Alaska Season Calendar 2026
Fishing and hunting season dates for Alaska — species by species, with peak windows, key destinations, and regulation notes. Always verify current dates with ADF&G before booking.
Dates shown are general statewide guidelines. Alaska regulations vary by Game Management Unit (GMU) and can change annually. Always confirm exact dates, bag limits, and license requirements at adfg.alaska.gov before your trip.
Fishing Seasons
King Salmon (Chinook)
Most restrictive regulations of any salmon. Kenai River kings run May–July. King stamp required for non-residents ($25/year). Limits vary by drainage — check ADF&G by area.
Halibut
Open nearly year-round in most areas. Bag limit: 2/day (combined Pacific halibut). Homer, Kodiak, Sitka, and Valdez are top ports. IPHC sets quotas annually — book early for peak months.
Silver Salmon (Coho)
The most exciting salmon fighter pound-for-pound. Runs July in SE Alaska, peaking statewide Aug–Sep. Most charters transition to silver combos in late July. No stamp required.
Sockeye Salmon (Red)
Bristol Bay produces the world's largest sockeye run — 20–60 million fish annually. Kenai River reds are popular for bank combat fishing. Dillingham, King Salmon, and Naknek are the top destinations.
Pink Salmon (Humpy)
Most abundant Pacific salmon — runs in massive numbers on odd years. Light tackle makes them a blast. Southeast Alaska ports and Prince William Sound see the heaviest runs.
Steelhead
Yakutat's Situk River is one of North America's finest steelhead rivers — consistent wild fish, high catch rates, and trophy-class chrome. Southeast Alaska streams also produce quality fish. Spring and fall runs both available at premium fly-in destinations.
Rainbow Trout
Katmai's Naknek River and the Lake Clark watershed hold Alaska's biggest rainbows — 24–36 inch fish on flies. All-inclusive lodges in Bristol Bay provide fly-out access. Strict C&R at most premier fisheries.
Sheefish (Inconnu)
The 'tarpon of the north' — sheefish to 50+ lbs hit the Kobuk and Selawik rivers near Kotzebue. Unique to Northwest Alaska. Fly-in access only; virtually no angling pressure compared to other species.
Hunting Seasons
Moose
Alaska's most-hunted big game animal. Units vary significantly — check ADF&G by GMU. Antler restrictions apply in most units. Non-residents do NOT need a guide for moose — a hunting license plus the applicable harvest ticket or draw permit is all that's required. Confirm your unit's rules at adfg.alaska.gov.
Caribou
Alaska has numerous caribou herds totaling hundreds of thousands of animals. The Western Arctic Herd is one of the largest in North America (population fluctuates — confirm current status with ADF&G). Non-residents may hunt caribou without a guide in most units. Quotas vary — confirm current GMU regulations.
Brown / Grizzly Bear
Alaska holds roughly 98% of the US brown bear population. Non-residents must be accompanied by a licensed guide OR an Alaska resident who is a second-degree relative (19+). Coastal GMUs (Kodiak, Alaska Peninsula) often operate on alternate-year spring/fall seasons. Harvest frequency varies by unit — some GMUs allow only one brown bear every 4 regulatory years, others one per year. Always confirm current GMU dates and rules with ADF&G.
Dall Sheep
Alaska's most physically demanding hunt — 10+ day backpack hunts at 5,000–8,000 ft elevation. Full-curl ram requirement enforced strictly. Non-residents must hire a licensed guide. 5-year waiting period between permits in many units.
Sitka Black-Tailed Deer
Highest densities on Prince of Wales Island, Kodiak, and Baranof Island. No guide required for non-residents. Prince of Wales Island's road network makes this the most road-accessible deer hunting in Southeast Alaska.
Black Bear
Most accessible big game hunting in Southeast Alaska. No guide requirement for non-residents. Prince of Wales Island and the Tongass produce good populations. Spring bears are taken over bait or glassing — fall bears with deer hunters.
Waterfowl
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta near Bethel is North America's most important waterfowl nesting area. Alaska allows some of the highest bag limits in the US. Federal duck stamp and Alaska hunting license required.
Musk Ox
Nome is the only road-accessible community for musk ox hunting in Alaska. Permits are limited and awarded by draw. Population is managed by ADF&G — fewer than 200 permits issued statewide annually. Unique Arctic hunt found nowhere else in the US.
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