First time AK Moose Hunt

[Uncmikel]

I'm looking to do a moose hunt when I turn 50 in 2.5 years and need help.

I'm an adult onset hunter and have killed several elk with a rifle (guided) and have taken my bow for a walk in the woods several times. I just started hunting 4 years ago and am far from capable of doing anything self guided, especially in AK.

I know I want guided and I know I want a large bull (50"+ spread), but I'm open to most of the rest. I'm just getting into archery hunting and loving it, but yet to kill anything. I'm open to archery or rifle though. My concern with archery is that I want high odds, but I love the idea of being in so close with a monster. I'd like to tack on a caribou too if the opportunity presents itself.

Float hunts sound cool, as does a canvas camp hunt. I definitely want adventure and understand that may come with a heaping helping of suck. I'm in good shape and willing to work, especially since at 50, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to do it. I don't need or want first class accomodations, just good dudes and a good experience.

I don't really have a budget, just as long as it's fully guided and a great experience. I'd prefer to not be in a lodge though.

Questions:
-Rifle or compound bow?
-Float hunt or canvas tent camp?
-Who is a good guide to use? Personal experience only please. Not reputation.

TIA

 

[Larry Bartlett]

Your first hunt, can you afford two? Most bow hunters fail their first (or 2nd and 3rd) experience. If your goal is to be successful, choose the weapon that will provide that op on hunt 1.

Float vs drop camp. Preference and experience will guide your decision. Floats have more drama and setbacks to deal with, so that should factor in. If it's experience you seek as much as the harvest, floats are better than drops but only for those who want that kind of hardship. Labor is real here.

Guides should be chosen for your personality as much as affordability. Once you choose your style, the which guide question will become clearer and easier to make.

 

[Uncmikel]

Your first hunt, can you afford two? Most bow hunters fail their first (or 2nd and 3rd) experience. If your goal is to be successful, choose the weapon that will provide that op on hunt 1.

Float vs drop camp. Preference and experience will guide your decision. Floats have more drama and setbacks to deal with, so that should factor in. If it's experience you seek as much as the harvest, floats are better than drops but only for those who want that kind of hardship. Labor is real here.

Guides should be chosen for your personality as much as affordability. Once you choose your style, the which guide question will become clearer and easier to make.

Appreciated.
I can do multiple hunts in AK, it’s just getting the hall pass from the wife and young kids. As long as I’m healthy, I’ll likely go up there every 2-3 years if it’s what I expect it to be.

To clarify, I’ll be guided archery elk hunting next year and likely the one after that. So I should have at least 2 archery elk hunts prior and 4-6 archery deer hunts prior to that. Hopefully I’ll have a bloody arrow before I go to AK.

I totally agree that personality is a factor for guides, but experience, location, knowledge, and many other factors come into play with guides. There are currently too many options and I want to narrow it down to a handful to interview.

 

[Dragonfish]

I'm looking to do a moose hunt when I turn 50 in 2.5 years and need help.

I'm an adult onset hunter and have killed several elk with a rifle (guided) and have taken my bow for a walk in the woods several times. I just started hunting 4 years ago and am far from capable of doing anything self guided, especially in AK.

I know I want guided and I know I want a large bull (50"+ spread), but I'm open to most of the rest. I'm just getting into archery hunting and loving it, but yet to kill anything. I'm open to archery or rifle though. My concern with archery is that I want high odds, but I love the idea of being in so close with a monster. I'd like to tack on a caribou too if the opportunity presents itself.

Float hunts sound cool, as does a canvas camp hunt. I definitely want adventure and understand that may come with a heaping helping of suck. I'm in good shape and willing to work, especially since at 50, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to do it. I don't need or want first class accomodations, just good dudes and a good experience.

I don't really have a budget, just as long as it's fully guided and a great experience. I'd prefer to not be in a lodge though.

Questions:
-Rifle or compound bow?
-Float hunt or canvas tent camp?
-Who is a good guide to use? Personal experience only please. Not reputation.

TIA

just went on my first moose and caribou hunt in Alaska this year. Was successful on both with a rifle. Went with Litzen Guide Service. Great guides, fantastic experience- Alaska Range on the border of Denali - pm if you want to discuss.

 

[AKDoc]

LB gave some excellent feedback for you...and he speaks from a great depth of experience. For the past dozen years I've used a hunt transporter, but I've never done a guided hunt up here...so I have no personally experienced guide recommendations for you...sorry.

You may have already done this, but as a supportive suggestion...spend time thinking about what you truly want/hope this hunting adventure/experience to be for you. Years from now, when you look at the moose rack on your wall (or one is not there)...what do you want the memories to be? Again, you may have already done all of this, but get solid clarity of exactly what you are seeking to experience in your Alaska hunting adventure...and then that becomes your compass headings when traversing and sorting through the landscape of speaking with potential guiding services.

Alaska is such a wonderfully huge and widely varied landscape to experience. That said, it's the landscape of the Alaskan-Yukon moose that you might want to know as you sort through your guiding options because some regions of our state have much greater moose densities than others. Your best resource for current moose densities across the state is the ADFG. Each GMU has an assigned biologist. He/she has the current density numbers, and I've always found them to be helpful. There are also harvest statistics that you can review and compare across GMU's as well.

As hunters, we may differ in what we seek in a hunt...and that's ok. I'll close with a personal example of the above comments...I love being in the remote solitude of the animal I'm hunting...I don't want to see another hunter whatsoever once I'm in the field...I want to know that the moose densities around me are high...I want to sleep in a tent and hear the sounds of moose at night...I love the thrill of calling bulls close to me, regardless of size or whether I take him or not (a huge bull is a bonus for me and I've been fortunate)...and I love bringing home excellent meat for family and sharing with friends. Those factors are the essence of what I seek in the hunt, but that's just me...and if I were looking for a guide, those variables would be my compass headings.

The very best to you in your future Alaska hunting adventure. Even after forty-years living here, I still look forward to every moose season.

 

[Uncmikel]

LB gave some excellent feedback for you...and he speaks from a great depth of experience. For the past dozen years I've used a hunt transporter, but I've never done a guided hunt up here...so I have no personally experienced guide recommendations for you...sorry.

You may have already done this, but as a supportive suggestion...spend time thinking about what you truly want/hope this hunting adventure/experience to be for you. Years from now, when you look at the moose rack on your wall (or one is not there)...what do you want the memories to be? Again, you may have already done all of this, but get solid clarity of exactly what you are seeking to experience in your Alaska hunting adventure...and then that becomes your compass headings when traversing and sorting through the landscape of speaking with potential guiding services.

Alaska is such a wonderfully huge and widely varied landscape to experience. That said, it's the landscape of the Alaskan-Yukon moose that you might want to know as you sort through your guiding options because some regions of our state have much greater moose densities than others. Your best resource for current moose densities across the state is the ADFG. Each GMU has an assigned biologist. He/she has the current density numbers, and I've always found them to be helpful. There are also harvest statistics that you can review and compare across GMU's as well.

As hunters, we may differ in what we seek in a hunt...and that's ok. I'll close with a personal example of the above comments...I love being in the remote solitude of the animal I'm hunting...I don't want to see another hunter whatsoever once I'm in the field...I want to know that the moose densities around me are high...I want to sleep in a tent and hear the sounds of moose at night...I love the thrill of calling bulls close to me, regardless of size or whether I take him or not (a huge bull is a bonus for me and I've been fortunate)...and I love bringing home excellent meat for family and sharing with friends. Those factors are the essence of what I seek in the hunt, but that's just me...and if I were looking for a guide, those variables would be my compass headings.

The very best to you in your future Alaska hunting adventure. Even after forty-years living here, I still look forward to every moose season.

You sound like you want the same thing I want in a hunt. I'm not too concerned about food quality, or being comfortable and pampered. I want to be in their world, away from everyone. When I hunt Muleys I hike as far from other hunters as I can. I'm ok with not HUGE, but I understand some areas require 50" spread so I think I want one of those areas. I'd love to call a bull close to me, but think I should probably get more archery time under my belt before stepping it up with a moose in AK.
It's hard to know what I want without doing it a few times. And I think getting my feet wet is a good way to know what I want for the next time.
After thinking about it and chatting with a few people on here, I think I'll want rifle tent camping for my first AK hunt. I can always ramp the adventure up to a float hunt for my next time out.
For me, the adventure is doing something extremely hard and learning. I'm sure no matter what my experience is, I'll experience both of those.

 

[Dragonfish]

LB gave some excellent feedback for you...and he speaks from a great depth of experience. For the past dozen years I've used a hunt transporter, but I've never done a guided hunt up here...so I have no personally experienced guide recommendations for you...sorry.

You may have already done this, but as a supportive suggestion...spend time thinking about what you truly want/hope this hunting adventure/experience to be for you. Years from now, when you look at the moose rack on your wall (or one is not there)...what do you want the memories to be? Again, you may have already done all of this, but get solid clarity of exactly what you are seeking to experience in your Alaska hunting adventure...and then that becomes your compass headings when traversing and sorting through the landscape of speaking with potential guiding services.

Alaska is such a wonderfully huge and widely varied landscape to experience. That said, it's the landscape of the Alaskan-Yukon moose that you might want to know as you sort through your guiding options because some regions of our state have much greater moose densities than others. Your best resource for current moose densities across the state is the ADFG. Each GMU has an assigned biologist. He/she has the current density numbers, and I've always found them to be helpful. There are also harvest statistics that you can review and compare across GMU's as well.

As hunters, we may differ in what we seek in a hunt...and that's ok. I'll close with a personal example of the above comments...I love being in the remote solitude of the animal I'm hunting...I don't want to see another hunter whatsoever once I'm in the field...I want to know that the moose densities around me are high...I want to sleep in a tent and hear the sounds of moose at night...I love the thrill of calling bulls close to me, regardless of size or whether I take him or not (a huge bull is a bonus for me and I've been fortunate)...and I love bringing home excellent meat for family and sharing with friends. Those factors are the essence of what I seek in the hunt, but that's just me...and if I were looking for a guide, those variables would be my compass headings.

The very best to you in your future Alaska hunting adventure. Even after forty-years living here, I still look forward to every moose season.

yes, you are blessed- I'll be back in Alaska every year until I can't. coming up on 57, so the clock is ticking! Sheep next year (and before anyone responds with the decline in numbers and too many people chasing them - i don't care- if i get one great, if not that's great too!)