Unit 09D, Alaska

Approximately 3,325 mi² of southwestern Alaska Peninsula from Port Moller Bay / American Bay (northeast boundary) southwest to Bechevin Bay and Isanotski Strait at False Pass. Terrain is of volcanic origin with ongoing seismic and volcanic activity; Aleutian Range mountains dominate the Pacific coast side with cool maritime conditions, alpine tundra, heavy precipitation (33 in/yr), and high winds. Interior lowlands include Bristol Bay tidal flats, muskegs, wet meadows, and river corridors with willow and sedge. Unvegetated ash flats and cinder blow fields are characteristic at lower elevations; glaciers and snowfields above ~1,000 ft. Ecological regions: Aleutian Range, Bristol Bay Lowlands, and Alaska Peninsula. The Shumagin Islands and other offshore islands are also included in the unit boundary.

Access is exclusively by small aircraft (floatplane or Super Cub) or boat; no road system serves the interior. Cold Bay (served by Alaska Airlines) and Sand Point are the primary staging communities — hunters typically fly private charter from Anchorage to Sand Point or Cold Bay, then hire local air taxis into spike camps. A handful of roads around Cold Bay extend only a few miles. Federal public lands dominate: Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (310,000 acres, nearly all Wilderness-designated) occupies the Cold Bay / False Pass corner; Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge (Chignik Unit) covers portions of the unit. State land and Alaska Peninsula State Critical Habitat Area add to the public land base. Estimated 95–98% of Unit 9D is public land (federal refuge / preserve or state land).

Tundra and wet meadow dominate lowlands; sedge-grass flats and coastal marshes along Bering Sea and Pacific drainages. Willow and alder shrub thickets line river corridors and provide moose forage. Alpine tundra and fellfield above 500–1,000 ft on Aleutian Range slopes. Volcanic ash plains and cinder blow areas are unvegetated or lightly vegetated, maintained by wind. Eelgrass beds in Izembek Lagoon are among the largest in the world. Heavy precipitation (often 30–50 in/yr) supports lush summer growth but frequent storms, low overcast, and dense brush make travel difficult.

Southern Alaska Peninsula caribou herd (SAP): genetically isolated population that calves in the Black Hill / Trader Mountain saddle area, Caribou River Flats, and Joshua Green River valley. SAP range extends the length of 9D from Port Moller to False Pass. Population was model-predicted at 4,254 in RY2021 and rising; management objective is 1,500–4,000 but board is working to cap growth below 4,000 to prevent a boom-bust cycle. Herd has shown wide historical fluctuations (500 to 10,000+); wolf predation during calving was a major limiter; selective predator control in 2008–2010 restored calf survival. Brown bears are resident across all habitats; 2002 aerial survey estimated 1,683 bears in GMU 9D at ~195 per 1,000 km², one of the highest coastal densities recorded. Moose are sparse (~600 estimated unit-wide in Unit 9) limited by marginal riparian habitat; resident-only registration hunt in winter. Dall sheep occupy Aleutian Range ridgelines; unit-wide sheep season applies.

Brown bear: nonresidents must be guided; Unit 9 hunts open only in fall of odd-numbered years and spring of even-numbered years (biennial). Permits required (RB368 for 9A/9C/9D, or RB370 as alternate) — no currently open season listed in 2026-2027 regs (biennial calendar). Resident-only RB525 registration hunt near villages, one bear/regulatory year, no closed season. Caribou: residents — 3 caribou by harvest ticket, Aug 1–Oct 21 and Nov 15–Mar 31. Nonresidents — 2 bulls by harvest ticket, Aug 1–Oct 21. Harvest well below IM objective of 150–200/yr due to remote access; estimated total harvest ~89 in RY2021. Moose: residents only — one antlered bull by registration permit (RM271), Dec 15–Jan 20; nonresidents no open season in 9D. Dall sheep: unit-wide (all of Unit 9), residents one full-curl ram Aug 10–Sept 20 by harvest ticket, nonresidents one full-curl ram every four regulatory years — nonresidents must be guided. Izembek Controlled Use Area closure applies: Izembek NWR lagoon area closed to motorized vehicles (except outboard boats) for hunting. Federal subsistence regulations may also apply on federal public lands. SAP has positive customary and traditional use finding; subsistence allocation is 100–150 caribou/year.