Local hunters have been hit harder than usual by antler restrictions so far this year.

The season began on Sept. 15, and by the end of the first week seven of 35 moose reported harvested in the Wrangell, Petersburg and Kake areas were deemed noncompliant.

In 2014, hunters harvested 28 moose over the same period. Only three of these were ruled illegal, about the norm. The full season went on to be one of the best on record, with 106 moose harvested.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Rich Lowell reported the number of noncompliant moose taken so far is atypically high. A f...