Caribou Hunting Advice

[Pathfinder101]

So, in about two weeks I will retire from the military and begin teaching ROTC at the local high school (funny, it turns out I am going to be a teacher when I grow up ). 
While I am excited about my new prospective career, I also realize that this is going to limit my time off in the fall for big game hunting.  Particularly my out of state opportunities.
So... I was looking at some options that I had not seriously considered before. 
I was wondering who here knows anything about caribou hunting in Alaska in August.  As a retired Army guy, I can catch a free flight up to Elmendorf Air Force Base, so I would be starting in the Anchorage area.  I would want to do the hunt DIY, and I would have to be done and home by the end of August.
Thanks for any advice.

[benhuntin]

we flew into anchrage and drove up to the haul rd (Dalton Hwy) to hunt we saw alot of caribou all bow hunting within 5 miles of the road but you can get flown in for about 750 out of happy valley air field.
we went completely blind and all got our caribou. We are going moose or caribou this year hopefully moose.
good luck I have to go but ill send some more info later

[Pathfinder101]

THanks Ben.  What time of year did you go? 

OK, if I understand correctly, you saw caribou from the highway, but you have to get 5 miles off the road before you can hunt them with a rifle?  Archery only within 5 miles of the road?

[gramps]

Get ahold of Cohoho...he has hunted Cariboo many times up there.

[upwind]

chicken is a good spot you can rent a  four wheeler in delta be there a couple days ahead of the opening allot of hunters but always allot of bou check the alaska outdoor forums for info.

[bow-n-head]

We hunted with Illiamna air guides. Drove to Ancorage, flew to Illiamna where they took us out in Piper cubs to the hunting spot it was 1500 per person unguided. There was three of us, we each shot two in 5 days. That was 10 years ago we saw a lot of bou. The largest we got was 366 the rest ran between 325 and 340. That was just what we did. I know there are a lot of different ways to get out where the bou are to hunt them. I know guys who have bow hunted them within the 5 miles, had some success. I know one guy that went out in some sort of off road vehicle ( looked like a monster truck) they pulled a trailer. They shot some nice caribou and moose. I hear river boats are popular in some areas too. Good luck hope to see pics next September.

[cohoho]

The hunt in Chicken, the Taylor Hwy and the Stesse Hwy are way too out of norm for the DYI out of stater.  Reason being they close very quickly once the herd is close to the road system.  Your competing against Alaskans, that have the area figured out and drop and go when the timing is right.  It just would suck to plan that and then before you even arrive it is closed for the season.  It isn't a hunt either, it is a meat shoot for the days it is open, not a quality hunt, unless that's your game....  The Haul Road is a great spot for the DYI, get off the hwy away from the bow hunters, as again it is a meat hunt for residents and they will crowd and do whatever it takes to score their meat for the year.  Plus they can take five out of that area in 26B, so they normally are not picky and push the animals to the end of nerves in and along the road.  Hiking in the 5 miles is awesome, yea the hike sucks terrible ass (walking on a leaking, rolling water bed with bowling ball and softballs underneath to keep you guessing where to step), but it is so beautiful and desolate.  Read up up reports from others and some very fit hiking machines have broken down on that rolling terrain, due to boots, water and tussocks......  Figure on way back a boned out Caribou is about 95-110lbs of meat, minus hide and horns...........  Spike camp out there at the border and leave a main camp back at your vehicle.  Ferry stuff back and forth.  PM me and I will give a dryer area to walk in versus the normally tundra approach.  We hunted it for eight years and I took 2 Caribou each year out there.  Be aware renting a vehicle is not allowed on the Dalton (well 99% of them anyhow).  You can take 5 Caribou also now, as of last year, but you got to buy five tags.  You'll see Grizzly, wolves, crap loads of birds, an occasional Moose, and Muskoxen, but I never saw another person out there except for those I hunted with.  There is another option to fly from Coldfoot with Coyote Air or hit Happy Valley and hitch a ride to an isolated spot by puddle bush plane.  Happy Valley was $500 per person last time I checked.  There is a air boat transporter too that does drop offs on the Ivahsak, nice way to go if you take a raft and float back, camping and hunting on way down river.  It is also like $500 per person.  He is on the web, can't remember his company name but if you go to North to Alaska he does trips for Larry Csonka all the time. 

[Pathfinder101]

thanks guys.  Don't know if I am able to go this year, but I think I will start planning a trip for 2012.  Coho, this sounds like exactly the hunt I am looking for.  I appreciate the advice. 

[cohoho]

The warning I didn't give is the bugs the time frame your looking at going, holy crap they are thick.  Went once during 1st week of Aug, head net to eat, sleep and everything else...  We typically would go Labor Day weekend and the nights would freeze keeping them to managable levels as long as the wind was blowing..  I do know some guys rented a U-Haul and used it as base camp and storage, it was a great ideal and I don't think U-haul had restriction on where they could drive...  Plus it was like 33 buck a day....

[Hangfire]

I hunted them 1 time several years ago. Flew to Anchorage then King Salmon. Dropped off about 40 miles out of King Salmon. Hunted 2 days, not counting flying days. l shot a 48 inch wide bull,. Could have shot a number of smaller ones. After shooting bull, had two Boone and Crockett class bulls walk to within 100 yards and stand and look at us.

I would go to the sportsman shows and contact one of the many outfitters that will do drop camp hunts. The animals are in big numbers when you find them but lots of country, and they can move many miles in one day. You can not hunt the same day you were flying. Be prepared to spend money, every thing very expensive. Watch out for bears.

August hunt gives animals with most still in velvet, Shedding gets going around 15th-20th. Very good eating at this time.

[Pathfinder101]

That is awesome advice Coho.  I never thought of renting a Uhaul!  Cheaper than renting a truck and you can camp in the back! 
What is a good bug spray?

[cohoho]

That is awesome advice Coho.  I never thought of renting a Uhaul!  Cheaper than renting a truck and you can camp in the back! 
What is a good bug spray?

I honestly don't think they make a bug spray that works up there!!!!!  But will admit the Therma Cell worked really well, had a swarm circling for my blood but the Therma Cell did it's job really well..

[AKBowman]

thanks guys.  Don't know if I am able to go this year, but I think I will start planning a trip for 2012.  Coho, this sounds like exactly the hunt I am looking for.  I appreciate the advice. 

I've got dropped off on the Ivashak then floated down the river and hunted along the way. IMO this is the way to do it. Advantages  of this is you can be mobile which is necessary when hunting a migrating animal and its easy to move your base camp so you can be nice and comfy and eat good too! Caribou move a lot so you need to be able to move easily, raft allows you to accomplish this.

Good luck

[Pathfinder101]

thanks guys.  Don't know if I am able to go this year, but I think I will start planning a trip for 2012.  Coho, this sounds like exactly the hunt I am looking for.  I appreciate the advice. 

I've got dropped off on the Ivashak then floated down the river and hunted along the way. IMO this is the way to do it. Advantages  of this is you can be mobile which is necessary when hunting a migrating animal and its easy to move your base camp so you can be nice and comfy and eat good too! Caribou move a lot so you need to be able to move easily, raft allows you to accomplish this.

Good luck

Sounds great AK, but how do I get the boat, and how do I get "dropped off"?

[upwind]

If you go on the hall highway count on a cracked windshield bring extra tires and carry gas.If you are not a resident good luck.By the way chicken isn't as bad as it use to be they open the same time moose opens up.But you need to be there early get your bou and leave.Worked many years on the slope hall isnt  the same as it use to be. Go on Alaska outdoor forums.Best thing to do is fly out.

[AKBowman]

thanks guys.  Don't know if I am able to go this year, but I think I will start planning a trip for 2012.  Coho, this sounds like exactly the hunt I am looking for.  I appreciate the advice. 

I've got dropped off on the Ivashak then floated down the river and hunted along the way. IMO this is the way to do it. Advantages  of this is you can be mobile which is necessary when hunting a migrating animal and its easy to move your base camp so you can be nice and comfy and eat good too! Caribou move a lot so you need to be able to move easily, raft allows you to accomplish this.

Good luck

Sounds great AK, but how do I get the boat, and how do I get "dropped off"?

You canr ent a nice 4 man raft plus gear in Anchorage at a number of different places. U haul would work great to carry everything in on the way up there. rent a pickup in Anchorage so you can carry 10 gallons or so of gas and all your gear, there are places to purchase gas up there so its really not as big a deal as most people make it sound. You can fill up in Coldfoot before heading up over the pass and still have more than enough gas to get to the river and back. You'll have to do a little research to find the guy who will take you in and "drop you off" up river. Its a one way charge since you will float back down to your truck. Rough costs for a 7 day hunt would be:

$500 airfare to Anchorage
$400 Food
$700 NR caribou tag ($350 ea.I think that is what it is but need to double check)
$700 Raft rental
$600 Truck rental
$200 UHaul rental
$500 Airboat ride
$250 airlines charge to get trophy/meat back to Seattle
$500 Gas round trip from Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay

  There will be other costs as well but it is safe to say you could do a week long hunt up there for less than $6K. Remember it is 850 miles from Anchorage to Prudhoe ONE WAY so plan on spending 2 days driving each direction so four days driving to and from.

[Pathfinder101]

Thanks for the breakdown. 

[engelwood]

That is some good info right there. All I've ever heard is that the earlier you are the further north you need to be. But I'm no expert.