Unit 22C, Alaska

The unit covers the western Seward Peninsula and adjacent Norton Sound coastal plain. Terrain is predominantly low-relief arctic tundra: wet sedge-cottongrass tussock tundra in lowlands and valley bottoms, moist tundra with dwarf shrubs (willows, alders, ericaceous shrubs) on midslopes, and dry lichen-heath tundra on ridges and higher ground. The Bendeleben and Kigluaik Mountains rise to roughly 4,700 ft in adjacent portions of the Seward Peninsula. Riparian corridors support denser willow and alder thickets that concentrate moose. Spruce forest is absent; the unit lies entirely in Low Arctic tundra biome. Permafrost underlies most of the unit. Coastline transitions from sandy beaches to rocky bluffs along Norton Sound.

Access beyond the Nome road system (approximately 300 miles of gravel roads radiating from Nome) requires floatplane, helicopter, snowmachine in winter, or ATV. Charter air services operate out of Nome Airport (PAOM). Most serious big-game hunting occurs by floatplane to remote lakes or strips, then foot or ATV travel. Winter bear hunts commonly use snowmachine. King and Sledge Islands require boat or floatplane. Public land exceeds 95% of the unit -- BLM-administered lands dominate the Seward Peninsula interior; Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (NPS) lies immediately north in adjacent Unit 22 subunits.

Low Arctic tundra dominates: wet to moist acidic tussock-cottongrass tundra in valley bottoms and coastal lowlands; moist tundra with low shrub willows, dwarf birch, and ericaceous heaths on hillsides; dry prostrate-shrub lichen heath on ridges and summits. Documented shrubification (increased alder and willow density) since the 1990s. No boreal forest or spruce. Beach rye grass and sedge meadows along coastline. Abundant ponds and wetland complexes due to permafrost.

Moose in Unit 22C are part of a population thought to be increasing (2015-2020 management period); brown bear predation on calves is the primary limiting factor across Unit 22. Moose use riparian willow corridors seasonally. The Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) ranges across approximately 140,000 sq miles including Units 21D and 22A-E; in many years since 1996 the WACH has wintered on the eastern Seward Peninsula near Nome, making 22C important winter range. The herd peaked at 490,000 in 2003 and declined to 121,000 in summer 2025. Brown bears are resident year-round; annual harvest across Unit 22 hovers near 100 bears per year, with Unit 22C surrounding Nome generating the highest harvest volume. Muskoxen were reintroduced to Units 22C and 22D in 1970 and have expanded across BLM-managed lands on the Seward Peninsula.

NON-RESIDENT RESTRICTIONS: (1) Brown bear: guide required; DB685 drawing permit, 25-bear shared quota with residents across 22B+22C; 10 non-resident permits released spring 2026 as undersubscribed first-come. (2) Moose: Nonresident Moose Hunter Orientation course required before hunting, proof required in field; some years no open non-resident general season in 22C -- verify current GMU 22 booklet. (3) Caribou: as of June 2026 Federal Subsistence Board closed cow harvest and closed non-local hunters on federal lands on Seward Peninsula; bulls-only at 15 per year for local federally qualified users. (4) Muskox: subsistence hunt only, Alaska residents with C&T determination in 22B-E; Inner Nome Area requires Muskox Hunter Orientation. SUBSISTENCE: Federal subsistence priority on all federal lands; Nome is classified non-rural so Nome residents use state regulations on federal lands. GUIDE REQUIREMENT: Brown bear requires licensed guide for non-residents. GEOGRAPHIC NOTE: Dall sheep are NOT present in Unit 22C. The Lime Hills and Stony River drainage are in Unit 19E -- Unit 22C is on the Seward Peninsula near Nome.