Why It Matters: Alaska’s Roosevelt elk population on Raspberry Island has rebounded to healthy levels, thanks to careful science-based management by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG). As a result of these successful conservation efforts, Alaska is now able to open a limited draw-only hunting opportunity for residents, balancing harvest with conservation to ensure the herd’s long-term sustainability. For sportsmen, it exemplifies how regulated hunting sustains wildlife and landscapes, aligning with core tenets of ethical outdoor traditions.
Highlights:
- ADFG’s July 2024 surveys confirm the Raspberry Island elk herd is within its 150-200 animal management objective, enabling a controlled cow elk hunt.
- Just 25 non-transferable registration permits were issued online starting September 25, 2025, to the first eligible Alaska Residents who apply.
- This draw-only season underscores hunters’ vital role in preventing overharvest while funding conservation through user-based systems.
Roosevelt elk were introduced into Alaska in 1929, with the relocation of eight calves from Washington State to Afognak Island. From this modest beginning, the herd expanded to neighboring Raspberry Island and flourished, reaching a peak of around 1,500 animals by the mid-1960’s. However, the population experienced significant highs and lows, often linked to severe winters with deep snow limiting forage access, as well as predation pressures from bears and wolves. These challenges highlight the resilience of the species in Alaska’s rugged archipelago environment, where elk have adapted to dense coastal rainforests and steep terrain.
Recent surveys paint an encouraging picture of recovery. ADFG’s minimum count abundance surveys, conducted in July 2024, estimated the Raspberry Island elk herd at levels squarely within the department’s management objective of 150-200 animals. This stability reflects decades of adaptive management strategies, including habitat monitoring and predator assessments, that prioritize population health over unchecked growth. With the herd now robust enough to withstand limited harvest without risk, ADFG has greenlit the RE706 permit-only cow elk hunt in Game Management Unit 8 (Kodiak Archipelago). To safeguard against overharvest and keep the population on target, the department is issuing only 25 registration permits for the 2025-2026 hunting season. These non-transferable tags target antlerless elk to fine-tune sex ratios and reduce browsing pressure on vegetation, promoting both herd balance and ecosystem balance.
The application process was accessible exclusively online for Alaska residents on Thursday, September 25, 2025. Permits will go to the first 25 eligible Alaska resident hunters on a first-come, first-served basis. Successful applicants must adhere to the 2025-2026 Alaska Hunting Regulations, including mandatory harvest reporting within 10 days of the kill or season close. This conservative approach not only sustains the herd but also generates critical data through hunter reports, informing future management decisions.
This targeted elk management on Raspberry Island embodies the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, a framework celebrated by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) as the gold standard for sustainable wildlife stewardship. At its heart, the Model rests on the Public Trust Doctrine, holding that wildlife belongs to all citizens and must be managed scientifically by government agencies for the public’s benefit. Hunters are key stewards in this system and are a vital component of balanced management systems. By participating in such regulated hunts, sportsmen and women directly contribute to this legacy, proving that ethical harvest is not just a privilege but a powerful tool for conservation that benefits hunters, anglers, trappers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
