The hunting season for moose on the mainland and islands around Wrangell, Petersburg and Kake closed October 15th and it looks like the harvest was not as large as last year.

Hunters reported killing 67 moose in the month-long season. That total may finish a little higher as hunters have until October 20th to report harvested moose.

Most of the bulls this year came from two places, Kupreanof Island and the Stikine River. The top producer was western Kupreanof around Kake with a total of 22 animals. Another five came on eastern Kupreanof closer to Petersburg. Hunters on the Stikine took 18 moose this year. Also on the mainland, six were killed at Farragut Bay, another four in Thomas Bay and two from both Port Houghton and the mainland east of Wrangell.

Four were killed on Mitkof Island and one each on Etolin, Wrangell, Kuiu and Zarembo islands. Six of the bulls this year were not legal, falling short of the state’s antler requirements for the area. Last year’s total was 89 moose.