News Release

Information Now Available for Federal Subsistence Fishing Permits in the Upper Copper River for 2025

Date: April 28, 2025
Contact: Amber Cohen, 907-822-7284

COPPER CENTER, ALASKA – Federal subsistence fishing in the Upper Copper River District will open on May 15, 2025. This fishing opportunity is available to qualified local rural residents and a federal permit is required. The permit is a household permit, and only one permit will be issued per household for a given subdistrict. Subsistence fish wheels should be registered by the owner through either the National Park Service or the Glennallen office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  

The park is offering several events for qualified local rural residents to pick up their permits. These events will be in Copper Center, McCarthy, Chitina, and are detailed below. Starting May 5 phonelines will be open (907-822-7284) to request your permit for later pick up dates.

May 10 - Pre-Season Permit Issuance Event at Visitor Center in Copper Center.  
On Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. applicants will be able to pick up permits and register fish wheels at the Visitor Center in Copper Center, Mile 106.8 Richardson Highway. Applicants should call ahead to 907-822-7284 to request a permit. To reduce wait times and expedite permit issuance, permits will be printed in advance and available for pick up with proper identification. The Visitor Center doors will only be open to permittees, not general visitors.  

If you’re unable to attend these events, permits will be available at the locations listed below.  

Visitor Center in Copper Center opens daily May 12:

• Beginning May 12 and throughout the season, permits will be available for pick up at the Visitor Center in Copper Center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week.
• Due to potential limited availability in staffing, calling ahead is strongly encouraged to reduce wait times.  Please call 907-822-7250 for permits starting on May 12. Note that permits requested late in the day may not be available for pick up until the following day.  
• Fish wheels may be registered at the time of picking up fishing permits or at the Glennallen office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  

Slana Ranger Station opens daily May 24:  

• Fishing permits and fish wheel registration will be available at the Slana Ranger Station beginning May 24 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., seven days a week.
• Applicants do not need to call ahead at this location. 907-822-7401

Chitina Ranger Station – limited hours; Permit Event May 24:  

• Permits will be available at the Chitina Ranger Station on Saturday, May 24. If you miss this event, applicants should make plans to pick up permits and register fish wheels at the Visitor Center in Copper Center (see above for more information).  
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to call ahead to the Subsistence Program at 907-822-7284 to request their permit(s) or fish wheel registration prior to May 23.  

Kennecott-McCarthy Area Permit Event May 27 & 28:  

• Permits will be available in the Kennecott-McCarthy area on May 27 and May 28 at the McCarthy Mail Shack and at the McCarthy Road Information Station at Mile 59
  • Tuesday, May 27: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m,: McCarthy Mail Shack.
  • Tuesday, May 27: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: McCarthy Road Information Station.
  • Wednesday, May 28: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: McCarthy Mail Shack.
• Applicants should call ahead to the Subsistence Program at 907-822-7284 to request their permit(s) or fish wheel registration prior to May 26.
• If you miss these events, applicants should make plans to pick up permits and register fish wheels at the Visitor Center in Copper Center (see above for more information).  

Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters (Tok), 907-883-5312

• Permits will be available at the Tetlin NWR office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.
• Applicants do not need to call ahead at this location.
• Fish wheel registration is not available at the Tetlin NWR office. Please plan to register your fish wheel in Slana, Copper Center, or Glennallen.

 
Eligibility Requirements:  
For all locations and events listed above, a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license) and additional proof of the physical address of your primary residence is required when you come to get a permit. Documentation of physical address can include a voter registration card or a recent utility bill listing your physical address.

Permit applicants must be federally qualified subsistence users. To be eligible for a permit, you must have lived in Alaska for the previous 12 months, your primary permanent residence should be in rural Alaska and your community or area must be listed for the intended species and location in the “Customary & Traditional Use Determination” (C&T) column of the Federal Subsistence Management Regulations Booklet for the Harvest of Fish and Shellfish: https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/fisheries.  

Rural residents of the following areas and communities are eligible to fish for salmon in the Glennallen Subdistrict: the Prince William Sound Area and residents of Cantwell, Chickaloon, Chisana, Dot Lake, Dry Creek, Healy Lake, Northway, Tanacross, Tetlin, and Tok, and those individuals living along the Alaska Highway from the U.S./Canada border to Dot Lake, along the Tok Cutoff from Tok to Mentasta Pass, and along the Nabesna Road.

Rural residents of the following areas and communities are eligible to fish for salmon in the Chitina Subdistrict:  Cantwell, Chickaloon, Chisana, Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Dot Lake, Gakona, Gakona Junction, Glennallen, Gulkana, Healy Lake, Kenny Lake, Lower Tonsina, McCarthy, Mentasta Lake, Nabesna, Northway, Paxson-Sourdough, Slana, Tanacross, Tazlina, Tetlin, Tok, and Tonsina, and those individuals living along the Tok Cutoff from Tok to Mentasta Pass, and along the Nabesna Road.  


For more information, contact the Visitor Center in Copper Center at 907-822-7250.