Workshops will be held in Anchorage and Fairbanks, between Monday, January 20th 2020 and Tuesday, January 21st 2020

As an Alaska resident, you can apply for one or more areas that are of interest to you. You may only win for one area per year. This year, the application period opens on Monday, August 19th, 2019 at 10:00 AM. We strongly recommend that you visit the staking areas you are considering before applying. Make sure you submit your application(s) before the deadline of Friday, October 11th, 2019 at 5:00 PM.

After the application deadline, DNR holds a drawing to determine winners and alternates for each area being offered. This year's drawing is on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 at 10:00 AM.

After your name is drawn, you will receive a staking packet that includes a staking authorization, general staking information, detailed instructions, and specific restrictions for the area you are staking in. Staking workshops are a great way to learn about the staking, lease, and purchase processes. Staking workshops will be held between January 6th, 2020 and January 26th, 2020. If there are more applicants than staking authorizations available for a staking area, there will be two separate staking periods for that area. In this case, drawing winners can stake their parcels in the 1st staking period, beginning Friday, January 31st, 2020 at 10:00 AM, and ending Monday, June 29th, 2020 at 5:00 PM. Drawing alternates may get an opportunity to stake in the 2nd staking period if there are unused authorizations from the first staking period. The 2nd staking period begins Friday, January 31st, 2020 at 10:00 AM, and ends on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 at 5:00 AM. If there are fewer applicants than staking authorizations for one staking area, there will be one staking period for that area. Stakers for that area will have between Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 at 8:00 AM and Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 at 5:00 PM to stake.

After staking, you must submit your lease application describing your staked parcel prior to the end of the staking period in which you staked. You must also submit your lease application within 14 days of staking. You will have less than 14 days to submit your lease application if there are less than 14 days before the end of your staking period. DNR will review your lease application, and if approved, will issue your lease after the final staking period ends. You will make 12 quarterly payments while DNR surveys and appraises the parcel. Lease payments will be applied towards the lease rental fee, survey deposit, and appraisal deposit. It is up to the customer to provide proof of residency at the time of lease application. If you are unsure of about your residency status after reading "Do You Qualify," on page 5 of the brochure, please contact our office prior to applying for the drawing.

After the parcel has been surveyed and appraised, you then have the opportunity to purchase the parcel at the appraised value or a minimum of $1,000 over the actual survey cost, whichever is greater. The payments you made for the survey costs will be credited toward the purchase price for the appraised value of your parcel. You will have the option to either pay the remaining balance in full or to pay 5% of the remaining balance to enter into a state purchase contract to complete the purchase of your parcel. This purchase typically occurs within three to four years from the time of lease issuance. Important: For a small number of participants, after determining the appraised value of the parcel and applying credits, it is possible that the remaining balance will be $2,000 or less. If this is the case, you will not be able to finance the purchase and will be required to pay the remaining balance in full.