Chilkat Valley hunters have reported 10 harvested moose to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as of Tuesday, a lower number than average that could have something to do with the sunny, warmer weather.

Unusually warm and sunny conditions defined the first half of September. Fish and Game assistant area biologist Carl Koch said he’s heard complaints from hunters about the warm weather causing a decrease in moose activity, although poor weather can cause the same thing, Koch said.

“One thing I’m noticing is four out of 10 moose I saw had velvet still on their antlers,” Koch said. “When I go back and look at past photos there’s that many in the past five years. We see one or two a year from the total harvest, if that.”

When moose go into rut the skin on their antlers dries and hardens and antlers become solid bone, a feature that’s typical this time of year. The warmer weather could be delaying the rut, Koch said.

September’s daily average temperatures have been 65 degrees Fahrenheit through the first 17 days of the month—7.5 degrees warmer than normal, according to National Weather Service Juneau forecaster Brian Beznek.

The average low has been 43 degrees—2.9 degrees cooler than average. The northern panhandle has been abnormally dry this month, Beznek said. Haines typically receives an average of 3.1 inches of rain so far. So far this month? “Haines has received a whopping trace,” Beznek said.

Still, many hunters are enjoying their time in the woods and seeing plenty of moose. From 60 feet up a tree stand in the upper valley on Tuesday morning, Carlos Jimenez texted the CVN his hunt report. His hunting party harvested a moose on Sunday, and they’re trying for one more before they head back to town. Jimenez said he’s enjoyed the break and he’s seen quite a few moose since Saturday. He texted a photo from his stand overlooking a clearing in a green and brown valley draped in blue skies.

“The break is so nice,” Jimenez said. “Sitting 60 feet up a tree right now.”

Dave Long and his son Jackson Long, 12, harvested a three brow tine with an antler spread of more than 50 inches on Saturday morning, the opening day of the hunt. Per tradition, Long’s wife, Pam Long, prepares meals made from last year’s moose meat for the hunt. Pam Long said their moose meat lasts all year and supplements their grocery bill.

“Occasionally we buy chicken and bacon, who doesn’t buy bacon?” Long said. “Otherwise we live on [moose meat] for our red meat. We are super appreciative that we have that.”

George Campbell bagged his first moose early Saturday morning. Travelling by boat to their cabin, the Campbell’s have been hunting the same area for the past 25 years.

“George left before daylight to go trekking out to his tree,” George’s wife Lynette Campbell said. “At first light, I heard a bang.”

Like many Haines residents, families travel to moose camp and hunt together. This year the Campbell’s were among six families who spent the weekend hunting together. Lynette made syrup from the cranberries that fellow camp hunter Ed Buyarski picked. This year the camp covered their pancakes and pork chops in Lynette’s syrup and “reported it was marvelous,” she said. Mark Smith, a member of the party, also harvested his first moose. He said the hunt is a team sport.

“If I hadn’t been with the people I was with I couldn’t have done this in a million light-years,” Smith said.

Koch said Fish and Game has set a harvest guideline of between 20 to 25 moose. He’ll close the hunt when the department approaches those numbers. Hunters have brought in two three-brow-tine animals, five with a more-than-50-inch antler spread and three spike forks.

Koch said he’s pleased no sub-legal moose have been reported yet this season. Hunters killed two sub-legal animals by this time in the hunt last year.

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