Mzietz88
FNG
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2025
- Messages
- 1
New member here, first post. I wanted to share my recent experience with Arrowhead Outfitters LLC as objectively and informatively as possible. I just returned from a 10-day fly-in hunt where we used Arrowhead primarily as a “taxi service.”
First off, I want to say the entire crew seemed like great people. The new owner, Steve—a North Dakota guy—came across as genuine and hardworking, clearly trying to find his footing with the business.
Now, onto the meat and potatoes of my experience. During orientation, we received some useful information, but also what I feel was some misleading guidance, especially regarding “relocation services.” We had done a lot of preparation—researching migration patterns, terrain, hunting style, and the caliber of animals we could expect. I fully understand that this type of hunt is often a waiting game. However, during orientation the idea of relocating was almost discouraged. We were told things like, “Often we’ll relocate someone and the next day a good bull gets taken on the lake they just left.” While I get that this can happen, in hindsight it felt more like a pep talk to steer clients away from relocation, perhaps as a cost-saving measure.
We were flown in on August 10th, east of Arrowhead headquarters off the Dalton Highway, about 15–20 miles out. After several days of seeing almost no animals, it was clear we weren’t in the migration path. Relocating wasn’t really on the table—we were already a day behind due to travel issues, and weather added more complications.
On day six, one of the crew checked in via InReach. I let him know we’d taken a wolf but weren’t seeing caribou. Instead of suggesting relocation, the response was mostly encouragement to “keep grinding.” We pushed hard—logging over 40 miles on foot across nine hunting days (plus two weather days)—but never saw much for caribou. Another group that was flown even farther east never laid eyes on a bull the entire hunt.
Afterward, we spoke with a biologist, several locals, and a couple taxidermists. Every one of them questioned why we were placed east of the highway when the migration was concentrated to the west. When I shared this with an Arrowhead employee, they admitted they didn’t understand the decision either. The pilots later told us they don’t track caribou at all—they just drop hunters on preset lakes.
Looking back, and considering the cost of a hunt like this, I wish we had been more vocal about both the migration reports and our expectations before being flown out.
In the end, while the trip itself was still a great experience, the outcome didn’t line up with what we expected—especially given Arrowhead’s advertised 90% success rate. From the harvest board we saw, success looked closer to under 50% this year (though it may simply be a tough season).
Final take: Arrowhead is still a solid outfit run by good people, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. But if you go, I strongly suggest doing your own research with biologists, tracking migration reports, and being very clear with Arrowhead about where you want to be dropped. We may have just drawn the short straw this year.
First off, I want to say the entire crew seemed like great people. The new owner, Steve—a North Dakota guy—came across as genuine and hardworking, clearly trying to find his footing with the business.
Now, onto the meat and potatoes of my experience. During orientation, we received some useful information, but also what I feel was some misleading guidance, especially regarding “relocation services.” We had done a lot of preparation—researching migration patterns, terrain, hunting style, and the caliber of animals we could expect. I fully understand that this type of hunt is often a waiting game. However, during orientation the idea of relocating was almost discouraged. We were told things like, “Often we’ll relocate someone and the next day a good bull gets taken on the lake they just left.” While I get that this can happen, in hindsight it felt more like a pep talk to steer clients away from relocation, perhaps as a cost-saving measure.
We were flown in on August 10th, east of Arrowhead headquarters off the Dalton Highway, about 15–20 miles out. After several days of seeing almost no animals, it was clear we weren’t in the migration path. Relocating wasn’t really on the table—we were already a day behind due to travel issues, and weather added more complications.
On day six, one of the crew checked in via InReach. I let him know we’d taken a wolf but weren’t seeing caribou. Instead of suggesting relocation, the response was mostly encouragement to “keep grinding.” We pushed hard—logging over 40 miles on foot across nine hunting days (plus two weather days)—but never saw much for caribou. Another group that was flown even farther east never laid eyes on a bull the entire hunt.
Afterward, we spoke with a biologist, several locals, and a couple taxidermists. Every one of them questioned why we were placed east of the highway when the migration was concentrated to the west. When I shared this with an Arrowhead employee, they admitted they didn’t understand the decision either. The pilots later told us they don’t track caribou at all—they just drop hunters on preset lakes.
Looking back, and considering the cost of a hunt like this, I wish we had been more vocal about both the migration reports and our expectations before being flown out.
In the end, while the trip itself was still a great experience, the outcome didn’t line up with what we expected—especially given Arrowhead’s advertised 90% success rate. From the harvest board we saw, success looked closer to under 50% this year (though it may simply be a tough season).
Final take: Arrowhead is still a solid outfit run by good people, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. But if you go, I strongly suggest doing your own research with biologists, tracking migration reports, and being very clear with Arrowhead about where you want to be dropped. We may have just drawn the short straw this year.
