Alaska Caribou Outfitter recommendations

[Silas_Norris]

Im going with TOK AIR out of TOK Alaska this August. Had planned to go in September but the new quota got met the first week in september last fall so going after august is not going to work. I will report on my hunt afterwards.

 

[Smerritt84]

Wow

 

[AKBorn]

I would only update it to say that the issue is the fed then, not alaska. But, the subsistence hunters are having the larger impact by shooting cows which has proven in the limited studies to impact the population. Not the NR shooting a few bulls.

My comment about updating your research was referring to overall herd health. As evidenced by your comment about hunting the 40 Mile in August this year as opposed to September, the herd health issues are real...

 

[VernAK]

Im going with TOK AIR out of TOK Alaska this August. Had planned to go in September but the new quota got met the first week in september last fall so going after august is not going to work. I will report on my hunt afterwards.

The 40 Mile Caribou coalition meets this weekend to determine the path forward for the herd. I would not expect very many NR tags to be issued.

 

[Quandary]

I went with Alaska Arctic Adventures last September. The normal routine is transport via Wright Air Service out of Fairbanks to an airstripe north of the Brooks Range about 150ish mile south of Prudhoe Bay. From there groups of 2 are bush planed out to remote camps. When we arrived all the guides were in base camp and that is were we hunted out of as there were no Caribou in the areas of the remote camps. The hunting was via boat up or down the river, hiking, spotting, stalking. All 7 hunters in camp, including a bow hunter, took a nice Caribou. No herds, no big groups. 4 of the hunters also had Grizzly tags. I took my Caribou on the first day of hunting then spent the rest of the week Grizzly hunting. As it turned out I was successful in taking a Grizzly. One of the other hunters had a shot on a Grizzly but missed. In the event you are succesful on a Grizzly you pay an additional fee. Striker who owns the outfitting operation is out of Tok, he is a good guy.

 

[Kilboars]

Great read guys,

I'm looking at a 2027 Caribou so I'll be watching this thread and checking the guides mentioned.

Thank for all the info.

 

[Kilboars]

PS,

I'll be bow hunting as well.

Question, are you able to fly the meat back with you to the states?

 

[kwackkillncrew]

PS,

I'll be bow hunting as well.

Question, are you able to fly the meat back with you to the states?

yes

 

[CoalCountryHunter]

Not sure of everything happening with Alaskan Caribou hunting. So I can’t comment on that. In 2014, my dad and I hunted with Ovis Outfitters. I know they are still in business, and their pricing is competitive with other outfitters. They may be an outfit to look into. I’m new to Rokslide so bear with me, but I’ll try to add a photo of my caribou I harvested. I do not have a picture of my dad’s bull however his was larger in my opinion. I was 14 at the time and was physically able to do the hunt as well as my dad who was in his 50’s. In my 20’s now, and fear if I’ll ever be able to go back after reading what is happening to caribou hunting in Alaska. It was the trip of a lifetime, it was great to hunt with my dad. He was trying to get what I believe is called a “caribou slam.” He has all the species needed, except the Moutain Caribou from the Yukon but the pricing for that is nothing short of amazing to see. Not saying outfitters don’t deserve it, but it sure is expensive. I wish you good luck and hope you find an outfitter, as well as the chance to experience that hunt.