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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.

2015 Guided — Tide Conflicts

Time Block Dates Description
A June 7–10, 2015 Tides June 10–11, 2015 complicate access. Time block A visitors may be unable to leave until June 12th.
E

&

F		 June 24–26, 2015

&

June 27–30, 2015		 Tides June 24–28, 2015 complicate access. Time block E visitors may be unable to leave until June 29th.


Time block F visitors may have to arrive as early as June 23rd.
L

&

M		 July 24–26, 2015

&

June 27–30, 2015		 Tides July 24–27, 2015 complicate access. Tides may restrict access by transporters July 24–27, resulting in some block L visitors needing to stay over or block M visitors to arrive early.
Q August 10–13, 2015 Tides August 8–9, 2015 complicate access on normal arrival day. Time block Q visitors may have to arrive as early as August 7th.