Unit 19D, Alaska

Mixed boreal forest and alpine terrain draining into the upper Kuskokwim River system. Lowland river corridors feature black spruce, tamarack, willow, and alder riparian zones heavily used by moose. Uplands and south-facing slopes support white spruce, birch, and aspen. The Beaver Mountains reach elevations of ~4,055 ft (1,236 m) and provide alpine tundra habitat for Dall sheep and caribou calving. The Lime Hills and Kuskokwim Mountains form the southern and eastern unit boundaries. River floodplains, oxbow sloughs, and braided channels are defining habitat features. The unit lies in the Kuskokwim lowlands ecoregion with a continental subarctic climate.

Fly-in only — no road system reaches Unit 19D. Wheeled, float, and ski planes serve remote camps throughout the unit; hub airports include McGrath (PAMR), Medfra, Nikolai, and Takotna. Boats and snowmachines are also used for access along river corridors. The Upper Kuskokwim Controlled Use Area (a 2-mile corridor along the Kuskokwim River from the mouth of the Black River to the Swift Fork, plus the Takotna and South Fork corridors) restricts aircraft for moose hunting Sept 1–25, requiring hunters to access by boat or on foot during that window. Approximately 90–95% of Unit 19D is public land managed by BLM, the State of Alaska, and the National Park Service (portions near the original Mt. McKinley boundary area). No national wildlife refuges are present within 19D itself.

Riparian willow/alder shrub corridors along all major rivers; lowland black spruce and tamarack bogs; mid-slope white spruce-birch-aspen upland forest; alpine tundra and rocky ridgelines above treeline (~2,500 ft) in the Beaver and Kuskokwim Mountains. Extensive sedge meadows and wetlands provide prime summer moose habitat. Willow-dominated floodplain bars are critical moose winter browse areas.

Moose are resident year-round, concentrating on river bottoms and willow flats in winter and dispersing into uplands in summer. The unit is under ADF&G intensive management with a population objective of 6,000–8,000 moose (Unit 19D East) and 4,000–6,000 (remainder of 19D), yielding a combined objective of roughly 10,000–14,000 moose; ongoing predator (wolf and bear) control programs support this goal. Five small resident caribou herds occupy the unit: Beaver Mountains herd (ranges Units 19A, 19D, 21A, 21E; ~1,000–1,250 animals combined with Sunshine Mountains herd), Sunshine Mountains herd (co-ranging), Farewell-Big River herd (~500–750 animals, South Fork Kuskokwim drainage), Tonzona herd (~500–750 animals, Herron–Tonzona Rivers area in Units 19C/19D), and Rainy Pass herd (~500–750 animals). The larger Mulchatna caribou herd (est. 13,475–16,276 as of 2025, population objective 30,000–80,000) historically ranged through the unit but has retreated southward; all Mulchatna harvest has been closed since 2021. Brown bear are resident and abundant, with high densities supported by the productive riparian corridor. Dall sheep occupy alpine areas in the Beaver and Kuskokwim Mountains.

INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT: Unit 19D is an active ADF&G intensive management unit for moose. Wolf and bear predator control programs operate within portions of the unit to support moose population growth toward objectives. NONRESIDENT MOOSE: Nonresidents have no open season on moose across all of Unit 19D as of 2026–2027 regulations — the only partial exception is the Cheeneetnuk/Gagaryah river drainages remainder area where nonresidents may take one bull (50-inch or 4 brow tines) on a harvest ticket Sept 1–20. GUIDE REQUIREMENTS: Nonresident hunters must be accompanied by a licensed guide for brown/grizzly bear and Dall sheep. No guide required for moose or caribou. NONRESIDENT MOOSE ORIENTATION: All nonresident moose hunters must complete the ADF&G Nonresident Moose Hunter Orientation course before hunting and carry proof in the field. AIRCRAFT RESTRICTIONS: The Upper Kuskokwim Controlled Use Area (Sept 1–25) prohibits aircraft use for moose hunting except between McGrath, Medfra, Nikolai, and Takotna airports. CARIBOU — MULCHATNA: Closed to all harvest since 2021 due to population decline; population remains well below the 30,000–80,000 objective. LOCAL CARIBOU HERDS: Small resident herds (Beaver Mountains, Farewell-Big River, Tonzona) are open; residents may take one bull Aug 10–Sept 20 on a harvest ticket, plus a late-season registration hunt (RC795, Feb 1–28, one bull by permit from McGrath/Nikolai/Takotna vendors beginning Jan 15). CHECK STATIONS: Hunters in the Upper Holitna-Hoholitna Management Area must stop at ADF&G check stations; moose or caribou taken by aircraft access must be transported out by aircraft. BISON: Unit 19D has a limited drawing bison hunt (DI352, residents one bull every 10 years; nonresidents one bull per lifetime, March 1–31) — part of the Farewell bison herd transplanted 1965–1968, currently ~100 animals. PREDATOR CONTROL SUPPLEMENT: Special wolf and bear removal regulations apply; check hunt.alaska.gov predator control supplement.