Alaska bound

I just found out I secured a summer job in Healy (just outside of Denali). I can't think of a better way to spend a summer than exploring Alaska on my days off. Can anyone offer any advice on hunting opportunities in AK from June through mid August? I've heard there is some caribou hunting up north at that time but will have to get some more information. I'm sure I will get to do some fishing too.


"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud"

i recommend you spend time searching and reading the hunting section of this site: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/

also check the hunting section of this site, which of course is all important: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=home.main

if you are an archery hunter, or you are a hardcore rifle hunter in tiptop physical condition, you will have caribou hunting opportunity to the north whil eyou are here.

in advance, welcome to AK

Dall sheep and grizzly season opens in August but you will still be a non-resident so you would need a guide to hunt these. Caribou near Healy is a draw.You can hunt wolf and I don't know about black bear. Moose season opens the first of September.

I sheep hunted 30 miles from Healy but there wasn't any way to get to where I was except by air. I don't know what the possibility of floating the river into the area would be but it might be a long float.

There are really good rabbit and sage and Ptarmigan hunting around there. I think most of the caribou hunting is draw only. However if you can get access to a truck and are a bow hunter you can do the Haul road hunt in the fall for Caribou but your tag for a non resident hunter is going to be $400.00 or so. I think you could take a black bear maybe evan 2 depending on the area. the fishing is going to be awesome the streams and rivers near Healy are quite good for trout and grayling and evan dollies, they will take dry flies and sometime mice patterns. Where ever you go be safe and have a fun summer. Alaska is awesome and if it gets in your blood you will want to stay here forever....

Thanks for all the information! I went to the AK website berto suggested and signed up immediately. I have also been checking out the adgf regs from 2010-11 and have concluded that the only big game I could hunt while I'm there is black bear. There are some interesting Caribou hunts in extreme northern AK that are open in July and it's only a 5 hour drive from Healy but I still need to get some information.
I much prefer a DIY hunt even if it means I take only pictures. I am going to call the game and fish dept. this week and ask if it's possible to drive up to the unit, hike in a couple miles from the road and find caribou or if a person needs to fly in. In Colorado, I hunt that way all the time but this is a whole different kind of hunting. I am not a trophy hunter and would be tickled with any legal caribou. I can tell you that I will probably wear out a couple of fishing poles this summer if nothing else! Again, thanks for the information. it was very helpful.
Hoopcoach



"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud"

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LAST EDITED ON Mar-18-11 AT 10:28AM (MST)[p]There are some registration caribou hunts to the east of Healy, but the competition is fierce off the road. I think it opens the 10th of Aug. The last couple years the season was only open a few days before quotas were met.

As you said, the only other option would be black bears. Early June would be good for hides, but after that they'll be junk until September.

I'll be hunting caribou near Healy this fall... Can't wait.