Do I Need a Guide to Hunt Moose or Caribou in Alaska?

For many U.S. hunters, one of the biggest misconceptions about Alaska is that every big-game hunt requires a professional guide.

For a U.S. nonresident, Alaska does not generally require a licensed guide simply because you are hunting moose or caribou. However, the specific hunt, game-management unit, permit, season, and current regulations still control what is legal.

Brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep, and mountain goat are different. A U.S. nonresident hunting one of these species must generally be accompanied in the field by an Alaska-licensed guide or by a qualifying Alaska resident relative who meets Alaska's second-degree-of-kindred requirements.

Nonresident aliens have different requirements. A hunter who is not a U.S. citizen and qualifies as a nonresident alien must generally be accompanied by an Alaska-licensed guide when hunting any Alaska big-game species, including moose and caribou.

Some draw hunts that require a guide also require a guide-client contract to be in place as part of the application process.

These guide requirements are only one part of planning an Alaska hunt. Licenses, locking tags, harvest tickets, permits, hunt-area restrictions, nonresident requirements, transportation rules, and other requirements may also apply.

Always verify the regulations for your exact species, unit, hunt number, and season before making reservations or hunting. Alaska regulations and emergency orders can change.

Caribou Gear provides this information as a planning resource. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is the controlling source for current Alaska hunting regulations

VERIFY CURRENT ADF&G GUIDE REQUIREMENTS
VIEW 2026–2027 ALASKA HUNTING REGULATIONS