Hello all,

Looking for some information. I had a post last year on this topic and after lots of research and trying to book with a few outfitters I still have no hunt lined up.

Places I've inquired with;

-Papabear adventures (booked until 2020)
-Renfros alaskan adventure (booked until 2020)
-Pristine adventures (booked until 2020)
-40 mile air (no hunts left after return customers book)
-Sportsmans Air (booked until 2020)

So I guess I'm asking are there any other reputable outfitters for un guided moose hunts?

Thanks, Aaron

This is not a recommendation but if you're just looking for a drop off hunt...you might try Willow Air. They have an OK reputation for safety from what I have seen. Where are you planning to hunt ?

I was hoping unit 18 or somewhere out of the Bethel area, unless there are other suggestions for better opportunity. Preferably a drop camp or ridgetop hunt. I guess a float hunt would be alright as well but have little to no experience floating.

I don't know the particulars of all these outfitters but I do know that Renfros has some nice super cubs along with a beaver float plane. The super cubs give you the option of a ridge top hunt back in the mountains which is pretty spectacular and gives you a huge area to glass in. Different than just blind calling when you see them coming a few miles away'

And that's really what I'm looking for, I don't particularly want to be socked in on a lake where I can only see 50 yards.

Willow Air runs a beaver on floats every fall....based out of here. I THINK most of their hunts are west of here. Either on the Innoko or the Yukon. They may have other planes but the beaver is all they bring this way.

How old are you, what kind of shape and have you killed a moose before ? I'm asking because if you drop one two miles from a ridge top, down in a creek bottom, it will take you several days to get it all to the top of the ridge.

Are you planning to be alone ? A raft hunt might be an easier situation for recovery of game.

I have a good friend who is a master guide south of me . He might do a drop off hunt. I'll ask him.

When do you want to do this ?

We also have Waggler right here on the forum but I don't know whether he does this sort of thing.

There will be 3 of us, I'm 30, my brother in law is 22 and my father in law is 58, all in great shape. I've been to Ak twice fishing but never hunting. I've hauled caribou out a few miles before so I know the rigors. I know it's not really comparable to moose but an idea.

The plan would be to go in 2019, but 2020 would be acceptable as well.

A float trip is an option as well, I just didnt want to jump into that first time hunting up there.

Willow air says they fly out of McGrath and hunts far west alaska. From what I can tell they do float trips and lake hunts given their aircraft.

They have a float hunt for $6,900
Also a "extreme remote" float hunt for $7,900

Our budget for the hunt is around $8,000 knowing there will be overage cost on a few things.

I did 4 unguided moose/caribou/bear hunts. All were float trips and we did great on the trips. Talk with trappers and other people of knowledge.

Mike, you sound like a person of knowledge. Would you care to elaborate on your moose hunts?

Each or total?

Because for Refro's and the others out of the bethel area, that is close to the each person price.
be sure to inquire if the costs include flying a moose out for everyone going... and if not, how much they charge per additional moose...

Unguided Moose Hunts
$6,500 – $8,500 : Moose/Black Bear – 10 day (1×1)

from renfro's site.

If you are up for a float trip i can point you to an area. It would be good if at least one of the three have some experience on the water. Carefully consider what Hupurest is saying about flying costs. If you are on some short ridge top...it may take several flights to get you and all the moose meat out of there. At around $170 and hour for Cub that can really add up.

Glass the ponds/lakes along the river. We also called in some nice bulls. These are not hunt for the faint hearted. If you do a float hunt,make sure you have a meat raft and plenty of game bags.You have to take all the meat out. Do not shoot a moose in the water.

Thanks for the advice guys. Budget would be $8,000 per person. If it goes over that's fine too.

Here are our ecpectations;

- We are in it for the scenery and adventure as well as to kill bulls
- kill nice bulls, don't have to be 70" but nice
- Don't really want to see a million other hunters floating a river

I'm pretty open to suggestions. We are willing to put in the effort to be successful.

We have many years of boating experience but floating a river, we have none...

You need rafts w/rowing frames. the nice thing about floats, if you are not seeing game,you can move on. We started looking for camping/hunting spots around 2:00 when floating so we could set up camp and hunt.Each member has set jobs,set up tent,pump water, get firewood,you get the idea.

Would you suggest a hunt planner to help set up the trip? I want this to be successful and not a fiasco. I could probably plan something myself but the little details and local knowledge is what leads to success in my opinion.

If you hunted/camped before,you can do it yourself.I planned out all the meals for each day,we did eat moose/caribou and fish.Good tent,tarps,stove,lantern,meat cutting tools,small come-a long,small chain saw......

I'm with Mike. You can do this yourself. Just figure how many days you plan to be out there and add 50% in food and fuel. You might also want to add a SMALL outboard. I have seen people trying to drift against the wind and not making any progress.

I'm sending you a PM.

Whatever you decide.........you should also rent a satellite phone. Iridium. NOT Globalstar

How about the Tok area? I did a little looking into Tok Air Service. I couldn't find anything but good reviews about the guy, I guess he used to fly for 40 mile.

Look around Gakona. Harley McMahan is likely the best Cub driver in the world. Not sure about the name of his business.

EDIT: McMahan Guide and Flying Services

http://www.aircharterguide.com/Operator_Info/MCMAHAN+GUIDE+AND+FLYING+SERVICE/627/GULKANA/682

Unit 18 is likely the best Moose hunting in the state. Non res has no antler restrictions. However, the good hunting is in the flats between Yukon and Kusko rivers. Ridge top hunting is a long ways from the good moose area.
You have listed all the outfits serving that area and they are booked. Pristine Ventures is a hunt planner, equipment renter. There is another hunt planner, Mike Strahan, and he owns the Alaska Outdoors Forums. he might be out of the planning biz tho.
Like I said, the good hunting is in the flats and mostly closer to the Yukon R. You can take scheduled air service From Anchorage to Aniak and then to a Yukon Village like Russian Mission. You could float the Yukon, getting in to some sloughs off the river. Float to St. Marys which has direct scheduled service back to Anchorage. A shorter float would be from Marshall or Pilot Station to St Marys.
mt

White - Chuck is no slouch either. They have Dad’s DNA ( papa was a bush pilot - good book ).

Alaska pike safaries does drop off as well as guided ( have not checked in awhile ).You were given boat, fuel, tent, etc. Some of the best hunting anywhere and lot’s of happy hunters. As always, prices have gone up. But might be worth a look.

True story about Chuck. I agree that is a good book. I have it )))

Thanks again everyone, you've given me a lot of info and I appreciate it. I'll get in touch with all suggested and see what I can come up with.

What would be the difference between a $5,500, $8,000 and $10,000 un guided hunt?? Location? Amount of hunters they book? Larger company?

Could be any number of reasons for a array of prices.

Sometimes just the distance from civilization...!

It might include back haul of meat rather than a later additional charge.

Sometimes in an area with greater chance of success.

Sometimes more gear provided (for example boat, motor and fuel.)

Sometimes it is includes going to private land with accommodations on it (transporters cannot provide services, other than transportation, "in the field," unless it is on private land.)

Pete

Makes sense, I guess I'd rather pay more and have a better experience, especially since I don't see myself doing something like this again anytime soon.

Wow, $6500-$8500 per person for an unguided moose hunt?? So we are talking about essentially a drop off. I guess you are paying a transporter fee and the cost includes the hope that you are getting dropped into a productive area.
I would think you could continue your research and save considerable money just paying an air taxi to drop you off somewhere.

"Hoping" you get dropped off in a productive area is not a terrific strategy.

A better idea is do adequate research and identify productive areas. Then contract with a transporter to get dropped off there. Alternatively, find out where a few transporters are operating, then choose the one who has the most productive area.

If one is relying entirely on their transporter to select a good place to hunt, one is going about it all wrong.

Pete

I would love to plan this all my self and have it work out. But I feel no matter how much research I do nothing compares to the local knowledge of the outfitters. If I lived in the state that wod be one thing. What do you think the percentage would be for me to actually kill a moose if I planned something myself? From what I've found if your %50 successful on a outfitted unguided hunt you're doing good. I'd think that would drop quite a bit panning it myself, but maybe I'm wrong. Personally, I'd rather pay a few thousand extra to have a decent shot at killing a nice bull.

Pete,
May have been vague on what I was trying to say.
Yes, hoping to get dropped in a productive area is a bad strategy all the way around. My point was 3 guys could pay for more than a half dozen beaver flights for $6500 per person. What are you getting for the extra cost versus finding a spot through research and getting an air taxi to drop you off.

I understand totally understand your concern about doing your own research and how it can be daunting, but you seem ti be off to a pretty good start.

I guess i an just amazed by those prices, but maybe I shouldn't be.

I think you can do just fine planning by yourself...with some help from this board.


Maybe start by calling the area biologist responsible for the area where you MIGHT want to hunt. They will tell you whatever they can.

Remember that most of the larger air taxi outfits (transporters) have the potential to virtually saturate a good sized river with float hunters. You may float down that river and never see another hunter, but there are 100 DIY guys that went before you and there will be more behind you. This type of pressure is a large part of why we had to completely close portions of GMU 19 to NR moose hunters a few years ago. Those companies may be able to show you a handful of photos of successful hunters, but they are dropping off tons of moose hunters. A few are bound to trip over moose. But I doubt any of them have anywhere near a 50% success rate.

One time I was guiding from a camp on one of those popular float rivers. Over the course of 10 days, we saw 34 rafts float by. Each with 1 or 2 moose hunters in it. Our camp was about 3 or 4 days float downstream from the popular dropoff spot. Only ONE of those hunters had actually shot a moose. Interestingly, he had not measured the antler spread of his moose. It was sub-legal and he likely got cited and lost his moose when he got to the pickup point.

The more popular floats get a lot of pressure. If it were me, I would float a small river with an unpronounceable Native name. Resident hunters tend to avoid being dropped off at places they cannot pronounce! Or just get put in on a ridgetop or small lake where I would only have moose for neighbors, not other hunters.

Pete

And that's what makes me nervous about a float hunt, not only do I have little to no floating experience, but how would i determine what a good river to float is? How fast, how deep, would I need a outboard? There's quite a few variables. What's the natives view on out of state hunters? I would imagine it would be pretty hostile.

Say I find an area I want to hunt, then I pick a specific river, lake or ridgetop, how do you know if a pilot can actually land where you are wanting to go? Don't the pilots know most of the decent landing areas in there specific area?

You can't really know until you look at it and the approaches to it. Most local guys will know the one's that are used regularly but those may NOT be where you want to go.

Once you pick a flying service, go over the topo maps with them and see where they can and can't land. On one trip,we had a 1/4 mile portage from a beaver pond he could land on to the river.A whole day affair.

Call Karl Braun in Fairbanks. He may have some ideas. He is a transporter/135 operator.
I am afraid some of you guys are leaving readers with the idea they can pick a spot and someone will be available to take them there in an airplane. That is not reality. 135 operators are first and foremost concerned with a SAFE landing area. Not every river, lake, gravel bar, ridge, etc. that has good hunting in that area is safe to get to in an aircraft. Additionally, non res. face harder choices on where they can hunt/ get a permit, etc.
Like I said before, unit 18 is currently the best moose country in the state. But only parts of it. Those parts are a Harvest Ticket hunt for non res. Long season, 30 days I believe, and no antler size restriction. Just got to find a way there.

I'll call him and see what he has to say. What exactly is a harvest ticket, draw hunt?

Good point. But this is exactly what makes some of the lesser known ones MUCH BETTER for moose hunting! One tradeoff though is that you may need to have someone fly your route before the pilot dumps you out. It may look terrific on the map, while in "real life" if can be a series of logjams and sweepers that will kick your butt or possibly kill you.

Also be careful just looking from the air. I have seen some that looked "do-able" from the air that turned out to be butt-kickers when we tried to float them. That is how I once spent a week "floating" (actually dragging rafts...!) through a section of the West Fork of the Gulkana that appeared from the air to be relatively logjam free and might take a day and a half to traverse. What did NOT show from the air was that it was only about 4" deep! If you get into one of these deals, it is best to NOT shoot that 60" bull that steps out in front of you. The only thing less fun than dragging rafts through shallows, is dragging rafts full of moose meat through shallows!

Allow plenty of time to do the float. There is really no such thing as "extra time" on a float hunt. If you have time, you can actually HUNT moose, rather than just floating (or, perish the thought, paddling like mad to get to the take out on time to meet your pilot.)

One of the most common mistakes that float hunters make is to happily float for multiple days, expecting a bull to stand broadside on every gravel bar. A much better approach is to float during the middle of the day and actually HUNT in the early mornings and late afternoons.

Another common mistake is choosing a river that has no high banks or little hills nearby to climb up on and glass during "prime time" (early morning and late in the evening.) Sometimes you can find spruce trees to climb and glass, but don't depend on it. And for sure don't be fully convinced that a 50+" bull is going to be standing on every other gravel bar waiting to be shot.

Pete

I have noticed that air taxis charging by the hour can be hard to find during Moose season. They’re all doing the priced hunts then as it probably pays better. There are a few though

Yeah, as soon as tags get released, most of the good pilots get booked up fast. Hope this isn't something you wanted to do this year.

My suggestion, if you are a year out or more, is do your homework and pick the top three places you want to go based on regs, season, success rate, info from the bio's, etc. Then start asking here about specific spots, rivers, lakes, and pilots in those areas to then help narrow it further. You can do it, it just takes some work and time to make sure when you have it nailed you can get the pilot and the place you want.

-TJ

No definitely for the 2019 season. Thanks for all the replies guys, my research continues.

Probably the best to be discovered secret for Yukon Moose. http://www.alaskamonstermoose.com/lodge-hunt-packages

FT :

Interesting site. B.W. suggested for years that the Corp. get into the Game. But they seemed more interested in criticizing him, than utilizing the resource. Maybe they have decided that if you can’t beat them, maybe you should join them.

A harvest ticket is open entry, you just have to pick one up. Draw tags are awarded by lottery the previous winter.

Family trapper, do you have first hand experience with this outfit?

That seems like it might be a conflict for BW if he is involved in this operation. But.....maybe not since it is all unguided.

Who's BW?

W:

B.W. has operated for decades ( Alaska Pike Safaries ) as an outfitter - drop off. Also obtained his guide license years ago as well, but I think the guiding is elsewhere.

I was wondering if F.T. could confirm that this was a Corp operated business.

Yep, I have a friend who has guided for him for a few years. Mostly hunting in the hills to the northeast of the river. I didn't know BW did drop off hunts

He started out by bringing clients up river, supplied with a Lund, gas and weather port - transporter status. This was sometimes in conjunction with his lodge. Has now evolved to bomb shelter type camps. Many years of productive hunts. This is in addition to monster Pike trips. Also guides in another game management unit away from his home area.Very accomplished outdoorsman, as you know. Similar to that famous homestead guy ( but he is much older ! ).

I do not. Just of the area they hunt. Some of the best of the best.

I am assuming that the bw guy your talking about is the outfitter that lives in Holy. It is my understanding that the monster moose guys are the local corp. Don't think they have anything to do with him. I did here that there dropping off hunters in unit 18 which ends Sept 30. And has for years been the top area for hunting in the region. Populations are prob as high or higher down river but upper unit 18 is by far a lot nicer country to be in in my opinion. Better weather and more scenic. The bulls there seem to be getting some strange genetics going and am seeing some odd bulls coming out of the area lately. The winter grounds are being hammered bad in the area all the way to the coast. Never seen it so bad. There wasn't a willow patch along the river this spring that wasn't absolutely thrashed. The lower river corp needs to capitalize on this as well. Moose numbers need to be brought under control. The wolves and liberal hunting season is not cutting it. If we get any kind of winter there will definitely be a culling of the herd. This spring had some effects for sure.

Yes - H.C. guy.

Unlikely the Corp would have anything to do with him and vice versa. As stated, it appears they have finally decided to join him , since they couldn’t beat him - but they sure tried.

So what I'm getting from this conversation is, this would be a good hunt to book?

Would it be better to suggest unit 18 given the lessened restrictions? I would also prefer the better scenery as F.T. suggested.

I am not recomending anyone and know nothing of the Monster Moose group. However, I am familiar with the owner of alaskapike.com and his long standing operation. Make a call to both, do some research and go with your gut. You won’t find a more productive area. As has been said many times - yupik.

As Piper said can't really throw out a recommendation as I don't know much about other than the area. If your getting dropped off with a boat it is really you that will make or break the hunt. Pre prep and study the area. I would certainly rather hunt this type of area than a ridge drop off where you have little transportation methods for getting meat out. River, slough and back waters afford a multitude of possibilities.

I'm not real clear on how this outfit operates. Do they just drop you off for the day or week with no way for you to move.......other than on foot ??? I would NOT want that !!

The way I read it is they drop you off in one location and pick you up 9 days later? It says if you want to move it's an additional $150 plus fuel costs per round trip. But.. only if there's a transporter available.
It also says that the transporter is required to load the meat? Kind of strange rules.

I don’t know about now, but in the past - Alaskapike supplied you with plenty of gas. I have hunted and flown the area. Your odds are increased significantly, if you can navigate the miles of river and sloughs. Hunt different meadows and cut banks at different times of day. Make your calls and and I’m sure you will arrive at a decision. If you had done it years ago - you would have paid 3000.00. Darn inflation !

Too many willing participants paying a hefty dollar to Hunt.
Hunt now my friends its just going to get worse.
Unless your a resident maybe of a great state (AK) for big game.

Heres the breakdown from what's on their websites and from talking with them.

Alaska monster moose LLC transporters

-they take you to a location of your choice and drop you off
-they check up on you every day to see if you want to stay or move($150)
-cost is $4,500 per person plus whatever extras occur
-units 18 and 21E, but they said I might not be able to go to unit 18
-you are responsible for all gear except water, trash bags and a sat phone

Alaska pike safaris
-they provide with a boat for the duration of the trip plus all gear of you want it
-they also do a flight service into 18 and 21E, single location camps
-hunts start at $6,500, plus an additional $800-$1200 per moose killed if flown out
-limited availability on unguided hunts

Unit 21 is a draw hunt with 35 permits issued annually, would this be hard to draw a permit for that area? Plus antler restrictions

Unit 18, no draw no antler restrictions.

Trying to get my pack sorted out. What do you guys pack while hunting? Do you take all the essentials to sleep out if need be?

Take the things you need if you have to spend a night in the woods. Space blanket,fire starter, saw, knife,small tarp,compass.

Can't say "unit 21". It is a large unit with many different permits/tags, etc. Unit 21E is a draw for non res. as you say. You can apply for that this Dec. for 2019 fall hunt.
Unit 18 is a harvest ticket for non res.
Also note that unit, actually subunit, 21C is also a harvest ticket for non res. I met someone last fall who had floated the melozi, had a successful hunt, and was dropped in there by Karl Braun. He operates from Fairbanks. Might be a bit spendy as that is a long flight from FAI.
mt

As I'm making my calls to different outfits, what would guys recommend me ask as questions? What are some of the most important topics to bring up?

Weather you can expect, number of other hunters in the area, special equipment/gear, possible different pick up sites,(in the event of weather), if near water courses, flood possibilities, condition of any gear they may provide, and MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!!!!,
References!

Bringing this back to life. So myself, my father in law, brother in law and one of our employees are booked for a moose hunt Sept 2020 with a transporter out of Tok. This will be a ridgetop hunt in one of the following units, 20E, 20D or 12. We won't know the exact unit until after this coming season. One of the logistical aspects I'm trying to figure out is getting us and all our gear from either Fairbanks or Anchorage to Tok and back again. I have had individuals suggest either renting a uhaul or a vehicle from enterprise, leaving it at the airstrip and then returning it after the hunt.

Any other suggestions? Would someone want to make some money and haul us around?

Uber.

I was wondering about that. What would a 3 or 5 hour uber run? It would have to be a good sized truck for the trip back (hopefully).

Let me know the dates. Might be able to help

Let me know the dates. Might be able to help. Uber says they are unable to provide a fare estimate. In otherword I think they are saying they don't do 200 mile one way runs.

That's what I figured, the cost would probably be outrageous.

Checked with Lyft and they say the rate is over there maximum rate amount. Looked up their maximun and it is $500 if that is any help.

Again if you let me know the dates I will see if I am available.

Local, if possible. U-Haul box truck, (small one), or a van might be an option.

What about mailing your gear to the air service and then just rent a car in FAI or ANC ? Personally I think a van rental might be the way to go. Another thought.........call MWR at Eielson or Wainwright and see if they have any vehicles available. I know they rent boats....or at least they used to

In Juneau, you can rent a van from U-Haul for around $18.00 per day. Milage is where they get you. $.17 per mile.
May Avis, or similar?

Good ideas everyone, thanks for the input. White17, would you suggest shipping our gear? I've been debating on doing that just to make sure everything makes it.

Yeah I would if the transporter is willing to accept it. Less for you to hassle with while traveling

That makes sense, I'll have to get with the transporter and find out if they do.

@USAFtrapper. curious who you ended up booking with and how the trip ended up? My hunting partner and i are in the middle of doing the same research you did and putting together a DIY trip for 2022

USAFtrapper hasn't been online in over a year. You might not hear from him