Alaska Hunting

[Roger Gross]

Gentlemen,

I have been wanting to come to Alaska hunting for years. However, having a thin wallet has kept me home.

Is there a way to come up and hunt and not have an economic crisis with Mrs. Gross?

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, Roger

[StewartB]

Roger,
What are you wanting to hunt? There are areas where non-residents must utilize a guide. There are areas where you don't have to. Anybody with hunting skills can sucessfully hunt Caribou. Bears and Moose are a little tougher, or I should say the success rate is lower, but they can be had. Sheep will require more services to get to where the animals are, but you can do that, too. You don't have to pay the big-name outfitters their prices to hunt, although they get those prices because they're usually really good guides, have access to the prime areas, and a base camp is pretty nice when you're sleeping in bear country. And they usually have a couple of Cubs to support the effort, too.
SB

Funny, yesterday I fell into an Elk hunt in Idaho. I leave next week for the Frank Church Wilderness. I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl. The grass is always greener, I guess.

[don d]

Where are you hunting in the Frank Church? I flew in to fish lower Big Creek acouple of weeks ago and when I got out of the plane there were 3 bulls just across the creek form the strip.

Its been dry which can make the hunting more difficult, but they are talking a weather change next week.

Wolves have been a real problem for wildlife in central idaho. But there are some bulls left.

Don

[StewartB]

Don,
I'm unfamiliar with the specifics, but I think I'm going to Big Creek. We depart from Cascade. The hunt's guided. A friend cancelled on a trip that's been planned for a long time, I'm the pinch-hitter. I've been told the weather's been too warm and dry. Everywhere I go the weather turns to crap so I've got hope. I've never hunted outside Alaska. It looks like it'll be fun.
SB

[Roger Gross]

I always have wanted to shoot a brown bear. Guess, it was just my excuse to get to Alaska.

Roger

[djfraudman]

To hunt brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep or mountain goat in Alaska you must be a resident or be guided by a registered guide or relative within the second-degree of kinderd. http://www.state.ak.us/adfg/wildlife/geninfo/regs/huntregs.htm

[S2D]

Anybody want to adopt me :D

[T.J.]

delete

[S2D]

C'mon down!! Been seeing some pretty big Antelope bucks this fall. Sorry but I plan on spending all my kids (and your) inheritance long before they get a chance to use it
Dry as a bone here tho. Only had one shower (not me - the weather) since June.

[Big AK]

So's the wolf hunting any good there now??

DMC

[S2D]

not on this side of the state (eastern). We still have to settle with the coyotes. :D

[cub_driver]

S2D

Yes adoption is possible, please send picture of Super Cub.

Cub_Driver

[Wayne Mackey]

Cub Driver,
It's many years since I left AK. Do they still have a late caribou and PW sound
deer hunt that you can hunt and fly same day?
Wayne

[S2D]

S2D

Yes adoption is possible, please send picture of Super Cub.

Cub_Driver

Ha Ha -- see picture under "improving PA-11 perf." thread.--


Are you sure you still want to adopt me?

[jk]

Wayne, you can hunt Mulchatna Bo same day but the seasons opening sometimes change dates. Check ahead.
So ya wana hunt Alaska ? If your woodwise, a "good hand" no problem, you can arrange a drop off wher ever you want to go. Big country and there are alot of areas where you gotta get out and walk to find your quarry.Gear wise, only the best will do. You can't just go home because your rain gear sucks, or your tent blows away. That's why a guide can be relatively in-expensive. You use his gear, and you don't have to haul your trash all over the place just to get to your camp.
You can also look at doing a "swap hunt" with some body up here. Meet new people, hunt with a local, use his gear. In turn, when I come down there, you provide the hunt.
Some hunters HUNT, others camp and shoot stuff.
Depends on what YOU want in your experience!! Just be realistic in your expectations, and talk with others.

Wolf huntin: HA, i gave a buddy of mine who lives in emigrant valley a big silver wolf hide so he could "show around", boy the Gamies really came uncorked, and my buddy loved all the whopla. They though he was out wackin "their" wolves. Now he gets to hunt on some prime ranch land because all the ranchers DO have a sence of humor.

[cubdrvr]

Excellent post jk..............
Actually I think guided hunts should be called "guided shoots"......the guide provides all the knowledge, equipment, and woods savy and the client gets to pull the trigger (and pay the bill)

[85Mike]

Sure wish they'd do away with the guide requirement in Unit 13. With the predator problem they have they should. Ak residents need no bear tag, and there's no closed season for griz but we outsiders still have to hire a guide for a bear hunt. I spent 2 weeks in 13 this summer and saw 16 griz with-in 4 miles of camp. I'd be glad to pay the $500 out of state tag price but can't see needing a guide. Our moose hunt has dwindled to non-existant. In 2 weeks, didn't see ONE moose in the Talkeetna drainage and I flew nearly every day!! Non-res don't even need a wolf tag and can take 10/day!! In my years hunting there, I've only seen 3 of the sly b--------!! I didn't even come up for the moose hunt this year things are so miserable.
85Mike

[Wayne Mackey]

JK, Thanks for the reply on the hunting and flying. I lived and hunted Alaska from
1953 till 78 and flew all though the 70s. But you make a good point, many hunters
down here have no idea about hunting away from motel and hot shower. The unknowing can sometimes get a shock. Hoping to fly my plane back up there in a
couple years chase Bo again. I never saved any good antlers when there and
now I would like to put some on the wall. Thanks again Wayne

[cub_driver]

Wayne

Yes we have a spring Caribou hunt that you can fly and hunt the same day. So nobody gets the wrong idea you must land before you can shoot. It has been a few years since I have hunted deer I will have to check the regulations. Our deer herds can lose great numbers due to winter kill therefore fish and game changes the hunting regulations on deer almost yearly.

Cub_Driver

[Roger Gross]

Can you guys recommend some reputable guides?

Also, Is the wolf hunting as fun as the coyotes down here? Would like to give that a try also.

Regards, Roger

[StewartB]

Deer is legal to fly and hunt same-day. Caribou is during the spring (but I think is restricted to residents) , except Kodiak is same-day all year. And yes, there are Caribou on Kodiak.
SB

[RedBaron]

He fellas!

I'm back from another excellent season flying for Blaine's Guide Service www.blainesguideservice.com --the best part for me being I made it through safely. :D
Just thought I'd pass on some cool info:
Bear hunting in Blaine's area is better than its ever been, and he is offering a special on two-on-one grizzly/brown bear guided hunts. (Two hunters one guide). It'll cost $7K apiece, fully guided and outfitted, and obviously a true professional Guide will NOT guarantee a kill, however seeing the number of animals we've seen over the last couple years, success has been outstanding. Alot of clients saw over ten bears a day, plus, in the interest of the dwindling moose population, the death of bears and wolves (besides making us supremely happy) is the only way to allow the moose (and Caribou) to come back like they've been in past years.
Anyway, this is a great deal, if you all are interested, or know anyone that is, check out the website--especially the references (clients that hunted with us) from this year and recent years.
Cheers, :drinking:

Andy