On the night of September 13, 2017, 40-year-old Natalia Ayunerak of Alakanuk was fatally shot while on a moose hunt about 30 miles upriver from Russian Mission on the Yukon River. Her death was discovered the following morning; limited communications in the remote area delayed the report and the troopers’ response. The hunters who had been present remained at the scene and cooperated with Alaska State Troopers. Troopers recovered her body and sent her remains to the State Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy.

Authorities described the incident as an accident rather than a criminal act; no arrests or charges were announced. The circumstances of how the fatal shot occurred are still described as uncertain. If anyone was on that stretch of river that night or has information about the hunt, please come forward with what was seen or heard.