Consider renting vehicles or skiffs for local communities as a means to keep mobile throughout the hunt
Many lodging options available, consider the time of year you will be hunting
Rain gear is a necessity
Species
General Size
Trophy Potential
Sitka Blacktail Deer
75"-100"
110"+
On The Ground
Terrain
Vegetation
Access
Camping and Lodging
Historical Temperatures
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Low
Moon Phases
December 2024
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This unit is found in southeastern Alaska and is mostly comprised of Kuiu, Kupreanof, Mitkof, and Zarembo Islands. The primary points of access include the towns of Wrangell and Petersburg. Hunters will find great opportunities here for a variety of game along with a variety of hunting styles for approaching each hunt. As with most of the islands in this area, much of the hunting efforts will be centered on utilizing skiffs to hunts near or around the coastlines. A decent road system can be found through this region making access into some of the interior portions of the islands highly plausible.
Good populations of game will be found here along with the unique opportunity to hunt Roosevelt Elk. Transportation needs will be a large portion of the researching phase for the hunt but several outlets are available.
Like most of the islands in this general region, the general theme of the terrain is extremely dense ground cover, old-growth forest, and miles of shoreline. Along the coast, large tidal flats create excellent habitat for deer and bear where nutrient-rich plants, sedges, and marine life can be found. The mid-elevation areas of the island are generally extremely thick in vegetation and near impossible to hunt. Physically traversing through some of these areas can be a test in patience but will be necessary to reach some of the high alpine areas. Small lakes and ponds are common in muskeg areas throughout the range and can provide some relief from the vegetation when hunting animals in the transitional areas. Logging clear cuts are also a popular area for both hunters and game to frequent. In areas above 1,500 feet, it is common to find alpine areas where tree cover is greatly reduced and glassing and stalking opportunities are available.
Along the coastline large tidal flats will extend out from the tree cover and will be abundant in nutrient-rich grasses and sedges, In the lower elevations just off the coastline, hunters will commonly find ancient stands of cedar, hemlock, and Sitka Spruce growing among patches of alder, devils club, and other thick ground cover. In some of the higher elevations, the tree and ground cover will greatly reduce as smaller tree species such as Mountain Hemlock grows in abundance. In these areas, native grasses and wildflowers will also grow in high quantities. In the muskeg areas, hunters will encounter a load of standing water, willows, and native grasses. Alder likes to grow around the edges of the areas which can make travel difficult at times.
Like most of the units in this region, access into most of these hunting areas here will generally be through the use of skiffs and chartered boats. Hunters have also had good success in renting vehicles out of Petersburg or Wrangell and hunting the many road systems. Additionally, many hunters have rented vehicles in Ketchikan and ferried them to Wrangell or Petersburg. Flights can be chartered to reach more remote hunting areas but this island is covered in an extensive road system that will allow for more flexibility than most other units. Being flown in can, at times, be a blessing or a curse depending on game density.
Some modern lodging options can be found throughout the island but many hunters will opt to truck/primitive camp to remain mobile and cut down on additional costs. Campgrounds maintained by the USFS can be found scattered throughout this region as well.