It’s halfway through the month-long moose hunting season near Petersburg, Wrangell and Kake and hunters have killed 54 bull moose so far.
The season opened September 15 and the first week of hunting saw 35 moose harvested from the islands and mainland in central Southeast Alaska. Seven of those in the first week did not meet the state’s requirements for antler configuration.
The harvest during the second week was 19 bull moose, with no illegal animals checked into the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Tessa Bergmann and her father William display antlers from William’s moose harvested in September. (Photo courtesy of Rich Lowell ADFG)
To date, hunters have killed 17 moose on Kupreanof Island, eight of those in the Kake area. The Stikine River area is not far behind with 15 moose killed there. Another 10 have been shot on Mitkof Island and seven in Thomas Bay on the mainland north of Petersburg. There’s also been one moose each from Kuiu Island, Wrangell Island, Farragut Bay also on the mainland north of Petersburg, Virginia Lake on the mainland east of Wrangell and Woewodski Island south of Petersburg.
This year’s total of 54 is above last year’s harvest at this time of 51 moose. It’s a little below the record setting year of 2009. That year saw 57 moose checked-in by the mid-way point of the season and a total harvest of 109.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game area wildlife biologist Rich Lowell says typically hunter success declines in the second half of the season. It runs through October 15th. Lowell also reminds hunters to turn in their hunt reports if they’ve already shot a moose or don’t intend to hunt for the remaining two weeks.
