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Big Game Hunting => Other Big Game => Topic started by: WACATHUNTER on October 21, 2007, 09:21:52 PM


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Title: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: WACATHUNTER on October 21, 2007, 09:21:52 PM
Does anyone have any info on Alaska float hunts?  My buddy and I are looking to one in the next couple of years.  He lives in Anchorage so he can do additional research.  Just curious if anyone has any info.  thanks
WACAT
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: Intruder on October 22, 2007, 08:19:35 AM
I've looked into this a little and been advised against it.  These were the key reasons given to me... in no particular order:
1.  Competition.  Many guides run jetboats on the rivers that are moosey.
2.  Meat care.  If you kill 1 you may have several days of care and storage to contend with.  If you kill 2 your effort on this more than doubles more like quadruples.
3.  Raft capacities.... see 1 and 2 above
4.  Bears.  Grizzlies like moose
5.  Bears.  Grizzlies like to pop rafts... especially 1s that smell like moose.  This sounds a bit far fetched but there is some truth to this.  I know some folks that lost a raft on the Dean River (not moose hunting) a few years ago.  Rafts on the river's bank present an obstacle to bear's natural movement along the river.  As such they will at times pop rafts... likely just climbing over or through it.   
6.  Lack of flexibility.  You are in many ways tied to the river corridor that you're floating. 

I'm not saying you can't be successful... but just make you do your research.  These were just some things that I've heard about float hunting for em. 
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: high country on October 22, 2007, 08:51:54 AM
it is a great way to hunt......before all the stupid river restrictions! I have ton of info on float hunting and would happily share it with you, but I am unsure of the latest river restrictions. I heard the innoko and all the rivers around it have been eliminated from float hunters. I would surely contact larry bartlett at pristine ventures for advise.....that is what he does. there on his website you can purchase float hunting alaska, and float dragging alaska.....more stuff to consider. I would also recommend dennis confers book, hunt alaska now. it will give you some great advise on economizing and gear choices. I would consider staying off the big rivers and get on some where a 12' bailer or a pro pioneer might excell.....better odds for you and less traffic. I would send your friend in anchorage to ak raft and kyak to talk to jeff or tracey, they can give a lot of good advice on craft vs river choices....good luck.
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: cohoho on October 24, 2007, 07:36:35 PM
I will echo the words above, contact Larry Bartlett of Pritine Adventures good people that will treat you well and give great advise on the what's and what not's of a trip your planning.   Floating has its advantages, it is peaceful.  Except for when the river drops and you drag the raft over a mile of river wet rocks, speaking from personal experiance...  So I personally switched and ran a jet boat up the rivers.  I got friends that swear by floating every year after year, then there are others that floating it isn't their cup of soup.  Never the less it will be an experiance you'll never forget, no matter how successful you are or not.  Do a few dry runs here to see if you and your party are up for seven or eight "WET" days of living out of a boat and make a decision then.
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: WACATHUNTER on October 24, 2007, 10:39:50 PM
Thanks for all the info!!! I will continue to keep looking into it, and will definitly look into the contacts provided. Thanks again,
WACAT
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: boneaddict on October 25, 2007, 06:16:58 AM
The best thing about gfloating is the amount of country (moose country) you get to go through and call over.  The style of hunt I did, I was limited to what was in my pocket of hunting.   I like to call, and if there isn't a mosose within distance, you can be very successful at it.  I would be very encouraging at putting a hunt together.  I want to, but haven't put all the particulars together.  My biggest issue is getting gear up there and back with the meat.  Most probably donate it.  I shot my moose, took one day to get from field to camp, one day from camp to truck, 3 days from Alaska to here.  One year plus to eat him. :)
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: Intruder on October 25, 2007, 09:13:07 AM
I've never done a float hunt but I have done a number of float trips... mostly fishing.  There is certainly something to be said for the pleasure of the float itself.... it is a great way to spend time and I enjoy it immensely. 

Some things you may want to consider:
- Goals in respect to your trip.  Kill a legal animal vs. a trophy, just enjoy the river, fishing, etc. 
- How many opportunities are you going to have to go to AK
- Your budget
- How many people are going
- Logistics (both getting to and from the river and while on the river)  With floating theres alot more stuff going on... breaking/setting up camps, finding suitable camp sites, raft care, actual time floating, etc.  This will take away from your hunting time.  And, as Bone mentioned, handling a moose is a chore to say the least. Make sure you account for that.... breaking camp, setting up camp multiple times w/ 1 or 2 moose adds a different element to the fun.

I'm not trying to dissuade you at all of from doing a float hunt.  I have now doubt you can have a wonderful experience as well as shoot a nice bull.  But just realize that it is a very different deal than a drop camp hunt or a guided hunt.  Having a friend in AK will make the whole hunt (regardless if you float or not) 10 times easier. 

BTW... on the subject of drop camp hunts... be wary of the guys flying you from Anchorage in a Beaver to a particular hunt spot.  Generally you are going to be hunting places a bunch of others are too... stuff within a Beaver's fly radius from Anchorage gets hit hard.  I would assume that this would hold true for floating too.  For a drop camp hunt look for a guide operation that will fly you out from a base camp and move you if necessary.   

Only you know what you want out of the experience.  Do your research before you make up your mind.
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: Skyvalhunter on October 26, 2007, 01:57:30 PM
Next year a I will be doing a float hunt with Larry Bartlett of pristine adventures. There is 5 of us going on a fly out float and fly in hunt. I have taken a 65" bull off the Koyukuk river where I drew a bull tag. Had a transporter tag my friend and me out. Went down the Yukon and up the Koyukuk river. I tell you it was quite the experience as we were off the main river on one of the slough's. We spike camped out and hauled the moose back. We even had a grizz come into camp and steal one side of ribs right out of our canoe. Now I am hooked!!
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: WACATHUNTER on October 26, 2007, 08:24:12 PM
Once again thanks for the feedback.  My buddy has done a substantial amount of floating with drift boats and rafts, so I feel rather comfortable with boating skills.  We have been thinking of a fly in hunt, and be able to spend time off the river from various spike camps.  We will definitly have to plan for several additional days if we are successful.  I have been thinking about the major logistics off packing a moose in the raft/to the raft/etc.  I will keep all informed on our decision making status.
WACAT
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: Grizzlykiller on October 27, 2007, 12:03:49 AM
Are you dead set on doing the float hunt?
Have you picked the unit you will be hunting?
A float hunt could be a fantastic time, lots of nice scenery and you can cover a lot of ground and you might bump into a legal bull. If your lucky he'll be on a sand bar and not die in the river when you kill him.
Have you considered any other methods of hunts?
Aside from the fly out and drop off?
Your in for some heavy lifting and packing if you kill a bull.
 I just cut a bull today that was killed a week ago here on the Seward Peninsula. The neck alone weighed 83 pounds.
The back was cut from the rump knuckle to the rib and it weighed 87 pounds. One back leg was 117 pounds, the other 121. Both front legs were within a couple pounds of each other, we'll call it even at 81.
 The rest of it, the brisket, rib meat, skirt meat and some trim around the butt end was all boned out but the hanging weight was 818 pounds. They are quite huge.
I can't see carrying moose any farther than from my garage floor to the cutting table. Call me lazy, but this animal will be 10 feet long and 7 feet from hump to front hoof and that is going to take some manpower to get to the raft. Guy's do it all the time but my knees won't allow it.
Maybe he'll be close to the bank.
 Anyway your in for a great time. If you are open to other locale's and forms of travelling the tundra let me know and you might find yourself going a different route.
Good luck to you in you endeavor.

Here are a couple bulls from our backyard.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/bandcgrizzly/Cnv0045.jpg)

Here is my boy's bull from this September.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/bandcgrizzly/Cnv0230.jpg)

And here is a bull we left to live another day.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/bandcgrizzly/Cnv0218.jpg)



(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/bandcgrizzly/4symbols.gif)
Title: Re: AK Moose Float Hunt
Post by: WACATHUNTER on October 28, 2007, 01:46:41 PM
Awesome bulls!!! I am really considering any aspect of alaskan moose hunting.  We were just thinking that a float hunt would be an awesome experience.  I am definitly going to want to kill bull, although if I don't I still want an awesome experience, also I won't be making very many of these trips in my lifetime and want togive myself the best oppurtunity at killing a bull and having an overall great experience in AK.  I am up for anything, other than driving around calling from the road!!!.   Thanks again for all the feedback.
WACAT
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