Eighteen harvested; one week remaining
Eighteen moose have been harvested in the Chilkat Valley two weeks into Unit 1D hunt and with one week left, as of Wednesday.
Eleven were harvested in the first week. Barring an emergency closure, the hunt closes Oct. 7. The state has a harvest guideline of 20-25 animals.
Of the harvested bull moose, nine are in the spike fork category, five are three-brow tines, two antler spread of more than 50 inches and two sub-legal.
“We’re shooting for 25 (total), no pun intended. Unless we get some mad rush of moose, I think we’re probably going to be able to ride it out for the rest of the season,” said Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Carl Koch.
Koch said he expects the hunt to slow down this weekend due to rain in the forecast. He attributed early success to good weather. The hunt often slows down during the second week, regardless of weather, after moose in more accessible areas have been taken, Koch said.
Last year, hunters only harvested 14 moose during the entire hunt, one of the lowest harvests in recent years. Some hunters said poor weather conditions contributed to the low harvest.
Koch said nine spike-fork moose harvested “is the most since I’ve been on the job.” He said that number signifies good recruitment and bodes well for the general population since most of the nine likely were yearlings.
Koch also said a count of two sub-legals at this point is “pretty typical.”
ADFG limits the Haines moose hunt to 250 permits.