Caribou Hunting Regulations For Residents of Unit 23: What You Need to Know
Required Paperwork:
- Hunters age 18 and over need a hunting license.
- Low income and elder (lifetime) licenses are available.
- All caribou hunters need to obtain a state caribou registration permit (RC907) and report their caribou harvests. These permits are free.
- All licenses and permits are available from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in Kotzebue, or local village vendors. To reach the ADFG office, call (907) 442-3420 or (800) 478-3420.
Seasons and Bag Limits:
This is a summary of caribou hunting regulations for most of the Northwest Arctic (Game Management Unit 23) including the Selawik Refuge.
Some parts of Unit 23 (Point Hope area) have slightly different regulations.
Call us or look in the full regulation booklets for details.
| State Resident Hunting Regulations (All Alaska Residents) | Federal Subsistence Hunting Regulations (Permanent Residents of Unit 23) |
|---|
| Bag limit: up to 15 caribou total, bulls only | Bag limit: up to 15 caribou total, bulls only |
| Bull harvest dates: Bulls open year-round | Bull harvest dates: Bulls open year-round |
Cow harvest dates: Cows CLOSED
by State Emergency Order | Cow harvest dates: Cows CLOSED
by Federal Special Action |
Please Note: Hunting regulations vary somewhat depending on the land ownership status.
- You must follow State regulations on State, private, and Native-owned lands.
- You must follow Federal regulations on Federal lands in Unit 23 (which are closed to non-federally qualified users for caribou hunting). Federal lands are those managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Have Questions? Yes, this dual management system is complicated. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
Last updated August 2026
