that begins the Gates of the Arctic National Park and hunters will see a much greater exaggeration in terrain with limestone and granite mountains. Climbing conditions will be tough here and traversing country can be treacherous at times.
Roughly 13,517 square miles
90% Public land
Elevations range from 400-6,200 feet
Vegetation
This area is primarily boreal forest and will see the typical makeup of birch, black spruce, willow, bramble, and tundra. Glassing conditions are great for the most part and small bumps in elevation can reveal miles and miles of terrain. Traversing the tundra can be tough walking at times. The northern end of the unit will see higher alpine areas with a good distribution of willow, alder, and black spruce. In these areas, glassing and walking conditions will be excellent.
Access
With this unit being primarily remote most hunters will need to be flown into the unit and dropped in basecamp locations or along rivers where a float hunt can be started. Most hunters will generally be flown in from air taxi services located outside of the unit. The Koyukuk River is the primary river of use in this area but several feeder rivers flow into this that can make for excellent hunting opportunities. Bettles provides a great hub for hunters to initially land in before embarking on their hunting trip. Commerical and charter services will both fly into here.
Camping and Lodging
For the most part, hunters will be forced to camp in the bush when hunting this area due to the remoteness. Many gravel bars can be found scattered along rivers and streams and higher ridgelines can make great base camp locations for fly in hunts.
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