Dalton hiway AKA haul rd

[Hoytshooter]

anyone ever hunted caribou on the hiway up there in alaska.  Just curious Im heading up on the 17th of August and was wondering what it would be like.

[high country]

check out alaska outdoors directory and pristine ventures website forums. if you plan on renting a rig there are very few that will let you on the haul road, also there is a buffer zone that means you will do some hiking in the nasty stuff. as for where the herd is the odd/pv will get you todays info

[boneaddict]

Understand the road is in "wonderful" condition.  I ran into two guys while I was moosing, and they had just gotten back from there.  They had a blast and suggested I run up and do it.  I already had a full load of meat.  Sounded fun though.

[GoldTip]

I believe the buffer zone is five miles either side of the highway, but only applies to hunting with a gun.  I believe the area up to one hundred yards or feet, not sure which, from the highway is open for archery.

[jackelope]

Check these pic's out on a semi-related note.
http://homepage.mac.com/gelande/alaska.html

a co-worker and his buddy made this trip from seattle to the oil fields on motorcycles.

[actionshooter]

Hunting off the haul road is something I have always wanted to try as a budget hunt. It would be perfect to take my wife on.

[Hoytshooter]

Hey less then 2 weeks and I will be hunting, I will let you guys know how it goes,  IM ready,  Later boys

[cohoho]

Hey guys, just got here from Alaska, hunted the Haul road for the past six years and I LOVE IT.  Advice is to get off the road at least 1 mile and set up on the Caribou versus what alot of guys do, try to chase and stalk them, you'll never catch a caribou while it is moving... Period.  I normally archery the first Bou then hike out the five miles for the second one.  Be aware it is a bad hike with the swampyness and tussocks if your not prepared.  Stay on the ridges on any thing Red in color and you'll avoid a good bit of the tussocks.  We normally stay within 15-20 miles of pump station #2 during the first rush, then go south for the hike out.  Make certain you have a GPS and be accurate that you are indeed five miles out, AST will fly the corridor and you stand out like a sore thumb if your not past where you need to be.  There are a few places to fill up along the way and make certain you have 8 ply tires, stay out of the way of the truckers, just pull over and they will just go by and wave.  Now I know folks that have cruised by the trucks at the normal speed and have gotten broken windows and head lights, I personally haven't in six years had a flat or broken window by slowing down when the big rigs come around the bend..  I'll be there again on the 26th of Aug till 3 Sept.  If your going to be in the area send me a PM and I'll give you our license plate of our truck and have a cold beer if you stop by where we'll be camped.  Make certain you have a excellent pack, a boned out Caribou Bull will go 90-120lbs without hide or rack, make certain you get all of edible meat, Alaska has a tough Wanton Waste Law for the meat.

[boneaddict]

Excellent information COHOHO!   I appreciate you sharing!  I wish I was meeting you up there, not just for the cold one.  Alaska is AWESOME!

[cohoho]

I'll agree to that, but in the past few years it has become pretty expensive for the day to day person to do more than one hunting adventure per year.  The haul road is a blast for certain and something anyone can do with certain limitations.  There are other areas you can get Caribou (Chicken Ridge, Taylor Hwy and Stesse Hwy) via ATV's but you'll be greeted by 100 of your best friends from Anchorage or Fairbanks, but to be really successful it is either willingness for hard work and time (which I perfer) or spend the big money for the fly service to get you out.  I think the hunts that I did up there, I really love the Black Bear hunting, just something about them that kept me going. Two regrets of animals I didn't get are Musoxen and a Mountain Goat.  Never could draw the Muskox and had two really good Goat hunts turned sour quickly due to weather and injury of partner.  The one thing I really want here in Washington is a Cat, so if anyone needs a side kick for Cougar trip, I'd be up in a heartbeat, just throwing that out there for the cheap advertisement.  Great with a skinning knife for bears also, done probably 20 or so.  Any other animals here I'd be in also, don't want to sound prejudice or something.   Look forward to reading and enjoying other successful and unsuccessful trips in the future.  You guys have a good web site here, that doesn't bash other opinions, and full of good information if you read into and between the lines..  Keep it up!

[boneaddict]

I'll have to pick your brain for a good Caribou hunt.  I managed to put together a great moose hunt DIY up there, but still want to get a caribou.  I pretty much stick to the DIY method as I can't afford the guides,etc.  I agree with you that Alaska would be a great place to Black bear hunt.  I can't believe how many I saw, and the size comparison is unbelievable.  I almost moved up to Anchorage to a sister hospital just to hunt a couple years up there.  Get some game under my belt as a resident.  Didn't pan out.  I also almost went to Kodiak to wrok, but was told that would be real stupid.  I odn't know, sounds fun to me as a guy who likes wildlife and fish.  I'd also like to spend some time moose shedding up there, but thats a whole other adventure.

[jackelope]

bone...i should put you in touch with my wife's cousin. he just moved back here from AK. he's living in wenatchee right now and is a respiratory therapist, but i think he's moving back down to the southeast around pomeroy pretty quick. said the move back here couldn't have happened soon enough and he is a hunter. just didn't like it up there i guess. i haven't talked to him in depth about it yet as i've only met him 1 time.

[boneaddict]

You should tell him to look into working in Yakima.  I think there is a 25,000 sign on bonus right now for an RT.   Hell, I think there is a 5,000 bonus for someone that gets someone that is interested in one, so you should definately tell him to look here and have him tell them Doug Kikendall refered him. 

[jackelope]

I'll certainly pass on the info...his wife wants to move closer to people they know.
there's a long story behind it.

[boneaddict]

Yakima Regional Hospital....not the other one.

[cohoho]

Boneaddict,  Tell you what- I'll share with you any Secret spot I have up North in Alaska (it's a big place and doubt information will go to everyone since your not a resident right now and I probably won't be going back after this trip, unless I get drawn for Musoxen, of course) for some guidance around here (generally speaking).  I'll probably going to try the Alpine Area for Archery Elk, but got a 14 year old that really wants an Elk real bad, his would be by Modern way versus archey and I am curious where to begin on the western side of the state. Probably be restricted to this side due to his hockey schedule...  Any ideals?   

[boneaddict]

I can really set you up on the east side, west side kind of questionable, but I will pm you with some ideas as soon as the dust settles here at work.  Apparantly it doesn't rain in Mexico as some folks around here can't seem to keep all four tires on the road.

[actionshooter]

  Apparantly it doesn't rain in Mexico as some folks around here can't seem to keep all four tires on the road.

[jackelope]

Apparantly it doesn't rain in Mexico as some folks around here can't seem to keep all four tires on the road.

good stuff, bone.

[Bighorse]

Coho,

Now you be real carefull about giving away our spot. We have yet to find out if its productive or not.  I'm still 100% for that trip.

You'll probably read this after your back from AK.  I hope your back got real strong from hauling Bou.

All my stuff is up north and I'll head out next week.

I'm heading north for Trophy Black bear on POW island for those interested DIY.

I used to live there too and am really looking forward to heading back.  I also work as an RT, Radiological Technologist.

[boneaddict]

Don't worry Bighorse, anyinformation would pay itself back in dividends.

I guess thats another RT.  I was referring to Respiratory Therapist.  We have a Radiology Tech school at our hospital, so not quite as much of a demand.  GREAT occupation though.

[cohoho]

Well time is finally here and heading North in the morning, 0'dark thirty, got the Haul-Bou fever.  Not too worry Big Horse, not giving vital secrets away of locations here in Washington (don't have any to give away anyhow).  Trying to achieve something directing success here versus going blind, until I get the chance to explore areas on my own next spring and summer.  Main adjective this season is put meat in the freezer, can't eat the horns and we all love Elk meat much more than Caribou.  Good luck on your Bear and Deer hunt on POW, didn't get to make it there but did fish a few falls out of Ketchikan for multiple BIG Kings.  I'll tell you what it- it sure is alot easier to get ready from Eagle River than it is from here for this trip; gun case, bow case, hunting bag and carry on.  Now if I could just decide on one weapon, I'd be ok, but this trip is too much fun to do it with only one choice.  Besides, missed a great opportunity in 04' at Atigun Pass for a huge Ram twenty feet up the slide, stood there and looked at us for fifteen minutes, probably knew we only had our rifles- all we could do was take a couple great photos, what a time.  Good luck to all - on their trips this season and look forward to hearing the reports from their adventures, good or bad.