Unit 01D, Alaska

Dramatic, compressed topography running from tidewater to high alpine within a few miles. The Chilkat and Chilkoot river valleys are broad, glacially carved flats bordered by steep mountain walls rising to 4,000–6,000 ft. The Takshanuk Mountains and Chilkat Range dominate the western and northern skyline. Vegetation transitions rapidly from Sitka spruce/western hemlock coastal rainforest and riparian cottonwood–alder bottomlands near sea level, through subalpine alder and mountain hemlock, into open alpine tundra and talus above 2,500 ft. Annual precipitation averages ~50 inches — drier than most of SE Alaska — which creates pockets of brushy meadow habitat preferred by moose and bears. Glaciers persist on higher elevations (Ferebee Glacier, Davidson Glacier) and avalanche chutes are numerous on steep slopes. Tidal flats at the heads of Chilkat and Chilkoot inlets provide important staging habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds; bald eagles concentrate on the Chilkat River in numbers exceeding 3,000 in late October–January.

Unit 1D is one of the few road-accessible hunting units in Southeast Alaska. The Haines Highway (AK-7) runs north from Haines through the Chilkat Valley into Canada, providing vehicle access to river bottomlands and trailheads. The Lutak Road (AK-6) connects Haines to Chilkoot Inlet and the Chilkoot Lake area. Skagway is accessible by road via the Klondike Highway (AK-98). Beyond the road corridors, access to alpine goat and bear country requires foot travel on ridge trails or floatplane/helicopter charter from Haines or Skagway. The Chilkat River is navigable by jet boat for portions of its length. Approximately 85–90% of the unit is Tongass National Forest (the largest national forest in the U.S., ~17 million acres), with additional state forest (Haines State Forest Resource Management Area) and Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve lands near town. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park encompasses the Skagway area. A Lutak Road Closed Area prohibits big-game hunting within 1/4 mile of the road between Mile 7 and Chilkoot Lake and from the Chilkoot River Bridge to the end of the Lutak Road spur. White-colored black bears may not be taken in Unit 1D.

Coastal temperate rainforest (Sitka spruce, western hemlock, red alder) covers lower slopes and valley floors. Riparian strips of black cottonwood and Sitka alder line major rivers and provide moose browse. Subalpine zones feature mountain hemlock, Sitka alder thickets, and heather meadows. Alpine areas above ~2,500 ft are open tundra, sedge meadows, and talus — prime goat habitat. Avalanche tracks create brushy openings exploited by bears. The relatively lower precipitation compared to other SE units supports more open vegetation than areas like Ketchikan or Sitka.

The Chilkat River corridor functions as a natural wildlife highway connecting Interior Alaska to the SE coast, giving Unit 1D unusual faunal diversity for a SE unit. Moose move seasonally between low-elevation riparian willows and higher subalpine benches; the 1D population is estimated at 300–400 animals, relatively small and subject to deep-snow winters. Brown bears follow salmon runs up the Chilkat, Chilkoot, and Klehini rivers from July through fall before denning in the mountains. Mountain goats occupy the sheer cliffs of the Takshanuk Range and Chilkat Range year-round, with minor seasonal elevational movement. Alexander Archipelago wolves range throughout the unit, preying on moose and deer (where available). Wolverine are present but rarely encountered. The Chilkat Valley is a documented travel corridor for grizzlies crossing between Canada and the coast.

Unit 1D has no open season for Sitka black-tailed deer — populations are insufficient at this northern range limit due to deep snowpack, predation, and competition. Brown bear hunting is open to both residents and nonresidents by permit only (registration permit); residents may take one bear every four regulatory years (RB050 fall, RB051 spring), nonresidents same cadence. Nonresident brown bear hunters must be accompanied by a registered guide. All hunters must watch the 'Take a Closer Look' brown bear identification video before obtaining a permit. Mountain goat is permit-only with multiple sub-area hunts across the Takshanuk and Chilkat ranges (RG023–RG026); residents that harvest a nanny are prohibited from taking a goat in 1D the following regulatory year; nonresidents must use a registered guide. Moose is Tier II permit (TM059, Sept 15–Oct 7) for both R and N, one bull with spike-fork, 50-inch, or qualifying brow-tine antlers. Wolf season runs Aug 1–May 31, five wolves, no permit required, no nonresident locking tag required; hides must be sealed within 30 days. Wolverine season Sept 1–Feb 15, one animal. The Ketchikan Road System Closed Area (1/4-mile buffer on Tongass Hwy system including Ward, Connell, and Harriet Hunt Lake roads) closes big-game hunting — this closed area appears in Unit 1A but hunters should verify applicability. Unit 1D falls under the Upper Lynn Canal Advisory Committee for subsistence/board of game input. Federal subsistence regulations apply on federal public lands within the unit.