Unit 20E, Alaska

Unit 20E is interior/eastern Alaska boreal terrain, not the Yukon Delta. It encompasses the Charley, Fortymile, and Ladue River drainages that flow north into the south bank of the Yukon River near the Alaska-Canada border. Elevations range from roughly 900 ft in river valleys to 5,000+ ft on ridge crests. Vegetation transitions from dense black and white spruce-birch-aspen forest in the lowland river bottoms, through shrub willow and alder riparian corridors, to alpine tundra and exposed rocky ridgelines above treeline (~3,000 ft). The Fortymile River system is a braided, glacier-fed drainage; the Charley River drains Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Wetlands and muskeg bogs are common in flat valley floors. No maintained roads penetrate the unit — the Taylor Highway (AK-5) skirts the western edge near Chicken, AK.

No roads cross Unit 20E. Primary access is by floatplane (wheel or floatplane) from Fairbanks, Tok, or the community of Chicken on the Taylor Highway (~40 miles west). Riverboat access is possible on the Fortymile and Yukon rivers from Eagle (population ~86) or Circle. Some hunters use ATVs from the Taylor Highway corridor on the western margin. The unit is largely encompassed by or adjacent to Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve (2.5 million acres, NPS), with additional BLM lands and State of Alaska lands. Federal subsistence hunting regulations apply on NPS and other federal lands within the unit. Approximately 85-95% of Unit 20E is publicly owned (NPS, BLM, State). The ADF&G regional contact is the Tok office: (907) 883-2971.

Boreal Interior Alaska: lowland river valleys dominated by white spruce, paper birch, and quaking aspen; south-facing slopes with drier birch-aspen stands; north-facing and poorly drained sites with black spruce and muskeg; extensive riparian shrub corridors of willow (Salix spp.) and alder (Alnus spp.) along all drainages — critical moose habitat; alpine tundra above ~3,000 ft with sedge-grass meadows, Dryas mats, and dwarf birch. Permafrost underlies much of the unit, creating thermokarst lakes and boggy terrain. Cottonwood gallery forest lines the Yukon River banks.

Caribou: The Fortymile Caribou Herd (Rangifer tarandus) is the primary herd associated with Unit 20E. The herd ranges across Units 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, and 25C, as well as adjacent Yukon Territory (Canada). The herd underwent dramatic recovery from historic lows of ~6,000 animals in the 1970s to approximately 50,000-70,000 animals in recent decades following intensive management. Caribou migrate broadly across this landscape; fall migration typically moves animals southward through Unit 20E in August-September toward winter range. Moose: Moose populations in Unit 20E operate at relatively low to moderate densities, historically limited by wolf and bear predation (documented by Gasaway et al., 1990). The unit-wide moose population has been estimated at 2,500-3,500 animals. Moose concentrate in river-bottom willow and alder during late summer and fall rut (September). Wolves and grizzly/black bears are the primary predators on both species.

SUBSISTENCE: Federal subsistence hunting has priority on federal public lands (Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve and BLM) for federally qualified rural residents. State subsistence priority applies statewide for rural Alaska residents. Non-residents must be licensed and may hunt under the same registration permits but face tighter antler restrictions for moose. NON-RESIDENT MOOSE RESTRICTION: Non-residents hunting moose in Unit 20E under permit RM865 must take a bull with antlers spanning 50 inches or greater, OR antlers with 4 or more brow tines on at least one side. Residents are restricted to one bull with no antler minimum. ONE-PERMIT RULE: Hunters in most of Unit 20E may not simultaneously hold both the caribou registration permit (RC860) and the moose registration permit (RM865); you must surrender one to receive the other. MOTORIZED RESTRICTION: The Mosquito Flats area prohibits motorized land vehicles over 1,500 lbs from August 1 - September 30 during the moose season (limited trail exceptions). REPORTING: Successful hunters must report moose harvests within 15 days; caribou harvests within 3 days. Failure to report results in permit ineligibility the following year. GUIDED HUNTING: Non-residents hunting brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep, and mountain goat in Alaska must use a licensed guide; moose and caribou do not require a guide for non-residents.