Moose total coming up on 100

The end of the RM038 moose season is in sight, and as of noon Tuesday the total stood at 97 moose taken, including 11 illegal kills. The season total is on track to exceed 100 moose for the third year in a row, according to Rich Lowell, area wildlife biologist for Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).

The number of moose illegal kills was low during the first half of the season, but they recently increased and now represent 11 percent of the total harvest. Nine of the 97 moose harvested to date failed to comply with the local antler restrictions, one moose was taken illegally with the aid of artificial light, and one large bull was shot and appears to have been abandoned afield, Lowell says. 

The month-long season will wrap up on Saturday, Oct. 15 the same day deer opens for Lindenberg Peninsula, Mitkof Island, Butterworth Island and Woewodski Island.

 Moose kills so far:

Kupreanof Island        43

Stikine River               14

Mitkof Island               11

Thomas Bay                10

Wrangell Island         7

Farragut Bay               5

Kuiu Island                 5

Woewodski Island      1

Virginia Lake             1

TOTAL                      97       

(total includes 11 illegal moose)