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Blog Posts > Hunting Alaska – The Last Frontier // Part II – Deadline Alert!

Hunting Alaska – The Last Frontier // Part II – Deadline Alert!

Erik Schell

| December 8, 2020

Erik Schell
December 8, 2020

Species: Mountain Goat, Alaska Yukon Moose, Brown Bear, Roosevelt Elk, Barren Ground Caribou, Dall Sheep

Location: Alaska

Alaska Application Deadline – December 15, 2020

The deadline to apply for big game tags through Alaska’s draw system is December 15, 2020, with draw results posting in mid-February. The fact that Alaska is the first to post draw results is convenient as it allows plenty of time for planning/preparation for successful applicants as well as ample time to make alternative plans for unsuccessful applicants.

Alaska Hunting Information:

Point System: Currently Alaska does not have a point system in place – everyone’s chances are the same.
License Purchase Yes/No: Yes, as a prerequisite of applying, a $160 non-resident hunting license must be purchased. WTA TAGS will handle this purchase for you as part of the application process.
Party Applications: Up to two applicants may apply together.
Hunter’s Safety Card Requirement: Anyone born after January 1, 1986 must have a hunter’s safety card in their possession while afield. All sportsmen (regardless of age) wishing to hunt big game with bow and arrow must have a specific bow hunter’s safety card in their possession while afield.
Youth: Applicants are required to be 10 years of age by the opening day of the hunting season to apply/obtain a big game permit.

Available Species:

Mountain Goat
Barren-Ground Caribou
Dall Sheep
Alaskan Moose
Roosevelt Elk
Kodiak Brown Bear

As sportsmen it is almost a guarantee that one or more of the above mentioned species lands on each of our “bucket lists” of must-do hunts. By successfully drawing a tag in Alaska you can be assured you will be in an area with restricted tag allotments which yields a better hunting experience as well as greater trophy potential due to limited off-take.

A key point should also be noted, the state of Alaska welcomed hunters this fall (2020) with open arms as long as a negative COVID test could be produced within 72 hours of arrival. Throughout the fall WTA clients experienced zero issues entering or exiting Alaska. This fact allows me to assume the 2021 hunts will be executed as planned which cannot be said for many other areas.

Over the last 15+ years in business WTA TAGS has obtained a wealth of knowledge regarding Alaska’s draw system, up to date unit recommendations and established firm relationships with the top outfitters in each respective area. TAGS is poised and ready to assist you in drawing and executing your Alaskan dream hunt, for additional information please click the button below or give us a call, 1-800-755-8247

Additional Information on Hunting Alaska

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Against the Odds: Drawing Back-to-Back Sheep and Goat Tags

Drawing a sheep tag with 1-in-5,300 odds is amazing. Drawing a mountain goat tag the next year? That’s lottery luck. That’s why it didn’t seem real when my WTA consultant, Jordan Roche, called me two years in a row with that news!

I’d been working with Jordan at WTA TAGS for about five years, letting him manage my hunting applications in multiple states while I focused on staying in shape for whatever hunts might come through. When he called about the Tok Range Dall sheep tag (the only non-resident permit out of 10 total), I knew it was special.

After the excitement of drawing my tag settled in, it was time to find the right outfitter to make my hunt a success. WTA recommended one of their top partners for that area and handled every detail. My outfitter made it clear: this would be a backpack hunt in some of Alaska’s toughest sheep country. At 64, with two hip replacements, I can’t run anymore. But I can hike. So that’s how I prepared—I hiked mile after mile with a weighted pack, knowing the Tok doesn’t care about age or medical history.

We went in a day and a half before the season opened and spotted a band of 14 rams, including one heavy-horned giant that immediately caught our attention. Then Alaska did what Alaska does best. Weather rolled in, the rams vanished, and we spent the three days scouring valleys and ridges to find them again.

When we finally relocated them, we had to break camp and make a major move. After a full day’s work, we spotted six rams bedding down as evening fell. The next morning, we made our play.

The wind that day was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It sounded like a freight train roaring up the mountain; gusting, dying, gusting again. At 320 yards, I had to time my shot during the lulls. My first shot went wide in the wind. The second shot dropped him—a beautiful 39″ ram. Honestly, I didn’t care about the number. That’s not why I hunt. I’m in it for the experience and a good animal. This ram was both.

The pack-out was its own adventure. We crossed the glacier-fed Tok River multiple times before Matt showed up with a Korean War-era military vehicle that could go just about anywhere. After nine days in the mountains, that slow, bumpy ride was a step up from travelling another 10 miles on foot. This was a trip I’ll never forget.

When Jordan called me in February 2025 to tell me I’d drawn a mountain goat tag, I actually laughed. “Figure out something for next year,” I told him, knowing the odds of a three-peat were one in a million. But first, it was time to prepare for my goat hunt.

I flew into Homer at the end of August, expecting to start hunting on Tuesday. By Monday evening, my outfitter, Paul, was warning me about the incoming weather. “We might not get you in until Friday,” he said. He wasn’t kidding. We sat through three days of howling wind, driving rain, and zero visibility before finally getting our chance.

Paul operates from a landing craft that serves as a mobile base camp. But getting from sea level to where the goats live? That was the hardest climb I’ve ever done, and I’ve completed five sheep hunts.

It was only 1,500 vertical feet, but every step came wrapped in devil’s club thorns, soaking brush, deadfall, and rain-slicked cliff bands. We hiked for what seemed like an eternity before stopping for the night to set up camp.

The next morning changed everything. Once above that coastal jungle, the alpine opened up to reveal why we’d suffered through that brutal climb. There were mountain goats everywhere. Good billies. The kind that makes you forget about devil’s club and exhaustion.

I took my billy on August 30, the first day of actual hunting after being sidelined due to weather. While packing him out, we witnessed something I’d never seen: ravens harassing a billy goat. They would swoop within inches of his head, and he’d swing his horns, trying to knock them away. Paul had told me about this strange relationship between ravens and goats, but seeing it firsthand was incredible.

The trip down gave us one more show. A black bear, fat from gorging on berries, army-crawled through the blueberry patches, entertained us from 400 yards away. I had a bear tag, but watching him was worth more than any trophy. Crossing salmon-choked streams on the way out completed the full Alaskan experience.

Both hunts worked because of solid preparation and connections with the right team. Jordan, my WTA consultant, had been helping me strategically build points and select units for years. When the draw results came through, WTA’s network meant proven outfitters were ready and handled every detail. They provided thorough gear lists, arranged logistics, and coordinated air charters. Everything was dialed in.

Some guys chase record books. Others chase hunting milestones. I finished my slam in 2019 with a desert ram, but what excites me most these days is the experience—the hunts that test you, humble you, and stay with you long after the pack is unloaded. When you work with the right people and put in the preparation, amazing things can happen. Jordan’s already working on my applications for 2026, so we’ll see what adventure comes through next.

Contact WTA TAGS to learn more about drawing the tags of your dreams: 1-800-755-8247.

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South African Plains Game Safari: The Hunt

South Africa’s southern tip offers a plains game safari that surprises even the most seasoned hunters with its challenge and variety. As a WTA consultant, I had the privilege of hosting this hunt, traveling alongside the group, sharing the hunt itself, and making sure every detail ran smoothly. By the end, hunters who started as strangers had bonded over long days in the bush and were already planning future trips together.

This hunt delivers true, high-value hunting in rugged, mountainous country. It’s not the type of safari where you ride around and shoot from a truck. Spot-and-stalk is the focus, often through thick brush and thorny cover, and shots can stretch past 200 yards off sticks. The ranch spans 80,000 acres and is home to more than 200,000 self-sustaining animals. You’ll see hundreds of game daily, with 10 to 15 species scattered across the property. Eastern Cape kudu, gemsbok, wildebeest, zebra, springbok, and impala to name just a few of the opportunities you’ll encounter, with plenty of surprises mixed in.

Days start early with breakfast at first light, followed by a drive into the bush with your professional hunter (PH) and tracker. From there, it’s boots on the ground—glassing ridges, stalking through thorn, and working into shooting range. Lunch might be back at the lodge or packed afield, depending on how far you’ve pushed into the property. Afternoons mirror the mornings, with hunting until dark. It’s real, engaging, and rewarding.

The camp itself is comfortable without losing its hunting-camp feel. Sixteen chalets, 8 of them newly built, offer clean and welcoming rooms. Evenings are spent around a central fire in the main lodge, with two game-based meals served nightly and fresh bread baked over the flames. It’s a simple but authentic setting, and every part of camp life is centered around the hunting experience.

Trophy care is well handled. Once an animal is down, your PH and tracker take care of the recovery and skinning. An on-site shed and cooler ensure nothing goes to waste. At the end of the hunt, an exporter meets you in camp to walk through options for dip-and-pack or full taxidermy. Everything is handled face-to-face, including shipping and paperwork, making the process straightforward and stress-free.

One of my favorite memories was an impromptu pistol competition with the local police captain and his deputies, friends of the outfitter. We shared plenty of laughs, a few friendly wagers, and even sent them home with meat in the back of their cruiser. That type of camaraderie and welcome isn’t something you find everywhere, and it speaks volumes about the atmosphere here.

The ranch is family-run, with owner Barry and his son Fred at the helm. Despite Barry’s paralysis from a plane accident years ago, he remains an ever-present storyteller and host, and Fred carries forward the day-to-day operations. Their passion and hospitality make the ranch feel like home.

The hunting in South Africa is unlike anything else in the world, and this safari’s mix of challenge, variety, and value makes it stand out. For hunters looking for a true plains game adventure in breathtaking mountain country, this is a trip that delivers.

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Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Preference Point Deadline: October 31, 2025

The deadline to purchase Wyoming preference points is October 31. If WTA is already managing your TAGS applications, you’re all set. If not, don’t miss the chance to secure points this year. It’s the perfect time to talk with a TAGS consultant to start a new portfolio or grow your existing one.

Wyoming’s system is unique. Unlike other states, you don’t automatically receive a preference point if you’re unsuccessful in the draw. Instead, you must log in after July 1 and purchase your points separately. Building points is critical if you want a shot at drawing a Wyoming tag. Over-the-counter opportunities are a thing of the past. Today, only 25% of non-resident tags are issued randomly. The other 75% go to applicants with the highest point totals.

If you want to hunt big game in Wyoming, building preference points isn’t optional…it’s essential.

Watch Wyoming Video

While preference points are an investment in the future, don’t let that keep you from starting now. While Wyoming has units that require 18+ points, there are also good opportunities to hunt sooner. There are elk, deer, and antelope hunts that can be drawn with 0–3 points. Think about it this way—the more points you have, the more options you have.

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Hunting Alaska – The Last Frontier // Part II – Deadline Alert!