Kotzebue early September

[realunlucky]

Well guys looks like my north slope hunt isn't happening now. May have the opportunity to switch it up to kotzebue but heard later is better there. My vacation starts the 29 August and runs to September 7th. Anyone have any input or suggestions? Thanks for any help in my scramble to save my first alaskan adventure.

 

[realunlucky]

Is it possible to get ISO fuel in the village?

 

[montee77]

Did you check with the places out of bettles? We are flying out with BRA the 28th to the 6th, they stop flying people after the 9th or 12th of September due to lakes being froze over, this is our first trip with them but have been great to deal with so far! BRA is probably booked up but Bettles Lodge drops hunters off to.

 

[realunlucky]

Thanks montee I didn't check with them but left tons of messages and emails with everyone. Sucks having to change up at the last minute.

 

[realunlucky]

Well it looks like we found a flight out with northern trophy air. Rolling the dice at last minute is scary.

 

[realunlucky]

Any advice for those that have done Kotzebue before?

 

[rayporter]

yes sir!! good luck

 

[realunlucky]

yes sir!! good luck

Sounds pretty encouraging! Any details you would like to share?

 

[adventure907]

Watch your back is my advice...

 

[cowboy300]

Be careful of NAT. My wife and I used them in 2013. They were constantly having plane trouble and overbooked their flights out. There was a father/daughter that waited a day and a half to get flown out and it was not weather related. Also they are fond of leaving people in the field. We called in on the SAT phone and everything was a go to be picked up on our pick up day. They sent in another outfitter (Ram Aviation) for our meat/antlers and flew them out 1st. NAT was supposed to be coming right behind to pick us up. We then packed up camp and hiked it 3/4 mile down to the new landing strip and waited and waited. NAT never showed up. We ended up being picked up by the same Ram Aviation pilot that took our meat because he saw us all packed up and waiting but heard over there radio that NAT was done flying for the day. NAT was never going to tell us that they were not coming. I would not recommend Northern Air Trophy. I have also heard similar bad experiences from some of there other hunters. Ram Aviation was a much better outfit and had their shit together. I would go with them if we go again.

 

[cowboy300]

We were up there around the second week in September and were told that the migration had not started yet and that hunting would be a little tough. They told us to hunt them like elk back home in CO. So I said OK. We ended up killing 4 bulls the 1st day! The first bull was about 3 miles from camp and the next 3 were out of the same group above timberline about 5 miles from camp. We then spent the next 5 days packing caribou. It really sucked not being able to bone out any meat and having to pack entire rib cages from everything. Weather was OK I guess. It rained/drizzled about every day. Average highs were maybe mid 50s to 60ish and it would drop down to mid low 30s to mid 20s at night. Be prepared for natives on the rivers and being raped on buying anything in Kotz.

 

[realunlucky]

Would you recommend a large spotter to locate them then? Sounds like it going to be a tough hunt. How was the fishing

 

[cowboy300]

It wouldnt be a bad idea to pack a spotter but didnt take one. They were pretty easy to spot with my 10x42 SLCs and I had a 20x rifle scope plus my wife was packing a video camera with a 72 power zoom. I would take a spotter if you are real serious about trophy quality or just want to glass a lot from camp. We didnt do any fishing but we did see a few dead salmon along the river. There were fresh bear and wolf tracks on the river every day. They like to patrol the river eating the scraps the natives leave behind. One tip is to glass where caribou are or are moving through an area and set up there for future caribou. You will not be able to glass a bull and catch up to him on the tundra if they are moving. They are probably 2x to 3x faster going across tundra than a person. Also when moving around the tundra look for high ground to walk on, avoid the big flats if you can. Tundra is very deceptive to travel across.

 

[Randy11]

My wife and I will be up there at the same time. We're flying with Jared Cummings the 31st-8th. It's my understanding that that is right at the beginning of when the big migrations start, and we should be doing our snow dance.

 

[Bob L.]

My wife and I will be up there at the same time. We're flying with Jared Cummings the 31st-8th. It's my understanding that that is right at the beginning of when the big migrations start, and we should be doing our snow dance.

I have heard great things about Jared and Golden Eagle Outfitters. That is who I had dates with right before I was unable to go.

 

[realunlucky]

Well guys got back to kotzebue last night. Epic adventure for first timers to Alaska. Hunting was tough but we humped it up high and found some bulls. Fell in water and camera got wet so limited pictures.

 

[realunlucky]

 

[hodgeman]

Nice!

 

[Jdog]

very nice bull

 

[Nick Muche]

That's awesome! Nice bull!