Chest waders on Unit 23 or 26a AK Caribou Hunt?

[Verne’s Ventures]

I own some good quality Simms chest waders and boots. Total weight (when dry) for the boots and waders is a little over 5 pounds. Weight won’t be a huge deal as we are taking a Beaver in to the field. For those of you that have been Caribou hunting off the west side of the Brooks Range, unit 26a and or 23, are the waders needed or a nice bonus? Or would they sit in the tent taking up space..?

 

[Larry Bartlett]

Depends on your drop location. Some of those spots are alongside rivers and occasionally you'll want to cross a stream channel that requires waders.

If you're on the tundra somewhere you can usually get by without chest waders.

 

[Verne’s Ventures]

Thanks for the input Larry. It sounds like we’ll be dropped on a lake pretty near a good size river. I don’t have a raft of any sort so I’m kind of hoping the waders will open up country on the other side of the river, assuming it’s safely wadable. I’m leaning towards bring them.

 

[Larry Bartlett]

Yes sir, they will help if you're going to the Howard Pass region fo sho.

 

[Verne’s Ventures]

Awesome good to know! We will be right around there.