Planning a DIY Alaska moose hunt can get complicated in a hurry. Bush flights, rafts, meat care, gear, antler restrictions, logistics… it’s certainly for the faint of heart. But as I detailed in our price overview, it certainly can be done and for much cheaper than a full guided hunt.
But before you worry about any of that, there’s one pretty important detail: You need to actually be legal to hunt the thing.
Alaska’s licensing system isn’t terribly complicated once you understand it, but there are several different pieces of paperwork involved, and they don’t all do the same thing. If you’re a nonresident planning a DIY Alaska moose hunt, here’s what you actually need.
1. Alaska Nonresident Hunting License ($160)
First things first. Every nonresident hunting moose in Alaska needs a valid Alaska hunting license. Think of this as the thing that gives you the basic legal authority to hunt in the state.
Note: Buying the license does not mean you have a moose tag. That’s separate. And yes, Alaska is going to get considerably more money out of you before this is over.
2. Moose Locking Tag ($800)
Here’s the expensive one. The locking tag is a physical metal tag that you carry into the field. After killing your moose, the tag must be locked onto a required salvageable portion of the animal before leaving the kill site and remain with the animal as required by Alaska regulations.
Pro-Tip: A higher-priced tag can generally be used on a species with an equal or lower locking-tag value (like a caribou or black bear), assuming you have the proper harvest ticket.
The Catch: Once you use that locking tag, it’s used. One tag. One animal. Done. Unless you specifically intend to burn your moose tag on another animal, leave it in your pocket.
3. Harvest Ticket (Free)
Depending on the hunt, you’ll need the appropriate harvest ticket or permit in addition to your hunting license and locking tag. A harvest ticket is basically the paperwork documenting the animal you’re hunting and, if successful, the animal you killed.
This is different from your metal locking tag. I’ve talked to plenty of first-time Alaska hunters who assume their $800 moose tag is all they need. It isn’t. After harvesting a moose under a harvest-ticket hunt, you validate the ticket by cutting out the month and day of the kill.
Pro-Tip: Print your paperwork before you leave civilization. Don’t wait until you’re in some tiny Alaska town the night before your bush flight trying to find a printer.
4. Nonresident Moose Hunter Orientation (Free)
All nonresident moose hunters must complete Alaska’s Nonresident Moose Hunter Orientation before hunting. Yes, that means all nonresident moose hunters (general-season, registration, and drawing hunts). The orientation covers two vital subjects:
- Is This Moose Legal?
- Field Care of Big Game Meat
Once finished, keep your proof of completion with your hunting documents; Alaska requires you to carry it in the field. And don’t blow this part off. Determining if an Alaska bull is legal involves antler width, brow-tine counts, and spike/fork configurations.
If you’re not sure the moose is legal, don’t shoot it.
Don’t Forget The Harvest Report
Killing the moose isn’t necessarily the end of your paperwork. Reporting requirements vary depending on the specific hunt. Some require reporting within a certain number of days, and unsuccessful hunters may also be required to report.
Read the regulations for your specific hunt and unit.
Keep Everything Together
Once I have all my Alaska hunting paperwork, I keep it together in a Ziploc bag. That includes:
- Hunting license
- Moose locking tag and associated tag record
- Harvest ticket or permit
- Nonresident Moose Hunter Orientation proof
- Any unit-specific paperwork
You’re going to be living in rain, mud, boats, and tents. Keep it dry. More importantly, keep it with you.
Total Cost
For a typical nonresident DIY moose hunter, the basic state licensing costs look like this:
- Nonresident Hunting License – $160
- Moose Locking Tag – $800
- Harvest Ticket – Free
- Hunter Orientation – Free
Total $960
That’s your baseline investment before flights, rafts, or food. Welcome to Alaska… but considering what you’re about to experience, that $960 is the cheap part.
Disclaimer: Alaska hunting regulations can change. Before leaving for your hunt, read the current regulations for your specific Game Management Unit and verify everything directly with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. It’s your tag. It’s your hunt. It’s your responsibility.
Start Planning Your Alaska Moose Hunt
If planning your first DIY Alaska moose hunt still feels overwhelming, that’s exactly why I built the FREE DIY Alaska Moose Hunting Masterclass at Elkhorn Expeditions.
I walk hunters through the entire process: planning, areas, transportation, gear, calling, field judging, and meat care. Plus, members get access to exclusive gear discounts on rafts, packs, tents, optics, and more. You’re getting the information, the planning resources, and gear discounts without paying a dime to join.
Quit trying to piece the entire hunt together from random YouTube videos. Join the FREE masterclass today.
