Hunting Moose in Alaska

[Skyvalhunter]

You can get into a DIY hunt for alot less than $4k as I have been there done that.

[cohoho]

You can get into a DIY hunt for alot less than $4k as I have been there done that.

Absolutely.....  If you do your homework you can keep your cost down for sure... 

[engelwood]

I guess it all depends on how far you are flying in and out. Bush plane costs are the most expensive part of the trip. If you go more than 100 miles from airport and are only splitting between 2 guys, as well as costs of ticket up to AK and back, you are over $4k right there. Unless the info I have heard is completely false?

[Bearhunter]

Definetly not under 4k unless your not using a bush plane to get in and out.  My bush flight this september is $3300 a piece for round trip flight, that is flying out of Fairbanks.  If its just a short flight you might get in a bit cheaper but from the research I have done, flights have almost doubled in the last 5-7 years...

[engelwood]

Yeah, that's more like what I was told. Plus, the flight to Anchorage or Fairbanks will run you close to $1k. Right there you are over $4k in flights alone.

[Stickerbush]

I didnt draw anything for next season up there, but I am planning to go up anyway and do a general season if my buddy can help me out (he has a plane). Dont know what I'll go for maybe bear, deer on the islands, moose or caribou. good luck to you

[Skyvalhunter]

Well I suppose if you want to hunt by yourself and pack the moose out alone(like thats going to happen) then you can get over $4k as you eat the cost yorself. But if you go with a couple guys the costs are split but when you run into multiple trips is where you get the cost up. Some of the pilots will bring in their larger planes to haul the meat out if they can land them at the strip or they taxi it to another strip. I flew in and out of Fairbanks for under $2k then I rented the raft so with the flight up to Fairbanks that was well under $4k.

[Bearhunter]

Ok I quess we have a pissing match here......  I will not be alone, there are two of us going, even though I do have the mental/physical power to pack a moose out load by load it can be done, but not that stupid.....  Our flights from fairbanks to one of the forks of the Chandalar is $3300 a piece, gear and meat/horns.  Price is fixed wether we are successful or not.  Raft rental threw Larry Bartlett is $1450, or $775 per person.  $485 for moose tag and hunting license.  $3300 + $775 + $485 = $4560 before getting there.  I fiqured at 6000 miles round trip at $5.00 a/gallon for diesel being conservative with the camper on the truck getting 12mpg, the cost in fuel would be $2500 total in fuel (hopefully diesel will not be that high but who knows?)  I will be hunting the haul/pipeline road for caribou before we fly out for moose....  Not saying is cant be done for $4000 or less but you would need to take a significantly shorter flight or do a road to road style float or a base camp style hunt.  A couple guys from here did a float hunt last season and there flights ended up being $3800 a piece after they got moose and caribou out.  I am debating on buying my own raft for future trip and get ride of the rental fees.  Also fiqure if you fly up on a commercial flight and are successful, you will have a pretty significant cost in getting your meat and SPLIT horns back.  If there are ways to shave some cost I would love to know, as we will probably go in 2012 as well....

[Vek]

Get your own raft.  Most versatile is probably a 13' or 14' round boat, bailing or non.  Simple frame with three or four cross-bars.  Cooler for a seat.  A 14' NRS Otter will do two guys, two moose, and a very spartan backpack-like camp.  I know this from experience.  With some careful craigslisting, I think you could get a suitable boat for ~$1500. 

Minimum two boats on a trip, if the water is skinny.  Bartlett will have a handle on that.  His Pro Pioneer is a good complementary boat, but the Aire Traveler might be better. 

If a tributary of your river has enough water to float your small boat, consider lining up it and hunting off the main river.  Same for big oxbow ponds and such off the main river.  Especially if you're not alone on the river. 

Driving or flying commercial to a hub village airstrip to catch your bush flight may be cheaper overall than taking bush flight from a major place.  I.E. get yourself to Bettles, Coldfoot, Galbraith, Happy Valley, Arctic Village, or Fort Yukon for your bush flight instead of flying from FBX. 

Memorize Wayne Kubat's Love Thunder and Bull volumes I and II.  This is mandatory.  Wayne's popular fiberglass call is not - better tone to be had from good white birchbark cone.  Sneak off the road a bit on the way up and getcha some.  Wood canoe paddles are good for thrashing brush, as are big snags and logs. 

I hunted the same general area for quite a bit less in 2009.  It would have been a bit more $ had we gone 4/4 (opportunity was there) instead of 2/4.

Solo moose is a ton of fun, almost literally! 

Bearhunter, say hi to your dad for me...

[Bearhunter]

Great info VEK I think that rite there is what everyone was looking for.  I asked Larry about flying out of Coldfoot instead of Fairbanks as I will be going north of Fairbanks for Caribou anyways, he made it sound like its harder to get a firm fly out date from those guys.  I was told though that the flight would be a bit less from there.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Bearhunter, best thing to do like said is get your own boat. I have a 14 foot zodiac, I have had one moose and two caribou in it with all gear and the wife and I an not had an issue with a 20 hp jet on it.

If you do the trip a lot it is worth it to get one. I still have mine and have not been to Alaska in 6 years, once you get one you won't get rid of it. More than welcome to drop down and check mine out.


Joe

[engelwood]

Well I suppose if you want to hunt by yourself and pack the moose out alone(like thats going to happen) then you can get over $4k as you eat the cost yorself. But if you go with a couple guys the costs are split but when you run into multiple trips is where you get the cost up. Some of the pilots will bring in their larger planes to haul the meat out if they can land them at the strip or they taxi it to another strip. I flew in and out of Fairbanks for under $2k then I rented the raft so with the flight up to Fairbanks that was well under $4k.

What did you do with your meat? I know that Alaska Airlines charges upwards of $2 a pound to get back to Northwest area, so if you were well under $4k, did you not bring your meat home or did you drive all the way to Fairbanks and base everything from there? Just curious.

[RightPlace-RightTime]

Spend the time and do your research.  You wont spend 4000.  That number is high.

[boneaddict]

You're fuel costs might even be higher now Bear unless you have an aux tank in the truck.  It might be worth customizing one in if you don't.  Fuel in the interior is AWEFUL.  I realize you averaged in high and low, but its probably going to be scary high. 

As for meat.  If you want it unless you  have deep pockets, you need to drive up.  You'll have to do paperwork at the borders, but thats no big deal.  Quite frankly the drive should be done in everyones lifetime anyway.   Its well worth it.

I did it DIY for a little over 3 grand I guess.   About $2200-2500 in fuel, tags license and some different food items a guy wouldn't normally buy.  That obviously isn't including any gear which I either had or I'm not including becasue I use it elsewhere. 

[Bean Counter]

You're fuel costs might even be higher now Bear unless you have an aux tank in the truck.  It might be worth customizing one in if you don't.  Fuel in the interior is AWEFUL.  I realize you averaged in high and low, but its probably going to be scary high. 

As for meat.  If you want it unless you  have deep pockets, you need to drive up.  You'll have to do paperwork at the borders, but thats no big deal.  Quite frankly the drive should be done in everyones lifetime anyway.   Its well worth it.

I did it DIY for a little over 3 grand I guess.   About $2200-2500 in fuel, tags license and some different food items a guy wouldn't normally buy.  That obviously isn't including any gear which I either had or I'm not including becasue I use it elsewhere. 

Yeah, LOL, like another $5,000 in camera lenses