Alaska moose hunting strategy
Moose
Myself and a buddy are headed to Alaska next September on an outfitted drop moose hunt. We will be somewhere near Iliamna hunting either a lake or ridge (not sure yet). My question for those that have done this hunt before- what is your daily strategy? I’m assuming we would wake up stupid early and call from camp and then head to a higher vantage point to glass if possible. Does glassing all day make sense or should we relax back at camp until afternoon? Should we be hiking around and glassing. I’d love to hear what others have done.
Am I understanding your post right? You use the word "outfitted." Is this an unguided drop hunt? Or do you have a guide there?
Is it an outfitted and guided hunt or are you hiring a transporter to get you into the hunt area? These are rwo completely different things in Alaska. The transporter can give you zero advice on where or how to hunt but if it’s really an outfitted hunt, ask the outfitter for best strategies per Ike’s point above.
No guide but the hunt has been outfitted with all our camp gear. Probably didn’t need to add this part.
I've done two hunts where we landed on a lake and had base camp there. There was no real relief in the area and glassing was impossible due to that and the number of trees. We hunted pretty much blind.
I did another hunt where we landed on a ridge. We glassed from the ridge and didn't drop off until we saw something to go after. That was far superior for the way I like to hunt.
I'd choose a ridge if I had a choice. But we killed moose both ways.
The downside to the ridge hunt? You have to carry meet back up the hill if your pilot can't land other places.
I only ever did one hunt like this in AK. (with RIFLE) Outfitted with camp gear and grub, unguided. Dropped off on a lake, set up camp there and was told to walk a half mile away stupid early in morning to a higher spot. STAY there, sit and glass most of the day. If didn't see anything by mid afternoon head back to camp as it would be too late to pull off a stalk and take care of a bull. Did this until Day 3 when I finally spotted a good bull..
If you do have ridges or higher ground. Call from the same spot and glass. Moose can take a day or two to move a mile or two. Or they may come right in.
We have gone as far as 1.5 miles after one. Killed it. Then took days getting back to where the plane could pick it up. Then we got much more choosy for the second bull. We shot it 200 yards from water that we could get our raft to.
On that trip, after we had our two bulls down. Bulls were parading past our tent all through the day. It was a unit that allowed hunting into October so the rut was cranking. One 52” ish bull wouldn’t leave our tent area. Down wind. Us shooing him off it didn’t matter. He had heard our calls and wouldn’t leave.
Now 3 weeks prior. They acted like shy whitetails.
Hunt as much as you can. Glass as much as you can. Call from camp as soon as camp is set up (and be ready to shoot always) - moose can take days to come in. Do not go to far - unless you are sure you can pack a moose a mile or more. Always be ready and paying attention. Moose get shot from camp all the time. Even cutting wood can attract them. Especially braking branches and making noise that sounds like rubbing.
Who is your transporter? I do not care but others can see how it goes for you in Sept.
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m working with Bushwack Adventures.
Is it realistic to set a boundary of 1 mile from camp as far as meat hauling goes.
Are you calling all day long or just mornings and evenings? Any specific call that has worked better than others?
I’ll be interested to see the replies on here compared to the replies on the other site you posted on
Strategy should always involve calling even when you don’t feel like it’s working. It never works until it finally does. Don’t wander further than your physical capabilities to pack 8 heavy ass loads back to the boat/plane.
Ridge hunts with ability to glass are vastly different from low lakes in thick timbered areas for obvious reasons. You won’t be able to get specific help on gear lists or how to approach the trip without knowing which of the two you will be doing. I’ve moose hunted a lot but not very successfully so seek outside council once you’ve read this post :) lol
Strong legs and then stronger legs.
Neubauer, The dirty little secret is you can see these bulls from the air. Take note of where they are. Depending on the timing, they may not move much...or rutting they will move many miles unless they have a cow nearby.
Its critical to circle the area you are hunting by air...not only to spot bulls but to note difficult terrain features like a river thats tough to cross.
Best to cover ground by glassing....if you stink it up those bulls will sometimes leave. It's big country though....so sometimes you need to get out there and expand your area. The problem with that is packing a moose over that rough or swampy ground can be very difficult.
How good are you at calling?
How good are you at calling?
I've never moose hunted. Only elk other critters.
Do camp fires in the evenings tend to negatively impact moose coming around? I’m also wondering how we are going to dry out our gear when soaked. Was thinking maybe a propane Mr Buddy heater in the tent.
I've never moose hunted. Only elk other critters.
Do camp fires in the evenings tend to negatively impact moose coming around? I’m also wondering how we are going to dry out our gear when soaked. Was thinking maybe a propane Mr Buddy heater in the tent.
If you are good at calling...you can get them coming to the call from 2 miles away
