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I am looking for advice (input) from you all about a DIY Moose hunting trip to Alaska for a friend and me. I am just beginning to do the planning. I do not know if we are going to try to do it this call or next (that will depend on if we can still do it this year after I get done doing the research and we make up our minds as to just what we are going to do)

I am 49 years old, in pretty good health (insulin dependent diabetic, but no side effects evident yet), but could stand to lose 20 lbs. between now and going up there. My friend is in his late 20’s and in good shape. About 14 years ago, my dad and I went on a DIY caribou hunt in Alaska. We used Ketchum Air to fly us back and drop us off on a remote lake. I killed a black bear and a decent caribou. Unfortunately, for my dad he was not in good enough health to march across the tundra and climb to the ridge where the caribou were. I shot my caribou about five miles from camp, it took me five trips to drag the meat, cape, and antlers back to camp. (I am not sure I could do it in two days now, as I was able back then - ok I am sure I could not).

I fell in love with Alaska back then and have always wanted to go back to try for a moose. It has taken this long to get the money and have a space in the calendar to go back.

Based on the research that I have done so far, we are thinking of using Rust’s Flying Service out of Anchorage to get ourselves out into the bush to hunt Moose. However, that is still being researched and is not even close to being cast in stone yet (I have not even contacted Rust’s yet).

We are trying to figure out if we should be dropped off and hunt moose from one location, arrange to hunt from the one location and then be moved to another halfway thru the hunt or to take a float trip. I have ordered "Float hunting Alaska’s wild rivers" by Michael Strahan. Somewhere I saw a recommendation to read this book if thinking about a float trip in Alaska.

Anyway, enough background… I would like to hear about any experiences, thoughts, advice that anyone is willing to share about this adventure. I met a guy at a shooting range I belonged to about a year before my dad and I went to Alaska on the caribou hunt. I learned a lot from him that helped us plan our hung. I would like to hear about other’s experiences before we embark on this adventure so that I can avoid some of the mistakes others have made and make sure that I account for the things that worked great for others as well. Looking forward to any input you all can share with me.

jack

One point that's very important to be aware of in looking at your options is the distance you will have to pack the meat. Alaska had a big problem with DYI moose hunts due to wanton waste law violations a number of years back. Hunters used to primarily hunting whitetails, etc. were ill prepared to handle packing a moose several miles back to camp over squishy tundra and frequent law violations were the result. In response, Alaska substantially toughened up their laws and inforcement in this area. Now all meat has to be packed back to camp (including rib meat, etc.) before the rack and cape are packed out.

They also greatly stepped up their feild inspections of DIY fly-in hunting. It's not unusual to have Fish & Game drop in for a quick inspection during your hunt. So make sure you can handle the meat packing aspects of whichever option you pick.

One of the things that is in the plus column for the float trip in my mind is I think that if successful in taking a moose, I expect the probability that it is close to the transportation route (river) would be higher. I know all too well the squishy tundra. It is like walking on mattresses except with holes everywhere. THis points out one of the things that I am afraid of, had I not been to Alaska once to walk on the tundra, I am not sure I could really appreciate the impact of what you are telling me. One of my main concerns is how we are going to handle a moose on the ground with just the two of us.

As far as the wanton waste rules. When my dad and I did the caribou hunt 14 years ago the rule that all meat be packed back to camp before cape and antlers was already in effect. The fish and game did fly in and check us out too. The good news is that we had done it right, but as you point out a caribou is nothing compared to a bull moose.

Thanks for the input, this is the type of info I am looking for, I want to understand what we are up against so that we can make the best decision possible given our situation.

jack

At my age with my knees, the only DIY I would even consider is drop off, float and pick up at designated spot downstream

My hunting partner contacted Rust’s Flying Service and they recommended that we look elsewhere because the area that they have access too has been pretty bad as of late for moose. I really respect a business that recommends that we not use them and offers up other suggestions in another area. I expect that as the Mulchatana (spelling) Heard of Caribou recovers and non-residents are again allowed to hunt them, I will be booking a flight with Rust’s in the future.
We are turning our attention to 40 Mile Air. Would be interested if anyone has had any experience with them.

jack

I have yet to be fortunate enough to make my way to Alaska for a hunt but you can bet yor bottom dollar it's on my "Bucket-List" of things to do.

I DO however belong to a different sprotsmans website ( one of many) and there is one of our members who had completed exactly what your planning on doing. He even documented the whole thing with a home made video of his adventures. I'm going to post a link below to his thread on his hunt (which does by the way include his video in a series of sorts).

Maybe your going on that site and sending him a private message regarding your interest and questions he can respond and give you some suggestions / pointers.

Here's the link :  http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=441095

He's done a fantastic job of this video I'm describing,.. it be well worth your watching! 

7mmMag

Thanks for the lead. I am stuck in Korea for the foreseeable future for work. I have been doing research as I can thru email and the internet. I have learned that the areas that I thought I wanted to hunt no longer hold many moose. We have contacted several Air taxi services around the state and we keep being told to head up near Fairbanks, as that is where the moose are. I had come across the site your reference including that post in my internet searches. I even have the link in my electronic notes. In order to see the photos and download the video one has to join the forum. I am hesitant to join forums and such but, I was not thinking that I could PM the guy if I joined (Duh!). Thanks for the pointer, I guess I am brain dead. I hope that things will slow down a bit toward this weekend so I can sign up and contact the guy. I think I have seen his videos on YouTube, but am not sure.

Thanks again for the advice.

Right now, it is looking like we are going to be headed up towards Fairbanks. There is one other service out of McGrath that I need to check out. They have not updated their web site for 2012 yet, but 2011 was a good year for them (if you can believe what they put up anyway). I suspect that I can as I met two hunters while my dad and I were in Alaska on our Caribou hunt many years ago. The guys had gone with that company and were very happy. As they are a family owned business, and if I am reading my research notes from way back to the year before the caribou hunt, they are still run by the same people.

I am blathering on, sorry. Thanks again!

jack

Hey no problem,.. and I think your correct he did post his video to U-Tube as well.

I've been a member of that website since 2003 if I recall correctly and if your a hunting nut like I am I can highly recommend it. You don't have to be a Michigan resident to enroll on it and there are so many folks on there that are willing to lend you a hand with info, pointers, etc. it would be worth the few seconds to do so. It's a lot easier to make plans to areas you've never been when you can interact with people who have and listen to their recommendation's based on their experience. Your call I'd guess but to me it's a cost effective way to remove areas that are unproductive when planning expensive out of state / country hunts.

Good luck to you in your pursuit

So 7mmMag, since I was born in war zone of Wayne County, can I get a Res licnse and go hunt wolves with you???

7mmMag

Had time today after sending emails to another flying service to join the other forum. I am watching the videos; this is a different guy than what I saw on YouTube. Thanks for pointing me to the forum. This is great.

thanks again

jack

Glad you are enjoying them,.. I found them pretty informative.

Some day,.. I hope to get up that way before my age and physical condition goes too far south to be able to. It's always been on my "radar" to do so but time, $$, along with things that "pop-up" unexpectedly have prevented me to do so one way or the other.

 

This fellow did such a good job with his DIY hunt and he had enough foresight to record it not only for himself to enjoy but for others to possibly learn from some of his trial and errors. His efforts rival a lot of television programing I've seen. All in all,.. there's a lot of good ideas, and planning he's shared. I figure that anyone who is thinking of hunting in Alaska DIY would appreciate at least some of his video,..

Good luck to you with your Alaska hunt,.. and I hope all of your efforts will make it a hunt of a lifetime.