Caribou drop camps oppinion?
Caribou
Contributors to this thread:
What has been your experience with drop camps? My fear is that I will be stuck out of sight and mind while the guided hunters get the best pickings.
I understand that full price hunts come with more and that the outfitters have to cater the hunter more but I just want a decent opportunity.
I did AK in 97. Awesome!!! But your are on your own. Be prepared with food and good shelter.
We were stranded for 2 days because the weather was too bad for them to get us.
We used Ketchum (I think they retired and sold business) and they did a mid week check on us.
I forgot to add; this was a DIY. We paid for a transport service.
If you are concerned about getting the short end of the stick with an outfitter...go with a transporter instead.
I hunted with Brooks Range Aviation out of Bettles in 2012 and would not hesitate to use their service again.
http://brooksrange.com/
As pav said, Transporter only vs. Outfitter. That would seem to resolve the perceived conflict of interest.
Now, how about an outfitter who is done with guided hunts for the season?
I used Ketchum too. Dropped us off at a lake about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage. We pumped up our raft and floated a river for several weeks. No moose but did get three caribou with rifles. No one checked on us and didn't expect them to either. It was quite an experience but next time I would go with a guide in Manitoba which my son and I are going to do this fall.
arrowhead outfitters took us this year, it was a good, safe successful trip
Go with JHA in Quebec. It would probably be less expensive in the long run. No hidden expenses, every thing is included, everything is planned out for you and no surprises. Great people and you know what to expect. Rory
Rory, I'm not knocking JHA in any way, shape or form....or any other outfitter for that matter...but you can do a drop camp in Alaska for alot less $$$ than hunting with an outfitter. If you do it right, we're talking roughly half the cost.
It does take more planning on your part. It does take more work on your part. But you hunt on your own schedule...and more days on the tundra don't cost extra. You pay to fly in and out...but you tell the transporter how long you intend to stay.
And you come home with the satisfaction of DIY. Success rates should not be terribly different.
40 mile air out of Tok Alaska comes to mind they fill up fast though.
I went out of King Salmon. We had our own equipment and they flew around until we found the caribou. Then set us down. They checked on us midweek to see if we wanted to move (extra).Lots of animals but not real large ones. Weather was brutal so good tent is essential. Wind and rain. Great time though.
Going to shoot for 40 Mile most likely. Really looking forward to this trip! Long way off but more time to plan and acquire some quality gear.
I used Arrow Head Outfitters last August on my drop camp hunt in Alaska. It was a great trip. Nice people, safe planes and put us in the middle of caribou. I had a family member with a medical emergency half way through the trip and they got me out and were extremely helpful making arrangements to get me back home.
Awesome bull J Man !! Bucket list for sure.
Nice! Great info guys, thanks!
I'm thinking of going myself in 2015. Looking at Brooks Range Aviation To take me in.Need to get someone to go with me if you are interested ?
If given a choice, I would use a transporter every time. Having done guided caribou hunts in Newfoundland, Quebec and BC , my DIY hunt in Alaka was the best. Being a total greenhorn at this DIY stuff, my buddy Steve ( Prezboys on Bowsite) took me under his wing and I learned more on that hunt than my previous 5 guided trips.
Once that plane leaves and you look around knowing there isn't another person within 100 miles of you is a surreal feeling. No camp set up, no guide to get the coffee going at 5am. No horses to get your animal back to camp. This is where having an experienced hunting partner is a must. Steve took a chance taking a newbie to Alaska but I must of done ok because the following year we did Kodiak and next year going for moose :)
With a reputable transporter, there is no reason you need a guide for caribou. Well maybe if you are physically unable to pack an animal OR absolutely must score one on the hoof. Otherwise, no need for a guide to take a respectable animal.
- 40 Mile Air out of Tok has a solid reputation - Book early. - Brooks Range Aviation through Bettles is also very respected. I want to hunt out of there myself some time. - If interested in WACH out of Kotz, try Eric Sieh or Jarod Cummings - both straight shooters.
Another option would be to arrange it through a hunt planner like Larry Bartlett at Pristine Ventures. It will cost you a little extra, but he will take care of all the logistics and is a wealth of information in putting it all together.
DIY-Alaska all the way. The most unrewarding trips I've ever taken were with guides/outfitters, while all of my diy trips left me fulfilled and happy. That's no slam on a guide...it's just me and where I find my rewards. I don't find them by looking over the shoulder of a man in front of me.
I used 40 mile air last year and they were great.We both got nice bulls.In fact everyone out there I think got their bulls last year.You won't go wrong with 40 mile.And,maybe I'll see you out there next year as I'm planning a moose trip Does Brooks Range avaiation do drops for moose???I'd like to check my options though 40 mile was great to me last fall
I had a candid conversation with our transporter last year and he said that he could not legally suggest where to hunt (within the unit of your choice) since that would constitute 'guiding' in the eyes of AK regulations. So we left it up to him where to drop us and he placed us right in the middle of caribou central! On one day midway through our hunt we had 4 of 40-Mile's airplanes fly over our camp and they were all loaded with antlers on their struts. Other hunters were doing well themselves and it was quite a sight! All four in our group killed very respectable bulls. Our friend from Anchorage killed a superb grizzly and we had a chance at a wolf and saw a wolverine (twice). Three things we did right: a) we selected good equipment; b) we researched the reputation of our transporter; and c) we chose our hunting partners wisely.
At - awesome Bou'!! COngrats to all!
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AT- great looking group of bulls. great tops all the way around
At... did you use 40 mile?
No, booking with 40-mile sounded like a tough proposition for us. They have a solid reputation and when it appeared that it would be hit-or-miss when they open for new client bookings each winter (preference given to returning clients with new bookings on a first-come/first-serve basis on Dec. 1st) we decided to go with Quicksilver out of Fairbanks. Quicksilver does a lot of contract work for wildlife agencies across the west and transporting hunters is the smallest part of their business. Several of my friends have used their services in the past and we couldn't have been happier. Again, I believe greater success comes from using highly respected services, but it takes some research to find out who that might be. I would definitely spend more $$ for reputable (even if it means waiting one or two more years to book with them) transporters than to hunt with a 'friend of a friend's cousin-in-law'.
I have also used Quiksilver on 4 different occasions, They are great. You will not be disappointed. Mark and .Tina will take great care of you.
PM me if you would like more info,
Any of you guys have a pack list you,d be willing to share ?
Does quick silver fly planes or helos?
Can't use helicopters in Alaska... Ed F
For hunting. Because easier is not always better... think about it... Ed F
So Quick silvers website only shows helos? I'm confused. Do they also fly float and super cubs?
Goodness, think how much easier sheep and goat hunts could be if you could run helos in AK.
Drop camp AK best way to go. I flew with Golden eagle out of Kotz. can go flat rate (all inclusive meat and extra move, would recommend if going early since the herd is far out) or per hour air time (if you can split with a buddy and the herd is closer to town) . They will move you around if needed so have a sat phone. I see no need for a guided hunt, very simple to fly your backpack camp into Kotz.