Who has hunted Alaskan Caribou?

[razorsharptokill]

So what are your thoughts on Aug. vs Sept? I have a military obligation in Oct and training dates leading up to it can be un predictable. Earlier might be better in that respect.

Open Tundra vs more wooded terrain? Meat care on the tundra with no way to hang it up out of reach of bears?

[jrchambers]

http://www.brooksflyer.com/home/
I grew up with this guy and his son.
I have hunted with them for many species.
Im sure he could help with ideas and timing.

[IndianaBowman]

What Kevin said! I've been up on DIY hunts in Alaska at least 8 times. Went up for caribou last year. Had a great hunt. I've always determined that I can go to Alaska two or three times as DIY / Outfitted for the cost of a guided hunt. That's a no brainer!  

[IndianaBowman]

You would be lucky to find a pilot to fly you into caribou country in October. Weather is way to iffy.  Last week of Aug and 1st two weeks of Sept have been great for me.

[beendare]

Originally posted by Kevin Dill:
Plenty of air transporters to get the diy hunter into caribou country. If you have basic woodsmanship skills you can handle diy caribou in Alaska. ......There is absolutely no way I'd pay an outfitter or guide to hunt caribou in Alaska. I actually think it cheapens the value of the adventure and reduces one's overall satisfaction when looking back at it.

well said Kevin.

One thing you need to know about caribou is they are nomadic. The Flight services know where these herds are and which way they are moving and usually its a matter of being dropped off and then its non stop hunting for a few days- then it drops off drastically.

Some areas there are resident herds, and there are mtn caribou which don't move like the barren grounds and you hunt those as you would deer- spot and stalk.

The other thing about Barrens is they will mostly follow in the path of the group in front of them. So if you see a group of 4-5 bou pass a small clump, you have a pretty good chance at a close shot from that clump a little later in the day if there is a herd moving through.

Probably the softest animal i've hunted- they go down easy.

[saltwatertom]

A fly in hunt will be exponentially better than hunting from the road. Do your homework and find a good flying service and hunt in August. A DIY hunt is the way to go, twords the end of
August the meat is excellent and the antlers are in velvet but the velvet can be striped off and you'll have a nice trophy.  Bring a good gun for bear protection ( VERY unlikely you'll need it )
You will be more than glad if you use a flying service, you'll get away from the crowds ( plenty of that on the road ) and see some of the most magical country on this planet.
Any of the services mentioned here are good ones. Another,that I have worked with ( guiding ) is Ovis Outfitters and Guiding
 ( Matt Thoft ) and I have praise for his area, ethics, flying skills , success ratio and for him personally.
Book early, they all fill up fast for the coming year(s)

Good luck!

[pdk25]

Jim, If you start thinking about a fly in DIY hunt for aug 2016 and need a partner let me know.  That is a hunt I would really like to do.

[AkDan]

26 herds so lots of ?s are not equal they cover islands mt areas and plains or all of the above.

Slope aug is pretty nice though you'll likely see snow it's gone quick. Mt hunts same but I'd expect snow (bring gators). Animals are still 99.9-100% in velvet.

Sept were changing fast.  Ie loosing light.    Bulls will be stripping generally around the 2nd week or end of first.   Some areas sooner by the end of sept they're stripped.  

I mention velvet vs non because if you bust a bull in velvet it is something you need to consider and deal with appropriately.  Or you'll loose the velvet or blood stain the antlers trying to get it off.


Bears on the tundra..... Bear fence.  In aug there's enough light that all night vigils in pitch black darkness is more rare than not.   Try reeking llike fish. It's a load of fun.   Read Monty's stories.  Than move here and live them on a yearly basis!    Buddy was on one on his trapline a few weeks ago.  Unarmed and unsuspecting    The joys of living here.  

Stalking on wide open tundra is about what you'd expect.  Caribou have a safe zone. Stay outside of it and they take little notice.  

Hunting in trees you loose the visibility aspect.   Though stalks are much easier!   Almost too easy! (I'm going to eat those words next fall lol) an area with a view is something I'd find!


I've been here 20 years.   I would advise against the haul road trip.  It's not cheap or as was posted what you'd expect.   It can be fun but I bet some knob will put a cyst in your hunt!  If you know someone the hr hunts are cheap.  If not the logistics puts a road hunt into a lower end fly out price range wise (not nessicarily low quality)

For those interested in the hr hunt the bow only area starts on the north bank of the Yukon and goes to a point just outside deadhorse. It's over 2000 sq mi of bow only fun.    In some of the hungriest land (low game numbers) you'll ever experience.  

Pilots I've used.  As small of a town this is I have yet to meet Jeff.  

We've also flown with 40 mile top notch!
Brooks range aviation bettles
Shadow aviation fairbanks
Quick silver fairbanks (do not deal with mrs she flies the 206)
Wright air fairbanks owners related to Ted fry raptor archer

I've flown around with two other private guys.  One as an asst guide years back and would recommend him as a drop. (Or guided moose check out Larry Jones and Mr James hunt.  It's top notch.   I don't guide or run with the group.  Only offering first hand experience fwiw).

Stan parkerson Denali hunts.  Fairbanks (Bow only ).

If you can't tell I live in the fairbanks area lol.  

Good luck post pics.   I'm on leave most of aug 2015 if you fly in the area holler.  My schedules going to be pretty loose.

Another bou thought.

If you're not mobile.  Ie. sat phone able to be moved ( highly recommend)   Consider floating!   I've done both.   Over paid camping trips are to say a slight bit no fun an understatement when it's once in a lifetime.   Not a big deal when you can hunt bou 12 months a year if you so desire.

[AkDan]

John

Have you ever considered renting a uhaul truck and leaving it in tok while you're out.   I think they advertise 29 a day will have to double check.   That's out of banks not anch.

[AkDan]

Jr,

Just noticed that is Curt at brooks fliers.   He's the man!   Was a great wildlife  trooper up north as well and my understanding one of Deltana hunts cub pilots!    Always  enjoyable to be around in the hanger or his place up north or when he'd fly into sheep camp!  I haven't seen him in years.

I met another guy from Kenai up north as well.  Great guys!   Both drew the moose tags in the corridor.    The one was shooting a robertson with footed nocked and footed shafts.   If you know him holler I'd like to get in touch with him again.  I had to pull out early for a few days.  When I returned they were gone.   The other fella was a pastor he was hunting with.

[acolobowhunter]

Sounds like you are pretty set on Alaska, but you might want to check out BC as well.  I flew to Juno, then Atlin BC.  Float plane to camp.  We hunted on horse back and could cover a lot more area in a day than on foot.  Saw a lot of caribou (Mountain Caribou) everyday.  Actually you could be a little choosy on what you wanted to stalk.  They were not bothered by the horses.  Actually they came up pretty close, as I had my bow over my head to act as antlers.
I found that the hunting and licenses were cheaper in BC than Alaska.

[razorsharptokill]

Hmmm that is interesting. What outfitter did you use in BC?

[AkDan]

what was the price of the guide vs a DIY hunt?   trumps lisc fees I'd think?

I remember seeing bou for the first time in 10th grade...a guy had just done a ungava hunt.  He was offloading his mounts when I went for a walk after school killing time waiting for my brothers and sisters.  I've been hooked ever since.  That one moment is why I moved to AK!  Two big velvet covered white maned bulls, has left a picture that haunts me every fall!  

back than a Canadian hunt was 3k or so way too much!  Now outfitted are running 5k? or more or so it seems going up for guides?