DIY moose

marley · Jan 26, 2017

My friend and I are wanting to do a DIY moose hunt in September 2018. We have never done this before. We have some great info from an Alaskan guide on where to go but the logistics of this seem overwhelming. We need a bush plane pilot willing to take us in and drop us off. This place is within an hour flight of Anchorage but I don't have and exact spot to land as the guide drew a big circle on google earth that says "we landed somewhere here". Are there pilots willing to take us in without an exact spot picked out to land. Seems like most pilots have certain designated spots that they take hunters in and that's it. Anyone know how to go about this?

AKHUNTINFOOL · Jan 30, 2017

I would contact a few air taxi's in Anchorage or Willow and discuss the area you are looking at. They probably have a number of lakes they have used before. Ask them about costs per hour of flight time for each type of aircraft. Two guys should be able to fit in a 185 or 206 if you don't bring too much crap. Some air taxi's have a package deal that includes hauling your moose out as part of the overall cost. If you each kill a bull then additional flights may be needed or a larger plane like a beaver.

The logistics on a fly out drop off hunt are not that bad. Just remember with a moose you probably don't want to kill/pack one more than a mile from your camp.

marley · Jan 31, 2017

Thanks AKHUNTINFOOL. This would be a gravel bar landing a long a river. In that case we would need a super cub, correct?

AKHUNTINFOOL · Feb 2, 2017

Lots of airplanes that are not super cubs land on gravel bars. It depends on how long the gravel bar is, the approach, and the departure. Super cubs are great when the airstrip is short but there are lots of other planes capable of meeting your needs if the gravel bar is long enough.

magpieinalaska · Feb 4, 2017

Call mike meekins with meekins air. I bet you it is in his area. Good dude btw.

magpieinalaska · Feb 4, 2017

We've packed moose back to camp from upwards of 6 miles away btw. Lots of guys dont kill chit because they hunt by the strip. My 2016 bull was only 400 yards from the strip though....