Hunting · GMU 15
Guide or transporter? It depends on the animal
The single most useful thing a nonresident hunter can know about the Kenai Peninsula, and it is badly explained nearly everywhere.
Verify before you book. The GMU 15 regulation edition we checked ran 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 and has now rolled over. Seasons and permit requirements can change between editions. Read the current booklet, and confirm anything a trip depends on with ADF&G directly.
No nonresident guide required
Black bear. Three bears, no closed season, harvest ticket. A transporter can put you in the field.
Nonresident guide required
Moose — and Moose Hunter Orientation before you hunt.
Brown bear — drawing permit as well, one per regulatory year.
Seasons we verified
| Species | Season | Nonresident guide? |
|---|---|---|
| Moose (15A/15B/15C) | 22–29 Aug bow only, spike/50″; 1–25 Sept harvest ticket; 15C adds 1–30 Nov by permit | Required |
| Black bear | No closed season, three bears, harvest ticket | Not required |
| Brown bear | 10 Aug – 30 June, drawing permit | Required |
| Caribou (15B Wilderness, 15C north of Fox River) | 10 Aug – 20 Sept, drawing permit only | — |
Source: ADF&G GMU 15 regulations, edition effective to 30 June 2026. Waterfowl seasons are set separately under federal migratory bird frameworks and are not covered here.
Straight answers
Hunting questions
Do I need a guide to hunt black bear on the Kenai Peninsula as a nonresident?
Under the regulations we checked, nonresidents do not need a registered guide for black bear in GMU 15. That makes black bear the most accessible big game hunt on the peninsula for a visiting hunter, and it is why transporters rather than guides handle much of that traffic. Confirm against the current regulation booklet before you book — the edition we verified ran to 30 June 2026.
Do I need a guide for moose or brown bear?
Yes. Nonresidents require a registered guide for both moose and brown bear in GMU 15. Brown bear additionally requires a drawing permit.
What is the difference between a registered guide and a transporter?
A registered guide-outfitter is licensed to guide you on the hunt itself. A transporter moves you and your gear to and from the field but does not guide. If the species you are hunting does not require a guide for nonresidents, a transporter is often the cheaper and more independent option.
What is the black bear season and limit in GMU 15?
Three bears, with no closed season, on a harvest ticket, in the edition we checked. Verify against the current booklet before hunting.
Is there a moose hunter orientation requirement?
Yes. GMU 15 requires hunters to complete the Moose Hunter Orientation before hunting moose in the unit.
Who can take you
Registered guide-outfitters and transporters on the peninsula
Every business in our directory is listed free and lists its own phone, email and website. We take no commission and no booking — you deal with the operator directly.