First Float Hunt in Alaska

[eastsidemallard74]

YOUR AVATAR IS AWESOME!!!!!!! The story was cool too

[fish_hunter]

Great looking Bull Moose and I can't wait to watch the video later tonight.  A float hunt is already on our bucket list (three of us also) so if you don't mind I'll probably send you a PM sometime soon.  We are still looking a couple years out for multiple reeasons, but doing it we are!!! Congrats again, you'll have to follow up on this link and tell us all how awesome those steaks are, although we all pretty much have an idea already.

Thanks.
Moose steaks wednesday night, moose spaghetti last night, and moose chili tonight!  it is Awesome.

We did a lot of research for this trip.  read numerous books, watched tons of video, and lots of forum reading (Alaska outdoors directory forum is great!)  I did hire an alaska hunt planner (mike Strahan) for this trip as it was our first float trip and it helped a lot in getting us started in picking the correct river system for us and providing detailed maps with river miles and a hunt plan.  It was a little expensive for the planner (1500$) but i think it was a wise choice.  I can use him again in the future for no charge.

We had a limited budget (about 4k each (not including the planner)) which included processing and shipping meat home (based on getting 2 moose) and we came in under that.  largest chunk was the transporter (air charter) that we used to get from the road system to our starting point and then back to the road system when we floated out.  total distance between the road system and the lake was maybe 45 crow miles and they charged us 3900$ (2 flights in and 3 out).  this is typical and further distances result in logrithmic cost increases.
gear rental (blue moose rafting) was 3k which included rafting and camping gear.  The owner is an awesome dude.

other expenses include vehicle rental or gas to drive up there, sat phone rental 200$, food 500$, tags/license 600$, etc.

processing for our 700 lbs of meat was about 1100$ and shipping was about 450$.
If you do a float from road system to road system you will save a lot of money.  there will be others likely on the river (not necessarily a bad thing for first timers though), but it is way cheaper.

I will do this again. 

-Eric

[fish_hunter]

who did you fly with?

we flew with Brooks Range Air out of Bettles AK.  you cant drive to Bettles so they either pick you up at Grayling Lake or at Prospect air strip off the Dalton Highway about 6 hours North of Fairbanks.
BRA was very nice people and accomodating. 

[lewy]

And fish hunter gets the best avatar ever award!

[Knocker of rocks]

And fish hunter gets the best avatar ever award!

It's gone!

Fun while it lasted

[boneaddict]

Great moose, and as much as I liked your avatar, it was unacceptable for this site and has been removed.  Your moose pic would make a great avatar.

[pianoman9701]

 

[Knocker of rocks]

.......and as much as I liked your avatar, it was unacceptable for this site and has been removed.  Your moose pic would make a great avatar.

Well, there goes your vote for moderator of the day

[sirmissalot]

That is definitely on my bucket list, something I'd like to cross off in the next 2 or 3 years

Congrats sounds like an awesome trip 

[pianoman9701]

.......and as much as I liked your avatar, it was unacceptable for this site and has been removed.  Your moose pic would make a great avatar.

Well, there goes your vote for moderator of the day

 

[Rainier10]

Nice bull and nice avatar...............a 5'er says the avatar won't last morning.

That was an easy $5.  I think D Rock has your money, he should have got online sooner.

[h20hunter]

He would be off the hook....got a bit of elk in the freezer thanks to him.

Hate to thread jack this one....


Back on OP.........nice moose!

[Rainier10]

Yes nice moose.  I got the $4k each, but I missed how many of you were there? 


Just reread the original post and saw three of you.

[fish_hunter]

Great moose, and as much as I liked your avatar, it was unacceptable for this site and has been removed.  Your moose pic would make a great avatar.

WTF!  that avatar is used on numerous sites (including BD of washington) and never had any complaints.  it is not pornographic or lewd.  I don't see the issue with it.  I have used that avatar since i Joined this site and it wasnt taken off before.  that really pisses me off.....

[h20hunter]

Let the mod taunting begin!

Now I really need a like button.