Unit 12Z, Alaska

East-central interior Alaska boreal. Elevations range from ~1,500 ft along the Tanana River floodplain to over 12,000 ft in the Wrangell, Nutzotin, and Mentasta mountains. Northeastern lowlands (Tetlin NWR area) dominated by shrub-sedge meadows, wetlands, and mature black and white spruce forest; burned areas support dense early-successional shrub. Western and southern portions transition from spruce-dominated valleys through subalpine shrub communities to alpine tundra and glaciated alpine terrain in the Wrangell–St. Elias massif. Tree line at approximately 3,400–4,000 ft. Continental interior climate: summer highs reach 80°F, winter lows to −40°F, low annual precipitation.

Northern and central unit accessible by road: Alaska Highway (Tok hub community), Glenn Highway/Tok Cutoff corridor, and the Nabesna Road (42-mile gravel road into southern unit from Slana). ATV and snowmachine widely used; most successful hunters used 4-wheelers (29%), highway vehicles (19%), aircraft (18%), and off-road vehicles (13%). Large portions of the southern and eastern unit are remote wilderness requiring floatplane access; access is further complicated by Ahtna Inc. Native corporation private land (~21% of unit) which requires paid trespass or avoidance. Federal lands include Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve (southern unit; National Preserve lands are huntable), Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (northeastern corner), and BLM/state lands. Public land is approximately 79% of unit area.

Lowland riparian and lake margins: willow, alder, sedge meadow — primary moose calving and summer range. Lowland boreal forest: black and white spruce, paper birch, aspen, balsam poplar. Burned and early-successional areas (notably 434 mi² burned in 2004 northern unit wildfires and 155 mi² 1990 Tok River fire) provide high-quality browse. Active habitat enhancement via roller chopping in lower Tok River valley (~479 acres treated) to stimulate aspen and willow regeneration. Subalpine: shrub tundra (dwarf birch, Labrador tea, crowberry) transitioning to alpine tundra and talus — Dall sheep habitat. Glaciated upper elevations in Wrangell–St. Elias massif.

Moose: both migratory and nonmigratory populations. Migratory moose in the Tok River valley winter in lowlands and calve south of the Alaska Range (Unit 13C); nonmigratory moose remain year-round. Unitwide prehunt moose population estimated at 6,542 (range 5,427–7,657) during RY15–RY19 — above the intensive management floor of 4,000. Current IM objectives: population 4,000–6,000 moose; harvest 150–300 moose/year (reduced from 250–450 in 2020). Average reported annual harvest during RY15–RY19 was 140 nonpotlatch moose. Chisana Caribou Herd (CCH): small international herd (~700–766 animals as of 2010–2013 surveys) ranging 4,865 mi² across southeastern Unit 12 and adjacent Yukon; approximately half the herd in Alaska, mostly within Wrangell–St. Elias NP&P. No state general season — only federal qualified subsistence permits (quota 7 bulls/year, 1 bull/permit, Sept 1–30 or Aug 10–Sept 30). Macomb Herd caribou: range centered on Unit 20D Macomb Plateau/eastern Alaska Range with winter range spilling into Unit 12 Tanana lowlands; 2012–2013 census counted 1,453–1,503 animals; Unit 12 portion of hunt (RC835) residents-only registration permit, Aug 10–27, 1 bull. Dall sheep: Mentasta, Nutzotin, and northern Wrangell Mountains; resident any-season with full-curl restriction (Aug 10–Sept 20 general harvest ticket); nonresidents require guide. Wolves: predator control conducted in northern Unit 12 during RY04–RY13 under upper Yukon-Tanana program; 10-wolf bag limit (Aug 1–Apr 30).

Unit 12 has no lettered subunits — '12Z' is the GIS code for the undivided unit. Key regulations (2026–2027 season): Moose — residents: any-bull harvest ticket Aug 24–28 and Sept 8–17 in most of unit; antler restrictions (50-inch or 4+ brow tines) apply in portions of Tok River drainage and along Nabesna Road; some areas by drawing or registration permit only. Nonresidents: antler-restricted (50-inch or 4+ brow tines) harvest ticket Aug 24–28 or Sept 8–17 depending on area; a few areas restricted to residents-only (drawing permit CM300). Nonresident moose hunters must complete the Nonresident Moose Hunter Orientation course before hunting. Caribou: RC835 Macomb Herd registration permit (1 bull, Aug 10–27) — residents only within western Tok/Tanana drainage; remainder of unit no open caribou season for general hunters. Chisana Herd: federal subsistence only (NPS-administered permits), no state general season. Brown/grizzly bear: nonresidents must be guided; residents 2 bears/year (Aug 10–June 30), nonresidents 1 bear/year. Dall sheep: full-curl ram required; nonresidents must be guided; within Tok Management Area by permit only with 4-year waiting period. Tok Management Area (portions of Units 12, 13C, 20D) — sheep hunting by permit only. Predator control: portion of unit within active predator control area — see hunt.alaska.gov for current special regulations. Ahtna Inc. land: verify boundaries before entering southern/eastern unit.