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First Mate's first caribou
First Mate's first caribou
Our boat arrived at Adak a couple of days early and the crew was able to get out and do a day of hunting. This is the first caribou of the season for us. This would be considered a good bull on Adak; not a monster but a good one.
I spent many summers in Dutch Harbor and a few buddies there talked about the caribou on Adak.
With very little pressure on them what is preventing them from from becoming much larger there?
That looks like it could be fun. I was looking around last night and noticed getting to and back from Adak could be a little challenge. The flights are only a couple times a week (Tues and Sat)...at least in October. That would mean you have to motel up somewhere waiting on the flight. Don't know about earlier months before October. You have to know the antler shipping policy too.
Yes why can’t they get genetics up to par with other bou? Maybe they should be listed as a sixth caribou species. Are these related to the old world caribou, Laplander reindeer ? They sure look more Norwegian than Canadien.
These are Barren ground caribou that were transplanted for the military as a food source and recreation. Right now they are overpopulated with a lack of proper nutrients. At one time, before the population grew so much, there were monster bulls on the island. There are no predators so it will take a hard winter to knock them down to a susceptible level again. The genetics are there just not the nutrients. We see a monster bull now and then but not common. If someone has to have big horns it's not the hunt but if you want to be able to have many opportunities for stalks, this is a great opportunity.
Shipping the antlers with Alaska Airlines is pretty simple; they are accustomed.
Thanks for the replies.
These are the antler regs for Alaska Air. The single allowable dimensions might pose a problem if they're sticklers to the regs. I remember last time I was in Anchorage I seen some large moose antlers get rejected at the counter.
Big game trophies
Antlers and horns are only accepted as checked baggage if they are properly packaged and meet normal size and weight restrictions. •The item must be wrapped in shrink wrap or plastic covering, and packaged in an enclosed, hard-sided container. (e.g. box or crate). •Antler tips must be padded to prevent punctures. •Antlers must be free of raw meat, blood, or noticeable odors. •Single allowable dimension may not exceed 38 inches deep, 34 inches wide, or 70 inches length/height. Total maximum allowable dimension must not exceed 120 linear inches (305cms). Any animal rack/antler that exceeds 120 linear inches cannot be accepted.
Items that are oversized or overweight must be shipped via Air Cargo. Please keep in mind this will require additional time as the Air Cargo offices may not be near the departure terminal in some cities.
For additional information, contact our Air Cargo office at 1-800-225-2752.
Because space can be limited, we can't always get the antlers on the same plane with you. If we don't, we'll hold them at your destination for you to pick up when you can or you can have them delivered for a charge.
If I remember right the guys were saying body size on these is sometimes much larger than a typical BG caribou. Is that still correct?
Also, any idea what the population is now?
At one time they were the largest body, now one person can pack an average bull out, boned out. It takes two guys for a larger bull but normally it would be more effort than that. Quote from the refuge - "When the base closed in 1994, hunting declined sharply, and the caribou population exploded to more than triple in size. A June of 2012 census counted 2600-2800 animals." It is that much if not more now.
Do you get King Eiders through?
Is the terrain bow hunting friendly or is rifle hunting the best bet there ?
When we are there, which is October, we don't see much for Eiders. They come in after the first of the year. Harlequins are the most abundant for us.
It's very bow hunting friendly. No brush or trees but lots of terrain features.
This is a caribou hunt as well as a fishing trip. As photos start to come in from the boat I'll try to post.
The deck is starting to fill up. :)
This is what the evening looks like as hunters start returning to the boat. You can see the boiling pot going to clean the skulls for the airline, guys grabbing fishing poles, and in the sheds, they are processing their meat.
Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden
Lots of Caribou.
Lots of Caribou.
Notice the caribou in the background.
Cod
Cod
Spent Salmon
Spent Salmon
Lucky Bull!
Lucky Bull!
This bull came in on the hunters when they were packing their's out. They didn't have a tag. Lucky bull!!!
I bet it's a blast. That wind can be horrendous from the videos I've seen!
Nice Bull!!
Nice Bull!!
This just came in this evening. Lucky hunter!!
Does P&Y accept these as barren ground or no because of being transplanted?
P&Y does what the state says- So AK recognizes them as Caribou and you have to get a tag so it counts as a Barren Ground
Bowsite is the devil.... Adak caribou... Ironbark Asiatic buffalo... elk hunts... Coues hunts... alligator hunts... hunts at Blacktail Bobs shack...New Zealand stags... Im never gonna have enough $$ or vacation time to get all these hunts done!
It's not fair!
This trip looks like a damn good time. Good luck the rest of the season
A true Adak Trophy!
A true Adak Trophy!
This is considered a very large Adak Barren Ground Caribou.
Happy Hunter!
Happy Hunter!
Amphibious Boat
Amphibious Boat
Adak Caribou's Link
Notice the wheels on our skiff. These are pretty sweet skiffs being amphibious. These pictures have been from this week's hunt. I'll try to post more as they come in from the boat. Next week I head out and will be on the boat for the rest of the season and bringing the boat back to home port, after our wild cow hunt first. :)
Those are some dang nice caribou!
I really like that palmated one. The rest are nice too. Looks like a blast!
Had to bring up the cow hunt again! haha.. I want to do that one really bad, no idea why but it sure looks like fun to me. Good work thus far on the caribou!
We need to organize a Bowsite group hunt for this! This looks like an absolute blast!
Pat, I agree. I retire next year so timing would be good. I've been on bowsite since about 1999, it would be neat to meet some of the guys. I had rotator cuff surgery on 8/16 and I can't hunt with my vertical bow till maybe mid November. After this surgery I need a treat.
Bill
Wild cow hunt?? Do tell.
You guys stopping off at Koduak to kill some deer on the way home?
Yes, the cow hunt. It is fun, different, but way fun. People think cows are just cows but take the water buffalo, if it's not domesticated, it'll tear you up or least offer a challenging hunt. Cows are the same.
Pat, if you were to organize a Bowsite hunt we would work with you on price.
We do stop at Kodiak on the way home. Our crews from the other boats and invited guests get a crazy hunt at the end of our season. They fly into Adak for 2 or 3 days of caribou hunting and then we transit to a remote Island with the wild cows. We spend a couple days chasing them around and then off to Kodiak for a few days of deer before heading home. The boat is pretty loaded with meat when we get back. :)
Our boat Dog
Our boat Dog
Adak Caribou's Link
This is Stella, our duck dog. It looks like the guys are now focusing on sea ducks.
I'm down for a bowsite hunt if there's feral cattle involved.
Deer, ducks, feral cattle and caribou ...feel free to PM me more
Is there a brewery on Adak... if so, I'm in. Ed F
I am in also. Only thing that could be better is wild cats also!! Hunt
Hunt,
I had an opportunity to bit a job killing feral cats in a remote part of another small island country. The winning bid was over $8,000,000 and they killed them every way you could imagine- poison, shooting, trapping you name it they did it.
do you outfit for these milk cows? I wanna see some pics of this.
michael
If a bowsite hunt is organized I would like to go.
With some of the names stepping up for the Bowsite group trip I may not be cool enough to go!
—Jim
Nice Caribou!
Nice Caribou!
Adak Caribou's Link
Done Packing!
Done Packing!
Adak Caribou's Link
They went after this one this morning. The job was made easy with 4 packers. :)
40#'er
40#'er
Adak Caribou's Link
That one’s almost too big to be considered a chicken! Looks like a fun hunt!
Hahaha Yep, almost...... :) I fly out today for our second week. We have satellite internet onboard so we will try to post as the week goes along. It's nice to be able to show what the hunt is rather than just words. A picture is worth a 1000 words? :)
Id be interested. This sounds like a great time!
At the end of first week.
At the end of first week.
Adak Caribou's Link
Skiff Load
Skiff Load
Adak Caribou's Link
The skiff transporting the antlers of first week.
Wrapping it up.
Wrapping it up.
Adak Caribou's Link
Wrapping up meat and antlers for the flight home.
Heavy Load!
Heavy Load!
Adak Caribou's Link
The ladies are doing extremely well.
What a giant!
What a giant!
Very old bull.
Very old bull.
A very old bull and a happy hunter.
A very respectable Adak Bull
A very respectable Adak Bull
Adak Caribou's Link
This looks like a trip of a lifetime!!!!..... but i am also assuming it would take a lifetime to afford this hunt!
Love to know what these hunts cost.....
Im with Pat Lets get a plan going. Im not getting any younger. Can we archery hunt
No Mercy, The quote below is from the thread when Adak Caribou became a sponsor at Bowsite.
Our posted rates for 2019 are $5000 per person and we can take up to 12 persons. We also offer a whole boat discount program, if someone is willing to put in the effort to organize a private charter themselves. The price for a private charter, organized by a group organizer, is $48,750. That comes to $4062.50 per person (12 persons) or $4,875 for 10 and the group organizer gets 2 free slots and is still able to offer the group a discount or if you have a smaller group and want the whole boat, you can pay a little more each and have a smaller party. Thanks guys!
Lived on Adak '87-95. Had a 34' twin 250 hp cummins fishing boat built and sent out there. We killed a lot of bou, especially Sep and Feb-Mar. Even then you could see that the island was being overgrazed. My largest was about 380 but had the ugliest shovels and bez. Gave the mount to a friend. I notice the same in many of the photos.
The bodies were huge. On the above bull I cut a front and ham off and managed to make it to the top of one hill before I unloaded. Bull calves in March were the size of a good mule deer. Great eating if you stayed away from October.
I scored the big bull in FnW if it's still there. 418 with huge negatives. One of the top points was over 35" and had a couple long points off it.
I've been in every navigable nook and cranny of the island and it's a neat adventure
Oh, have an eider mounted from there. Killed in January in the passage to Hidden Bay.
I'm in !! If anyone starts to organize a Bowsite trip, let me know - I'm all over this one!
I see your ship has been named after the local Wolds. What's the largest wold taken off Adak?
Looks pretty much like a meat hunt, but a neat adventure
I have been out on the boat for the past week and a half and the internet on the boat is a little slow so I've been slow to respond to the forum. Adak is not a trophy hunt, it's a FUN hunt. Lots of animals and a variety of other options to fill the week. The price for the trip is $4875 pp or $48,000 for the boat. We can take up to 12 persons.
A great Adak bull!
A great Adak bull!
Adak Caribou's Link
Happy hunter!
Happy hunter!
The selfie!
The selfie!
Packing out.
Packing out.
Jacq's Nice Bull.
Jacq's Nice Bull.
Harlequin's
Harlequin's
Adak Caribou's Link
Pat put me down for a bowsite or leatherwall hunt.
Add my name to the Bowsite hunt also.
Are there many guys bowhunting here?
Morning catch.
Morning catch.
Aleutian Teal
Aleutian Teal
Harlequin
Harlequin
66# and 79# halibut
66# and 79# halibut
Yesterday, most everyone duck hunted and fished.
Back at the beach.
Back at the beach.
First-time hunter.
First-time hunter.
His first ever big game hunt. Congrats!
Packing out.
Packing out.
I'd go just for the halibut!
Common Eider
Common Eider
Adak Caribou's Link
Another Common Eider
Another Common Eider
Looks like the perfect father son hunt.......Hmmmmmmm
Wow this whole thread is amazing! I'm going to Adak the first week of December for a DIY caribou hunt. There are 6 of us going. By the research I've been doing, it sounds like I need to plan on hiking a ton. Does anyone have experience hunting Adak from foot in December? I also picked up an emperor goose permit just in case. I'm a resident so it didn't cost me anything, and I figured I better have it just to be safe. I am bringing a dozen blue goose socks along that I painted to look like emperors, and may bring a ghillie suit as well. I figure if I can't find the caribou then I could try finding some ducks/geese or ptarmigan.
You will be on a meat hunt since most of the bulls will be bald. The cows carry antlers much later. You could experience a lot of snow and winds that time of the year are scary.
Yes we are just hoping for some meat. Honestly we just want to see a new portion of Alaska, try our hand at finding some bou, and maybe shoot a few ptarmigans or ducks/geese if we have the opportunity. A friend of mine just got back last week and his group got 9 but had to walk pretty far for them. I'm not afraid to hike and pack for my meat. I hope the weather gives us a few decent days at least. If there is snow, that might push the bou closer to town for us. Fingers crossed, lol. I would love any input from anyone, and I will be sure to update with my results when I finish my trip.
Laura are you related to ol Willie? Good luck on Adak!
I don't think I have any Willie relatives, haha. Your name looks familiar, I think I've seen your archery bears on Tyler Freel's page. Thanks for the luck, we might need it :) I want to take my bow along but I think for my first time there I'm better off with the rifle. Meat is the objective since I had an unsuccessful moose and bear season this year.
