My hunting partner Jim, moved from Soldatna to Branson.I'm looking to do a moose trip this year. Jim did a doctor tour in Fairbanks for a year and suggested that I hunt up near there or by Bettles.He cannot make it so Im by myself. Does anybody know of a good transporter around the areas or know of anybody wanting a moose hunting partner this coming year. I have hunted with 40 mile air out of Tok and thought they were a very good transporter but they don't go north of Fairbanks. I'm in my early 50's, have hunted Alaska 5 times and still cannot get a moose! Willing to share all costs if hunting with someone. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Jeff

Been to Ak 5 times. Have you ever considered buying a small cabin in a rural community?

I know a few guys from lower 48 who after doing the guided hunt route, figure out they can keep a cabin here for the same money. They get to know the all the Indians & locals, get to know the country & river and end up flying up several times a year for a couple weeks each trip. These guys are natural killers and really do quite well on their own. They keep an old trk, atv, snowmachine, and boat at their cabin and hunt caribou, moose, bear, sheep, and shoot a couple wolves too; abide by the game rules; luv Alaska. They bring up all their brothers & nephews and threaten to marry all the old Indian Women, ha. Actually, they are well liked by the locals who look forward to seeing them again; kinda how the outsider carries himself.

One can find 10 year old 16X24 cabins on 5 acres for 25 gran, pick up a cheap trk, and buy non-res license; hunt everything the locals do. Look for as rural area as you can find with high game numbers, river access, and good neighbors. Just a thought.

Jeff,
My son and I did a DIY hunt this last fall with 40 Mile Air. They are a 1st class transporter. Although neither of us harvested a moose, we both tagged very nice caribou. The moose hunting for us was very hard, as the rut really did not start till late in the season, at least where we were. I do think, however, 40 Mile could get you into areas with a good chance for a moose.

Zhurh,
You say that you know non-residents that keep a cabin in AK. Does this give them resident hunting status, as you state that they hunt sheep? My understanding is that a non-res can not hunt sheep, goats, and brown/grizzly bears without a guide. If owning property in AK gives a person resident hunting status, I might look into purchasing a cabin myself. Would love to hunt sheep, just can't afford the price tag.
Knute

Owning land or renting a PO Box and a cabin in Alaska does not automatically entitle you to resident status. There have been some well known writers who have tried it and some have been able to get away with it and other not.
You actually have to reside here for a year and show intent to stay ( drivers license, voter registration, etc.) and can not have claimed resident status in any other state - including a hunting license - during that time.
If you return "home" after a year and immediatley purchase a resident hunting license there without fullfilling that states rules you will have violated at least one - and possibly both - of the state's residency laws.

There was a guy from Alabama a few years ago who did just that and owned a cabin in the Slana area. He got away with it for a few years claiming his cabin as his residence.
He pushed his luck a little to far when he showed up to get his federal subsistance permit and someone noticed the out of state license plate.
Actully I can see how a person would feel like they might be able to make this claim but the state of AK has ironed out the loop holes pritty well.
Aside frome a person haveing a resident hunting license in another state or voter registration drivers license etc one of the common vilations is a person who claims a homestead exemption for property in another state.

David, As I stated above,I have used 40 mile air. I was very happy with them but want to try up past Fairbanks. I had sent Leif a picture of a world class caribou, if the the world record had I shot it. I could have legally but we were sheep hunting and I did not want to ruin Jims chance at a big sheep.The picture should be on the board inside of the 40 mile air office.

I think the guy I know might had a guide for the sheep, but you don't need one for caribou or moose for sure and that's what he really came here for. He was completely legal with non res license and tags.

The big thing was he hit it off with all the locals and learned the country. He was a good hunter didn't need a guide to begin with. He told me that down south, hunting has changed and he liked coming up here, all the open country, no other hunters, and that it was like going back in time in the rural communities. He felt it was cheaper to keep a place than spending big bucks on guides; I don't fault him, one of these guys who lives to hunt. Ha, he always says if he could get himself a young Indian woman; he'd retire up here, become a resident; funny guy; hope he does too.

Thanks for all the clarification. Pryor to my hunt in AK, I spent many hours reading the regs., and I new what a non-res. could and couldn't hunt without a guide. Just wasn't sure about property ownership in relation to hunting rights. Zhurh, if I could find a young Indian woman, I would prbably retire up there, but I don't think my wife would agree!!! Without hi-jacking this thread, I will try to post a story and thread on the hunt my son and I took this last September. Knute

quote:

Originally posted by Zhurh:
Been to Ak 5 times. Have you ever considered buying a small cabin in a rural community?

I know a few guys from lower 48 who after doing the guided hunt route, figure out they can keep a cabin here for the same money. They get to know the all the Indians & locals, get to know the country & river and end up flying up several times a year for a couple weeks each trip. These guys are natural killers and really do quite well on their own. They keep an old trk, atv, snowmachine, and boat at their cabin and hunt caribou, moose, bear, sheep, and shoot a couple wolves too; abide by the game rules; luv Alaska. They bring up all their brothers & nephews and threaten to marry all the old Indian Women, ha. Actually, they are well liked by the locals who look forward to seeing them again; kinda how the outsider carries himself.

One can find 10 year old 16X24 cabins on 5 acres for 25 gran, pick up a cheap trk, and buy non-res license; hunt everything the locals do. Look for as rural area as you can find with high game numbers, river access, and good neighbors. Just a thought.

If you were going to buy a cabin with 5 acres in a good area for moose and brown bear where in Alaska would you look (I'm a small town kind of guy, used to live in Sula Montana had a population of less than 100 back then)

Chuck

Chuck
, First off, nothing against guides, just the outsiders I know like hunting in Ak every season; most stay august & september for caribou & moose. They also come up fishing.

I know several of them, grew up together, and they all have cabins in different areas, from around Tok, Kenai, and around Fairbanks. They spend time at each others cabins also; depending on the seasons.

Another group came up here about 10 years back in a couple campers. Stayed near our community for 3 weeks and they got 3 moose (one was 58) and all got nice caribou; they hunted hard too. The following year two of them moved up outside fairbanks and now residents; good people too. Being a resident opens up more hunting too.

Personally, I could never live in a community that is over 100 people or so. Every rural community has empty cabins that can be bought reasonably. Some people like having the road system, some want isolated. I'd want a river to travel on, mnts to hunt caribou, and sure helps if you have a high moose density. Gets very expensive living where you have to fly in too. I have been quite satisfied with hunting and live on the Yukon & yet still on the road system.

Everywhere I have been in Alaska, I have seen cabins owned by outsiders who come up just for the hunting & fishing; nothing wrong with that.

Once one gets to know the locals, the country, and figures out where to hunt, life is good. I did do a fly in drop off once 20 years back, it rained 7 days straight, ha. Then it cleared and I called several bulls in. The cost was only 1600 bucks back then too. After being a resident, having boat, 4wheelers, snowmachines; I'd never consider hunting anywheres except near home.

I think that I'd check game densities then call the little pop store in target area and see if they have a list of vacant properties for sale. Many people come to rural Ak, then bug out after a year or two; after they built a cabin, ha; Ak is not for everybody. Yet I couldn't imagine living anywhere's else. Luv the rural lifestyle. Like going back in time to the 1940's. Hope I've given ya an idear or two.

Thanks Zurhh, it's definitely something to think about. I'm 61 so I'd probably get 5 or 10 seasons out of it, but it would be something to leave to my boys.