This year’s moose hunt ended with 14 reported bull moose harvested, the lowest since 2008, and the first year the season was extended beyond Sept. 30.
This year, two moose with antlers over 50 inches, four spike-forks and eight with at least three brow tines on one side were taken.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Carl Koch said hunters reported seeing very few legal bulls, little movement of the animals and poor weather as being factors for the low harvest count.
The hunt was extended to a 23-day season in 2008 when 30 bulls were harvested. Fish and Game now limits the hunt to 25 moose. The lowest harvest on record before this year was in 2009, when 15 bulls were taken. Hunters harvested the limit in 2020 and 2018.
“During the first year of the season extension, harvest was highest and then dropped off for four years following,” Koch said.
Koch said earlier this month that Fish and Game bear researchers saw many bulls in their game cameras during the time of year when antlers were still forming.
“Bottom line, it’s going to be a high priority to get a good survey this year,” Koch said. “We haven’t had a good survey in the last couple years. Getting a good bull-to-cow ratio will be helpful. It’s been a challenge for sure with the weather in the last few winters.”
Moose hunt numbers by year
2008 30
2009 15
2010 16
2011 19
2012 19
2013 24
2014 20
2015 22
2016 23
2017 24
2018 25
2019 20
2020 25
2021 14