driving to alaska to hunt question

I live in Michigan and would it be dumb to drive the 4000 miles to hunt on your own? At least you could ship the guns via ups and bring home the meat in freezer. Sure would appreciate your thoughts on the subject. thanks Ron

With gas prices the way they are you could buy a plane ticket cheaper. Not to mention the extra days of work missed for driving. It would be a neat experienc to see all that country if you have the time!!

I think in the end it would be cheaper to drive. If you flew you would have to have your antlers, meat, and gear all flown home and that is really expensive!! If you drive you get to go through BC and from what i can tell you by living here, it will be worth the trip!

I've done both. If you take a handgun it has to be shipped. You can get a permit for rifles but they are a bit of a hassle at the border. Want to see the rifle, want to know why you need 3 boxes of ammo etc....

Fuel is even higher in Canada but there is the exchange rate to contend with.

You should have 2 spares. And lots of tools. Just in case.

If I was retired I'd do it again. The drive back from Anchorage to TX took us 7 days of driving. Thats not non stop though. If you drive nonstop or have a place to sleep you can save the motel rates.

All in all an 800 dollar round trip ticket is way cheaper and way faster to me. Though I did have to spend a couple hundred to ship a few boxes up and same on the way back. I took my gear in coolers and brought the meat back and shipped all my clothes back. Dollar wise its probably about an even trade off when you consider meat and shipping. But if you add in 6-7 nites in motels...... Wear and tear on your tires and vehicle. The roads are very good though.

In the end you have a LOT to consider. If shipping any considerable weight up for the hunt(5 of us are going in 2006) check out NAC and put it all on a pallet and ship half your clothes and all your tents etc... up early. Fairly cheap that way. Take the other half your clothes with you (in case either gets lost) and if your cargo didn't make it for some reason Walmart is handy in Anchorage or Fairbanks for replacement food, gear etc... We'll have access to 10 coolers to come back home with meat in so we should be fine there.

Jeff

Jeff

if you can afford all the wear and tear on your vehicle and anything else thay may happen on the way, i say go for it. be a hell of a lot more scenic than from a plane. it'd be worth it for me.

I've made that drive there and back with a truck full of sleddogs 4 times in the dead of winter. If you have the time, go for it. The scenery in something else, isn't getting there half the fun? I can tell you about some great stops along the way. I left from n.e.Mn. Quickest was 5 days to fairbanks longest about 7 1/2 days. You'll see tons of wildlife and weirdness. With that said I flew up last fall for a hunt and If you count missed work and driving expenses it's much cheaper to fly, but that depends on what you bring back. 600 lbs. of moose in very expensive to get back to the lower 48. I paid $ 610 for my flight in sept. 04 The roads aren't as bad as you may think. p.m. me if I can answer any questions

you fly up, round trip, 1000,
rent a 4X4, ? cost
stay 2 weeks, free
meals and misc. 250,
ship your guns up. to whom? cost
ship your meat and whatever home, cost?
Then there is the what ifs.
what if you get there and you can't find a ride/ transportation.
what if you get there and you can't find your guns.
or your pack and tent are lost in transit
I'd say drive up,
you know the more i think about it.
It might be cheeper to fly up.
what if gas goes to 4 bucks a gal.
right now it will cost you around 3000, thats juat for gas
up and back.
on the road for 4 days up 4 days back thats averaging 50 mph,
food and drink, 100 bucks.
rent a vehical to continue once yours breaks down,800 bucks

no brainer, Fly
make arangements to rent a veh. prior to going.
buy a tent when your up there, and sell it back when you come home.
same with your gun, beats loosing it.
you can make arrangements prior with a gun smithy here, to contact someone there, to do that for you fo a smalll fee.
the hours spent in a plane verses the days spent in a truck will be time worth while, when you think about the hundreds of miles of hiking you may encounter.
need to start your hunt on freash legs.

can't do it this year, but next year i would be intrested.
would be nice to have expences shared.
and some on to talk to back in the brush.