CARIBOU or BLACKTAIL in Alaska

[Ironmerganser]

My friends and I are debating on doing either a Caribou or Blacktail hunt in Alaska in 2016. We want to do a DIY. It will be everyones first trip to Alaska so wondering what peoples opinions were one way or the other.

Thoughts?

 

[williamson88]

Haven't hunted there yet but gonna do a caribou on the haul this August blacktail is on my list but flight cost to get to them kinda have me putting it to the side

 

[tipsntails7]

For me it's an easy call, while I've never hunted sitka blacktails, I've got a few blackies on the wall, I'd go caribou all the way. There is just something awesome about them. Not much says alaska more then a big old bou.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Why not do both? The south end of Kodiak has both. Decent caribou/reindeer and excellent blacktail hunting.

 

[ericfamilee]

Black tail are cool, but there are several other deer species you can hunt in the lower 48. There is nothing like a 'bou anywhere in the lower 48. Very unique and exotic.

 

[realunlucky]

Caribou are iconic for representing the far north. I'd also like to try blacktail in a couple years myself but I'm going after bou first incase I never get up there.

 

[TEmbry]

I go back and forth on which hunt I enjoyed more. Blacktail was probably easier (we ended up killing 6 P&Y quality bucks), but a Caribou is a far cooler trophy. I'm not sure which one I'd do first, but I absolutely recommend both at some point.

 

[Ironmerganser]

Thanks guys. As much as I want to do a 'Bou hunt, the guys that want to go with me aren't quite "there" yet. I think we are going to do the Blacktail hunt next year and then I am going to have to figure out a way to get up for the 'bou later.

 

[Bighorse]

Bou puts you in the far northern reaches of AK. Blacktail as a rule puts you in coastal environs. With BT you can get multiple tags and the hunt will play out very differerent. Bou yields much meat! BT not as much yet still delicious and plentiful. BT are more plentiful yet finding a large specimen can prove challenging. I've done both hunts and each has it's unique pleasure and value. At the core I'm a BT hunter. I enjoy roaming the rainforest and trying to out posistion a mature old Sitka Buck.

 

[luke moffat]

Blacktail far and away taste better than caribou as well IMO. That coupled with you can shoot 3-4 animals vs. 1-2 caribou makes them cheaper for animal/$

 

[Ironmerganser]

Yeah...we have pretty much decided it if going to be a BT hunt. Now......where to go?!?!??! POW or Kodiak? And if so, do we stay out of a lodge or camp it?