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Best public land for deer in Alaska (2026)

FDR ranked 5 hunt units in Alaska by deer harvest per square mile for the 2025 season. GMU 8 has the most deer harvested per square mile at 1.1 in 2025. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size and success rate is harvest divided by hunters or the agency's published rate. Both are derived from state agency numbers. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings.

1.1deer harvested per square mile in the top hunt unit

Alaska publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 5 hunt units. GMU 8 is highest at 1.1 deer harvested per square mile in 2025. GMU 4 has 0.92 in 2025 and GMU 2 has 0.60 in 2025. Harvest in a hunt unit includes private land, so the public share is shown next to each unit. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.

KEY FINDINGS

  1. GMU 8 has the highest harvest per square mile at 1.1. The agency reported 5,620 deer on 3,262,080 acres in 2025.
  2. 5 hunt units are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured in 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.

Alaska public land rankings

Best public land in Alaska

Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Season measured 2025. Captured October 19, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.

Download all ranked rows (CSV)

Hunt units

Top 5 of 5 ranked hunt units by deer harvest per square mile. Hunt units include private land, so the public share column shows how much of each unit is public land open to hunting.

5 of 5 hunt units shown

Alaska hunt units by harvest per square mile
1GMU 83,262,08020255,6201.1
2GMU 43,724,80020255,3750.92
3GMU 22,304,00020252,1750.60
4GMU 1A3,392,00020251,1770.22
5GMU 1B1,920,0002025830.028

01Hunt units

5 hunt units ranked on harvest per square mile

GMU 8 has the most deer harvested per square mile at 1.1 in 2025. GMU 4 has 0.92 in 2025 and GMU 2 has 0.60 in 2025.

The public share is the part of each unit that is public land open to hunting.

Public land rankingTop 5 hunt units in Alaska
  1. 01GMU 81.1
  2. 02GMU 40.92
  3. 03GMU 20.6
  4. 04GMU 1A0.22
  5. 05GMU 1B0.028
Deer harvested per square mile, newest season each agency published. October 19, 2026 FDR snapshot. The finder includes the full table and download.

02Basis of this report

Sources and method

FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured in 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.

Alaska figures are the agency's survey estimate of deer harvest for each game management unit or subunit. The bag limit is several deer, so deer per hunter is not a success rate and none is shown. Units rank only where the agency prints the unit's land area.

Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.

A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.

NOTES AND SOURCES

  1. Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Season measured 2025. Captured October 19, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.

Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.

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Cite this

Fully Drawn Research. "Best public land for deer in Alaska (2026)." FDR Working Paper 183, Oct 19, 2026. https://www.fullydrawnresearch.ai/research/papers/alaska-public-land-deer-rankings. Accessed Oct 20, 2026.

Data and charts from this page are free to use with attribution. See the Content Lab.

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