Alaska 2015

muleymaddness · Aug 11, 2014

Anyone planning on doing an unguided, DIY Alaska drop camp type hunt for 2015? I've been researching it and really considering it, but I don't know if I can round up a partner or two that would do it with me. Just throwing it out there to see if anyone else in a similar situation...

trophyhunter · Aug 12, 2014

Not on your subject...but I talked to a guy a few days ago in a sporting goods store that goes every year. He has a outfitter/pilot fly his group of 3 guys and gear/food into a base camp that has a small cabin. It has a stove etc. They are in for a week or 10 days then the pilot flys back in to pick them up. You might want to research and try and find something along those lines for shelter, as well as safety from those nasty bears

better than sleeping in a cold tent and having a griz have you for a bed time snack.

))))-------->

muleymaddness · Aug 13, 2014

That's exactly what I'm looking for - a fly in, drop camp setup, DIY hunt type setup.

trophyhunter · Aug 14, 2014

Muley I never got the guys name , outfitter name etc. try surfing the web for the plane pilots that fly guys in they will know the outfitters with cabin set ups or get a list of outfitters from Alaska fish and wildlife of licensed outfitters. The list usually has some info of regions they hunt.

Good Luck.

))))------->

Oryxrus · Aug 18, 2014

Muleymaddness.... If your researching DIY Caribou hunt out of Kotzebue... I have some info..

I had an amazing time last year. I flew out of Kotzebue with Arctic Backcountry flying service, www.arcticbackcountry.com . Eric came highly recommended and he delivered. He answered all my questions throughout the year and a real down to earth guy. Of course when you get there he's extremely busy, but when it's your turn his attention is on you. I also used Northwest Alaska Backcountry outfitters for my gear rental. He was also fantastic. All my gear was NEW. Walt was also a great resource and did what he said. This was my first time to Alaska and it was a a hunt of a lifetime for this desert rat.

Here's a video link! It's a really good hunt video. I hope your hunt was everything mine was. I don't know if I linked the video correctly.

[vimeo.com/76353657]
or
http://vimeo.com/76353657

If you have any other questions... let me know.

foundation · Aug 18, 2014

Oryxrus that was a awesome video. You have some serious skills when it comes to making a guy feel like he was on the hunt. It really took me back to my hunt and let me relive it. I'm kicking myself for not getting video and to make matters worse I ended up taking most my pictures from my I phone and two days after getting home that phone fell in a 100 gallon water trough. Lost hundreds of pictures because I hadn't backed up the phone. Bright side is now I have a excuse to go back for more pictures. LOL.

Oryxrus · Aug 19, 2014

Thanks foundation! I am glad you enjoyed it and obviously appreciated it. That's what it's all about. I usually don't post much, but when you experience something like that you want others to experience it as well. I hope muleymaddness gets to experience the same thing.

To be honest after observing the grizzly for 2 hrs my trip was fullfilled. I could of probably slept better if he wouldn't have hung around for 3 days.

As far as videoing, It's difficult to do by yourself, it adds another layer of difficulty. I had three cameras and I had to hike with them in my jacket to keep them from freezing. The camera actually tells you the temperature is to cold to operate. lol. I was fortunate to have several good video's this year.

Your exactly right, you have the perfect excuse to go back!!! Don't forget to buy a waterproof phone case just incase, lol.

I've been saving up airline miles so I can go back in the near future, God willing. I am thinking about a float trip Moose hunt. Being from southern New Mexico it's difficult to get any experience on a river..lol, we'll see what happens...

muleymaddness · Aug 23, 2014

One of the best video's yet. Sure does get you excited!

Their are tons of different outfitters that will fly you in DIY. But I think that is the most critical choice - the person that flies you in. That will determine if you're on animals or not. And lots of the guys that fly you in also do guided hunts, which in my mind, tells me that I may not get dropped off in a preferable location.

Oryxrus · Aug 23, 2014

I am glad the video got your blood pumping muleymaddness!!

Your right, if you go with an outfitter that has clients on the ground, he has a vested interest to set up those hunters in the best spots. I am sure they do their best to put DIY clients in the next best locations and try to be fair, but I didn't want to take the chance.

I determined when planning my hunt I was going to use a transporter instead of an outfitter for that exact reason. It's in their best interest to put all their clients in the best locations. You want a pilot that has a good relationship with other transporters and outfitters in that area so they coordinate with each other and make sure hunters don't overlap. I called other pilots and outfitters about my pilot to get there take on him before choosing him. I expressed to my pilot I didn't want to be placed in the middle of the migration with everyone else. I would rather be secluded and have the possibility of harvesting a caribou then deal with that. I was in it for the adventure more then the hunt. He said I can make that happen but we would have to fly an hour further out and the rest is history.

That being said, it's hunting. Before I left there was a group of 5 guided hunters that were in the field 10 days and were moved twice and didn't get one opportunity to harvest a caribou. On my hunt we saw close to 1000 caribou the first 4 days and didn't see one caribou the last four days. We didn't see 1 hunter and on occasion we could hear a plane in the distance. To me if I harvested or not it was a success.

Make sure to give us updates!

FullCryHounds · Aug 28, 2014

LAST EDITED ON Aug-29-14 AT 05:35AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Aug-29-14 AT 05:19?AM (MST)

Your reasoning for using a transporter instead of an outfitter is 100% backwards. I've been guiding out of Kotz for 18 years. We arrive around Aug 10 each year. The reason we arrive so early is to get our spike camps locations set up before all the transporters even show up. The transporters will drop off clients any where they can which is all the leftover spots. I see it every single year. There are some very good transporters, but do some research, there's some of the worst working out of Kotz too.
Another reason a transporter can't get you into the best locations is because they are flying 180's or 206's. There is no chance they could ever land where a cub can get you into.
It is also illegal for a transporter to set up a camp prior to the clients arrival or rent him equipment. An outfitter can set up a camp at anytime prior to his clients arrival giving his clients the better locations each year.
Now, with that being said, hunting out of Kotz is typically very good no matter where you go, so you have a good chance of having a good hunt.

Oryxrus · Aug 29, 2014

FullCryHounds...

I respect your position and I have no doubt with your experience you know what your talking about.

For me.. being my first time I wanted as much information as possible in order to make the best decision. I researched this hunt for a year and half and spoke to several hunt consultant, one being from outdoors international. I spoke to several outfitters, transporters and recommendations from fellow hunters. I read two books, I spoke with the USFW service, as well as the biologist out of Kotz and countless hours on the interet.

You are right... I read and heard of horrible things going wrong with transporters and outfitters in Kotz. The whole key is making the right choice and hope the weather cooperates.

For me.. all the information I gathered pointed to a transporter and that would be Arctic Backcountry Flying Service or Golden Eagle Outfitters. Arctic Backcountry proved I made the right choice, not just for the flight and location, but all the communication over the phone and emails throughout the entire year prior to the hunt. Walt was equally helpfull.

I am 100% sure there are several excellent outfitters out of that country that can provide the same experience I had, but for this hunt, for me, this was the way to go.

FullCryHounds · Aug 29, 2014

Oryxrus, you had several things working for you. First, you chose one of the best locations to hunt from in AK. . Second, you DID pick the best transporter working out of Kotz!

eelgrass · Aug 31, 2014

FullCry brings up an excellent point about the Super Cub.

Years ago when the Mulchatna herd was in a boom I hired Mark Kneen out of Illiamna, Alaska to drop me off on a DIY caribou hunt. He has a Super Cub.

He had an idea where the caribou were, so we took off and flew for about an hour until we found them. Only when he was satisfied with the number of animals, did he find a mountain top to land his Super Cub on. At that point, 90% of the hunt was done. Caribou can travel up to 15 miles in a day and without the ability to land on them, you are at a disadvantage, IMO.

Eel

264mag · Aug 31, 2014

FullCry what ever happened to Drivers lodge? I hunted moose and Grizzly in 2004,I heard the bears destroyed the lodge.

264mag · Aug 31, 2014

Check out wild on the fly episode 27,Phils lodge was on that river.

Gator · Sep 13, 2014

Did you guy do any fishing right there at camp.
Great Video. Some good looking bulls in those herds.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

Oryxrus · Sep 17, 2014

No... With wolf tags and 4 caribou tags between the two of you, I figured we wouldn't have any time to fish. In hindsight we probably should have took at least one small collapsible rod.

Gator · Oct 1, 2014

Next trip you will.
Thanks

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

NevadaJames · Nov 17, 2014

I am looking at 2 Caribou and wolf for either 2015-2016 in Kotzebue, AK. Looking at unit 23 and getting as much info as I can. Been talking with Northern air trophy as a transporter for a fully outfitted camp or Drop camp hunt. Hit me up if you would like to discuss more about it if your serious.
James Hamilton
Freedom Hunters
Outreach Coordinator
775-233-7322
[email protected]
www.freedomhunters.org

Oryxrus · Nov 18, 2014

NevadaJames....

I had the trip of a life time with these guys....If you want any more details feel free to send me PM.

Rental Gear - All me gear was brand new.
Walt Maslen with Northwest Alaska Backcountry Outfitters.
Email : [email protected]
http://www.northwestalaska.net/

Arctic backcountry Flying Service
Eric Sieh
Email: [email protected]
http://arcticbackcountry.com/

Golden Eagle also came highly recommended.

Here's the video of it all if didn't see it...

http://vimeo.com/76353657

csbgxf · Dec 26, 2017

Oryxrus

I love to ask you some questions about this hunt. My email is my user name with @yahoo.com

480_277 · Feb 8, 2018

Loved the video! Brought back awesome memories.
My body is all used up now, but I thank GOD I did Alaska 7 times while I could.

For those of you that this trip is just a dream, find a way, make it happen!

But one word of caution. Do your homework! There are a lot of transporters that are all about volume and money. Many times while hunting the Mulchatna herd, I saw the anchorage transporters in float planes drop guys off on little puddles no where near the caribou.

You want the dream adventure not the nightmare I saw those other guys get.
I wish you all the experience I had and the OP.

Once again , great vid, worth watching!