The Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office (TLO) is offering big game hunting guides an opportunity to run commercial hunts on large tracts of Mental Health Trust (Trust) lands that have previously not been offered for big game guiding. Only one exclusive commercial permit will be issued for each large land tract.

The five-year permits may be renewed without competition for another five years. Permits may allow one qualified guide, an unlimited number of subcontracted guides, an unlimited number of cooks/support staff, temporary camps, potential year-round storage and staging, and motorized access.

The first permit offering cycle completed in summer of 2020. Contact the Program Coordinator for the dates of the next application period.

Please view the maps below for location details. To see other Trust parcels across the state view our interactive map.

How to Apply

To apply, a “Big Game Guide Permit Program Application” form and supporting documents must be completed and submitted to the Trust Land Office at 2600 Cordova Street Suite 201, Anchorage, AK 99503 or by email at mhtlo@alaska.gov. A $500 non-refundable application fee must accompany the application via check, credit card voucher form, or by paying over the phone.

After the application period closes, the Trust Land Office staff will evaluate the applications for completeness. The applicant with a complete application and the highest combined sealed bid (annual fee and per client per hunt fee) may be offered the permit. See the application and permit terms below for more information on the sealed bid and fees.

Qualifications

To be considered a qualified individual and be eligible to conduct big game hunts on Trust lands, criteria 1-4 shall be met:

1. A master guide or have at least 8 years of experience as a registered guide.
2. Good standing with the Big Game Commercial Services Board.
3. Certified to guide in the subject Game Management Unit.
4. Good standing with the Trust Land Office.

Application Content

If you meet the requirements to be a qualified individual, an application may be submitted which includes but isn’t limited to the following:

1. A $500 non-refundable application fee.
2. Assurance that insurance and bonding will be provided upon a permit offer.
3. A history of land stewardship and conservation.
4. A history of quality service to clients.
5. An operations plan.
6. A safety and emergency preparedness plan.
7. Documentation of any game related violations.

Application Terms

The Trust Land Office may administer the application process by the following terms:

1. The Trust Land Office reserves the right to not offer a permit, extend the application period, and/or to reject any or all proposals.
2. The applicant with a complete application and the highest combined total bid (annual fee and per client per hunt fee) may be offered the permit.
   • The highest combined total bid is calculated as follows: The Annual Fee Bid plus the Per Client Per Hunt Fee Bid times the minimum number of hunts listed in Form A Sub-factor D(3).
3. The annual fee minimum bid is $5,000.
4. The per client per hunt fee minimum bid is $1,500.
5. The successful applicant shall pay the per client per hunt fee of at least the minimum number of hunts reported in Form A Sub-factor D(3) each year the permit is in effect. Even if less hunts occur, the minimum must be paid.
6. All records submitted to the Trust Land Office are verified.
7. The Trust Land Office may or may not disqualify applicants based on violations.

Permit Terms

The Trust Land Office may include the following terms in the permit:

1. Permits are issued for five years and may be renewed for an additional five years.
2. Permits are revocable at will.
3. Permits are non-transferable.
4. Permit holders must pay the per client per hunt fee of at least the minimum number of hunts listed on Form A Sub-factor D(3) of the application. Even if less hunts occur, the minimum must be paid.
5. Construction of cabins or other permanent structures is prohibited.
6. Permit holders cannot sublet any part of the area. If subletting occurs, the permit holder is at risk of immediate revocation of the permit.
7. Permit holders whose state registered guide-outfitter license is suspended during the term of the permit will automatically result in the revocation of the permit.
8. The operations plan, as submitted by the permit holder, shall be followed unless in direct contradiction to the stipulations of the permit, in which case the stipulations shall take precedent. The operations plan is hereby attached and made a binding part of the permit.
9. Permit holders are required to submit annual reports and payments within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar year the permit is in effect, or expiration, termination, or revocation of the permit. The reports shall contain the following information: a narrative of events relevant to the character, progress and results of operations, a list of hunting clients, a list of accompanying non-hunting clients, a list of hunts, and payment of the annual fee and the per client per hunt fee. The report shall be certified by the permit holder as being complete and accurate.
10. When permit holders have successfully met all permit terms and conditions and have a satisfactory record of performance, the Trust Land Office may renew those permits for an additional five years without competition. After the renewed permits expire, the TLO may not extend or renew them.