Unit 06C, Alaska

Coastal wetlands, muskeg meadows, and intertidal flats of the Copper River Delta transitioning to old-growth Sitka spruce/hemlock rainforest and rugged Chugach Mountain alpine. The 1964 Good Friday Earthquake uplifted the CRD 1.8–3.4 m, converting subtidal estuary to intertidal/supertidal wetlands now transitioning from willow to alder shrubland. Alpine ridgelines rise to 2,300 m north of the delta. Unit 6C is approximately 1,082 sq mi in area.

Road-accessible from Cordova via the Copper River Highway (49.5 mi gravel road on former railroad grade), which provides vehicle access through the heart of the unit until bridge failure at ~mi 36. Beyond road end: floatplane, airboat, and rented skiff/boat from Cordova are primary access methods. Cordova itself is accessible only by air (Cordova Airport) or Alaska Marine Highway ferry — no road connection to the state highway system. The unit lies almost entirely within Chugach National Forest (USFS). A small portion of the western drainages around Nelson Bay and Orca Inlet border Prince William Sound.

Lower delta: sedge/grass meadows, willow-alder shrub transitioning post-earthquake, coastal wetlands and muskeg — critical moose calving and spring forage. Forest zone: dense old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock with devil's club understory. Alpine: herbaceous tundra, rock, ice, and permanent snowfield above ~900 m. USFS and Native Village of Eyak conduct annual hydro-axing of alder stands to maintain willow early-successional moose habitat.

Moose are resident year-round on the Copper River Delta; no long-distance migration. The introduced population (24 calves released 1949–1958) grew to a peak ~1,600 in 1988, stabilized at 400–500 under management objectives, and has exceeded objectives since ~RY11 with estimates of 601 (RY11) and 609 (RY13, 90% CI 483–734). Management objective is 400–500 moose with minimum 25 bulls:100 cows. Brown bears use the delta for spring/summer feeding on vegetation, moose calves, waterfowl eggs, and salmon; they are present unit-wide. Mountain goat populations occupying the Chugach peaks in Unit 6C experienced a closure in 2019 due to population concerns; goats are permit-only with in-person Cordova draws. Deer are resident on coastal forest and island habitats. Wolves and wolverine roam the full unit.

SUBSISTENCE: Unit 6C has a positive Federal Subsistence Board Customary and Traditional Use (C&T) finding for moose. As of 2002, 75% of the bull permit quota and 100% of the cow quota are administered through federal subsistence by the USFS Cordova Ranger District, requiring Cordova rural residency. One NVE potlatch bull permit is issued annually. Non-local Alaska residents and nonresidents compete for the state drawing hunt (DM167, 12–13 permits available). CLOSURES/RESTRICTIONS: Mountain goat hunt was closed in portions of Unit 6C in 2019 due to population concerns; current permits (RG230–RG232) are issued in-person at Cordova only beginning Sept 15. Nonresident hunters must be guided by a registered guide for brown/grizzly bear and mountain goat. Moose drawing permit (DM167) residents only — nonresidents not eligible. BROWN BEAR: One bear per regulatory year for units 6A/6B/6C (harvest ticket), no permit required. DEER: Sitka black-tailed deer hunted under Unit 6 regulations (5 deer residents, 4 nonresidents; harvest ticket).