’Tis the season to apply for the drawing permit hunts

We are beginning the 2015 holiday season. I don’t consider Halloween to be a holiday. The season begins with Thanksgiving and continues through Christmas and into the New Year. These holidays have a significant meaning — one historical, the second religious, and the third marks a new beginning. Here’s wishing you and your family a happy and meaningful Thanksgiving.

Most Alaskan hunters are already aware of this, but in case you aren’t, the application period for the 2016-2017 drawing permit hunts opened Nov. 1 and continues through close of business on Dec. 15. The drawing supplement is available on the Fish and Game website for your convenience in deciding which hunts to apply for. I usually consult the electronic version but I also like to have a hard copy of the news print supplement so I can think, plan, and circle the hunts for which I eventually submit an application.

As has become the standard, you must apply on-line for these hunts. Unfortunately, if you cannot go on-line, you’ve missed the cut-off date, which was Nov. 25, at 5 PM, to contact Fish and Game for alternate application methods. This fact, as well as several more requirements for eligible applications, are printed on the front page of the supplement and explain what you need to know and do to apply.

Some of these items include proxy hunting, deployed military re-issuance of permits, age requirements, how many hunt numbers for each species can be applied for, hunter education requirements for several of the specific hunts, and more. I would suggest reading this information before submitting your application to avoid the possibility of having the application rejected because you failed to follow the directions.

I don’t have much interest in chasing brown bears, so I skip the Kodiak hunts but I will occasionally apply for the GMU 14C hunts. I always wonder why anybody in their right mind would want to hunt a brown bear with a bow and arrow. Having said that, I drew the Eklutna area brown bear permit several years ago and did hunt, but I was honestly hoping the whole time I was in the field that I wouldn’t have any opportunities where I might be tempted to take a shot.

I got my wish!

Because of my bad ankle, my mountain hunting days are behind me. I always look at the Dall sheep and mountain goat hunts but they fall into the same category as Kodiak brown bear for me. However, I always apply for a Delta bison hunt. I can walk on flat ground! I drew a cow permit back in 2007 and was successful in harvesting a mature animal. Now I just apply for the bull permit. The meat from the cow was fabulous and was a welcome addition to reduce the grocery bill, but I must admit to dreaming about the trophy a mature bull bison would represent.

I also usually apply for the various caribou permits in GMU 13. This year, rather than having at least three separate hunts, Fish and Game has combined all the unit 13 caribou hunts into one larger drawing with a split season. That actually might be easier to hunt, assuming I draw a permit!

Because of the cost of travel, I don’t apply for an elk permit. All of the permit hunts are either in Southeast or in the Kodiak area. I harvested a spike bull years ago when I was living and working on Afognak Island, so I’ve “been there and done that!”

I always apply for the full compliment of moose permit hunts, which was increased a few years ago from three to six hunts per applicant. The antlerless hunts are the big attraction for me. I live almost in the middle of several specific hunt areas so my travel costs would be minimal. In fact, with a permit and the right conditions, I could have harvested a cow moose in my backyard on several different occasions.

Drawing one of those elusive antlerless moose permits is one of the more difficult things I have applied for through the years!

The muskox hunts are like the elk and mountain species hunts for me. The cost is beyond my reach and I know I would not enjoy hunting in subzero temperatures. My old bones ache enough inside a warm and comfortable house!

Enjoy the season with your family and remember to apply for the permit hunts of your choice before the Dec. 15 deadline.