Alaska’s Prince of Wales
Island Blacktail At A Glance
The author with his 3-point buck
on his back.
scouting and knowledge of the
area you’re going to hunt. Just
remember,
the island is big. Bring your
satellite phone or inReach
from Garmin, and do the work.
It will pay off.
The beauty of deer hunting
in Alaska is the ease in which
the state allows non-resident
hunters to participate. There
is no draw system for deer,
and the non-resident fees are
reasonable. The season is long,
and the state allows harvest
of as many four deer for out
of state hunters. Success rates
are typically good. In 2016, the
most recent hunt season with
harvest stats available, 23,056
deer were harvested. That year
16,071 hunters pursued Sitka
blacktails (that’s 1.4 deer per
hunter).
If you plan to hunt remember
to purchase your license prior
to the season. Deer tags can be
purchased prior to your hunt.
Non-resident hunters must pur-
chase a metal game-locking tag,
which is attached to the animal
and cannot be removed until
the animal is processed or ex-
ported. WHJ
SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER Related to mule
deer, Sitka blacktail deer are smaller and
stockier than the Columbian blacktail deer
found in the Pacific Northwest. The average
October live weight of adult Sitka blacktails
is about 80 pounds for does and 120 pounds
for bucks, although 200-pound bucks have
been taken.
HUNT AREA POW Island falls within GMU
Unit 2
POW ISLAND Prince of Wales Island is
unlike much of the rest of Southeast Alaska.
It has almost 1,000 miles of shoreline,
and at 140 miles long by 45 miles wide
is the third-largest island in the United
States behind Alaska’s Kodiak Island and
Hawaii’s Big Island. Twelve communities
are scattered around the island, ranging in
population from over 1,000 (Craig) to about
35 (Point Baker).
HUNT AREAS, ACCESS POW Island, and a
handful of neighboring islands. Main towns
include Edna Bay, Klawock, Craig, Hydaburg,
and Thorne Bay. Exploring the island is
relatively easy, due to an extensive system
of both paved and unpaved roads. It should
be noted, however, that hunter success is
limited for those who choose to drive the
roads. There is a dichotomy of federal, state,
private and tribal land. Most of the hunting
is on federal land, in the Tongass National
Forest. If you plan to hunt here, it’s a good
idea to contact the Craig Ranger District,
907-826-3271, or the Thorne Bay Ranger
District, 907-828-3304.
POW ISLAND DEER POPULATIONS Deer
populations in Alaska are dynamic and
fluctuate considerably with the severity of
the winters. When winters are mild, deer
numbers generally increase. Periodically,
however, a severe winter will cause a major
decline in the population.
HARVEST STATISTICS In 2016, the most
recent year with hunter statistics available,
2,622 hunters killed 3,419 deer. Of those,
3,336 were bucks (83 does). The deer per
hunter average is 1.3. Throughout the state
the annual harvest of 19,320 occurred in
2016.
HUNTING CONDITIONS Early season
hunting is concentrated in the alpine and
subalpine areas. The largest portion of
the harvest happens in November during
the rut, when both sexes respond to a call
resembling the bleat of a fawn. During
late November and December, heavy snow
sometimes concentrates deer at low eleva-
tions. This allows high harvest levels when
local weather conditions are favorable.
Unit 2
SEASON POW Island falls within Unit 2
and is considered a General Season hunt
that takes place between Aug. 1 – Dec. 31.
Non-residents can hunt after Aug. 16.
BAG LIMIT 4 bucks. Watch regulations
closely. At press time, there was a pending
regulation change where only two deer can
be harvested on federal land. It is believed
the regulation will be implemented. If so,
hunters will still be able to harvest four
deer, only two of which can be from federal
land. The remaining two must come from
state land.
LICENSE FEES $45 resident; $160
non-resident.
REQUIRED TAGS Resident hunters will
need a harvest ticket. Harvest tickets are
available at no cost where hunting licenses
are sold. Non-residents are required to
possess a big game tag for the species
they are hunting. Be sure to purchase your
license and game tags, and pick up harvest
tickets, prior to your hunt.
NON-RESIDENT TAG FEES $300 (U.S.
residents).
NON-RESIDENT ALIEN TAG FEES $400.
BIG GAME LOCKING-TAGS $300 per deer.
Nonresident hunters must buy appropriate
locking tags to hunt big game in Alaska —
this tag is locked on the animal immediate-
ly after the kill and must remain there until
the animal is processed or exported.
TRANSPORTING ANTLERS, MEAT OUT
OF STATE Federal regulations require
hunters to declare the exportation of meat,
hides, skulls, trophies or other wildlife
parts. For any questions regarding decla-
ration requirements, please contact the
USFWS in Anchorage at 907-271-6198.
INFORMATION Visit www.adfg.alaska.gov
MORE INFORMATION Contact the ADFG
in Craig. Representatives will send a
thorough and complete hunting packet that
further explains the seasons, conditions,
regulations and access opportunities
among other things. Call 907-826-2561.
www.westernhuntingjournal.com
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