Unit 19E, Alaska

Unit 19E encompasses the Nushagak Hills, upper Stony River corridor, and southwestern foothills of the Alaska Range. Elevation ranges from lowland river flats near the Kuskokwim confluence (~200 ft) to alpine ridges exceeding 4,000 ft in the eastern reaches. Vegetation transitions from boreal spruce-poplar forest and alder thickets along river corridors to open muskeg and wet tundra on the lowland benches, with alpine tundra and rocky scree on higher slopes. The Stony River originates in the mountains of Lake Clark National Park and flows ~140 miles northwest through rolling foothills before joining the Kuskokwim. The unit has no roads; primary drainages include the Stony River, Holitna River tributaries, and the Stink River.

Entirely fly-in; no road access. Primary access is by chartered floatplane from Anchorage (~2 hrs) or Dillingham, landing on lakes, rivers, or gravel bars. The village of Stony River (on the Kuskokwim) and Lime Village (60 miles up the Stony River) are the only permanent communities and serve as jumping-off points. Registration hunt permits (RM682) for moose must be picked up in person in Sleetmute or Stony River July 13–31. Public lands include portions of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (eastern edge), with the bulk of the unit comprising state and federal public lands. Approximately 95%+ public land. A Lime Village Management Area (LVMA) lies within the Stony River drainage from the Stink River mouth upstream to Can Creek.

River corridors: white and black spruce, balsam poplar, alder, willow, and fireweed. Lowland benches: sedge-grass tussock tundra, Sphagnum moss, dwarf birch, Labrador tea. Upland slopes transitioning to Alpine tundra: crowberry, lichens, dryas, and scattered krummholz. Riparian zones provide critical moose habitat and brown bear salmon-foraging areas. The mix of productive lowland tundra and forest makes this some of the best moose country in the Kuskokwim drainage.

Moose are resident year-round in the river corridors and transition zones between boreal forest and open tundra. Brown bears are distributed across the unit at moderate to high densities typical of Bristol Bay drainages, feeding on salmon in tributaries during late summer runs before denning on alpine slopes. Caribou from the Mulchatna herd (MCH) historically migrated through Unit 19E; the herd peaked at ~200,000 animals in 1997 but crashed to ~13,000 by 2019. As of July 2025 the MCH is estimated at 16,276 animals—roughly half the lower management objective of 30,000–80,000—and all harvest (resident and non-resident) remains closed since 2021, with intensive predator control ongoing. Dall sheep occupy the rocky ridges and cliffs along the Alaska Range foothills in the eastern portion of the unit. Wolves are present at manageable densities due to the active predator control program.

PREDATOR CONTROL: A portion of Unit 19E is within an active predator control area; consult the predator control supplement at hunt.alaska.gov for wolf and bear control regulations. NON-RESIDENT MOOSE RESTRICTIONS: Non-residents have no open season in Unit 19E remainder and the Lime Village Management Area (see map #5 nonresident closed areas on reg map pg. 99). Non-residents are also excluded from caribou hunting (no open season in 19E). CARIBOU CLOSURE: All Mulchatna herd caribou hunting is closed to both residents and non-residents (RC503 permit—no open season). Western herd grew ~40.9% during predator removal years 2023–2025 but remains well below objectives. LIME VILLAGE MANAGEMENT AREA (LVMA): Tier II (subsistence) moose hunt TM684 allows two bulls by permit, Aug 10–Sept 25 and Nov 20–Mar 31, residents only. LVMA specifically covers the Stony River drainage from the Stink River mouth upstream to Can Creek. DALL SHEEP: Non-residents may take one ram with full-curl horn or larger every four regulatory years (HT, Aug 10–Sept 20), same as residents. Guide required for non-residents. BROWN BEAR (NON-RESIDENT): Non-residents may take two bears per regulatory year but season is Aug 10–June 30 (residents have no closed season). Non-resident hunters must be accompanied by a guide. GUIDE REQUIREMENT: Non-resident hunters must be accompanied by a registered guide for brown/grizzly bear and moose.