ddavis_1313
WKR
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
- Messages
- 1,419
My wife and I are headed up in September for a drop caribou hunt with ram aviation. It’s only March and we are both chomping at the bit to go. Should be an amazing trip with the Mrs and I hope more than anything o can get her on a really really nice hard horned bull with a white cape. That’s what she’s after. I can assure you it won’t be from a lack of trying. Packing a caribou 2-3 miles or potentially further won’t deter us one bit.
I’ve been hunting Colorado for the last 4 years with those 4 years being the only experience I have of western big game hunting. Being from Texas, it’s not easy getting to hunt out west. In the last 4 years I’ve taken 2 bull elk, passed a few others, and guided my wife to get her a pope and young bull last year. (Just had it scored). What I’ve learned over the last 4 years about myself is I think I love the remoteness, solitude, grind, and adventure as much if not more than the harvest. I’m in my mid 30’s and pretty good shape (the Mrs. is in insanely great shape from bodybuilding)since I go to the gym 4/5 days a week, however, I have two small herniated discs in my lower back and they aren’t getting better by any means. With that being said, my days and years of pushing myself are numbered unless I can figure out the back issue. With how hard and expensive things are getting combined with the back, it’s best I go sooner rather than later.
So, I’m hoping someone can help guide me in the right direction for a diy moose hunt. Nothing against outfitted hunts but that’s just not quite my style. I like hunting solo or with one other person and $20k+ for a moose just doesn’t appeal to me. Like anyone, I’d love to take a giant but I also wouldn’t turn my nose up at anything legal. Hopefully the wife can go again to Alaska but with anticipation of starting a family next year, it very well may not happen. And most likely this hunt will be 2-3 years out anyways. I also understand that most transporters won’t take a solo moose hunter for fear of meat spoilage so I’ll have to find someone to jump in with me ( hint hint ). I have all the gear (hilli black label tent, WM zero degree bag, filtration system, stoves, clothing, etc) necessary to survive what ever weather Alaska can throw at a person during September. So hear really isn’t a main concern.
With it being a diy hunt, are there transporters that have areas they fly into that have moose and is that a higher gamble than other options? I know they can’t tell you anything about the animals and can only fly you in and out. I prefer to be flown into an area vs raft simply bc with it being the first time chasing moose, I wouldn’t want to over complicate things. Also, the views of some of the more remote areas are stunning. That sucks n itself may very well be worth being flown in. I do understand that if there aren’t any moose in that area it can make for a long hunt seeing nothing.
What areas in Alaska would one want to focus their research on or spend the most time looking into. Areas being with higher moose populations or better genetics (if that’s the case with moose). Or if there is a way to research that I would definitely research it if I had an idea of where to look.
I have read where some people research areas (units, drainages, valleys, terrain, etc) that they want to hunt and hire a pilot to fly them into those areas. What are some determining factors when looking for specific spots and not relying on an outfitter/pilot to drop you into prime areas? Food, foliage, elevation, terrain, etc?
I’m sure there will be plenty more questions and hoping this thread leads to some questions I haven’t even thought of. I know there are some guys on here that have put in hours and days and months of research. I’m not asking for freebies or to be handed anything. Just help getting going in the right direction. If anyone wants to share anything via pm that’s welcomed too and nothing shared with me privately would ever be shared to another individual.
Thanks for any help and insight. I have learned a ton of info from this forum and have been given some priceless advice from members throughout the years. Not only have I learned a ton, this forum has inspired me to chase my passions and find a way to make it work instead of sitting and wishing.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’ve been hunting Colorado for the last 4 years with those 4 years being the only experience I have of western big game hunting. Being from Texas, it’s not easy getting to hunt out west. In the last 4 years I’ve taken 2 bull elk, passed a few others, and guided my wife to get her a pope and young bull last year. (Just had it scored). What I’ve learned over the last 4 years about myself is I think I love the remoteness, solitude, grind, and adventure as much if not more than the harvest. I’m in my mid 30’s and pretty good shape (the Mrs. is in insanely great shape from bodybuilding)since I go to the gym 4/5 days a week, however, I have two small herniated discs in my lower back and they aren’t getting better by any means. With that being said, my days and years of pushing myself are numbered unless I can figure out the back issue. With how hard and expensive things are getting combined with the back, it’s best I go sooner rather than later.
So, I’m hoping someone can help guide me in the right direction for a diy moose hunt. Nothing against outfitted hunts but that’s just not quite my style. I like hunting solo or with one other person and $20k+ for a moose just doesn’t appeal to me. Like anyone, I’d love to take a giant but I also wouldn’t turn my nose up at anything legal. Hopefully the wife can go again to Alaska but with anticipation of starting a family next year, it very well may not happen. And most likely this hunt will be 2-3 years out anyways. I also understand that most transporters won’t take a solo moose hunter for fear of meat spoilage so I’ll have to find someone to jump in with me ( hint hint ). I have all the gear (hilli black label tent, WM zero degree bag, filtration system, stoves, clothing, etc) necessary to survive what ever weather Alaska can throw at a person during September. So hear really isn’t a main concern.
With it being a diy hunt, are there transporters that have areas they fly into that have moose and is that a higher gamble than other options? I know they can’t tell you anything about the animals and can only fly you in and out. I prefer to be flown into an area vs raft simply bc with it being the first time chasing moose, I wouldn’t want to over complicate things. Also, the views of some of the more remote areas are stunning. That sucks n itself may very well be worth being flown in. I do understand that if there aren’t any moose in that area it can make for a long hunt seeing nothing.
What areas in Alaska would one want to focus their research on or spend the most time looking into. Areas being with higher moose populations or better genetics (if that’s the case with moose). Or if there is a way to research that I would definitely research it if I had an idea of where to look.
I have read where some people research areas (units, drainages, valleys, terrain, etc) that they want to hunt and hire a pilot to fly them into those areas. What are some determining factors when looking for specific spots and not relying on an outfitter/pilot to drop you into prime areas? Food, foliage, elevation, terrain, etc?
I’m sure there will be plenty more questions and hoping this thread leads to some questions I haven’t even thought of. I know there are some guys on here that have put in hours and days and months of research. I’m not asking for freebies or to be handed anything. Just help getting going in the right direction. If anyone wants to share anything via pm that’s welcomed too and nothing shared with me privately would ever be shared to another individual.
Thanks for any help and insight. I have learned a ton of info from this forum and have been given some priceless advice from members throughout the years. Not only have I learned a ton, this forum has inspired me to chase my passions and find a way to make it work instead of sitting and wishing.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
. Had 2 good friends hunt with him in 2020. They both shot nice bulls and both of them said Isaac and his wife are stand up people.
