Play close attention to changing tidal levels and beach boats accordingly
Renting boats from local communities can be an excellent way to stay mobile
Rain gear is a necessity
Species
General Size
Trophy Potential
Sitka Blacktail Deer
75"-90"
100"+
On The Ground
Terrain
Vegetation
Access
Camping and Lodging
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
November 2024
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Unit 4 is located in south eastern Alaska and is more widely known as the ABC islands -Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof Islands. These are three of the largest islands in Alaska and are widely known for excellent deer and bear hunting opportunities. There are very few settlements found on the islands with the most notable being Sitka and Hoonah. Juneau is located just outside of the unit to the northeast. Transportation will need to be arranged for hunting the island but typically most hunters will opt to hunt along the coast lines or by being flown into the remote airstrips and lakes. A decent road system can also be found here that will allow hunters to remain mobile but this technique will be heavily weather and seasonally dependent for success.
Excellent opportunities are available for both deer and bear and hunters do the have the opportunity to draw tags for Rocky Mountain Goat although the densities are low. As with most hunts in Alaska, transportation through and around the hunting area will be a large logistical part of the planning.
Like most of southeastern Alaska, hunters will encounter heavily, heavily forested slopes that rise sharply off the coastlines and climb as much as 3,500+ feet. Vegetation will be almost impossible to traverse at times with the only real relief coming in the forms of muskegs, recent logging activity, and alpine levels above timberline. Physically reaching the alpine country can be very physically taxing with these areas generally occurring around 3,000 feet, much higher than the surrounding islands. Some hiking trails can be found making access somewhat easier and some lakes in these high areas that can be flown into.
Along the coastline, large tidal flats will extend out from the tree cover and will be abundant in nutrient-rich grasses and sedges. In the lower elevations just off the coastline, hunters will commonly find ancient stands of cedar, hemlock, and Sitka Spruce growing among patches of alder, devils club, and other thick ground cover. In some of the higher elevations, the tree and ground cover will greatly reduce as smaller tree species such as Mountain Hemlock grows in abundance. In these areas, native grasses and wildflowers will also grow in high quantities. In the muskeg areas, hunters will encounter a load of standing water, willows, and native grasses. Alder likes to grow around the edges of the areas which can make travel difficult at times.
Because these islands are fairly remote the first step in securing access to the hunting grounds will begin in Juneau. From here hunters will need to ferry or fly to the islands. Flights can consist of commercial flights from Alaska Seaplanes or by smaller companies such as Ward Air where you can access thousands of miles of shoreline. These smaller companies can be great for assessing your needs and largely putting you in a productive location. The most popular option for access throughout the islands will be via a boat or skiff. These can commonly be rented from most of the communities through the unit and will provide the most flexibility to hunters.
Modern lodging options can be found in a few of the communities but most hunters will opt to primitive camp or rent one of the many USFS cabins. When renting a cabin, hunters can be flown into these locations but boats may need to be secured in nearby communities and then driven to the cabins. Careful planning may be necessary.
Roughly 9,714 square miles
57% Public land
Elevations range from 0-3,500 feet
Alaska Seaplanes- Offers great commercial flights into several locations throughout the unit
Ward Air- Offers more specialized flights plans into hunting areas