Noatak Moose & Caribou Float Hunt
Moose
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Looking to do a Moose and Caribou float hunt in Unit 23 on the Noatak River in Alasks. I heard the Caribou is great but is it worth getting a tag for moose on that river. We'll be hunting in the 1st of September 2015. Thanks for any info!
Last I checked (which was several years ago) there are many restrictions on parts of the Noatak realated to moose. Several area used to be good, but the logistics were difficult. Other areas had a few moose, but not really a quality hunt. Pretty hard to really maximize either opportunity if you try to combine them both. But some of each will be around. Bill
Good luck trying to draw a moose tag. Last year 70 guys put in for 9 tags.
It's a draw for Non-Residents, So that needs to factor in. If you are considering it, put in and decide after you draw if you want to buy the tag or not.
Also Sept 1st the Caribou probably won't be where the good Moose habitat is, so you would need to focus on one or the other.
Think this out for a minute...
ADFG (actually the Board of Game) does not establish a drawing permit for moose because they have lots of bulls in a particular area!
I was really hoping to read Pete's thoughts on float hunts. Albeit they are better in person, but he's pretty good with the written word. Lol
It's $5 to apply and then it only has to be a $75 decision if you draw. Read page 10 of Adfg regs.
I would highly recommend putting in for the moose tag if you are planning the caribou hunt anyways.
I was up there on the Noatak a few years back and we had a great caribou hunt, tagged out. And about half way through the hunt we had a huge bull moose, upper 50's with 4 brows come right through camp on the river bed (about 100 ft from the landing area) but none of us had a tag so all we did was take some photos...
Looking back i wish we all would of put in for moose tags (as it is a draw area) before the hunt and maybe one of us would have drawn and been able to hunt that big boy... Out pilot told us that it was almost a 50/50 shot to draw that tag (3 yrs ago anyways... not sure what it is now)
And, in AK if you have a moose tag you can fill that tag with a caribou. So in unit 23 you can shoot 2 bou, so if you drew moose you could buy only one bou tag and if you dont find any moose you could fill your moose tag with your second caribou.
WIN WIN situation! I wish we would of done it, you totally should!
Can they fly hunters and meat out in that area during the season?
A proven fact- You can't win the prize if you don't enter the contest.
What is the opportunity of a $5 raffle ticket worth?