N. American Hunting – Pine Trees and Solitude

Moose are huge. They are one of the pinnacle game animals of the northern hemisphere because of their size, but hunting moose is a different experience than almost any other hunt. Yes, you get a rush when a spring turkey gobbles or a mature elk responds to your call, but there is something about a 1000 lb or bigger animal swaying side to side and grunting with every stride while knocking over saplings as it closes the distance. There are a few things that set Alaska moose hunting apart from other areas of the world and the experience is second to none. The land is vast, beautiful, and unforgiving, and the Alaska Yukon Moose is a towering animal the size of a draft horse. As you look into Moose hunts you will soon realize how much of an investment a hunt in Alaska can be. While it may look like the outfitter is taking a huge payday, the costs of operating in such a remote place is very high. This article is about what to expect when hunting for moose in Alaska, how to get where you are going, and how to bring everything back. We will cover costs, success rates and hunting areas, regulatory issues, and some input on guides vs. DIY. Can a Non-Resident Hunt Moose in Alaska? Yes. Alaska has a thriving outfitter and guide industry that is tailored to hunters from other states or countries. There are additional costs for licenses and tags, but it is permitted. You are not required to use a guide to hunt moose as a resident of another state. If you are from another country a guide is required for all big game. It’s important to realize if you decide to hunt without a guide you are not permitted to harvest a grizzly. Many of the areas that hold moose will also hold grizzlies, so the capability to harvest a bear is a great advantage, not only for the experience, but also if you sensed you were in danger. To harvest a grizzly you must have a licensed guide, or have a second degree kin relative hunting with you at the time of harvest. All hunters that want to use archery equipment must first pass the Alaska bowhunter course, or an equivalent NBEF or IBEP certification in the state or country they are in. Moose Hunting in Alaska | What to Expect In the words of a licensed guide and outfitter, “Expect an adventure.” For most people, hunting moose in Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Expect to go places very few people have ever been, see animals that may not have ever seen a person before, and feel the power of a few storms while you are on your hunt. From the time that you get to Alaska, the airplanes will just keep getting smaller. The further you go, the smaller the airplane will be. Most hunters will either land in Fairbanks or in Anchorage. From there, they will either be getting onto another airplane to fly to a hub deeper into the state, or they will get in a car and drive to where they are either going to get in another airplane or get in a boat for a long boat ride. The weather in late August and September varies widely across the state. Consider that Alaska is over two times the size of Texas and contains both rainforest and arctic tundra. If you are hunting the interior, expect wind and rain in late August but also some nicer warm weather. September you should expect a possible snow storm or two, as well as cold nights and damp days. It is not all doom and gloom though. Sometimes there are stretches of nice weather that would make anyone jealous. Come prepared for the worst, but you may have a nice pocket of clear September weather. If you are in the northern part of the state, near or in the Brooks Range, the weather will be generally colder than the rest of the interior. If the weather is 55 degrees in Fairbanks it will likely be close to 40 in the north. Nights can easily get below freezing. How Much Does a Moose Hunt in Alaska Cost? A fly-in guided moose hunt will be anywhere from 18k to 50k depending on the distance you are from town and the comfort you want for your hunt. An unguided hunt will start at about $9,000 and cap out near $25,000. The cost of the hunt is directly related to the amount of logistical issues and expenses that the outfitter incurred. So, if you want a warm cabin with a real meal of steak and vegetables with a beverage every night hundreds of miles from anyone else and with a premium guide, expect to pay a premium price. Hunters who are willing to sleep in a tent and eat Mountain House meals and oatmeal every day for a few weeks in a semi-remote area will save thousands of dollars. It really comes down to the experience you want and how much you are willing to pay for it. Hidden Costs We all hate them but for some reason, they are almost always present in anything worth achieving. Hidden fees are a real thing on a moose hunt in Alaska. As you would likely expect you will need to get a hunting license and tag. Currently, an Alaska non-resident hunting license is $160 and a moose tag is an additional $800. I wish that was the only hidden cost. Some hunters decide to update their rifles and gear as well. I would follow the gear list that you are given by the outfitter you are hunting with or, if you choose to hunt DIY, make sure to invest in good gear and equipment. This post is not dedicated to gear, but expect to invest another $2,000+ if you decide to update your gear with a big brand like Sitka, KUIU, or Origin. Guides recommend a sleeping bag that is rated for 30 degrees colder than the expected temperatures. Additionally, there is getting to and from your hunting location. Some outfitters cover the cost from the time you get to your main hub, but many do not. Once you have completed your hunt there is still getting home. If you want to take your game meat and trophy home there will be additional costs associated with that. These two costs together may come close to $15,000 but we will talk more about expediting in a bit. What Part of Alaska is Best for Moose Hunting? That is a LOADED question. No doubt lots of outfitters would raise their hand and say, “My area.” The truth is that Alaska has amazing moose territory and if you are flying into a location your opportunities are going to be high for success. You should really think about the experience you are looking for before trying to find an answer to the question. There are several Alaska moose hunt options that you can consider. Floating a River A float hunt is a very successful method of hunting because it takes you through the heart of a moose's territory: rivers and lakes! It’s true, moose love water. Floating a river allows you to cover lots of ground and will inevitably expose you to more options for a harvest. There is the possibility of passing a bull that is very close, just because you can not see it. Many times the brush along the bank of the river is thick, so the moose would have to be right along the river for you to see it and get a shot. Fly in by Float Plane This is a very successful hunting method. I wish I had direct data or statistics to back up that claim, but I know from other hunters that this is a very good way to get into a moose's territory. Many of my friends who choose to hunt this way don't want to use any other method. Hunters are usually dropped off on a remote lake and left for a week or longer. The lake gives you good visibility, and additionally provides great habitat for moose. Fly in by Wheel Plane Wheel planes are used to get back into very challenging areas and give you access to locations where you could not land with a float plane. This is great for hunting in the mountains. Yes, moose like water, but there are still great opportunities to hunt in the mountains or in areas where the bodies of water are too small for a float plane. Note, in a smaller plane your load may be limited, so if you are constrained by budget you may have to be picky on what gear makes the traveling team. The Best Place to Hunt So, back to the original question, the best place to hunt. Generally, anywhere along the major rivers (Yukon, Koyukuk, Kuskokwim, Tanana, Susitna, etc) of Alaska will produce the most and the biggest moose. If you are looking for a massive moose I would look for areas with lots of water and opportunities for herbaceous growth. The western part of the state is known for this. If you are looking for a great adventure hunt in some of the world’s most beautiful mountains with opportunities to see a variety of animals in addition to moose, I have to recommend the Brooks Range inside the Arctic Circle. Southeast Alaska is home to moose as well. Granted, they may not get to the size of some of the western and interior moose. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vogyB6-nKWg Alaska Moose Hunt Success Rates Of course you are going to ask, “Why should I pay 30k for a hunt with a guide when I can pay 13k for a DIY fly in hunt?” The statistics show that hunting with a guide increases your chances from about 30-40% kill rate, depending on the area, to over a 75% harvest rate with most outfitter guides. If you are set on a DIY hunt and trying to save several thousand dollars, I would start by looking at the harvest reports on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website. The Alaska Moose hunt reports will give you a pretty detailed analysis of the areas that produce the most moose. Some of the higher percentage areas may be more challenging to get to. Also take into consideration that some of the areas you see high success rates in may be almost exclusively guided areas with very little DIY hunting opportunities. That said, there are many hunters who, year after year, come home successful on DIY hunts after doing lots of research and E-scouting to hone in on a good location they can get dropped off in. Legal Moose Size for Non-Resident Hunters Non-resident hunters have stricter rules to adhere to than residents. As would be expected the size requirement is larger as well. Make sure to look through the regulations thoroughly for your area, but non-residents are normally restricted to a 50-inch or bigger spread, or a bull with four brow tines. This is a very important thing to be cognizant of as you hunt. I am no stranger to the ground shrinkage that can occur during a hunt, but that is not a mistake you want to make on this hunt. The ADFG has a good resource available to examine and familiarize yourself with that will help you determine a legal bull. A seasoned moose hunter will tell you, “If you think it's 50 inches, it isn’t. If you know it’s over 50 inches it is.” This is the easiest way to describe the rule. Don’t risk it on a bull that seems really close. You will likely have another option on a bull that you know for sure is over 50 inches or one that definitely has 4 brow tines. Alaska Moose Hunting Seasons Bull Moose are normally hunted in August and September although there are some later seasons. August is a great time to be in Alaska. Bulls may still have velvet, but will definitely have more fat. It is rare for them to be responsive to calling during this time, but it does occasionally happen. The advantage of hunting in September is utilizing the rut. In September anything can happen. Much like hunting whitetails in the lower 48, bulls start showing up and are on the move. They are also kinda stupid in some cases. The biggest advantage of the rut is a bull’s responsiveness to calling. A bull a few miles away can hear calls and cover the ground in a hurry. They are less wary and may continue to come in even when they can tell you are not another moose. Getting Your Moose Home You were successful on your Alaska moose hunt! Great, now what? This is where working with an outfitter is a huge advantage. You will have to pay the charter service to transport your moose out of the bush. This can easily cost upwards of $1500 and may cost as much as $10k. You will then need to arrange transporting your meat to the airport you are departing from, or to an expediter. Many outfitters have good relationships with expediters who will process your meat and ship it for you. Flying Your Moose Home With Alaska Airlines This is my recommendation. Take as much as you can home with you on the plane. If you are flying on Alaska Airlines they are used to seeing all sorts of odd packages around hunting season. Moose heads wrapped in bubble wrap, caribou antlers, frozen fish, and meat name a few. Expect to pay about a dollar a pound on the airline. This assumes that Alaska Airlines operates out of an airport near you. The more you can pack on the airline the more you can save. Alaska Airlines has some specific information for hunters traveling home such as what bag to use and the weight allowance of each package. For regulatory purposes you will need to clearly label your name on each package. You additionally need to have a transport tag from ADFG in each package and have, in your possession, the filled out hunters section to prove ownership if required. You can print this at home, or you can get it from the ADFG offices in Alaska. Using an Expediter If you can not use Alaska Airlines I would recommend a meat expediter. The expediter will make sure that your meat, hide, and antlers are packaged and prepared for travel and will have them shipped to your door. This is definitely the least hassle, but also can be the most expensive. Having your harvest expertly handled and prepared for you can be a huge relief. If you are using an outfitter or guide, ask them for a recommendation. If not, call around to meat expediters in the town or city you will be flying out of. Expect to pay over $1,000 for expediting. Some expediters also offer taxidermy services as well, so if you want everything taken care of all at once this may be the best option, albeit the most expensive in the short term. The Last Blast Well there you go. As you plan your trip to Alaska, be ready for a real once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Most hunters leave with a smile from ear to ear and memories that make them want to return. Plan out your hunt well. Make sure that you have the gear you need to deal with the weather and cold you will experience in Alaska. Talk to a number of outfitters in the area you decide you want to hunt, and make sure to ask about success rates. If you are restricted on budget make sure to cycle in all the costs of transporting your animal from the bush home, or consider donating the meat to a mission or families in need. Many villages are happy to take as much meat as is offered. Take good mental pictures as you unplug from the world for several days. Experience the real wilderness and enjoy the time in the last untamed frontier. Alaska is Wild, So are the hunters that choose to come. Live the life of the wild in the wildest place on earth! If you enjoyed this article, here are some more helpful articles from Pinetrees And Solitude. How Much Is A Mule Deer Hunt? Guided vs. DIY What You Need For An Idaho Mule Deer Hunt Catch Mule Deer While They Are Active What Should I Bring Elk Hunting? Idaho List Hunting Elk In Timber: Tactics To Even The Odds Are Shorthaired Pointers Good For Hunting? (This article was originally published on Pintreesandsolitude.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.)