Haul road sept 19-25th.

[wyosam]

*primarily a question for AK residents since this is after NR season closes*

This is the time off I have to hunt this fall, and I’m debating dropping a moose hunt that I don’t currently have a partner for and instead spending that time on the haul road for caribou. Chances of meat in the freezer are much higher. I’ve been shooting my bow more since I was planning on an early spring trip up there. I can ramp my bow time up and be good to go by the 19th.

Question is has anyone hunted it during that time period? I know it’s getting close to rutty bulls, but if there is much rut behavior I can target young bulls or cows. I know it’s always a crap shoot on where they’ll be, but it seems like they should be around somewhere. Anyone free those dates and want to split fuel? I’m in Los Anchorage.


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[AK/ID]

Interested as well

 

[wyosam]

I’m pretty firm on this plan. Might try to get out of town a day or two earlier. Hate to drive that far and not have enough time to feel like I gave it everything. Would be nice to hear more about the second half of the month though.


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[AK/ID]

It would be great to hear from someone who’s done it during that time. Unfortunately, seems like most people only have experience in August/early September.

 

[GLB]

That time of year the weather can get very wintery. It also could be hot. If the herd is there you could have some good opportunities. If not it will be a lonely place. I have been there when the herd came through and it looked like the mountains were moving. I also have been there when it was nothing.

I have hunted there in August, September, and October. August has always been the best for me. October has been the absolute worst because of weather.

I’ll add that if there is one place that is unpredictable, it is the North Slope. For weather and animals.

 

[wyosam]

That time of year the weather can get very wintery. It also could be hot. If the herd is there you could have some good opportunities. If not it will be a lonely place. I have been there when the herd came through and it looked like the mountains were moving. I also have been there when it was nothing.

I have hunted there in August, September, and October. August has always been the best for me. October has been the absolute worst because of weather.

I’ll add that if there is one place that is unpredictable, it is the North Slope. For weather and animals.

I’m hoping for cold and snow (though hopefully not to the point of spending a week tent bound. One of the things I don’t like about AK is much of the hunting “feels” too early. I spent 30 years preferring to kill elk in late November instead of beautiful September and early October days. Those are beautiful days to spend in the mountains, but I like cold and snow for filling the freezer. Wyoming isn’t the north slope, but I’ve killed enough elk in the 15-20 below range that I feel like I know what I’m getting into from that perspective. My original plan for this hunt was mid march, which I may still do depending on how this one goes.


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[GLB]

I’m hoping for cold and snow (though hopefully not to the point of spending a week tent bound. One of the things I don’t like about AK is much of the hunting “feels” too early. I spent 30 years preferring to kill elk in late November instead of beautiful September and early October days. Those are beautiful days to spend in the mountains, but I like cold and snow for filling the freezer. Wyoming isn’t the north slope, but I’ve killed enough elk in the 15-20 below range that I feel like I know what I’m getting into from that perspective. My original plan for this hunt was mid march, which I may still do depending on how this one goes.


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I would rather have it cold than hot. Never wanted snow while I was up there. Unlike Kodiak I do want snow. The North Slope is a place that you will never know unless you go. That’s why I have gone many times, some successful many not. Best of luck to you!

 

[Larry Bartlett]

Guys I'd take great caution headed North after the Sept 7th. You should be prepared for harsh winter conditions that late. Snow falls sideways and blows hard in blinding whiteouts. I've seen it drop to single digits with high winds and bitter cold moisture that time of year. Especially with these El Nino weather patterns the past 2 fall seasons. If my buddies were going then, I'd opt out 100%.

 

[Alaska 4x4 Rentals]

Guys I'd take great caution headed North after the Sept 7th. You should be prepared for harsh winter conditions that late. Snow falls sideways and blows hard in blinding whiteouts. I've seen it drop to single digits with high winds and bitter cold moisture that time of year. Especially with these El Nino weather patterns the past 2 fall seasons. If my buddies were going then, I'd opt out 100%.

Curious why specifically Sept 7th? I've seen it snow up there in every month of the year, but the 7th seems pretty specific. Any reason as to why?

 

[Larry Bartlett]

29 years hunting in the Brooks, both sides and also left and right. I suppose I use Sept 7th as a rule of thumb for the central brooks north side from experience.

 

[wyosam]

Guys I'd take great caution headed North after the Sept 7th. You should be prepared for harsh winter conditions that late. Snow falls sideways and blows hard in blinding whiteouts. I've seen it drop to single digits with high winds and bitter cold moisture that time of year. Especially with these El Nino weather patterns the past 2 fall seasons. If my buddies were going then, I'd opt out 100%.

I’m hoping for snow and cold. It’s always been my preference. Meat care is much simpler, and it does a good job thinning out the crowds. Even the wind doesn’t bother me much, aside from the direct effect on visibility and arrow flight.


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[Larry Bartlett]

Sounds like determination, let us know how it goes.

 

[wyosam]

Thought I’d bring this back up mid-hunt (odd as it seems to be able to do so this far from much of anything). Not many caribou around so far. I started out camped just south of pump station 2, and saw a handful of small groups of caribou, mostly a long ways away, and moving further away. Spent a lot of time glassing between PS 2 and 3. Few other hunters around, and they report the same, including on north up to Deadhorse. Decided I wanted to spend a few days further south, so moved my camp to Galbraith lake today. Has been snowing off and on all day, about 5” or so now. Glassed quite a few spots on the way down today, though for much of it visibility was pretty limited. Hoping things clear a little tomorrow for visibility.

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[Catchfish]

Keep at it, doing any fishing?

 

[wyosam]

Keep at it, doing any fishing?

Didn’t get any fishing done, though in hindsight I should have spent way more time fishing and chasing ptarmigan than I did.


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[wyosam]

Well, other than the lack of caribou it ended up being a great trip. Saw a lot of new country, had some high quality me time, and learned a few things for next time I do this trip.

- I don’t think the road is bad at all. Yes it’s long, and it’s a lot of dirt/gravel. In its current state, I don’t see it being the tire eater it’s often billed as. I assume in the past more of it wasn’t really graveled and was just native material with lots of sharp rock (one section I can think of that looked like potential for tire is the climb to chandalar shelf). The windshield struggle is real though. I decided to take the truck that really needs a windshield anyway so I didn’t worry about, though I tried to be careful anyway. Still got two big stars that spread before I got home. My magic ball has me concerned though. There is waaay more of it paved than I expected. I bet within 10 years or so, the road becomes much less of an obstacle to hunting pressure. Heard it was bad this year, and I’d bet it only gets worse.

- the tundra sucks to walk on, but not as bad as I expected. I wouldn’t hesitate to do the 5 miles on skis though. Even with the 5-6” there when I left, it would be easy to travel that way. Hell, even on less snow, it’s not like there’s much there to damage skis. It would be rough on skinny cross country gear, but on very light backcountry touring gear zero issue. I’ve killed several elk that way over the years, and look forward to doing it up there. Even staying in the bow zone it would be a huge benefit.

-having a camping plan that’s easy to just always have it along (bed under truck topper, rooftop tent, etc) would be nice, especially if you’re having to travel far looking for caribou. Would save a ton of fuel.

-no bugs that time of year.

-it’s a beautiful place.

-I was shocked how much cell service there was.


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[win223]

The paved parts are the worst on the haul road, they can't grade them and when they fill them it doesn't stay for long. Some of those holes are real craters too. Tough place to maintain pavement, especially with the type of use it gets. I'm hoping they remove a lot of the pavement as part of the maintenance plan. But there are benefits to the road being in terrible shape...

 

[Mvaughan]

Glad it was a good trip. I’d think the colder it gets, the better the road should get (relatively speaking). The moisture on the road during ‘summer’ is what starts taking its toll and drives to the bad conditions, IMO.