Hi, I blame Zhurh for this topic lol...

If you were going to spend between $25,000 and $40,000 on a hunting / fishing cabin in Alaska looking to hunt moose and brown bear (after establishing residency), where would you look and what links if any would you recommend. I have just started looking at the Kenai Peninsula area and there seem to be some good deals there. Is that a good area?

Thanks,

Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
Hi, I blame Zhurh for this topic lol...

If you were going to spend between $25,000 and $40,000 on a hunting / fishing cabin in Alaska looking to hunt moose and brown bear (after establishing residency), where would you look and what links if any would you recommend. I have just started looking at the Kenai Peninsula area and there seem to be some good deals there. Is that a good area?

Thanks,

Chuck

NO!!

Yes there are better places. The Kenai is great and once you buy a place and learn the area you will find the moose. BB on the other hand is a draw and its hit and miss. You will have to travel a tad for good BB hunting for the OTC tags.

Any suggestions on the better places?

The friend I know with cabin on Kenai likes fishing more than hunting, why he likes it there. Also, more food near coast; better bear hunting.

Get yourself a map of Ak, the road atlas available at book stores is a good one. Every small community has somebody that has a list of all vacant properties that can be had. At one time our community had like 10 on the list. Also , there are realtors trying to get 3X the price for everything, but they know whats out there. I'd probably start by calling a store, lodge, gas station, inquiring about the list of property & cabins for sale in a particular community.

We live at end of the Taylor, 180 miles north of Tok. We have low moose density but everybody gets their caribou, if you hunt hard, you'll get a moose, and we are on the Yukon. We like our quality of life here, no crime, no locked doors, no prop taxes, no organized govt, road closed half the year; kinda like going back in time; probably the same in many rural communities.

I know a few people from outside who have bought cabins in Tok. You are on the road system there, have a clinic, store, ect. Good hunting in all directions. Cabins for sale from town to 10 miles out along highway. There are also small communities all along the highways to Fairbanks & Anch. You get in an area, you spend some time there, get to know the locals, learn the country, you figure it out as far as the hunting goes and are successful.

A place I always liked is Nabessna Road, nice country, ok hunting, great snowmachining, and I always liked the people I met there. There was a bar/lodge, 30 miles out the road, Sportsman Paradise, what a great place; Doug was the owner; you won't meet better people than this guy.

Outside Fairbanks, good moose density. Like south to Delta Junction and then also out Chena Springs Road. Course more hunters there also.

Probably good places all over Ak. Smaller communites, off the road system, will be cheaper but costs increase in other ways. Southwestern Ak has better hunting but you can't drive there from Anch.

We luv Alaska, been here close to 20 years; couldn't live anywhere's else. Killed more moose in Sutton (matsu) than here along the Yukon, but couldn't ever move back to the Ak suburbia either. You'll find that you can kill game all over Ak; got to pick a place you like to live. Also, Ak is a competitive place, everybody thinks their 16X20 cabin is Disneyland. You spend the time researching what's out there; you'll find a place that you like and then get to know the people & country & hunting.

Hope this helps. I just luv Alaska, they couldn't chase me outta here, with guns or taxes but it's not for everybody. Alaskans are people like you find everywhere else; though many think the border should have been closed the day after they arrived, ha ha you know how that goes.

Thanks Zhurh,

Best Regards,

Chuck

I like the Tok/Taylor area myself. Been making the drive up there from Anchorage for the last dozen years or so. I dont hunt as far north where Z lives though.

I stopped hunting caribou up there after the boundary fires, way to many people now. I remember parking at the mosquito (just outside chicken) and maybe see another truck or 2, now its a fricken walmart parking lot.

Its just like anywhere in this state, you need to find a good hole for hunting. My buddy has a nice hole on the taylor where a blind person can find a nice bull. Nice bears and dog hunting also. If Z is like the typical person living in the area, he's probably a hell of a guy. The folks are great, even the old timers and some indians, but they take a bit to warm up to you.

You don't want anywhere in the interior, esp. CHSR. It's combat huntin'.
Bear in Fairbanks

Hell, bear. Its combat hunting on 95% of the road system.

quote:

Originally posted by Zhurh:
A place I always liked is Nabessna Road, nice country, ok hunting, great snowmachining, and I always liked the people I met there. There was a bar/lodge, 30 miles out the road, Sportsman Paradise, what a great place; Doug was the owner; you won't meet better people than this guy.

Zhurh:

Wow, that post brought back memories. The first sheep I ever shot I killed by driving down that road and hiking in about 10 miles. I remember after we came out we bought a beer or two at that bar/lodge. One of the best memories I have.

AZ, Ya Sportsman's Paradise is a nice place. Wife and I were teachers at an Indian Village about 50 miles from there. My 12 year old son and I hauled the snowmachines down that way with some of the local Indians. After a long day of riding, we ended up in bar until 2am; my 12 year old son ended up driving the truck home and I was up at 4am for school. The boy and I went back down the following weekend and every weekend after the entire winter. Imagine being the only white boy on a res, why I took my son down Sportsmans riding every weekend.

Doug was the best, first weekend I gave him 500 and said I wanted a tab in the future. We always stayed in his cabins out Copper Lake which was 18 miles in from lodge. No joke, between all the beverages, cheezeburgers, fuel, cabin and all, never spent more than 150 a weekend. Doug is one of the best people I have ever met in AK and he has dedicated his life to fighting the fed park rangers (they have been trying to drive him outta there for years he was born there), for sure; he'd stand up even when it might be easier to sit back.

We'd fish Tanada Lk and copper lk, doug would keep a trail groomed and also set 114's for wolves on edge of trail. Couple times came up on wolves all tangled in drags along trail, the wolves were after caribou that were everywhere in there. Did you ever see that old lodge on Tanada? Ever read the book: "Wind on the Water" that is the place, some doctors own it now but in disrepair.

We'd fish for lakers & burbot early mornings then ride all day. Out Jacksina glacier way down Copper glacier, and up on Sugarloaf; some super spectacular country. Also on other side of road from lodge, there was a trail that went into grayling lk, then up high towards the divide between Copper & Yukon drainages on the old traditional trail to tetlin village that was 50 miles away. I saw moose, caribou, and wolf kills everywhere out nabessna.

When we'd fish for lakers, doug would give me his aquaview and I'd spend more time looking at the huge fish 200 ft down bumping the camera and not my airplane jig. Then doug told me I needed to tip the jigs with whitefish from copper lake, not from slana river, I started killing them then, imagine that. ha.

Doug has a big fish fry come spring, really worth hitting, (everybody from Anch). Doug hated bear, didn't like talking about them; then he pulled off his shirt & dropped his pants once, he had been mauled twice in his life had some real scars to show too.

We really liked snowmachining out there, wife and I considered a teaching slot at school there, but quite small school, and wife didn't want to go. I've always regretted not living out nabessna. There were cabins & places for sale out there too.

All my friends from MatSu who came out riding were stunned at the beauty and all the caribou coming off the mountains. There's sheep still there too. I use to sit on the can at cabin and watch over 40-50 sheep with binos.

Even before we moved to Ak, I had a friend who retired back east where he was born in Pa, after living in AK 33 years back when it was dreamland up here. He always told me to get out Nabessna. He had an old guiding buddy named Hancock who called nabessna home and my back east friend always talked about his Indian Wife being the prettiest woman in a 100 miles. He said, you'll know her when you see her. Sure enough, I was in sportsmans paradise and in walked this half breed lady, had to be 70 years old. I realized right off it was Laura Hancock and introduced myself. Funny how beauty is ageless in some women, it sure was in her, she was Johhny Nicolai's youngest sister.

Last story: One xmas, I sat for hours and talked to Johnny Nicolai. He told me that in 1949, he took dogteam into White River country from nabessna. He said entire month it never went above minus 60, had to shoot some dogs, nothing moving, almost died he said. I asked him why he even went back then under those conditions, He said he had to feed his family, trapping was only income available. Back then, no govt money flow into villages. Tough old Indian for sure. Johnny passed on 3 years back, was close to 90, and still driving his truck to tok every couple days.

Sorry to go on, nabessna is a special place for sure and hunting is as good there as anywhere else in Ak. I posted a few picts from there about a year back, might still be on here somewheres.

Chuck,

First as 458 said on a different thread owning a cabin doesn't make you a resident. You actually have to live in Alaska. Second if you can reach the cabin with a 4x4 the hunting will not be great.

It would make far more sense to move to a bush community offering good housing, services and boat or fly out from there for hunting and fishing.

There is no easy or cheap way to access the good bear/ moose hunting and maintain a residency and job in the lower 48. If you had father, mother, son, daughter that were residents you could hunt with them and avoid guide costs.

Mark,

Originally posted by Zhurh

quote:

He had an old guiding buddy named Hancock

This post really brings back a lot of memories. I met the old guide a couple of times and as I recall His name was Lee Hancock, He was old back then (mid 80's) and still guideing. That was back nearly 30 years ago when I was working up in that area for another guide.

Yes that is great country and I feel the need to revisit it again soon.

I guess I really want a brown bear so that's a high quality guided hunt for me. As far as moose or black bear, I've killed a bunch of black bears (animal control) and we have great elk in Colorado so the draw isn't there.

Just had my ICD / CRT heart implant put in so I'm looking towards 2012 for a brown bear hunt. Got to get back in shape.

Thanks all, great posts and discussion.

Chuck

I invested $50k several years ago in the Sterling area so I could have good fishing and hunting when I wanted it. The fishing is great in the Kenai and across the inlet but for hunting I was spending way too much to travel by plane to the better hunting areas of sw Ak. eventually I sold out of the Sterling property and now just fly up to fish staying in a B&B and booking flyout DIY hunts. In the long run that is what I would recommend to anyone with your question today.

quote:

Originally posted by Zhurh:
The friend I know with cabin on Kenai likes fishing more than hunting, why he likes it there. Also, more food near coast; better bear hunting.

Get yourself a map of Ak, the road atlas available at book stores is a good one. Every small community has somebody that has a list of all vacant properties that can be had. At one time our community had like 10 on the list. Also , there are realtors trying to get 3X the price for everything, but they know whats out there. I'd probably start by calling a store, lodge, gas station, inquiring about the list of property & cabins for sale in a particular community.

We live at end of the Taylor, 180 miles north of Tok. We have low moose density but everybody gets their caribou, if you hunt hard, you'll get a moose, and we are on the Yukon. We like our quality of life here, no crime, no locked doors, no prop taxes, no organized govt, road closed half the year; kinda like going back in time; probably the same in many rural communities.

I know a few people from outside who have bought cabins in Tok. You are on the road system there, have a clinic, store, ect. Good hunting in all directions. Cabins for sale from town to 10 miles out along highway. There are also small communities all along the highways to Fairbanks & Anch. You get in an area, you spend some time there, get to know the locals, learn the country, you figure it out as far as the hunting goes and are successful.

A place I always liked is Nabessna Road, nice country, ok hunting, great snowmachining, and I always liked the people I met there. There was a bar/lodge, 30 miles out the road, Sportsman Paradise, what a great place; Doug was the owner; you won't meet better people than this guy.

Outside Fairbanks, good moose density. Like south to Delta Junction and then also out Chena Springs Road. Course more hunters there also.

Probably good places all over Ak. Smaller communites, off the road system, will be cheaper but costs increase in other ways. Southwestern Ak has better hunting but you can't drive there from Anch.

We luv Alaska, been here close to 20 years; couldn't live anywhere's else. Killed more moose in Sutton (matsu) than here along the Yukon, but couldn't ever move back to the Ak suburbia either. You'll find that you can kill game all over Ak; got to pick a place you like to live. Also, Ak is a competitive place, everybody thinks their 16X20 cabin is Disneyland. You spend the time researching what's out there; you'll find a place that you like and then get to know the people & country & hunting.

Hope this helps. I just luv Alaska, they couldn't chase me outta here, with guns or taxes but it's not for everybody. Alaskans are people like you find everywhere else; though many think the border should have been closed the day after they arrived, ha ha you know how that goes.

That is very solid advice, I am moving back to Alaska in a few years when I retire from the military. It really depends on how remote you want to be.

Brown bears and moose are more widespread than any other big game animal in Alaska, there isn't much of Alaska that doesn't have both of them until you get really far north.

Copper Center, Delta Junction, Tok, Healy, Talkeetna, just get out of town. Remember you have to be a mile from your house to bait black bears.

Originally posted by Chuck375

quote:

I'm looking towards 2012 for a brown bear hunt

FYI - Seems worth mentioning as for 2012 that will be a spring hunt in unit 9. I would reccomend a fall hunt as less physical.

quote:

Originally posted by Akshooter:
Originally posted by Chuck375

quote:

I'm looking towards 2012 for a brown bear hunt

FYI - Seems worth mentioning as for 2012 that will be a spring hunt in unit 9. I would reccomend a fall hunt as less physical.

That will definitely be a consideration, as I'm not sure I will ever be 100% again. So are fall hunts easier physically? Are we talking boat hunt?

Thanks,

Chuck

Originally posted by chuck375

quote:

So are fall hunts easier physically? Are we talking boat hunt?

Thanks

Not always just depends on the area. That would be a real good question to ask any potential outfitter.

In the areas I hunt and have hunted if your set up on a salmon stream you will have much less of a stalk than chasing a bear up the side of a mountain through deep snow where he just came out of his den.

This bear was taken in the fall at 8:30 opening morning about 150 yards from our camp. He dos'nt look like it in this photo but he was over€ 9'



Boats are the only way to hunt S.E. AK but I don't consider a boat any advantage on he AK penn, A skiff comes in real nice on Kodiak but very few outfiters on the island base their hunts from a boat.

Thanks AKhunter, nice bear! A 9 footer would be just fine with me. I'll know by summmer what my condition is. One way or another I'm going bear hunting.

Thanks again,

Chuck

Back to your original question on this topic I think the other posters here have pointed out that property on the road system will not offer much in the way of big game hunting. There are surely exceptions to that and I for one have taken game by hiking in from a road. I havent done that much though because I saw the writing on the wall at a very young age and bought my supercub 26 years ago.
On the other hand you can have some great small game hunting, fishing and good outdoor fun in remote alaska.
Heres the link to go shopping.

alaskarealestate.com

Heres my place out in the woods.

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Really nice cabin Akshooter, I'm jealous for sure.

+1

Chuck, Where we are at, most the guides fly way back in; better hunting for sure. Road system brings in all the Anch & Fairbnks hunters but there are still trails that go 50 miles back in and people kill nice bulls.

There are a few closed down lodges here and there that hunters have bought for their personal use. I have heard that a few were for sale but high priced by my estimation as they are in need of maintenance. I would think there are smaller lodges for sale all over Ak.

If you really get serious about investing in a place up here, pick an area, then contact somebody in that area. One guy I know, paid a local to find him a nice cabin; I heard a couple thou. I was actually kinda shocked to hear about it, but you know how dog eat dog Alaska is. It was all under the table, maybe it was crooked, just like so much else that goes on in rural Alaska. The locals seem to know everybody who has left the area, if they want to sell their old place, and how much they want. Maybe do a guided hunt up here, and then get with whomever you went with and have him find you a place.

The outsiders I know who have bought cabins up here don't regret the purchase. They come up twice a year, spend 1-2 months here during hunting season and keep talking about becoming a resident. They won't sell the cabins they bought either, and have had the chances.

Hope you find a place or just even have a great time hunting in Alaska; it's all good.

Good to know. Thanks for all of the advice, sincerely. I'm definitely still considring it, but will do my guided brown bear hunt first. Just got good news on the health front, I can start exercising again for the first time in 6 months! Good chance for a pretty complete recovery.

Best Regards,

Chuck