By Alaska Wild Rentals

Every fall, Alaska hunters gear up for one of the most important events of the year: the Alaska Big-Game Drawing Permit Application period. Whether you’re chasing moose, mountain goat, caribou, Dall sheep, or brown bear, planning ahead is everything — and for many GMUs, a reliable boat is the single most important piece of gear you can bring.

If you plan to hunt remote units like GMU 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, or coastal goat country in Prince William Sound, your entire hunt can depend on how well you can reach the terrain. That’s where inflatable jet boats, Kaboats, and packable watercraft change the game.

This blog breaks everything down:

When Alaska draw tags open

What species and GMUs require boats

Why inflatable jet boats give you a massive advantage

Trip examples + safety tips

How Alaska Wild Rentals helps get you there

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⭐ When Do Alaska Draw Tags Open?

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game opens the annual draw period every year from:

📅 November 1 – December 15 (5:00 PM AKST)

Results drop in mid-February.

This means right now is the time to research what hunts you want, prepare logistics, and secure equipment — especially if your hunt requires water access.

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🦌 Species With Popular Draw Hunts Requiring Water Access

1. Moose Draw Hunts (GMUs 14, 16, 21, 17, 20A, 20B, 13)

Many of these units include:

Braided rivers

Swamps

Side channels

Sloughs

Shallow water only accessible by jet unit

Hunters frequently use:

Inflatable jet boats to run shallow rivers

Kaboats for long hauls upriver with minimal draft

Packrafts for fly-out drop hunts

Great boat-based moose areas

GMU 16B – Yentna, Skwentna, Kahiltna drainage

GMU 21B – Koyukuk River

GMU 17B/C – Upper Nushagak system

GMU 14C – Ship Creek & Anchorage area access (limited)

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🐐 2. Mountain Goat Draw Hunts (Prince William Sound, Kenai, Valdez)

Many coastal goat draw areas are boat-only access. You simply cannot reach the mountains without a boat.

High-demand boat-access goat units

6D – Prince William Sound (Culross, Esther Island, Perry, Eshamy, Knight Island)

7 – Resurrection Bay

Valdez / Robe Lake region

Montague & Hinchinbrook Islands

Hunters use:

Inflatable jet boats launched in Whittier, Seward, or Valdez

Jet RIBs for rougher water

Kaboats for travel between coves & beach landings

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🐻 3. Brown Bear Draw Hunts

Boat access is common in:

Kodiak

PWS

Lower Cook Inlet

Kenai Peninsula

Many hunters run boats into sheltered coves, then hike upward into glassing areas. Inflatable jet boats allow for landing in tight, rocky zones without damaging aluminum hulls.

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🐏 4. Dall Sheep Draw Hunts (Select Units)

Some sheep hunts in coastal regions require crossing lakes or reaching drainages by water. Inflatable boats allow hunters to travel up glacial rivers too shallow for prop boats.

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🚤 Why Having a Boat Can Make or Break Your Draw Hunt

Alaska terrain is brutal. Boat access opens up:

✔ Remote valleys

✔ Unpressured country

✔ Hidden drainages off main rivers

✔ Glassing knobs no one else reaches

✔ Faster pack-outs

And with a draw tag, you don’t want to blow your once-in-a-decade opportunity because you can’t reach the hunt area.

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🔥 Best Boats for Alaska Draw Hunts

1. ProJet 470 Inflatable Jet Boat

Perfect for:

Shallow rivers

Long-distance travel

Moose & caribou hunts

Remote PWS goat hunts

Drafts only 3–4 inches, fits in a bush plane (deflated), and handles gear loads extremely well.

2. Kaboats (13’, 15’, 18’)

Perfect for:

Fly-out moose hunts

Long floats

Quiet access up sloughs

Lightweight solo hunts

3. Stryker Jet RIB Tunnel 420

Great for mixed conditions:

Saltwater goat hunts

River/lake access

Hauling heavy camp loads

Glacial bays & fjords

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🧭 Example Boat-Assisted Draw Hunts

GMU 6D – Prince William Sound Goat (Whittier launch)

Run an inflatable jet boat across Passage Canal

Camp on protected beaches

Hike directly into prime goat country

GMU 16B Moose

Run Yentna River from Deshka Landing

Hit hidden oxbows and sloughs

Haul meat easily back to the launch

GMU 17B / 17C Moose

Fly out with a rolled-up Kaboat

Inflate and run small rivers inaccessible by anything else

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💼 Why Rent from Alaska Wild Rentals?

We specialize in boats made for Alaska hunters:

✔ Jet boats for shallow rivers

✔ Kaboats for fly-out trips

✔ RIBs for Prince William Sound & coastal goat country

✔ Starlink Mini units for comms & safety

✔ GPS units & survival gear add-ons

You focus on the hunt — we’ll handle the transportation and equipment.

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📣 Final Thoughts

If you’re applying for Alaska’s moose, goat, or bear draw hunts this season, start planning now. Water access is everything in many GMUs, and securing your boat early ensures you’re ready when the results drop in February.

If you need help choosing the right boat for your hunt, send us a message or reserve online at:

👉 alaskawildrentals.com