Unit 06D, Alaska

Rugged Chugach Mountains and coastal fjords of western and central Prince William Sound. Terrain ranges from tidewater glaciers and sea-level kelp bays to alpine ridgelines exceeding 6,000 ft. Old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock forest covers the lower slopes; subalpine alder and Devil's Club transition to open alpine tundra and talus on goat country above 2,500 ft. Coastal sedge flats and estuaries are prime black bear feeding areas in spring and fall. The Sound itself is hundreds of islands, fjords, and passages requiring boating expertise — weather is notoriously unstable with high precipitation year-round.

Primary access by boat from Whittier (road-accessible via Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel ~60 mi from Anchorage) or floatplane from Anchorage or Valdez. Water-taxi services operate out of Whittier. The unit has no interior road system; travel within 6D is by skiff, kayak, or floatplane. Nearly all land is Chugach National Forest (federal) or state-owned. Private lands include Latouche, Chenega, Fleming, Knight, and Evans Islands (Chugach Alaska Corp.); hunters must obtain land-use permits from Chugach Alaska Corp. before accessing those properties. Village corporation lands at Chenega Bay and Tatitlek also require permission. Roughly 90-95% of the unit is publicly accessible federal or state land. National Park Service lands are absent in 6D (Wrangell-St. Elias NP borders Units 6B and 6C to the north and east, not 6D).

Dominated by coastal temperate rainforest (Sitka spruce-western hemlock old growth) in the lowlands and island interiors. Subalpine zone supports alder thickets, willow, and blueberry. Alpine habitat is rocky tundra, talus, and permanent snowfields. Coastal intertidal areas include productive sedge meadows, eelgrass, and kelp beds. The unit receives 60-200 inches of precipitation annually depending on elevation and location, with persistent overcast and maritime climate year-round.

Moose: Only a small endemic population exists in Unit 6D, concentrated in the Lowe River drainage near Valdez (~40 animals total per ADF&G survey data). Moose harvest in 6D averages 3-6 animals per year. Sitka black-tailed deer: resident population across the unit; bucks move to higher elevations through summer, pushing back to lower coastal forest in winter. Mountain goat: resident year-round on high cliff terrain throughout the Chugach range on the Sound's perimeter; Montague Island goats represent an island sub-population. Black bear: spring bears forage coastal sedge flats and avalanche chutes; fall congregations occur at salmon streams. Brown bear: present but low density compared to units further west; restricted to Montague Island by permit hunts. Wolf: present in low numbers throughout; five-wolf bag limit unit-wide (Unit 6). Wolverine: scattered throughout alpine and subalpine terrain.

Black bears may NOT be taken from a boat in Unit 6D (unique restriction under disability permit provisions only). Bears harvested must be sealed within 30 days. Brown bear is heavily restricted — one bear every four regulatory years for all hunters; Montague Island has its own permit series (RB100/RB101) on a separate schedule (Oct 15-Dec 31 fall, Apr 1-May 25 spring). Mountain goat: taking nannies with kids is prohibited; if a nanny is taken, hunter is barred from goat hunting in Unit 6 for 5 regulatory years; Mountain Goat ID quiz required before hunting; nonresidents must use a registered guide. Moose: nonresidents must complete Nonresident Moose Hunter Orientation before hunting. Deer: residents may take 4 deer, nonresidents 5 deer. Private land access: contact Chugach Alaska Corp. for Latouche, Chenega, Fleming, Knight, and Evans Islands. Federal subsistence rules apply on federal lands within Chugach National Forest — federally qualified rural residents have priority on cow moose in neighboring units but 6D is primarily a state-managed hunt. No caribou or Dall sheep seasons in Unit 6D.