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Post by outdoorswithdon on Jul 22, 2005 10:12:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the forum.
I'm headed back to Alaska for my 4rth once-in-a-lifetime hunts this September. Anyone else headed that way this year?
Don Mulligan
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Post by gundude on Jul 22, 2005 12:42:59 GMT -5
I hate you! ;D
I can't wait to get to Alaska............... some day
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Post by steiny on Jul 23, 2005 10:58:36 GMT -5
Went this past April and shot a brown bear, so my Alaska hunting budget is pretty well shot for awhile.
That was my fourth trip. Have taken; dall sheep, moose, wolf, caribou, black bear & brown bear. Can't wait to get back up there, however I think I'll do a fishing trip next time.
You'll have a blast. Any sportsman that hasn't been there should beg, borrow or steal to get there, and any that have would beg, borrow or steal to get back.
Gorgeous country, and darn few people !
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Post by outdoorswithdon on Jul 23, 2005 14:15:06 GMT -5
gundude, Though I can't say Alaska is nearly as cheap as a do it yourself rockies hunt, it can be a lot cheaper than you might think. Anyone interested can give me a call or email. I can tell you about a couple pilots who will do self guided drop camps for moose, caribou, black bear, upland bird, sitka deer and fishing. These are guys I have met over the years, but to whom I have no affiliation. I can also tell you specifically who I would not use. I am currently writing a long article about this very subject for a fall edition of an Alaskan Hunting Atlas, that primarily distributes across the western US. Don Mulligan www.outdoorswithdon.com
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Post by outdoorswithdon on Jul 23, 2005 14:19:06 GMT -5
Steiny, I recall you are an Alaska hunting veteran. Perhaps one day we will meet up in the Anchorage airport. I am alwsays astounded how many Hoosiers I run into across all of Alaska. I may have a chance to hunt a grizzley there in the near future. All depends on whether there is a market for the story and photos. It is addictive isn't it? Don Mulligan www.outdoorswithdon.com
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Post by gundude on Jul 23, 2005 16:19:08 GMT -5
STIENY, I just put a kid up for sale to raise a little cash :>)
Don, Thanks, I will be emailing you to inquire about some more info......... maybe gundude will have a merry Christmas after all! I keep thinking I can do this by 2006 or 2007.
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Post by steiny on Jul 28, 2005 18:57:07 GMT -5
Gundude - Get a $1000 downpayment made on a hunt a couple years out ASAP. You will then be committed, will have time to pay for it, and it will happen.
Never found an outfitter yet that wouldn't work out a payment plan to suit me. Worst case for them is, you bail out, and they keep your money.
Took my dad to AK sheep hunting in 96 @ 66 years old. His words were .... "Man, I should have started doing this stuff when I was your age".
Guaranteed, you won't regret it.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 28, 2005 19:03:53 GMT -5
........ Took my dad to AK sheep hunting in 96 @ 66 years old. His words were .... "Man, I should have started doing this stuff when I was your age". Guaranteed, you won't regret it. Yep... you don't want to "wait till later". "Later" might not ever get here..
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Post by mbogo on Jul 29, 2005 6:39:08 GMT -5
Steiny & Don, would you reccommend doing a guided hunt first to get your feet wet before jumping in to a do-it-yourself hunt? Or is a do-it-yourself hunt on the first time practical?
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Post by outdoorswithdon on Jul 29, 2005 10:20:22 GMT -5
Mbogo,
It depends on what you want to hunt, and what you expect from the hunt. If you are in some shape, know how to use a GPS, find and field handle game, there is no reason to pay a guide for caribou, black bear, and perhaps even moose hunt. Sheep, goats and brownies require a guide in AK, regardless of your know how and condition.
Part of being prepared for a do it yourself hunt in AK means understanding the game densities and harshness of some regions. Hunters need to have enough mental strength to hunt hard for 10 days, without perhaps seeing any game until the last day. That is moose hunting. There just aren't moose around every tree in places where there are trophies. A guide can probably show you more game, because he is in the field nonstop and knows the current whereabouts of game. Be prepared to pay, though.
I moose hunted on my own for 3 years before I killed a moose. I saw some moose every year, but being on my own caused me to wait for the perfect shot, in the perfect place at the perfect moose in my book. I killed other game along the way and keep going back for the experience, not the kills. That is key. If you are an anxious hunter who needs to get something on a once in a lifetime hunt, a do it yourself outing may not be right for you.
If you want to go sometime, I'll tell you about a couple reputable bush pilots who will drop you off in good game country.
Don Mulligan wwwoutdoorswithdon.com
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Post by steiny on Jul 30, 2005 11:41:23 GMT -5
I'd strongly recommend you go the guided route on your first hunt or two up there. Let the outfitter deal with all the logistic hassles, gear, transportation in the field, stocking the groceries, etc. Spend your time hunting and enjoying the country. You'll have enough to deal with simply getting there.
Also, if you go with a reputable outfitter, it would be unusual if you didn't get your game. I've been 100% successful on everything I've hunted up there.
I'd recommend a caribou, black bear hunt for a first trip. You'll see lots of game, kill a nice caribou, have about 50% odds of whacking a nice black bear, and a good chance at a wolf too.
Cost will run about: $4500 for the hunt $600 commercial flight to Anchorage $700 bush flight to outfitters camp $300 or so for licenses + motel(s), tips, meals, airport parking, etc. About $7000 door to door.
Sounds like a bunch, but set it up a couple years out, budget for it, and make it happen. Guaranteed you won't regret it. If you need names of some reputable outfitters, I can hook you up.
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Post by gundude on Aug 1, 2005 9:28:47 GMT -5
Ok , thats it. Im going! I( have told myself since I was a kid I was going to make that trip.. I havent even been on an Elk hunt in the last 3 years! It's been kinda tuff as I am now raising two boys on my own. Hard to find the time to get away for very long so most of my Hunting/fishing trips are with them. ( Nothing wrong with that, I love it!) But they are not big enough to make a trip like that and besides there is the whole school thing. I have pulled them out of school before and told the principle that I was taking them on an educational trip. When asked me where we were going I told him hunting! He smiled and said "cool!" Anyway, I can surely find a way to make this happen two years from now and it will probably take me that long just to get back in shape for such a trip
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Post by steiny on Aug 1, 2005 19:39:50 GMT -5
You da man, Gundude !
Heck, I may just go along too.
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Post by mbogo on Aug 5, 2005 12:59:00 GMT -5
Thank you both for all the advice. I'm sure it will be very helpful when I am finally able to start planning my own Alaskan adventure. Hopefully that will only be a few more years down the road.
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