JBMasterAngler Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 It will be 6 to 10 years before I make it up to Alaska. Initially the trip was gonna be fishing and small game hunting, but now I want to get a grizzly (or brown bear), moose, and/or wolf. I looked up how much guided trips are, and that is WAY over my budget! My question is, without knowing the wilderness at all up there, could I still expect some success without a guide, or would I be in over my head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveler Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I've known a couple guys who have set up AK moose hunts and I think thats a decent possibility, but I haven't personally looked into it. I would think wolf hunting might be readily available too, but hey, you'll be able to do that in MN this fall!!I think if you have the equipment and a reasonable skill set, it would be a heck of a trip:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fivebucks Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 You need a guide or resident relative to hunt brown bear (griz), sheep, or goats as a non-resident. I think you can do self-guided moose hunt but I think it would be tough. Anywhere you can drive to - so can all the AK residents and without a bunch of prior scouting... I want to take a AK bull moose yet in this lifetime and I am just planning that I am going to have to drop some bucks to do it right. I don't want to discourage you cause it can be done with a bunch of research. I would look into a drop off hunt where you get dropped off via plane and picked up later. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBMasterAngler Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 I guess that explains why a bear hunt is so expensive. I only briefly researched, but everything looked to be 7 to 15 day hunts, no day to day outings. I was under the impression moose were just about as common up there as deer are down here, is that not the case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fivebucks Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I went moose hunting 2 seasons when I lived up there. We went 10 miles up the beach and a couple miles inland to a friends remote winter cabin. This was on the Kenai Pennisula by the town of Kasilof. The only moose I saw were two cows, and they were not legal to shoot. You could either take a spike or it had to be over 50", which rules out a good percentage of the bulls. My friend would get a moose maybe every 5th year. Living up there I did not see moose too often unless it was winter - then they would go thru my yard. I think you can certainly get a good quality hunt with a decent chance of sucess but I think you would need to hook up with an outfitter to do a drop hunt. I would research the outfitter closely and get plenty of referrals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishkid Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 if your comming up here to hunt you might as well get a guide because it would be very tough to do it your self for moose and also there are areas where there is a drawing that you have to put in for which already happend for the 2012 hunting year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBMasterAngler Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Maybe I'll just spring for the bear guide, that's a bigger deal. I can always just hunt moose in North Dakota or Montana for a lot cheaper. Thanks for all the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler D Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 If you are going to do a grizzly hunt in AK go for a coastal hunt bears are much more plentiful and bigger, though it does cost more. I have done two ten day sheep hunts in the alaska range in the last two years in those 20 days I saw three legal grizzlies two of those were 2 year old bears that were the size of an average black bear. The other was a very large bear my dad ended up getting. The first time I went up there it is a shock to how little game is actually in those areas lots of sheep but I only saw maybe 5 or 6 moose in the 20 days one of which was a legal bull. It is possible but I think it would be tough to get a moose on your own as well.The best option is to get on a cancellation hunt, I have seen $12000 moose hunts going for $5k if you can book a month out same with grizzly. Definatley cool trip though worth doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishkid Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 yeah it would be pretty rough for any one to come up new to ak and get a legal moose since it has to be either 3 or 4 brow tines (forgot have to look it up) or a 50 inch inside spread and if your not confident in your skills to approximate a 50 inch bull you better make sure the thing has the right amount of brow tines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoot Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I can always just hunt moose in North Dakota or Montana for a lot cheaper. ...not exactly. Unless you're a resident of ND I don't believe you can hunt moose in ND. Also, even if you're a resident, the odds of drawing a tag are absolutely terrible- even in the units with the highest draw odds. MT? I hope you have a lot of points built up already. If not, you're likely looking at a long time before you're even in the legitimate running for a moose tag. There are places that it can be done for cheaper than AK, but ND and MT aren't very good options given what I said above.A buddy of mine went unguided to AK last Sep and shot a 58.5" bull. However, he hunted out of the camp of a local who's a friend of his- which was basically like being guided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBMasterAngler Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 Yeah, I looked at the ND regs the other day and saw that. Hmmm, the only other option state side I can think of is maine? Otherwise I might have to pony up and go with the guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveler Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Have you looked at Canada? Kind of "AK light". Much closer, obviously, which would cut travel expenses...might have to use a guide, but it would still be cheaper I would think, and tags are available I believe.Of course, I believe a lot of stuff...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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