This is a write up of my first Alaskan caribou drop camp experience in September of 2024. I booked this hunt with Arctic Air in early 2021 for 2023. I was not a Rokslider at the time and no one in my circle had ever done this kind of hunt, so I used a booking agent’s recommendation to book with Arctic Air. When AA was taken over by Unguided Alaska in 2023, my group of 4 bumped to 2024 by our choice due to some schedule issues one of the group had. Gary was very accommodating to bump us out a year, as it sounded like they were overbooked trying to make up 2022 cancelations as well as a full 2023 schedule.
I found Rokslide about that time as we were uncertain about the viability of this hunt. There is a wealth of information all the members bring to the table. I read countless threads on not only hunt reviews, but also gear lists…more on gear later. Several members offered information via PM followed by phone calls, shout out to: Zig4648, blakees307 and kgk_kcc for time on the phone with me over this past year.
When we paid the balance of our transporter flights/camp rental and fuel surcharge, our 4th backed out. Down to 3. I had already been working on spreadsheets to make weight, and struggling. I talked with Gary about additional gear flight, but did not feel comfortable with the answers. In spite of repeated cautions on Rokslide about overpacking…I could not help myself for this first hunt in AK. So, I paid the balance of the 4th guy in an amended contract, giving our group his weight. Yes…I over packed.
Hunt dates were September 6-13, 2024, originally booked for Kotzubue. That changed with a phone call from Russ on Aug 23, 2 weeks prior to go time. Changed location to Fairbanks, so rebooked flights and hotels. The word we got was flooding and rain had negatively impacted their flying and camp drop locations, and a change to Fairbanks would be a positive change.
We almost pulled the plug after speaking with Zig4648 and his experience with Arctic Air / Unguided Alaska 2, as he was one of the first groups to move to Fairbanks 2 weeks before me. That conversation was September 2nd. After discussion with my group, we decided to roll the dice on an expensive Alaskan camping trip and go, “can’t shoot one from your living room”.
W flew Alaska Airline into Fairbanks on Sept 5th, picked up a few last-minute supplies. We knew we would be picked up the morning of the 6th from our hotel, but no definite time. Texting Gary at 7:30AM morning of the 6th, got a 9AM pick up time response and the driver picked us up on time. Headed to a small hanger in Fairbanks, issued camp gear package and our gear weighed. I took my contract with me, as no one on site was aware I had booked extra weight. Multiple questions about weight…it got old, but we got through it. Met 2 other moose hunters, not booked with AA/UG but flying with same air taxi service. Then another group of 4 arrived who were with AA/UG.
Multiple changes in about 1.5 hours about who/how/where we were going. Ultimately my group of 3 plus the other group of 4 loaded up into a van and drove 4 hours to Circle, AK. Remote airstrip where AA/UG hands us off to the air taxi service. Unload and wait, unsure if we would have to overnight in Circle or if we would make it out. The group of 4 made it out before us on 2 flights. We loaded up about 2 hours later for a flight into Arctic Village. Another wait for my group, along with 2 from the other group. Information from the pilots was sketchy, it sounded like they were literally trying to figure out where to put camps. Pilots were all good, and would communicate what they could, but their plans changed quickly multiple time through the day. One camp had killed out early but wanted to stay their full 6 days. One camp needed a float plane, one pilot would not land on one of the camps…but it was not a lack of effort. They were trying, but overbooked schedules with the AA/UA change had guys stacking up with their normal workload. Several of the planes and pilots worked for AA/UA in Kotzebue, and made the move to Fairbanks. Same air taxi service at both Fairbanks and Kotzebue, TOGO Air. I got the sense the pilots and planes were overwhelmed with the change.
I found Rokslide about that time as we were uncertain about the viability of this hunt. There is a wealth of information all the members bring to the table. I read countless threads on not only hunt reviews, but also gear lists…more on gear later. Several members offered information via PM followed by phone calls, shout out to: Zig4648, blakees307 and kgk_kcc for time on the phone with me over this past year.
When we paid the balance of our transporter flights/camp rental and fuel surcharge, our 4th backed out. Down to 3. I had already been working on spreadsheets to make weight, and struggling. I talked with Gary about additional gear flight, but did not feel comfortable with the answers. In spite of repeated cautions on Rokslide about overpacking…I could not help myself for this first hunt in AK. So, I paid the balance of the 4th guy in an amended contract, giving our group his weight. Yes…I over packed.
Hunt dates were September 6-13, 2024, originally booked for Kotzubue. That changed with a phone call from Russ on Aug 23, 2 weeks prior to go time. Changed location to Fairbanks, so rebooked flights and hotels. The word we got was flooding and rain had negatively impacted their flying and camp drop locations, and a change to Fairbanks would be a positive change.
We almost pulled the plug after speaking with Zig4648 and his experience with Arctic Air / Unguided Alaska 2, as he was one of the first groups to move to Fairbanks 2 weeks before me. That conversation was September 2nd. After discussion with my group, we decided to roll the dice on an expensive Alaskan camping trip and go, “can’t shoot one from your living room”.
W flew Alaska Airline into Fairbanks on Sept 5th, picked up a few last-minute supplies. We knew we would be picked up the morning of the 6th from our hotel, but no definite time. Texting Gary at 7:30AM morning of the 6th, got a 9AM pick up time response and the driver picked us up on time. Headed to a small hanger in Fairbanks, issued camp gear package and our gear weighed. I took my contract with me, as no one on site was aware I had booked extra weight. Multiple questions about weight…it got old, but we got through it. Met 2 other moose hunters, not booked with AA/UG but flying with same air taxi service. Then another group of 4 arrived who were with AA/UG.
Multiple changes in about 1.5 hours about who/how/where we were going. Ultimately my group of 3 plus the other group of 4 loaded up into a van and drove 4 hours to Circle, AK. Remote airstrip where AA/UG hands us off to the air taxi service. Unload and wait, unsure if we would have to overnight in Circle or if we would make it out. The group of 4 made it out before us on 2 flights. We loaded up about 2 hours later for a flight into Arctic Village. Another wait for my group, along with 2 from the other group. Information from the pilots was sketchy, it sounded like they were literally trying to figure out where to put camps. Pilots were all good, and would communicate what they could, but their plans changed quickly multiple time through the day. One camp had killed out early but wanted to stay their full 6 days. One camp needed a float plane, one pilot would not land on one of the camps…but it was not a lack of effort. They were trying, but overbooked schedules with the AA/UA change had guys stacking up with their normal workload. Several of the planes and pilots worked for AA/UA in Kotzebue, and made the move to Fairbanks. Same air taxi service at both Fairbanks and Kotzebue, TOGO Air. I got the sense the pilots and planes were overwhelmed with the change.
