Alaska Department of Fish and Game
McNeil River
Guided Viewing Permit Dates
| Time Block Letter |
Time Block Dates |
Number of Permits Available |
% winning 5-Yr. Average by time block |
Viewing Areas/Bear Activities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tide Flats | Sedge Flats | Mikfik Creek | McNeil River falls | Lower McNeil River & Lagoon | ||||
| A | June 7 – June 10 | 10 | 22 | c | V* | |||
| B | June 11 – June 14 | 10 | 14 | c | VM* | FM* | ||
| C | June 15 – June 18 | 7 | 7 | c | VM* | FM* | ||
| D | June 19 – June 22 | 10 | 7 | c | VM* | FM* | ||
| E | June 23 – June 26 | 7 | 5 | c | VM* | FM* | ||
| F | June 27 – June 30 | 10 | 6 | c | VM* | FM* | ||
| G | July 1 – July 4 | 10 | 6 | c | Vm* | Fm* | Fm* | |
| H | July 5 – July 8 | 10 | 5 | c | Vm | Fm* | Fm* | |
| I | July 9 – July 12 | 10 | 4 | c | vm | fm | Fm* | |
| J | July 13 – July 16 | 7 | 2 | c | vm | fm | Fm* | |
| K | July 17 – July 20 | 10 | 3 | c | vm | fm | Fm* | |
| L | July 21 – July 24 | 10 | 3 | c | vm | fm | Fm* | |
| M | July 25 – July 28 | 7 | 3 | c | v | f | Fm* | |
| N | July 29 – August 1 | 10 | 5 | c | Fm* | f | ||
| O | August 2 – August 5 | 10 | 7 | c | Fm* | F* | ||
| P | August 6 – August 9 | 7 | 6 | c | F* | F* | ||
| Q | August 10 – August 13 | 10 | 12 | c | f | F* | ||
| R | August 14 – August 17 | 10 | 17 | c | f | F* | ||
| S | August 18 – August 21 | 10 | 18 | c | f | F* | ||
| T | August 22–August 25 | 10 | 27 | c | F* | |||
C=clamming; M=Mating behaviour; F=Fishing; V=Foraging on Vegetation
Capital letter indicates behaviour common; small letter indicates behaviour less common.
* indicates pirmary areas visited during guided bear viewing tours.
Tide Considerations
Access to McNeil River Camp is generally limited to tide heights of 14.5 or higher during daylight and transporter hours of operation. The tables below represent problematic tide series and viewing periods for 2015, using a minimum access standard of a 14.5 ft. or greater tides occurring between 0800 and 2100. Your transporter, in coordination with McNeil staff, will determine flight availability depending on their equipment and operational constraints. Tide heights and times on some days during the time blocks noted below may require extending your stay by up to a day or two, arriving early or staying later. Please review the tables below and consider this information in your period selections and travel planning. Coordinate with your transporter and McNeil River staff to determine the best in and out dates. Additional days, are "in camp" days; bear viewing with the group is only approved for your permitted period.
2016 Guided — Tide Conflicts
| Time Block | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
B & C |
June 11–14, 2016 & June 15–18, 2016 |
Tides June 13–16, 2016 complicate access on normal arrival and departure days. Time block B visitors may need to leave early or stay until June 17. Time block C visitors may need to arrive two days early. |
|
M & N |
July 25–28, 2016 & July 29–August 1, 2016 |
Tides July 27–30, 2016 complicate access on normal arrival and departure days. Time block M visitors may be unable to leave until July 31. Time block N visitors may have to arrive as early as July 26 or arrive late. |
|
Q & R |
August 10–13, 2016 & August 14–17, 2016 |
Tides August 11–14, 2016 complicate access on normal arrival and departure days. Time block Q visitors may be unable to leave until August 15. Time block R visitors may need to arrive as early as August 10 or arrive late on August 15. |
