AK Moose/Caribou Planning and Gear Lessons Learned

[Slugz]

Moose Wellington and black truffle potatoes

 

[roymunson]

View attachment 636888
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Moose Wellington and black truffle potatoes

Dude... calm down! That creation is something else...

 

[Robinhood21]

@Slugz well done Sir!

 

[adamkolesar]

That is next level game cookery!!!

 

[Kyle C]

Has anyone taken a dome style 4 season tent and added a stove jack with a zippered floor? Would run the same titanium stove i run in the TP. I've read about it a few posts. Similar to the Alaskan guide model. I have the old cabelas extreme that I could do it in, but fitting a 88lb tent in a plane is troublesome. Other tent recommendations to try it in...

 

[EmbraceTheSuck]

I like your plan, I am on a similar schedule. No AK trip this year but I'll be back next year.

I know caribou aren't moose, but we used the Adventure Medical 2 person space blanket from my emergency kit for a meat tarp on the caribou trip. I washed it in a pool along the river and dried it overnight at camp. I bet your silpoly would hold up. That blanket is not sturdy at all and it did the job.

I got a Onetigris 10x13 tarp (actual dimensions about 9.5'x12.8') to put over our meat on our last AK trip. It's pretty light and inexpensive for it's size. It held up on Kodiak tucked back in the brush a bit. I've made the mistake of taking to small a tarp to get all our meat spread out under on one trip. We got lucky and had good temps, no meat spoilage but I prefer a tarp that should be bigger than I need now.

I still like my Seek DST best for glassing under. We figure 1 DST for every 2 hunters. I can get by with a smaller tarp if I'll hunt by myself, but the DST has held up well to a lot of use, sets up easy, and seems to be a good blend of visibility and protection. Going to my Sheep Tarp in a blowing rain I missed the DST, I lost some visibility to get the protection I wanted compared to the DST. I bought a Hyperlite 8.5' DCF square tarp I have been taking in the lower 48, but I'm not sure I trust it as much as the DST for AK weather.

I brought the Seek DST on our Aug-Sep caribou hunt in the Brooks Range. It held up very well and kept us out of the rain in camp. Definitely recommend it. Waders and wadding boots are another must for that area, I wore them the entire time. we were just off the Ivashak river. The whole area was wet, swampy, with deep streams and wide streams. Even the mountain slopes were wet. My buddy’s crocks didn’t hold up and rubbed a hole in his waders. Treckking poles also great to have. Brought spices, olive oil, potatoes, and onions. Amazing to have with the fresh caribou and a great break from the mountain house meals. Bring an extra spork or spoon. Definitely bring an inReach and good rain gear!

 

[EmbraceTheSuck]

150 lb is a lot. I would take one.

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Agree, but make sure there is wood available. There was no wood where we were off the Ivashak river in the Brooks range, except what we could scrounge from the river, which was not much. A stove will help you dry out boots and clothes.

 

[mcseal2]

Congrats Slugz, I was way late getting caught up on your adventure. You made a great plan and it all came together. That's a great feeling!

 

[Slugz]

Congrats Slugz, I was way late getting caught up on your adventure. You made a great plan and it all came together. That's a great feeling!

Thanks.
And thanks again for the help putting it all together

 

[mcseal2]

Glad I could help a little. I have to share your adventures the years I stay home from Alaska and save up for another trip.

 

[coyote_out]

Thanks for sharing. Fun thread to read!

 

[birwin]

I'm headed up to my Alaska moose hunt 9/5/2024. Thanks to many people on this forum, I'm feeling pretty good about my gear, food and flight arrangements. We're using an outfitter for a drop hunt. They provide a boat and motor and the location they're dropping us in. Is it customary, in this situation to tip the outfitter, pilot(s), etc.? I appreciate your feedback.

 

[medvedyt]

I'm headed up to my Alaska moose hunt 9/5/2024. Thanks to many people on this forum, I'm feeling pretty good about my gear, food and flight arrangements. We're using an outfitter for a drop hunt. They provide a boat and motor and the location they're dropping us in. Is it customary, in this situation to tip the outfitter, pilot(s), etc.? I appreciate your feedback.

i will say is personal and should be granted only if the service is what you are expecting and above but i ve seen hunters tipping even when you were hauling their gears from the floatplane to the camp when they arrived ...

 

[AKDoc]

I'm headed up to my Alaska moose hunt 9/5/2024. Thanks to many people on this forum, I'm feeling pretty good about my gear, food and flight arrangements. We're using an outfitter for a drop hunt. They provide a boat and motor and the location they're dropping us in. Is it customary, in this situation to tip the outfitter, pilot(s), etc.? I appreciate your feedback.

I offered to tip my transporter (the owner of the company) the first year we used him, but he declined and said to give it to his staff. I'm not sure if he is representative of the industry as a whole.

I always tip my pilot(s) the most...my son is a pilot and I know his salary path to becoming a chief pilot. The onsite manager is next in line. I also tip the hard workers in the hangar that are truly helpful to us and genuinely friendly...some I pass.

 

[VernAK]

I don't tip my pilot, but I really like his young son, and I keep him supplied with ammo. The office manager gal doesn't get to hunt much so I make sure she gets plenty of game and fish for her freezer.

 

[AKDoc]

I don't tip my pilot, but I really like his young son, and I keep him supplied with ammo. The office manager gal doesn't get to hunt much so I make sure she gets plenty of game and fish for her freezer.

Well done, Vern. I have no doubt that they each appreciate you greatly.

 

[birwin]

Very happy to report that I was able to harvest a nice bull in Alaska. Thanks to all who gave their very helpful input. Without the information in this forum, I don't think I would've been as prepared. Got this bull on day 8, and ended up being in the bush for 18 days, rather than 10 due top inclement weather. There were definitely some great takeaways and I'm looking forward to my next Alaska hunt. Cheers!

 

[Slugz]

Very happy to report that I was able to harvest a nice bull in Alaska. Thanks to all who gave their very helpful input. Without the information in this forum, I don't think I would've been as prepared. Got this bull on day 8, and ended up being in the bush for 18 days, rather than 10 due top inclement weather. There were definitely some great takeaways and I'm looking forward to my next Alaska hunt. Cheers!View attachment 780608

Awesome and great to hear!

 

[Garrett Soper]

This is awesome! Love the thread and all the info. Buddies and I are planning a moose hunt 3-5 years out and caribou 2 years. Have fished Alaska every other year for 6 years now.