40 Mile Air - Repeat Customer?

[mikenelson9091]

I have Caribou hunted with BRA and have a moose trip planned in 2026. I am wanting to get back out for Caribou and really interested in going with 40 mile air. With the way they book returning clients first I was wondering if there was anyone out there who has been with them before that would be interested in going again with 2 or 3 others to make a group of 3 or 4?

I have hunted all over and very experienced. Would love to chat about a year that might work for you and would be more than willing to cover part of your trip for getting us on the books for a good set of dates.

Please PM me if this is something that would interest you and look forward to hearing from my fellow Roksliders. I love reading the Rokslide reviews and posts

 

[VernAK]

I've flown with 40MA for 30 years and they are all personal friends, but I don't know you or your friends. You may be great guys but that's just not an arrangement I'd get involved in.

 

[mikenelson9091]

I've flown with 40MA for 30 years and they are all personal friends, but I don't know you or your friends. You may be great guys but that's just not an arrangement I'd get involved in.

30 years of sticking with them reassures my research that they are a top notch operation. I fully understand their approach with allowing repeat clients first chance at dates and booking. It would be kinda cool if they had a very small set of days they reserved for new clients and put new clients in a random "draw" for those few slots to get their foot in the door with them. Without an invite it is tough for a new guy to utilize their services and make it on the list.

VernAK - I completely understand it is not something for everyone. It is no different than knocking on farmers door for permission...it is always a no until you ask...

Plenty of folks out there who like adventure and trying something new and meeting new hunting partners. With me being willing to cover part of someone's trip I would think there might be someone out there who would be interested

 

[medvedyt]

it is complicated without knowing you from the people you are asking that ... i will tell you why and you might understand or not ...
every odd year we re using the same floatplane company for almost now 14 years so 7 trip if im counting well. they re flying us like other yukoners in different locations of their own choice without having the risk to meet someone else.
few times i have been asked to share and go together with people i know but not very well and my answer has always been the same go on your own: find something that will work with and for you.

most people doing that kind of trip are not saving in taking an extra person or more they do not know.

how do you know that it will work with the people you re going with and it is valid both way?
alaska or the yukon for us is not the place to take a chance even for saving some money and being in trouble with not prepared not, having the same ethic and everything else.

i wish you good luck on your quest.

 

[AKBorn]

In my 12-15 remote Alaska hunts, the guys I did NOT know beforehand (met them via posting for an AK hunting partner here and on other hunting forums) turned out to be much more prepared than the guys I knew beforehand. I think the guys I knew figured that I had most of the planning and prep covered, and were not as dedicated in prepping their rifles, their gear, and themselves.

Mike, the one comment I will make is that hunting with three guys I just met would be a tough one for me. I always opted for two hunters only, me and one other guy. The only time I made an exception was in 2023, when I took my buddy and his son up with me. Even knowing them both beforehand, three guys in camp wasnt my favorite as it made enjoying peace and solitude more challenging.

Good luck to you, hope you find a good hunt option for you and your friends.

 

[Cormac]

I have Caribou hunted with BRA and have a moose trip planned in 2026. I am wanting to get back out for Caribou and really interested in going with 40 mile air. With the way they book returning clients first I was wondering if there was anyone out there who has been with them before that would be interested in going again with 2 or 3 others to make a group of 3 or 4?

I have hunted all over and very experienced. Would love to chat about a year that might work for you and would be more than willing to cover part of your trip for getting us on the books for a good set of dates.

Please PM me if this is something that would interest you and look forward to hearing from my fellow Roksliders. I love reading the Rokslide reviews and posts

How did 40 mile Air work out for you? I've bever used them as well so I have to wait until the second monday in Dec to call. Wondering if there's basically no chance, some chance, pretty decent? Any info you have would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[VernAK]

As a reminder. The 40MCH has been suffering a decline in recent years and management is adjusting seasons and closures by EO [emergency order] quite often. For 2025, the area hunted by 40 MA [Zone 2] will have a quota of 100 bulls. The season opens 8/11 and some folks hunt early. IMO, a bull doesn't display trophy qualities until about 9/1 when necks are white and antlers bare. Will the quota be met before your hunt is completed? Just a thought backed by experience of 30 years hunting the area and 20 years on the 40MCH Management Coalition.

 

[kwackkillncrew]

do they refund your deposit or push you to the next year if the hunt shuts down prior to some ones dates? seems like an expensive gamble. wont be long before most if not all caribou hunts are draw only.

 

[VernAK]

do they refund your deposit or push you to the next year if the hunt shuts down prior to some ones dates? seems like an expensive gamble. wont be long before most if not all caribou hunts are draw only.

Knowing the integrity of the 40MA Team as I do, I would guess they would refund but there is also a strong chance that 40MA wouldn't accept deposits for later hunts. I'll know more next week.

 

[timekiller13]

How did 40 mile Air work out for you? I've bever used them as well so I have to wait until the second monday in Dec to call. Wondering if there's basically no chance, some chance, pretty decent? Any info you have would be appreciated. Thanks

As someone who has tried for several years to get in with 40 MA, I would say your chances are nearly zero.

A couple years ago I got my entire family (10 of us total) to try calling on the 2nd Monday in December. Every person trying to get through every 5-10 seconds. Busy signal for over a hour, then finally got through. They were completely booked with a waitlist that was more than 40 miles long.

I still try every year. But I don’t know if it will ever happen.

 

[gbflyer]

I’m surprised no one has moved in on them. A FAA 135 Air taxi doesn’t need anything else but a Transporter cert from ADFG (easy) as long as they aren’t guiding or outfitting. They don’t need any special use permits from the Feds either. They do go into some technical strips and tear up a lot of airplanes but there are a lot of good pilots and still a lot of super cubs.

Edit. Isn’t Mike Busby’s son in law or nephew or whatever doing transporting? Call the Chicken Gold Camp and ask. They’re pretty helpful folks.

 

[Laramie]

Sounds like they need to double... or triple their prices.

 

[VernAK]

Sounds like they need to double... or triple their prices.

Other flight service companies have asked them to increase rates dramatically but 40MA declined and responded with modest increases to reflect current inflation and the absurd cost of aircraft and maintenance.

 

[JackButler]

Sounds like they need to double... or triple their prices.

Not every business handles things that way.

 

[ndbuck09]

yep, some folks realize the cost of new clients who can pay a double or triple price is actually more expensive and headache in the end...

 

[Whip]

I’m surprised no one has moved in on them. A FAA 135 Air taxi doesn’t need anything else but a Transporter cert from ADFG (easy) as long as they aren’t guiding or outfitting. They don’t need any special use permits from the Feds either. They do go into some technical strips and tear up a lot of airplanes but there are a lot of good pilots and still a lot of super cubs.

Another transportor moving in wouldn't change things. The problem is a limited quota on tags and seasons being shut down early when they reach the quota. Put more people in the field and it will simply get shut down sooner, leaving even more people high and dry.

 

[gbflyer]

Another transportor moving in wouldn't change things. The problem is a limited quota on tags and seasons being shut down early when they reach the quota. Put more people in the field and it will simply get shut down sooner, leaving even more people high and dry.

Makes sense.

 

[VernAK]

Makes sense.

A new transporter would need a fuel source as currently 40MA is the avgas source in Tok. Then the new transporter would have to spend several months locating and building landing strips as 40MA has been doing since the 50s. Good Cub pilots are scarce, and mechanics are scarce also.

Wildlife surveys are being conducted now for the next month or so and if the results are as dismal as I think they are, Eastern Alaska will be a poor place to invest in the transporter business.