Hey guys and gals, so a buddy and I are thinking of doing a caribou hunt in July of 2019, but looking for some advice/tips.
Were thinking about flying into arctic village and packrafting down to the Yukon and then to the highway where we will get picked up by a friend, mainly looking for 1 or 2 caribou, and a fun/safe adventure, has anyone dount this or have any input or other ideas? Were thinking a 2 week trip.
Thanks.

Who are you going to have fly you into Arctic Village? Don't plan on getting much (any) help in Arctic Village unless you know someone there, also, don't leave anything unattended.

Also, everything on the east bank of the river is native land for many miles downstream. I don't know if there would be any caribou in that area at that time of year. Have you considered going later (late August-early September), and going further east and landing along a remote river rather than at a village? I really think you would have a better chance at getting in on the Porcupine heard migration than doing as you described.

What Waggler said.

Also consider that if you happen to kill a caribou in the first few days...........you have a long way to drift with fresh meat in the July heat. Bad idea IMO

Waggler gave a good summary for you.

The natives in Arctic Village used to give me caribou meat. But I used to work with them. Even back then they was known as hostile.

I did 2 early August hunts back when the Mulchatna herd was thriving, and the heat was a real problem. Had to get picked up early on the first hunt, do to getting 5 animals on the second day. We had more tags, but was pleny for us.

I would listen to what has been said.

So we decided July cause we didn't want to have to worry about hypothermia during the packrafting part. Flight to arctic village not sure, was just an idea, and I cant do anything later than early August due to having school starting the 28th. Thanks for the input. Not set on that route, we just didn't want to have to pay for multiple flights to and from the hunting area. Also I know I could try to wait till the year after when I'm done with school, but if everything goes right I'll have a baby by then and not be able to go on a long hunt for a few years. Does anyone have any other ideas of when and where to go maybe? I thought about going out to galena and just floating down river, but haven't heard much promise about that.....

Thanks.

man when I was your age I would have phrased that differently "if everything goes right I WON'T have a baby right after school..."

Haha, done with college, I'm 24 right now. And were paying for IVF. Cause we cant do it naturally Haha. Been trying since 2016.

I figured college and meant what i said, however, hearing about IVF, i wish you the best of luck that it is successful!

Caribou - Arctic - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Central Arctic Caribou Herd As its name suggests, the Central Arctic Caribou herd roams the central region of northern Alaska. Smaller than the Porcupine Caribou herd, which travels throughout the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Central Arctic herd was estimated at 70,000 in 2010 and has since declined to 22,000 in 2016.
[Search domain www.fws.gov] https://fws.gov/refuge/arctic/caribou.html

Come see me. By the way, meeting on the 18'th, it appears. Same venue. Randy Zarnke will be there.
You have my number. I might be able to help you out with contacts, if you want to hunt 'bou.

Just remember.......

-TJ

The Porcupine population estimate is through the roof. They probably absorbed the Central Arctic herd like the Borg from Star Trek. There also a Tukapuk herd there someplace?

If you want to do caribou before late Aug. you might try the 40 mile hunt off the steese. That opened in Aug. this year. Over pretty quick. Maybe rent a truck in Fbks and drive up north of the brooks range on the Dalton.
Pretty skeptical you'll find bou anywhere around AV in the summer.
Good Luck with whatever you do.
mt

I concur with most of the above. July is not a prime time to hunt caribou.

And, to be somewhat PC, let's just say that Arctic Village "does not sponsor a Welcome Wagon visit" when you fly in there.

Pete

If you live in a rural area, what do you think would happen to your hunting grounds if you were welcoming?

I fly into/out of Arctic Village frequently, and have found it friendly, but then I'm not hunting in "their" territory. They are used to seeing lots of "backpackers" and a few sheep hunters getting shuttled into/out of ANWR by Coyote Air, Kirk Sweetsir, Shadow Aviation, and Wrights Air Service, (all local bush flying services I would trust enough to fly my wife and kids). Wrights flies daily mail and passenger service to AV. I think your idea would yield a float trip through beautiful country with perhaps a few fish. It will be a long trip though, with little chance of bringing out an edible caribou. I have never seen a caribou downstream of AV in mid summer. Might be some, but I've never seen one. I'd look at hunting the north side of the Brooks range, including northern foothills.

I thought id still hunt after my son was born too, only went for gees 2 times this year down from 4 times a week for 8 weeks...... Also I agree with dirt, ive only lived in rural alaska for about 7 years and dont like it when people come to hunt the moose, i cant imagine if i had lived here my whole life....