{"id":7493,"date":"2026-08-01T14:35:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T14:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/?p=7493"},"modified":"2026-08-01T14:35:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T14:35:14","slug":"alaska-bison-hunting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-bison-hunting\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaska Bison Season Guide for 2026: Draw Odds, Dates &amp; How to Hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Planning ahead is the job of this&nbsp;<strong>Alaska Bison Hunting Season Guide<\/strong>: current-year dates, fees, and access details laid out so you can plan with confidence, whether you&#8217;re a non-resident chasing a bucket-list bull or an Alaska resident hoping to fill the freezer. This guide walks through every herd, every fee, and every access option \u2014 public land, private leases, and guided hunts \u2014 so you&#8217;re not piecing it together from scattered sources. You can find the full toolkit for planning your season at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\">Hunting Locator<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s covered before you submit an application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Season dates by herd<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Delta Junction, Copper River &amp; Farewell, and Chitina, with exact 2026\u201327 windows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Licenses, permits &amp; fees<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 what you&#8217;ll pay and how the drawing permit application works.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Where and how to hunt<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 public land, private-land leases, guided options, and gear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Alaska bison hunting is a drawing-only, once-in-a-lifetime tag. There&#8217;s no general season for this species. That&#8217;s a significant commitment to plan around, so start with the fast facts below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/78a98a67-7174-4ed8-9f86-4da518e848ab.jpeg\" alt=\"Alaska bison\" class=\"wp-image-7500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/78a98a67-7174-4ed8-9f86-4da518e848ab.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/78a98a67-7174-4ed8-9f86-4da518e848ab-300x168.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/78a98a67-7174-4ed8-9f86-4da518e848ab-768x429.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Overview: Alaska Bison Season Dates at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the confirmed Alaska bison season dates for the 2026\u201327 regulatory year, herd by herd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-569\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-569\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Herd \/ Area<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Season Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Start<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">End<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">Bag Limit<\/th><th class=\"column-6\">Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Delta Junction Herd (Unit 20D)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Drawing permit<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Oct 1, 2026<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">March 31<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">One bison per lifetime*<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Most accessible; near the Alaska Highway<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Copper River &amp; Farewell Herds<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Drawing permit<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Sep 1, 2026<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Mar 31, 2027<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">One bison per lifetime*<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Farewell is fly-in; Copper River is rugged, remote<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Chitina Herd (Unit 6B)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Drawing permit<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Sep 1, 2026<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Dec 31, 2026<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">One bison per lifetime*<\/td><td class=\"column-6\">Shorter season; herd still recovering<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-569 from cache -->\n\n\n<p>*Bag limit is one bison per lifetime or one bison every 5\u201310 regulatory years, depending on the specific permit area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you spend an application choice, know this: the Chitina and Copper River herds are still recovering from a past winter die-off event, according to industry hunting guidance. Verify current herd status with ADF&amp;G before committing a choice there. Delta or Farewell may be the better bet this cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All bison hunting in Alaska runs through the drawing permit system, with no general season as a fallback. Before you can apply, you need a few pieces in place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Valid Alaska hunting license<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 required before you apply for any bison permit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drawing permit application<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 bison is lottery-only; you apply during the annual window.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hunter orientation<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 the Delta hunt requires passing the Delta Bison Hunter Orientation Quiz before you&#8217;re eligible to hunt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weapon minimums<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 per&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.adfg.alaska.gov\/index.cfm?adfg=deltabison.weaponslegalhunting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ADF&amp;G legal weapons rules<\/a>, rifles and handguns must fire at least a 175-grain bullet with a minimum of 2,800 ft\/lb muzzle energy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For the full regulatory detail beyond what&#8217;s covered here, our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-bison-hunting-season\">complete Alaska bison regulations<\/a>&nbsp;page breaks down what you&#8217;ll want to know before applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alaska Bison Hunting Seasons by Herd<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alaska&#8217;s huntable bison are split across four distinct herds, each with its own season window, access reality, and difficulty level. According to the official ADF&amp;G bison overview, the state&#8217;s bison trace back to 1928, when 23 plains bison were moved from Montana&#8217;s National Bison Range to the Delta River area. That original herd has since grown and seeded smaller populations, and today four herds totaling about 900 animals range freely across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cef8739f-f912-49b9-a8db-17e15b6db63f.jpeg\" alt=\"Alaska bison\" class=\"wp-image-7501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cef8739f-f912-49b9-a8db-17e15b6db63f.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cef8739f-f912-49b9-a8db-17e15b6db63f-300x168.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cef8739f-f912-49b9-a8db-17e15b6db63f-768x429.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Season 1 \u2014 Delta Junction Herd (Unit 20D)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Delta bison hunt runs October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, though ADF&amp;G staggers individual hunters&#8217; start dates to keep things safer for hunters and landowners while protecting the herd. This is the most competitive tag in the state \u2014 roughly 15,000 hunters apply for about 100 permits each year, with an average of 74 animals harvested, per ADF&amp;G. It&#8217;s also the most popular hunt largely because it sits near the Alaska Highway, meaning you can skip the bush-plane charter other herds require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One wrinkle worth knowing early: while the Delta herd is technically available on public land, many of these animals spend significant time on private farmland, where you&#8217;ll need landowner permission to hunt. That reality shapes a lot of your access strategy, covered later in this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Season 2 \u2014 Copper River &amp; Farewell Herds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both herds share a season window of September 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. Beyond the shared dates, these two hunts differ substantially in character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Farewell is a remote, fly-in hunt \u2014 budget for charter aircraft, snowmobiles, or an outfitter to reach the bison habitat, but it offers a strong chance at a trophy bull for hunters willing to make the investment. Copper River is a wild, free-range herd living in seriously rugged terrain, a physically demanding hunt that typically takes several years of applying before you draw. If you&#8217;re eyeing Copper River, guide services generally advise starting to apply now rather than waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Worth repeating: the Copper River herd is part of the population still recovering from a past winter die-off, so check current herd status with ADF&amp;G before locking in this choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One more planning note that matters for both hunts, especially Farewell: a mature bull can yield 650 or more pounds of meat, and it may take eight or more backpack loads to get everything to the airstrip. Build your pack-out plan before you pull the trigger, not after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Season 3 \u2014 Chitina Herd (Unit 6B)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chitina herd runs a shorter window \u2014 September 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, ending earlier than the other two seasons. This herd is also still recovering from a winter die-off event, and some industry sources suggest it may be worth passing on for now until numbers rebound. If Unit 6B is on your radar, confirm current herd viability with ADF&amp;G before spending an application choice on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alaska Bison Licenses and Permits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This section covers the money and paperwork. Once you know the pieces \u2014 license, application, tag \u2014 the process is straightforward, even if the odds are long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alaska Hunting Licenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you can apply for a bison permit, you need a valid annual Alaska hunting license. Here&#8217;s the fee breakdown for non-residents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-570\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-570\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">License \/ Permit<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Non-Resident<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Annual hunting license<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$160.00<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Required before applying; covers the 2026 calendar year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Bison permit application<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$10 per choice<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Each herd choice you submit costs $10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Bison locking tag (if drawn)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$900.00<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Paid only after you successfully draw a permit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-570 from cache -->\n\n\n<p>Residents pay lower fees across the board than non-residents, though exact resident pricing should be confirmed directly through ADF&amp;G rather than estimated here. One detail that trips up first-timers: ADF&amp;G bison hunt applications are online-only \u2014 VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted, but cash and checks are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a non-resident, that means budgeting at minimum $160 for the license plus $10 per herd choice before you even know if you&#8217;ve drawn, then $900 more if you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a30f715a-788a-4588-9b11-29314090a180.jpeg\" alt=\"Alaska bison\" class=\"wp-image-7502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a30f715a-788a-4588-9b11-29314090a180.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a30f715a-788a-4588-9b11-29314090a180-300x168.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a30f715a-788a-4588-9b11-29314090a180-768x429.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alaska Bison Permits &amp; Application Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting into the drawing isn&#8217;t complicated once you know the sequence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Buy your hunting license<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 required before you can submit any permit application.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Choose your herd(s)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 you can submit multiple choices across different herds; each choice costs $10.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Apply in the window<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 the application period runs November 1 through December 15 each year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Apply online<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 card payment only; no cash or checks accepted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If drawn, buy the $900 locking tag<\/strong>&nbsp;and pass any required orientation, including the Delta Bison Hunter Orientation Quiz if you&#8217;re hunting Unit 20D.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>The odds are steep \u2014 roughly 100-to-1 for the Delta hunt, according to ADF&amp;G. Alaska uses a pure random draw with no preference-point system, unlike states such as Wyoming or Montana, so applying consistently year after year is the best long-term strategy rather than any shortcut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s also worth understanding the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/aws.state.ak.us\/OnlinePublicNotices\/Notices\/Attachment.aspx?id=134898\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alaska drawing permit terms<\/a>&nbsp;around the bag limit before you apply: a non-resident who successfully draws a bison permit is generally ineligible to apply again, indefinitely, while a resident must wait about 10 years before reapplying. That&#8217;s the &#8220;once-in-a-lifetime&#8221; tag in plain terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Hunt Alaska Bison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve drawn your tag, or while you&#8217;re planning ahead for the years it might take, the next question is access \u2014 public land, private-land leases, and guided hunts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best Public Lands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some herds are genuinely reachable on public land, especially Delta, which is why it draws the most applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Delta Junction \/ Unit 20D<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 accessible from the Alaska Highway, with the best road access typically in winter, when the ground is frozen and animals become easier to reach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Farewell area<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 public land, but fly-in only, so plan your charter logistics well ahead of the season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Copper River region<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 rugged public terrain that&#8217;s physically demanding and requires real fitness and preparation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Delta&#8217;s public-land accessibility comes with a catch: much of the herd spends time on private farmland, where landowner permission is required. That overlap is why so many successful Delta hunters line up private access before the season starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/abcd145a-dc68-4f96-bea5-f102ece9ccf5.jpeg\" alt=\"Alaska bison\" class=\"wp-image-7503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/abcd145a-dc68-4f96-bea5-f102ece9ccf5.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/abcd145a-dc68-4f96-bea5-f102ece9ccf5-300x168.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/abcd145a-dc68-4f96-bea5-f102ece9ccf5-768x429.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Private Land Hunting with Hunting Locator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A meaningful share of the Delta herd&#8217;s range crosses private farmland, and showing up without a plan for that access can cost you a hunt you waited years to draw. The hunters who do best line up their land access months before the season opens, not the week before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where Hunting Locator helps. We connect you directly with landowners who lease or sell hunting land, so you&#8217;re not knocking on doors cold or hoping a farmer picks up the phone. Hunting Locator works as a straightforward SaaS platform \u2014 search by state, browse available Alaska listings, and connect directly with landowners ready to work with hunters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the season sneaks up on you, take a few minutes to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/leases\/state\/alaska\/\">browse Alaska hunting leases<\/a>&nbsp;and start lining up your access now, while you still have time to be selective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guided Hunts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you need a guide depends heavily on which herd you draw. According to industry sources, there are no known outfitters operating in the Delta Junction area \u2014 it&#8217;s a DIY-friendly hunt thanks to road access along the Alaska Highway. Remote hunts like Farewell are different: charter aircraft, snowmobiles, or an outfitter are typically necessary just to reach the bison habitat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One more thing worth flagging: Alaska law generally requires non-residents to hunt certain big game species with a registered guide unless they&#8217;re accompanied by a qualifying close resident relative. Requirements can vary by species and area, so confirm current guide requirements for bison specifically with ADF&amp;G before finalizing your plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alaska Bison Hunting Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A drawn bison tag is rare enough that it&#8217;s worth doing everything you can to make it count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Apply every single year<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 with no preference points in Alaska&#8217;s system, consistency is your best strategy against roughly 100-to-1 odds for Delta, according to ADF&amp;G.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Match your rifle to the animal<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 meet the state minimum of a 175-grain bullet with 2,800 ft\/lb of muzzle energy; a ton-plus animal demands nothing less.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plan your pack-out before you shoot<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 a bull can yield 650-plus pounds of meat, and a Farewell fly-in hunt may take eight backpack loads to the airstrip. Have game bags, a sharp knife, and a plan in place beforehand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hunt fall for meat quality<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 fat reserves diminish by spring, so fall harvests generally produce better table meat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dress for Alaska winter<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Delta road hunts often happen on frozen ground in the coldest months, so layer accordingly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gear up early<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 don&#8217;t wait until you&#8217;ve drawn to think about equipment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever herd you draw,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huntinglocator.com\/store\">gear up at our store<\/a>&nbsp;to make sure your rifle, optics, and pack-out kit are ready well before opening day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Resources from Hunting Locator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning more than just bison this season? Here&#8217;s where to go next for the rest of your Alaska hunting plans and gear needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Start here \/ core planning:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-hunting-season-guide\">Alaska Hunting Season Guide<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 the parent hub covering every Alaska species and season in one place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-bison-hunting-season\">Complete Alaska bison regulations detail<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 the full regulatory companion to this guide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/leases\/state\/alaska\/\">Browse Alaska hunting leases<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 line up private-land access for your hunt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.huntinglocator.com\/store\">Hunting Locator gear store<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 everything you need to kit out for your Alaska trip.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Big game guides:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-moose-hunting\">Alaska moose hunting<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 season dates and strategy for Alaska&#8217;s iconic big game species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-caribou-hunting\">Alaska caribou hunting<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 herds, units, and timing for caribou season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-brown-bear-hunting-season\">Alaska brown bear hunting season<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 regulations for one of Alaska&#8217;s premier predator hunts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-black-bear-hunting-season\">Alaska black bear hunting season<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 a more accessible bear hunting option statewide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-mountain-goat-hunting-season\">Alaska mountain goat hunting season<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 alpine terrain hunting for a tough, rewarding species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-muskox-hunting-season\">Alaska muskox hunting season<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 another once-in-a-lifetime Alaska draw hunt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Predator &amp; small game:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-wolf-hunting\">Alaska wolf hunting<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 seasons and tactics for pursuing Alaska wolves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-furbearer-trapping-season\">Alaska furbearer trapping season<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 trapping regulations and opportunities statewide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-small-game-hunting-season\">Alaska small game hunting season<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 grouse, ptarmigan, hare, and more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/alaska-deer-hunting-season\">Alaska deer hunting season<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 Sitka black-tailed deer seasons and units.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a &#8220;locking tag&#8221; for Alaska bison hunting?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A locking tag is the special big-game tag you purchase only after you&#8217;ve successfully drawn your bison permit. For non-residents, it costs $900. Once purchased, it &#8220;locks&#8221; you to that specific harvest opportunity, and you can&#8217;t apply for or fill another one during your eligibility window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does the Alaska bison drawing permit lottery work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bison hunting in Alaska is lottery-only, with no general season as a fallback. You apply between November 1 and December 15 each year, with each herd choice costing $10. Selection is completely random, with no preference points, and Delta draws run roughly 100-to-1 odds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does &#8220;one bison per lifetime&#8221; mean?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For most non-residents, drawing a bison permit means you&#8217;re done reapplying indefinitely. Residents face a shorter wait, typically about 10 years before they&#8217;re eligible again, matching the &#8220;one bison every 5\u201310 regulatory years&#8221; rule depending on the permit area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much does it cost a non-resident to hunt bison in Alaska?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Budget at least $160 for your annual hunting license, plus $10 for each herd choice you submit on your application. If you draw, add a $900 locking tag fee. Remote hunts like Farewell will add charter aircraft or guide costs on top of these baseline fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When should I apply for an Alaska bison permit?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The application window runs November 1 through December 15 each year. Since Alaska has no preference-point system, applying every year, even when you don&#8217;t expect to draw, is the smartest long-term strategy for eventually landing a tag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a beginner hunt bison in Alaska?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. Anyone with a valid Alaska hunting license can apply and enters the same random draw as experienced hunters. Set realistic expectations, though: odds are long, and it may take years to draw. Start applying now, and use this guide alongside official ADF&amp;G resources to prepare while you wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Final Shot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning an Alaska bison hunt comes down to three things: knowing your herd&#8217;s 2026\u201327 dates, budgeting honestly for the license, application choices, and $900 locking tag, and securing your access \u2014 public, leased, or guided \u2014 well before the season arrives. None of it is complicated once you break it down, but it rewards hunters who start early rather than scrambling after they draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pick the herd that fits your goals, mark November 1 through December 15 on your calendar for the application window, and start lining up land access now. Always confirm current-year regulations with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game before you submit anything, since rules and herd conditions can shift year to year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&#8217;re ready to lock in your land access,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/leases\/state\/alaska\/\">browse Alaska hunting leases<\/a>&nbsp;and start turning your once-in-a-lifetime Alaska bison season into a real plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planning ahead is the job of this\u00a0Alaska Bison Hunting Season Guide: current-year dates, fees, and access details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":7499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[215,68,10,16],"class_list":["post-7493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hunting-seasons","tag-bison-hunting","tag-hunting","tag-hunting-seasons","tag-season-dates"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7493"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7504,"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7493\/revisions\/7504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huntinglocator.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}