From my limited experience, there isn’t a hunt is AK you could assign the word typical to. Talk to 50 different AK moose hunters and you have 50 vastly different experiences. There are so many variations of geology, hydrology, vegetation, population density, and weather across the state that every hunt in every part of the state is different. Simply add into that varying knowledge levels of moose behavior and calling as well as the fact that everyone carries around a cloud with varying amounts of luck. Even guys that hunt the same spot every year can report significant variations in each experience. But if you make the phone calls and go to the far reaches of the internet for the real hot tips, you typically get the type of trip you plan for.
I’ve had mtn lake hunts where we could see 1-2 miles in all directions and glassed “legal” bulls every day. Our success was completely dependent on how much distance and alder BS we were willing to tolerate. Also had river hunts where we found fresh rut sign and just stake it out on a bluff - extremely boring but they always come back through within a few days. And as of recently, I’ve been hunting an area with flat willow swamps you can’t see more than 100 yards and a bull seems to walk into camp within 45 minutes of hearing your morning fart.
I don’t know if it’s people just trying to sound bad ass on the internet or if it’s that everyone has watched too many Donnie V films and thinks they need to prove something, but AK isn’t nearly as challenging or complicated as people like to make themselves believe. It’s almost sad to think how many people have been turned away from a hunt because they spend too much time on the internet. With above average woodsmanship and grit, just get your mind right and a moose hunt is really pretty basic. AK certainly has it’s unique challenges, but I definitely wouldn’t say it’s more for someone younger or hell bent on adrenaline. Again, the trip is whatever you make it. You can do the 50lb weight limit and pack raft float if you want. On the other end of the spectrum, moose has become my annual relaxation trip. Give me an Arctic Oven, a 10lb propane tank, a cooler full of food, and a couple cases of beer. We call bulls to the lake or tent.
AK has several options both OTC and draw for NR hunters to hunt an any bull tag. I know one of them areas has outfitters with 100% hunter success rates the last few years. Most of the bulls they take are in that “legal” range. Several outfits hanging around 100% group success rates. I’d talk to about 20 different outfits before even starting to narrow things down.
The state is huge and I’ve seen trophy bulls from the rainforests to the northernmost arctic valleys and countless locations in between. Don’t let people tell you what to expect on an AK moose hunt; no one can answer that. I’ve only done a handful of AK moose hunts, each one very different. But each hunt provided the opportunity for at least a couple “legal” bulls; and take that as nothing more than my personal experience and not an expectation.
