DIY Alaska moose float hunt

[JoeE]

My buddy and took a bush flight into a remote river in the Alaskan interior. We spent 10 days and floated 108 miles. It was warm and the rut really didn't pick up until the end of our trip. On the 7th day out I connected with this bull. He measured 55". Floating out with him was pretty tough because we were weighed down. Two moose probably would've killed us. This was a trip of a lifetime for sure.

[carpsniperg2]

Congrats, great looking bull.

[Vulcan]

Nice!

[X-Force]

Congrats! Very Cool

More Pictures 

[JODakota]

I was literally just looking at these today, could you pm me who you used and some info, very serious about doing this. Thanks! Great moose!!!

[jae]

That is an Awesome Bull!!!!!!!!!
I have been dreaming of a float hunt for years. I did not take advantage of my time up in Alaska. I spent 11 summers in the Bristol Bay and Kenai Peninsula areas and miss it dearly (That was 20 years ago).
I have read the books, called rental outfits, and talked to quite a few that have done the trips before. We even had a hunting guide on the boat for a couple of years. He offered to take me on several trips and I was always in a hurry to get home and spend money (Dumb A**)
I had every intention of going in 2015 or 2016 but not sure if it is going to happen now that I am spending a small fortune on three draw hunts this year. Maybe 2016 or 2017.
Please post more pictures and more stories. Keep My Dream Alive!
John

[lokidog]

Like everyone, I'd like to do a float hunt sometime.  Had a successful fly-in horseback hunt a few years ago, but the DIY seems much more rewarding.  Congratulations!

[washelkhunter]

Congrats! Im seriously jonesen to do a diy moose hunt, you gotta share all the particulars. I didn't know anyone even made a canoe raft, what are those things and did you like them. Were they stable?

[JoeE]

We had two rafts. The raft we used for both of us and our gear was a Pioneer X stream. Thats the canoe. Once the moose went down we inflated the small raft which is a PR 49. That thing was maxed out with all that meat in it. The plan was if we got another moose we were going to arrange the gear in the Pioneer X stream and put the meat and antlers for that bull in with us.

We planned this hunt for two years and we were specifically looking for a spot that we could fly into that has shallow enough water that jet boats can't access and then float out to a road system. We rented a U-haul pickup truck and floated out to it. We concentrated most of our hunting over the first  9 days on the first 30 miles of the river because the "river" was a steam that no boats could get to. We did A LOT of dragging the raft because we didn't have enough water to float. We had that first 30-40 miles of the river to ourselves. Once we floated further down the water got deeper and then the jet boats started to appear. There were jet boats everywhere. The best part was is that the only dead moose was in the inflatable canoe with us. People were looking at us like we were crazy paddling down that river with that bull in tow.

As for gear we were limited to 65 pounds total each minus the weight of the rafts. That was because to get into the area we were going required a Super Cub landing. So I packed like I was going on a high hunt backpacking hunt. It was hard work but worth every minute of it.

[higunner]

Congrats.  I just got back,hunted 13c, my buddy got a 50" bull and I got a 53"

[JoeE]

I saw your thread hi gunner. Good job! Two moose would've been a lot of work! I think we'd still be on that river if we got another!

[bowhunterforever]

Nice bull,Congrats

[bearpaw]

Sweet looking bull and great story, congrats 

[boneaddict]

You are living my dream right there.  I cant wait and forever hope I make it back to Alaska.  Congrats on your successful adventure. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 :tup:t