Unit 05A, Alaska

Coastal temperate rainforest (Sitka spruce–western hemlock) on the Yakutat Forelands lowlands gives way inland to steep coniferous slopes, rocky alpine ridges, and high-alpine tundra in the Brabazon and St. Elias ranges. Much of the unit interior is dominated by active glaciers (Hubbard, Malaspina, Yakutat, Bering). The forelands feature extensive wetlands, braided river deltas, beach fringe, and alder-willow thickets heavily used by bears during salmon runs. Average annual precipitation is ~130 inches; snowpack (150 in) covers alpine terrain November–April. Climate is subarctic oceanic: mean January high 36°F, August high 57°F.

Access is almost entirely by floatplane or boat from Yakutat (served by Alaska Airlines jet service from Juneau/Anchorage). Air taxi operators fly hunters to spike camps on the forelands and river drainages. A limited local road network (~10 miles of paved/gravel roads around Yakutat) provides access to some foreland moose habitat via East Gate Road (Situk River corridor). No ferry service. Nearly all of Unit 5A lies within Tongass National Forest (USFS Yakutat Ranger District) and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Nonresidents hunting on federal public lands must use a licensed guide for brown bear and mountain goat. ANILCA subsistence preference applies to federally qualified rural residents on all federal public lands.

Old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock rainforest dominates coastal lowlands (0–600 ft elevation). Alder-willow shrub thickets line river corridors and recently deglaciated terrain. Forelands contain muskeg bogs, sedge meadows, and beach rye grass flats. Alpine above ~2,500 ft supports grasses, sedges, forbs, and dwarf shrubs providing summer goat and moose forage. Glacial moraines and outwash plains occupy significant area. The unit contains some of the world's largest non-polar glacier complexes.

Moose: resident population of 600–800 animals on the Yakutat Forelands (RY15–RY19 avg ~50 bulls harvested/yr; ~122 hunters; ~38–42% success). Three management sub-populations: Yakutat Forelands (primary, quota 60 bulls/yr split east/west of Dangerous River at 30 each), Nunatak Bench (long-closed since 2002 Hubbard Glacier flooding; <10 moose observed in RY19), Unit 5B Malaspina Forelands (remote, quota 25 bulls). Brown bear: 2013 ADF&G DNA SECR study estimated 354 bears (95% CI 301–416) in GMU 5A at density of 98.8 bears/1,000 km², among the highest in Southeast AK. Annual harvest ~19 bears (RY2012 data); apparent harvest rate 5.4%. Bears concentrate on salmon streams (Situk, Akwe, Italio, Lost Rivers) July–September and coastal strawberry beaches in late summer. Mountain goat: population in severe decline since 2006 aerial survey data; most of western Unit 5A (Nunatak Bench, Yakutat Glacier drainage) closed to goat hunting under state regulation since 2008 and periodically under federal subsistence closure. Sitka black-tailed deer: smaller resident population in forested lowlands; not a primary draw compared to SE Alaska units farther south. Wolf: present throughout unit. Black bear: co-occurs with brown bear on forelands and river drainages.

Subsistence priority: Federal subsistence regulations under ANILCA grant priority to federally qualified subsistence users (permanent residents of Unit 5A, primarily Yakutat community) on all federal public lands. The federal moose season (RM061 joint State/Federal permit) opens ~Oct 8 for Yakutat residents only; non-federally qualified hunters may only hunt a block of ~9 non-federal townships near Yakutat during the state season opening Oct 15. The quota for the Yakutat Forelands moose hunt is 60 bulls (30 west / 30 east of the Dangerous River); the west-side season often closes within days of opening due to high subsistence harvest. Mountain goat hunting in the Nunatak Bench and western 5A areas near the Yakutat/Hubbard Glacier drainages has been closed under state regs since 2008 and under periodic federal subsistence emergency orders. Brown bear: registration permit RB090 (state), 1 bear every 4 regulatory years for residents and nonresidents; federal subsistence allows 1 bear/year for qualified users. Successful brown bear hunters must report to ADF&G Douglas or Yakutat within 10 days and present skull/hide. Nonresident hunters must complete the online Mountain Goat Identification quiz (goat), Nonresident Moose Hunter Orientation (moose), and use a licensed guide for brown bear and mountain goat on federal lands. Yakutat (pop. ~579) is the only municipality; commercial services, fuel, and guide outfitters are available. No road system connecting to the state highway network.