I returned a week ago from a moose hunt with Deltana Outfitters based in Delta Junction. http://www.deltana.com/hunting.htm
Aspen Hill Farms (Ann) arranged it for me. Flew into Fairbanks on Sept 2nd and was in the field on the 4th. Hunting Interior Alaska WNW of Fairbanks.
It was a great and rewarding experience. Billy, my guide, was outstanding in every detail. We traveled by canoe and climbed the hills to glass and call. We saw 8 bulls in the first 3 days that ranged from 53 to 70+ inches. The big bull would not come closer than 700 yrds. We tried to put a sneak on him but the wind gave him our scent. On the 3rd day, a 65+ incher came in from 3/4 mile and came all the way up to the river but never stepped into the open. While he was coming in, we made a dash for our side of the river bank to wait for him. We could hear him snort & bellow within 50 yards of us, but the wind must of given us away. On the 4th day, a 62" bull came from the same draw and came towards us. This time we stayed put on the hill and he kept coming. Shot him in the shoulder at 253 yards and he hobbled off into the trees. 30 minutes later we went to collect him. Found him bedded and I dropped him with a spine shot when he got up to take off. We were very lucky on the location, we were on the edge of a slew only 80 yards from the canoe. Good solid ground and easy packing.
Next morning we went back to our vantage point and I took a grey wolf off the gut pile. The next morning we went back again to see if any bear had moved in. We had seen 3 bears, 2 grizzlies and 1 black bear but all had cubs. 30 minutes after we got to the vantage point a black wolf shows up, so I used the bear tag on her as a black wolf was high on my list.
The weather ranged from 20 F to 55 F with some sun, rain and a bit of snow.
I will hunt with Deltana Outfitters again!
My brother put some pictures (41) on his website for me that advances the pictures at 10 second intervals. They are examples of my experience and the beauty that I observed. They are at http://www.ballscasten.com/alaskahunt

Some details: rifle used was a .338 Win by McMillan with a Swarovski 1.5-6x42. Load was 75 gr MRP with a North Fork 225 gr bullet, 2850 fps muzzle. Moose was shot in upper left shoulder at 253 yards and bullet stopped under the skin below the right shoulder (26-28 inches penetration) and weighed 216.3 gr (before & after picture included and looks perfect). Spine shot exited. Wolves were shot with same load at 320 yards, both in the throat. Stayed in a tent and traveled by canoe. Climbing, calling & glassing was the way we hunted. Bush pilot used gravel bars for drop off and pick up. Caught grayling in the river for a change in dinner.
Tip #1 - Always carry duct tape, a few paper clips and a leatherman in case you lose or break fishing pole. See photos.
Tip #2 - When fishing in water that has giardia in it, never use your teeth to tie on lures. Not pleasant!
Tip #3 - When hunting in Alaska, get as many wolf tags as you can. I could have taken 3 or 4 more wolves if I would of had more tags.
DMC

[ 10-04-2002, 17:35: Message edited by: DaveC ]

Congrats!!! That is a Fantastic area
Nothing better than Moose Steaks

Good Luck

Thanks for sharing your hunt. Great photos!

Tim

Dave

Just curious...what does your rifle weigh, field ready?

thanks,

Tim

Tarbe-
It weighs 9.25 lbs with sling and 3 rounds. Heavy, yes, but steadies up quick. It is an MCRT action, 23" bbl, Talley rings & bases and a Lazzeroni stock at 14.25" LOP. A real pussy cat to shoot.

Thanks!

I'm starting to get the itch to move up (from my Weathermark Alaskan). McMillan Bros is one of the outfits that sells in the range I'd be looking at.

Tim

Dave,

Looks like a great trip. For those saving our pennies, how much was the package?

They have 12 day hunt packages that run $7500.00 2x1 and $8500.00 1x1. The total for my hunt, airfare from Iowa, air charter, grizz & wolf tags, hotel and food (4 days hotel -2 before & 2 after hunt) was a little over $10,000. It was a 1x1 hunt and worth every penny.

[ 10-03-2002, 18:16: Message edited by: DaveC ]

Great Pictures and story Dave!
Question: You are allowed to tag a wolf on a bear tag but not the otherway around?

You can use a brown/grizz bear tag ($500.00) on any equal or lesser value species tag - for example: (black bear = $225.00) & (wolf = $30.00).

FWIW, the tags can be used for any one species of lesser or equal value. Here's how the ADF&G hunting regs states it:

"A big game tag may be used for another species of equal or lower value, but a tag may not be used more than once nor can two or more tags be put on one animal."

Congrats on your hunt, DaveC, c'mon back up again! Oh, and thanks for taking a wolf, there's too dang many of them at the moment.

Thanks all for the comments.

Whitehurst, thanks for clarifying my poor attempt to explain the tag issue. It is a pretty handy option to have available.
I'll be up there again, rest assured, and I'll get more wolf tags.

One thing that I forgot to mention for anyone hunting moose or bear in Alaska. The Alaska Fish & Game have some very good info on hunting. The following website was great, especially the shot placement guide. Very helpful to visualize kill and anchoring zones.

http://www.state.ak.us/adfg/wildlife/geninfo/hunting/huntak.htm