Alaska Moose questions

[Skipmaster1]

I'm planning to do a DIY moose hunt in AK in 2011. Yeah it's a ways off but I like preparing in advance. I want to charter a flight and get dropped off for a week or so. where should I start looking to find info on good areas? I'm not looking for special units that I need to draw for. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks

[John/Alaska]

If you haven't already go to the state of Alaska site and visit fish & game. There is a ton of information there.  www.state.ak.us

Also if your thinking of hunting close to the Alaska/Yukon boarder you might give 40 Mile Air a call (907-883-5191) They fly units 11, 12, 20d & 20E.

[Thueb]

I chartered a drop hunt with 40 mile in the past, first rate.  I'd highly recommend them.

[champ38]

Ill be wathcing this one, been interested in the same thing for awhile....Thueb, you mind if I ask you which outfit you used ?

[leatherneck]

 You got my attention on this one. I'm pondering this myself for 2011.

[Toklat1]

Just be sure to check regulations carefully. I have many friends who live there and more and more "used to be open areas" are becoming "draw permit areas."  The residents are becoming frustrated with ADF&G because of this. The outfitters have their hands in this mess and Fish & Game caters to them!  I used to live there!

[akcpo]

What Toklat1 said. Know the regs and restrictions for the area you're going to hunt in and check for "emergency order" changes just before you go out. Some areas a legal bull is 3 brow tines or 50" spread. Across the creek or the other side of the trail it may be 4 brow tines or 50". It varies alot from area to area. Also learn how to judge that 50" spread. 49 3/4" doesn't get it but the game warden will get you. Don't mean to get you paranoid, just want you to have the best hunt you can have when you come a visitin. :-)

[akdd]

Might want to check out the Alaska outdoors forum. There are a couple of hunt planners on the web site. For a first time deal it might be best to use one of them. I have no idea of what they charge.
 http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/  
One thing to remember about moose are they are big. It is a lot of work if you have to pack one very far. In some areas you have to leave the meat on the bone you cannot bone it out. This is done to prevent spoilage. Read the regs carefully you can get them here.  http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/

[IndianaBowman]

Been there and done that a couple times. The best units are draw and you should look at those first. The Koyukuk NWR is about as good as it gets. It is a no fly zone, but they can boat you in.

[Zbone]

Me keeping track of this too... Thanx

[akdd]

Here is a link to the ADFG hunt planning page. Has some good info.
 http://www.wc.adfg.state.ak.us/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.planning

[Steve H.]

I believe you have better odds than we do on Koyukuk areas as NR as there are separate tags.  Available by draw during Nov/Dec.  Benny Pinney and I have tags this year in those parts.  Much of Alaska has depleted moose populations (wolves/bear depredation) so you can go along time without seeing a good bull or any moose for that matter.  I went 12 days last year and only glimpsed one that would be legal for a NR.  That said you could kill a good one too but do you research.  Also thumbs up from me on 40-Mile but they have an "awkward" system of booking hunters for newbies and that part of the World has really low moose density.

[IndianaBowman]

Steve, I've heard the wolves were putting a serious dent in the population, but I didn't know it was that bad!

[homerdave]

wolves have helped to depress several caribou herd, and bears are big players in keeping moose populations down, but hunting pressure is also a huge factor.
a lot more people want to kill moose than there are moose available....

[John Havard]

I've flown with 40-Mile Air off and on for 31 years now.  Certainly the populations have ebbed and flowed depending on predation rates.  Down on the Kenai Peninsula (where Steve is) on the high bench between Tustumena Lake and Skilak Lake the population is extremely depressed.  The Feds (they manage the Kenai Moose Range) don't allow aerial wolf hunting so the downward cycle will probably continue there for a while.  

Several dear friends who have lived on the Kenai in the Kasilof area since Moby Dick was a minnow report that the moose population in that part of the world is about as low as they have ever seen it.  Where the State of Alaska controls the game population they will actively step in and maintain a healthy balance between prey and predators.  The same cannot be said about the Feds.

Speaking not long ago with Leif Wilson (owner of 40MA) about this fall's hunt in the 40-Mile River country was reassuring.  Since the State has opened up the area to aerial wolf hunting and has increased the bear harvest (residents can kill 5 grizzlies per year now as I recall) has brought about quite an increase in the moose population.

So, it depends on where you go.  There are lots of great areas - not just in the Wrangels.  Homework is easy, especially now that we have the internet available.  Pick your air taxi operator carefully, take only the highest-quality gear with you, and a DIY hunt for moose in Alaska is quite achievable.

[Steve H.]

A buddy of mine is a helio pilot so he gets a look that none others do and he said where aerial wolf hunting has occurred he is starting to see more moose.

I guess out of Eagle where he was considering going himself, another pilot buddy said don't bother, worst he'd ever seen it.

As bad as Koyukuk is , its still one of the better spots I believe.

Its said there are more moose around Fairbanks than the rest of the state combined. Huge swamp to the SE, figure how to get in and a moose out and that is your spot!

JH, it's 2 griz up there and baiting is allowed, only area it is legal.

[Zbone]

ttt