Over the past few coho season’s, some guests have enjoyed hunting for willow ptarmigan while staying with us at Becharof Lodge. With what appears to be another good winter survival rate for ptarmigan up and down the Egegik River, we’re excited to step-up our offerings to provide guests with a unique cast and blast experience.
Ptarmigan season opens August 10th in this part of Alaska, and there is a 10 bird daily limit. These are unguided, do-it-yourself hunts. In addition to your fishing license, you’ll need to get a Small Game License to hunt ptarmigan.
Due to park and Native land rules and agreements, ptarmigan hunting takesplace two miles from the banks of the Egegik River. The walking on the tundra here is simple compared to other parts of Alaska, thank to a sandy, rocky soil and short plant growth. Many folks cover eight to 10 miles on a hunt, even more.
The goal of offering hunts for willow ptarmigan is to allow guests to enjoy another special element that makes this part of remote Alaska, so unique. It’s not to shoot limits of ptarmigan every day. We ask that folks wishing to hunt willow ptarmigan keep in mind fellow anglers will likely want to enjoy a hunt or two in the days and weeks that follow your stay.
Ideally, if a family flock of ptarmigan is spotted, you can move in and shoot a few birds from it. Then move on to locate another flock. Later in August, when family flocks join one another, it’s common to see 50 ptarmigan in a flock, sometimes more. In this case, more birds can be shot.
Willow ptarmigan feed on the berries and leaves that flourish on the tundra in late summer and early fall. On windy days birds will not be far from alder thickets or breaks in the land that offer relief from high winds.
At the lodge we have three shotguns for guests to borrow, at no extra charge. We have a Browning Citori 725 in a .410 along with two Browning Cynerygy shotguns, both in 20 gauge.
We do have a limited selection of shotgun shells, but would ask that if you do intend on hunting ptarmigan, to bring a box or two of #5 or #6 steel shot. Steel shot is required within the refuge.
Most of our ptarmigan hunters head out early in the morning, straight from the lodge, or are dropped off upstream by boat. Take some water and a snack and enjoy the day. Once back at the lodge you can clean your birds and we’ll cook them up as appetizers for others in camp to enjoy. Many avid upland bird hunters will be the first to tell you that early season willow ptarmigan is about the best eating game bird out there, and we agree.
