Back from AK

[cohoho]

Got home last night, what an excellent trip for sure.  We ended up with 12 Caribou, 4 of which were decent bulls.   Beautiful weather the entire trip, not a drop of water.  Air boat ran fine, except for one leak that we fixed with some JB Weld....  One flat tire along the route.  And one tired back from packing meat..  Started off slow but ended with a good bang as the Caribou were not to seen for the first few days, but then started showing up in the later days of the trip.  Some great fishing also.  $1098 in gas to go from Anchorage to our boat drop in area and back at 7 mpg V-10, ouch! No tagging on a wolf, saw some, just way to far to attempt going after, not a single bear sighted the entire trip? 

[Bean Counter]

Great pics. At least you pulled out some good caribou. Contrats!

[piled-up]

Nice pics! Hows that cariboo meat?

[bucklucky]

Nice Job Coho!

[boneaddict]

I was wondering how you were doing up there.   Looks like a blast.

[clindsayrun]

Awesome pics. Looks like a fantastic hunt.

Okay so now that you're back what was the final cost? In a previous post you said that a DIY caribou hunt could run $2500 per person including air fair (probably $5K a person if you count baggage). Do you think you came out a whole lot cheaper because you already knew the area and some people? How much do you think it would cost for an Alaska novice like myself to be part of that 20% success rate on a DIY hunt, or do you think it's just smarter to hire a outfitter? Prices don't seem too out of control with some of the guide services.

[JackOfAllTrades]

That looks pretty cool. Air boat on the shallow rivers!  

Can you provide more information on the trip and outfiters. Costs associated? Were you happy with the guide?

$1098 in gas to go from Anchorage to our boat drop in area and back at 7 mpg V-10, ouch!

How far away was the hunting area from Anchorage?

You took your own truck up?
I'm sure glad my truck gets twice that fuel economy even when towing.

Edit:  I guess I missed your other posts about DIY.  Nix the outfitter/guide questions. But I think we'd all like to know more about the trip.

-Steve

[boneaddict]

Wait until you are filling up in the Yukon at 8-9 bucks a gallon.  It'll make you pucker.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Off topic:

Wait until you are filling up in the Yukon at 8-9 bucks a gallon.  It'll make you pucker.

For that price, ($8-$9gal) I'd invest in a 150gal bed tank for my truck and buy my diesel here in Washington. As it is now, empty, I have run 650+ miles on one 38gal tank (burned 36gal). (driving easy, ole Wilber will do a whole lot better than that)  From home, that 185gal x 15mpg should get me to Anchorage where fuel prices are much better than Canada. Price per gallon difference just filling my onboard tank twice in the Yukon would pay for the bed tank.

-Steve

[boneaddict]

I wonder if their customs would holler

[Michelle_Nelson]

Those are some good looking Caribou!  Looks like you guys had a good trip.    Got any more pictures?

[Wea300mag]

That looks like a lot of fun. How were the bugs? They don't look too bad in the pictures. Congrats on all the caribou and glad you had spectacular weather.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Dang I miss that. Awesome job. Also congrats on only one flat tire, I always had four spares. That place is bad on the tires.


Joe

[cohoho]

This was a DYI trip, haven't and wouldn't use a guide as I hunted this area alot previously.  But there were a couple guides with established camps near ours, if interested PM me for the name of them.  I went with my old buddy and his boat, the only cost I incurred was 1/4 for gas at about $275, $5 for my airline ticket (Mileage Plan), $20 for extra baggage (on my wife's MVP status) $100 for food, $88 for license and $325 for Caribou tag.  First time in ten trips up there with absolutely zero bugs....  Temps ranged between 20-25 at night and high forty's during day.  It was a blessing for sure the weather as my buddies son-in-law wasn't prepared right at all and could have been a huge liability had the weather turned bad.  Without an airboat your not getting to where we went, even my old shallow running jet couldn't have made this trip without some serious damage...  Along the haul road it was pretty bad for Caribou, very, very little in regards to guys tagging as we saw and talked to a few. Didn't see one Muskoxen either, which was quite odd for that area and no bears....  We did have an awesome time and looking forward to 2012 for another trip.  Next time we'll have two air boats and be able to venture farther into the mountains without fear of breaking down of getting seriously stuck.  Dropped off 60 of the 110lbs of boned out meat (Bull) to Indian Valley for some delicious Pepperoni Sticks and Polish Sausage, rest went to burger for a friend of mine up there.  Brought back a cape and a split the crown of horns for a mount.  And of course, I couldn't leave the area without a Gieco picture...

[cohoho]

Here are a couple more pic..

[boneaddict]

Loving the geico.


Love the hard horned bulls the most.   

[boneaddict]

Sounds like I am glad I didn't venture the Haul Road this year.   I am wishing however I did the moose as the cold probably is really getting them going. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

I wonder if their customs would holler

Canada customs?  Naw, as long as you're not transporting fuel to sell, and it's in a fuel tank attached to the vehicle there's no issue. There are lots of RV'rs that have larger tanks/in-bed tanks in their trucks that cross the border here all the time.

Cohoho, do you know of other options for Do It Yourself trips for Cariboo up there?

Thanx for the photos and more info.

-Steve

[Michelle_Nelson]

Which Caribou did you bring back Cohoho?  The one you hare holding in the picture?  That is a good looking Caribou!

[Ray]

Awesome trip. Wish it was me.

[GregE]

Great pics and writeup, thanks.

I'm looking at an Outfitter who has a very similar boat set up.  I'm planning a bowhunt for Moose, Bandaid want a bou with rifle.  How is the season overlap?

[ICEMAN]

Awesome trip. Wish it was me.

 

[bowhunterforever]

Looks like it was an awsome trip. Congrats

[Jason]

Congrats on the trip and caribou! 

[Skyvalhunter]

Awesome Coho glad you were able to FINALLY make it back up north

[cohoho]

The one to the right in the picture is mine, he was the old boy of the group as he shed his velvet probably a week ago....

Numerous options up there depends upon what your looking for in regards to DYI.  I just do that one cause I know the area and have access to the resources and friends to go there with....

The other areas that have access are hit hard, in fact the Stess Hwy opened for one day and the Forthy Mile herd never got opened due to access reasons, unless they went by plane...

After taking care of the first two (mine and my buddies), didn't have the care to cape the third one....  It became Raven food....

[alanger]

Looks like a good time cohoho.

[robodad]

One of these days !! 

[GoldTip]

Looks to have been a very good trip.  Congrats on a succesful run.

[fc2038]

Congrats on the bou's. Sounds like a great time. One of these years I am going to bite the bullet and go Caribou hunting.

[MuleySniper]

Nice Coho! Sounds like you guys had a great trip. Can't believe all the sunshine in those pics!
MS

[Machias]

Glad you guys had a safe and great trip!!!  Congrats and thanks for sharing the photos!!!!

[Kent Hunter]

Looks like you had a great time. Congrats Cohoho!!

[Skyvalhunter]

More Pics???

[Annette]

WOW Nice success!! Congratulations!!!

[TeacherMan]

What unit did you hunt in??? Looking for better area for me this next season. Thanks

[cohoho]

26B...  Off haul road, Sag River then to Ivshak River and go about twenty miles up the river...  Probably not a good ideal in any shallow jet...  My old jet was super light and could run shallow, but not that river later in the fall.....  River drops every night once temp drop and good chance you could get stuck far from any assistance...  Either drop off hunt via plane or Air boat...

[Hornseeker]

Man, that air boat looks like the CHIT!!! Awesome.