Alaska anyone?

[MIbowhunter49]

Long story short, my Godson is station in Anchorage for the Air Force. Were trying to put together a quick hunt while I'm out there.

I could give a rats A what we chase, or what the chances of success are. I just want to see some country with my bow in my hand.

Anyone have any experience with nonguided hunts in AK?

 

[Loopwing]

I did mine in Kodiak for Black tail. Tons and tons and tons of public land in Alaska. Find the zone you want to hunt. You CAN NOT hunt a lot of the big game (moose, goat, sheep, bear) without a guide as a non-resident. The first thing your godson should have done when he got stationed there was change his residency to Alaska. Figure out the zone you will be hunting, what possible animals are there to hunt and go for it. It also might be worth it to rent a float plane to fly you some place for the day/weekend. Float planes are everywhere and cheap comparably. You can't hunt somethings the same day you fly.

 

[Loopwing]

Alaska Big Game Guide Requirements, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Information on hunting and trapping in Alaska.

www.adfg.alaska.gov

 

[Loopwing]

Check this link out also. You can change between the animal you will pursue and then you can see a map of their range. Also, don't limit yourself to a bow, take a large rifle. I you have never been to Alaska it will humble you, it humbles everyone the first time. Remember you are in Brown Bear/grizzly country everywhere you hunt in Alaska. Most hunting is spot and stalk. There is so much food and water up there, there is no rhyme or reason to hanging a stand or saddle.

Alaska Hunting Maps by Species, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Alaska hunting maps by species.

www.adfg.alaska.gov

 

[Weldabeast]

Just remember once ur in anchorage ur 1/2 hour from Alaska.... Without having some kind of local knowledge sure send like a daunting task...it's a pretty big place.... Just denali national park alone is 6 million acres

 

[MIbowhunter49]

Just remember once ur in anchorage ur 1/2 hour from Alaska.... Without having some kind of local knowledge sure send like a daunting task...it's a pretty big place.... Just denali national park alone is 6 million acres

Didn't bother getting into the details, but he's made friends with a DIY guy thats been hunting there for decades. Sounds like he runs a spike camp for multiple weeks out of the year.

He went with him on a 5 day hunt last fall, sounded like they could shoot just about anything that walks with a resident tag.

Looks like there are quite a few nonresident options that do not require a guide, black bear being one of them. Need to navigate the regs to determine what's available OTC.

 

[Weldabeast]

 

[Loopwing]

Yes, Alaska is amazing! If you are will to do the work that is actually a place you could live completely off the grid. The amount of game, fish, and gardening (in season) is unbelievable. If he has that friend as a hook up, then there is nothing any of us can tell you. You already have a GUIDE. As someone that used to guide, listen to him, do exactly what he says, don't worry about your agenda. If you go with the flow he will show you an experience like you could have never imagined.

 

[MIbowhunter49]

Sounds like we'll be in Unit 13e

 

[MIbowhunter49]

I did mine in Kodiak for Black tail. Tons and tons and tons of public land in Alaska. Find the zone you want to hunt. You CAN NOT hunt a lot of the big game (moose, goat, sheep, bear) without a guide as a non-resident. The first thing your godson should have done when he got stationed there was change his residency to Alaska. Figure out the zone you will be hunting, what possible animals are there to hunt and go for it. It also might be worth it to rent a float plane to fly you some place for the day/weekend. Float planes are everywhere and cheap comparably. You can't hunt somethings the same day you fly.

Sounds like last time it was an all day journey on a side by side. They pack more in fuel, road tools, and recovery gear than they do hunting gear!

 

[Loopwing]

When are you going?

 

[Loopwing]

We used to have a saying up there. "If you know you are going to make it, it is no fun" seriously, you will see moose and bear inside of Anchorage city limits.

 

[MIbowhunter49]

We used to have a saying up there. "If you know you are going to make it, it is no fun" seriously, you will see moose and bear inside of Anchorage city limits.

September, haven't set the dates yet.

I'll say. My godson sends me pictures of black bear and moose at his house almost every week.

Reminds me of driving an hour to hunt, and then having deer in the driveway when I get home. Somethings tells me it doesn't make the hunt any easier lol

 

[Weldabeast]

We used to have a saying up there. "If you know you are going to make it, it is no fun" seriously, you will see moose and bear inside of Anchorage city limits.

No joke....there was a huge bull on the side of the road that loops around the airport....u see them on tv and think "ok...that's pretty big" then u see 1 in person and I like WHOAH

 

[MIbowhunter49]

No joke....there was a huge bull on the side of the road that loops around the airport....u see them on tv and think "ok...that's pretty big" then u see 1 in person and I like WHOAH

View attachment 43422

Thats insane

 

[MIbowhunter49]

So given the drawing application period is over, and I wouldn't have a licensed guide, its looking like black bear and wolf are the only available opportunities this year (assuming I'm reading this correctly).

I believe I'd needs a hunt starting with HT, and anything that requires a guide is out..

 

[Weldabeast]

Coolest animal sighting I had while there was a school/herd of beluga whales. They were moving down turnagain arm heading out to the cook inlet...we followed them for miles but I didn't have a camera good enough to get a picture

 

[Loopwing]

I spent 5 summers in the bush of Kodiak. Had a fin whale breech 100 yards off a beach we were fishing one time. Too many Kodiak brown bear encounters to even count. Spent some time on the mainland and parks highway, doing the tourist thing.
You are right, everything pales in comparison to Alaska. Moose are HUGE, brown bears are HUGE, hell the fish are HUGE.
If your godson's friend is a resident he can get OTC tags for everything. You may not get to "pull the trigger" but you are still on the experience of a moose, bear...... Hunt. Could always go south a little and hunt blacktail. September is getting late for fishing, but there might still be some silvers in the river, weather/storm providing.

 

[weekender21]

Long story short, my Godson is station in Anchorage for the Air Force. Were trying to put together a quick hunt while I'm out there.

I could give a rats A what we chase, or what the chances of success are. I just want to see some country with my bow in my hand.

Anyone have any experience with nonguided hunts in AK?

I’ve hunted AK three times unguided. With very few exceptions, AK is expensive even without a guide. Logistics of getting to/from your hunting area typically involves air travel.

I’ve hunted blacktail (southeast and the Kodiak archipelago) and moose. A successful deer hunt doesn’t add much expense post hunt. Boned out frozen deer meat can easily fly home in waxed fish boxes. Moose is a different story. You’ll require additional flights to get the meat to civilization and then ship it home.

Whatever you hunt AK is sure to be fun.


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[Gator]

No joke....there was a huge bull on the side of the road that loops around the airport....u see them on tv and think "ok...that's pretty big" then u see 1 in person and I like WHOAH

I didn't see a big bull but right beside the airport outside gate I took pics of a cow and baby.