What I Learned On The Haul Road 2024

[Midwest Caribou]

How often do you see ptarmigan?

We saw two or 3 on our hunt

 

[Jmillgreen]

We saw two or 3 on our hunt

That’s cool! Taking my Tenkara Rod for Grayling.


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[cKnob01]

How often do you see ptarmigan?

We saw them about every day of the trip. Didn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to when or where. Randomly would walk up on them.

 

[Jmillgreen]

That’s cool! I guess we need to consider that!

 

[Mvaughan]

We ended up eating ptarmigan almost every night we were there. My hunting buddy seemed to like them much more than freeze dried meals and I wasn’t complaining either. Our magic meal ratio for two people was 5 ptarmigan breasted and thigh meat, one medium potatoes and a medium onion. We’d cut the breasts into strips, marinate them in fajita marinade, then cook them down with the onions and potatoes.

 

[Jmillgreen]

We ended up eating ptarmigan almost every night we were there. My hunting buddy seemed to like them much more than freeze dried meals and I wasn’t complaining either. Our magic meal ratio for two people was 5 ptarmigan breasted and thigh meat, one medium potatoes and a medium onion. We’d cut the breasts into strips, marinate them in fajita marinade, then cook them down with the onions and potatoes.

Dang! I’m missin out!


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[cKnob01]

That’s cool! I guess we need to consider that!

It’s definitely worth taking a .22 pistol imo.

 

[Chumsnagger]

It’s definitely worth taking a .22 pistol imo.

as long as you are outside the 5 mile corridor

 

[tgivens999]

Is this a doable hunt solo

 

[wyosam]

Is this a doable hunt solo

One person can do this trip, though it depends entirely on who the person is. Honestly if you’re asking, probably not.


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[Behlftball]

Great write up. I was unsuccessful in 2023, but got it done in 2024. Definitely easier the 2nd time

 

[Behlftball]

And yes, this is definitely doable solo. I did. Caribou aren't that big so you should be able to pack in 2 trips. I did this with the 5 mile death March but it sucked

 

[Alaska 4x4 Rentals]

How often do you see ptarmigan?

They are everywhere. You'll be walking along and a flock of 50 will spook right at your feet. It can be terrifying lol

 

[Jmillgreen]

They are everywhere. You'll be walking along and a flock of 50 will spook right at your feet. It can be terrifying lol

Haha! Merns Quail will do this to you here in NM and AZ!


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[CMF]

great write up. I hope to make the trip in the few years.

 

[PNW CAMPER]

Good write up and thanks to those with experience who also made comments. It is very much appreciated. Hoping make the trip myself next year or the year after.

 

[PNW CAMPER]

Its such a great trip up there! Great summary!

If you spend alot of time on your map apps there are a few places you can walk solid road for a few miles off the highway to really cut down on the tundra trekking (I found a few that were gated but not posted, and just storage sites for road maintenance). I need to do the trip again and just count on hiking in. To avoid hunters out past the gun line, try to avoid the bigger lakes/river access points that the boat and float plane guys will be using. Caribou hunts are all about timing, you either see them or you don't, get into the general area of where the herd is and just go. Its like the stock market, time in the field beats trying to time the exact field.

For locals, its worth hauling gas if your bringing your entire requirement. I did it from Anchorage and took 45 gallons with me, was able to keep driving up and down and avoided the super high gas prices (cut my fuel bill in half). But, if your not going to reuse the tanks/cans its definitely not worth trying to buy a bunch of cans for 1 trip.

If camping along the road, try to avoid the larger pullouts, they are cesspits of human waste. Its not only hunters taking a dump on the side of the road and not burying it, but man, its was a problem up there for me and I'm guessing it hasn't changed much.

I did the hike in with my older dad and little brother, we took a sled for pulling back caribou meat, ended up not getting a caribou but that sled was a life saver to get my dads bag back. He made it in and out ok, but he definitely wasn't able to pack his bag across the tundra.

How was it pulling the sled with a load in it? Just wonder if the sled might be better to put a field dressed caribou, plus pack, rifle, etc and just pull everything in the sled? I am trying to imagine the terrain, but have never been there in person.

 

[hereinaz]

How was it pulling the sled with a load in it? Just wonder if the sled might be better to put a field dressed caribou, plus pack, rifle, etc and just pull everything in the sled? I am trying to imagine the terrain, but have never been there in person.

Terrain????

Imagine endless rolling hills covered with a layer of 1’ foot of foam, piled with a layer of half inflated basketballs, footballs, tennis balls and volleyballs, covered with a 1” foam so you can’t see anything but bumps, then soak it all in water.

You might try walking on top, but that doesn’t last long. You try to walk in the gaps, but you don’t know if there is an hidden ball or whether it is 2” or 12” deep.

I wore Kenetreks the first time on Kodiak.

I wore muck boots the second on the North Slope. I brought my Kenetreks as backup. I had hurt my ankle foot a couple months before going. Ultimately, I wore muck boots 100% and walked miles in them. I will wear muck boots again.

It’s weird, but having my foot move inside the muck boot a little was less stressful and easier than stiff Kenetreks. Here in AZ, I am used to Kenetreks protecting my ankles while walking in rocky terrain. It works, as I did fine my first year, but I think I was faster in muck boots.

Maybe Kentreks are better with a full heavy load, but it would be a toss up to me.

Definitely use trekking poles. I bent my aluminum one.

I took a boat 2023 for caribou, and the herds weren’t migrating. Sucked not to experience the migration. My buddy and I shot spikes—mine still had milk on its lips, but it is seriously the best meat ever.

 

[BowMan86]

How was it pulling the sled with a load in it? Just wonder if the sled might be better to put a field dressed caribou, plus pack, rifle, etc and just pull everything in the sled? I am trying to imagine the terrain, but have never been there in person.

I tried using a sled my first time up there to pull meat and it ended up being much more difficult than just putting it on my back. The sled kept getting caught on the tussocks and brush. The type of sled I had allowed water in when I hit the parts of standing water. The uphill portions were terrible. So much better to just put it on your back, but even that is rough. This was from 5 miles out though. If you are just bow hunting from the road a sled might not be a bad option. If you are lucky enough to get a layer of snow while you are there the sled would probably be great.

 

[22lr]

How was it pulling the sled with a load in it? Just wonder if the sled might be better to put a field dressed caribou, plus pack, rifle, etc and just pull everything in the sled? I am trying to imagine the terrain, but have never been there in person.

We had 3 people, so it was ok. Pulling a sled solo would be frustrating for sure. But with one pulling and one helping guide, it worked pretty well. I think the larger black ones that have 6+ inch sides would work better than the shallower ones.

It definitely isn't super fun to walk around on, but it wasnt the worse Alaskan hiking ive done. The plus side is that you dont need to bust alot of brush, so sure, its slower than walking on solid ground, but it could be worse. I wore Crispis, gaiters and used trekking poles, didn't have any problems with my ankles or anything like that. The terrain you go in on will vary, which is why I think people have different experiences with it. We went in maybe an hr North of the pass, was able to walk along an access road for 2 miles, and slight ridge with a decent bit of rock for another 1.5 or so. Really limited how much Tunda walking we did. Just get creative looking at the maps, anything that isnt posted is fine to walk on so long as your not blocking gates.

Just be flexible, if your 1 or 2 target points are full of trucks, keep moving and get creative. I got lucky and never had trucks near any of my target hiking spots, so we got to use the road for the first bit.