Read this post, spoke with Greg and have reserved a spot till Friday. Still trying to convince my father to go. What do you think?

Thanks,
Ski+3

Outfitted Moose Hunts: $6,750 (3 remaining for 2012, groups of 2 in camp. One guy booked alone looking for a partner)
- 10 full hunting days, 12 day itinerary
- Units 21, 23, 24
- Animals: Moose, caribou, wolf, black bear
- Includes: meals, tents, all game bags and pack frames, air charters into and out of the hunting area, flying of meat back to Galena
- Excludes: Guides, field prep, license and tags, shipping of meat and trophies

well I do not know for certain, but it sounds ok. To be honest, the only way I can afford to hunt Alaska is for me to live in Alaska. Check about shipping the meat/trophies home. I'll bet that is going to be a bit of money from Galena to home.

Looks like it might be too good of a deal... I would be cautious - look at references.

Some air taxis and outfitters run cheap hunts, move a ton of guys through with limited success. With this said, there are a lot of critters up in the Galena area...

I just did a 10 day hunt in the Koyukuk WMU with two other guys.

From my seat, the price is too low for non residents. I think you might get pinched. As kingsalmon says, check references, at least 3 of them.

I used a transporter from Galena to get our meet out of the field and back to Galena. Flying meat back to Anchorage isn't bad, but I would think from Anchorage back to the lower 48 is going to be about a buck a pound.

As for game, moose for sure, wolf if your lucky enough to get them. (They are around but are jumpy this time of year, same for black bear.) Caribou, maybe, but depending on your exact location, they don't come in the area until later in the winter.

I wish I could say we don't have bad outfitters up here but they are everywhere. Not saying your guide is one, but just check and double check.

I know for the exact area I hunted the fee for a 1 on 1 hunt is 14k from Galena to the field and back. It's a lot. We tagged two moose, didn't see a bear or wolves that we could shoot at. Good luck.

By the way, I didn't use an outfitter, I have my own boat and did it my self. I have hunted Alaska for 25 years (10 as a resident) and the balance as a non.

Hunting Alaska isn't cheap, but if you can do it, it's like no other as long as you do your homework.

Ski

Thats a fair price you do realize this is not a GUIDED hunt.
I have been trying to find out if this is under an Master Guides Outfitters License or a Transporters License.
I got stuck 2010 over a hunt advertised the same way it was a mess. It was NOT WITH THIS POSTER.
You can call or email and check the license they have.
Cynthia Spencer

Licensing Examiner

Big Game Commercial Services Board (L-Z)

Mortuary Sciences

(907) 465-2691

cynthia.spencer@alaska.gov

Larry

Larry,
Your right, sorry for my over site. That said, yes that does seem reasonable. Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by elk88101:
Ski

Thats a fair price you do realize this is not a GUIDED hunt.
I have been trying to find out if this is under an Master Guides Outfitters License or a Transporters License.
I got stuck 2010 over a hunt advertised the same way it was a mess. It was NOT WITH THIS POSTER.
You can call or email and check the license they have.
Cynthia Spencer

Licensing Examiner

Big Game Commercial Services Board (L-Z)

Mortuary Sciences

(907) 465-2691

cynthia.spencer@alaska.gov

Larry

Larry,

Both the guided and outfitted hunts are conducted under Joe Schuster, registered guide outfitter #912 (owner of Sportsman's Air Service Inc.), transporter license #678. The hunt I put up IS NOT a guided hunt, it's an "outfitted hunt" where all flying and most everything you'll need with the exception of your rifle, license and tags is provided in the cost. The price is $6,750 per hunter for a double occupancy camp.

Anyone wishing to get a list of references, I'll gladly PM them to you. I've got some for the non-guided and the guided hunt as well.

Thanks!


Greg

Thats a smokin' deal if what you ststed above is true of whats offered. I would get that in writing along with a contract. Have you checked on most moose hunts? Most of them are what you'd pay for sheep hunts. Check with other name outfitters and you'll see..

This is does sound too good to be true, so further investigating might be in order...get references and other info.

Greg
Thanks
Since he has the guides license will a camp be set up at a designated area? Will all the stuff be already in place or will the hunters need to set up everything? Also is there communication for early pick up of meat? As for location to hunt, will you have the area selected or will the hunters actually have to give you a destination? If so do you provide maps and topo's. This is a problem I had with my last hunt at the last minute he asked where do I want to go??? WOW!!!!!So much for a great moose hunt. Just staying off disappointment from some would be whitetail hunter thinking this is a snap, all moose hunting in the bush is very hard and even harder by yourself in strange areas to be succesful. Good Luck to all that adventure Alaska.
Larry

quote:

Originally posted by elk88101:
Greg
Thanks
Since he has the guides license will a camp be set up at a designated area? Will all the stuff be already in place or will the hunters need to set up everything? Also is there communication for early pick up of meat? As for location to hunt, will you have the area selected or will the hunters actually have to give you a destination? If so do you provide maps and topo's. This is a problem I had with my last hunt at the last minute he asked where do I want to go??? WOW!!!!!So much for a great moose hunt. Just staying off disappointment from some would be whitetail hunter thinking this is a snap, all moose hunting in the bush is very hard and even harder by yourself in strange areas to be succesful. Good Luck to all that adventure Alaska.
Larry

Larry,

He's got camps set up (wall tents) and also provides some camps with a portable Cabelas "Outfitter" series tents. You'll only receive those tents if you're in a camp that has a river you can float. Unit 23 for example has a few good rivers that are float-able, but unit 21 does not. If you go into an area with a wall tent, the tent will already be set up when you land. Your personal gear and food totes will fly out on the plane with you, and you'll have to set up your cots, etc. but it's all there. You will be given the area he's got designated for you before the hunt starts, not have to come up with one on your own! Basically the pilots fly the areas before season and wherever they're seeing the most bulls is where he sets up camp. When we flew to the lake where I killed my bull, we saw 3 good bulls from the air within a mile of my tent. Obviously I had to wait a day after flying to hunt, but it was still nice knowing they were there. I killed my bull the next day, probably one of the bulls we saw from the plane the previous day.

I agree - moose hunting is not easy. You'll need to be able to call bulls in to be successful in this area as they hang along the river bottoms and visibility is pretty low in some areas. I had no idea how to call a moose before going, but learned from YouTube videos and it obviously worked out well for me. There are lots of moose in these units, good age structure and great genetics really help your odds of shooting a good bull.

Thanks!

Greg

$13,500 for two guys? Holy crap!

For that price you and a friend could buy all your own gear, charter a plane and still have enough left over to come back the following year.

To each his own.

quote:

Originally posted by Ivan:
$13,500 for two guys? Holy crap!

For that price you and a friend could buy all your own gear, charter a plane and still have enough left over to come back the following year.

To each his own.

+1

All of the gear should be less than $2000, air taxi for two plus gear $1000 or so. Find an alaskan to go with you who knows the area and wants to hunt too (on this forum?) and pay his way maybe another $1000. You're still ahead $9000 ...

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by Ivan:
$13,500 for two guys? Holy crap!

For that price you and a friend could buy all your own gear, charter a plane and still have enough left over to come back the following year.

To each his own.


+1

All of the gear should be less than $2000, air taxi for two plus gear $1000 or so. Find an alaskan to go with you who knows the area and wants to hunt too (on this forum?) and pay his way maybe another $1000. You're still ahead $9000 ...

Regards,

Chuck

Hey Chuck & Ivan, why don't you guys post some pics of your bulls

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by Ivan:
$13,500 for two guys? Holy crap!

For that price you and a friend could buy all your own gear, charter a plane and still have enough left over to come back the following year.

To each his own.


+1

All of the gear should be less than $2000, air taxi for two plus gear $1000 or so. Find an alaskan to go with you who knows the area and wants to hunt too (on this forum?) and pay his way maybe another $1000. You're still ahead $9000 ...

Regards,

Chuck

Hey Chuck & Ivan, why don't you guys post some pics of your bulls

I think that is a bit too high as well. And here are a couple pictures of my bulls.

Greg
Thanks for the feed Back and complete description of what is and what is not supplied.
I dont think some of the other posters have flown Bush in Alaska for awhile. From my flights they usually ran closer to $1000 to $1500 per person and the same for another flight to bring the meat out. Cant put 2 hunters in a Super Cub have to fly a 180 or 176 or a Maul
And for the gear in the Bush you will have almost a full load with just one passenger each trip in and out.
Then who is gonna fly over and spot the areas for pre scouting that cost money also.
Sorry but just dont like the stepping on a advertised hunt with how much cheaper someone else can do it for or complaining its to much money. My next Moose hunt is close to $20k but thats what I want and who I want to do it with.
Good Luck
Larry

SORRY MIS SPOKE THIS THREAD IS NOT IN THE HUNT OFFER FORUM SO COMPLAIN ALL YOU WANT

I did a fly in out the Innoko back in late 90's. Basically you got yourself to McGRath and they flew ya in from there; dropped ya off on river; campsites every couple miles. They provided tent, cook gear, canoe, ect but common sense tells ya to bring your own. It cost 1800/person and there was a high moose density and we caught glimpses of wolves everyday. It rained 7 days straight, misery. Then on the 8th day, sun came out and there were moose breeding everywhere. We called bulls in and filled our tags. We never used the canoe, but that's all the outta staters were doing, floating the river and they got skunked. We hiked into old lakes that had once been the river, maybe a mile back in. Saw all kinds of wildlife once the rain stopped.

We live at the end of the Taylor, people haul 4 wheelers up here in trailers and hunt from trails that come out on the road. They sleep in trailers and the ones I met all got their caribou, and about half got moose, and they also got blk bear & wolves. Of course they drive up a couple days from lower 48 but do it pretty cheap after they buy their licenses. You have to be here at just the right time to do good on everything, and better to stay 2 weeks if possible.

Actually some of these guys from lower 48 don't do very well and then others do pretty good. You know, everybody has friends that seem to kill something whenever they walk in the woods and others who never do.

This is a very good deal. Schuster has one of the best areas in the Warring Mountains. Some of the Moose up there are just incredible. He has won several awards for top guided moose from the APHA.

The caveat I would have to whoever hunts up there is to make sure that you aren't on NANA land or on the Kobuk National Sand Dunes Monument. Otherwise the price for charters and logistics would actually be more expensive for this hunt without the expertise of the Guide who would be able to put you into the right place. Bring an Electric Fence if you do this.
Nuff said.

Sincerely,
Thomas

Like I said, to each his own. Some can do it on their own, others go with a guide/outfitted camp. He asked for the opinion of ALASKANS, I gave it. It very well could be a 'fair' price for an outfitted hunt.

I couldn't in my right mind spend that kind of money to go on a moose hunt ANYWHERE in this state. I've been on a 'few' bush flights, I understand the diffrence between a fair price and a jar of vasaline. 2 guys and $13500, to share share everything including the same moose? Get real, I don't care what part of the state its in. I can fly out there from Anchorage and back for less than $13,000. Shit I could fly out and scout it for a couple hours and still be money ahead.

This could be construed as something other than intended... There are a lot of guides up here that don't have an issue with flying an area, spotting game and then going in and killing it.

quote:

When we flew to the lake where I killed my bull, we saw 3 good bulls from the air within a mile of my tent. Obviously I had to wait a day after flying to hunt, but it was still nice knowing they were there. I killed my bull the next day, probably one of the bulls we saw from the plane the previous day.

12 AAC 75.340. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS STANDARDS FOR GUIDES.

(d) Field craft standards. All classes of guides shall

(8) avoid using an aircraft in any manner to spot big game for the purpose of taking a specific animal,
unless specifically authorized under statute or regulation;

I've flown with Joe Schuster and he does a good job and has a good group of planes. You won't be flying supercubs (in most cases) and flight costs will easily be 1/2 the total cost of this trip. The days of flying a beaver or otter for $300/hr are long gone.

If you aren't an experienced moose hunter, then I would excercise caution on this type of hunt. You can do well, but the amount of hard work is difficult to understand, and you will spend a fair bit of time floundering around in the thick brush. A 50% success rate unguided would be excellent, and judging a legal bull in these units is not simple.

I have a hunting partner in Alaska, and store all my gear and supplies for this type of hunt with him. We go self-outfitted and just use Joe to fly us out. It can still easily hit $4-5K per person just in air time, depending on where we go. Unlike the hunt offered, we know the area a bit, and select our own campsites / destination, and provide all our gear. Moose hunting in the Alaskan bush isn't cheap, even when you have all of your own gear.

I don't consider the offered hunt a bargain, but nor do I see it as inflated. It seems a fair price with a reasonable outfit. Again, moose hunting off the road system in Alaska isn't cheap.
Bill

The going rate of chartering a beaver today is right sround $900 - $1000 per hour and thats Tach time.

I tell you right now...for a full guided moose hunt at this price is a smokin' deal to me, yes you could probably do it for alot less cheaper on your own resident or non-resident, but its still gonna cost $$$$....

I hunt all over this state, and do about 3 hunts a year ( various species), and even as a resident it still costs me a bundle, believe me...I don't hear the end of it from the wife !!!

I'm not an Alaskan but I've done plenty of DIY hunts including a 2009 moose hunt in Unit 25A which is way out there and required long bush flights. I figured my all-in price (including tags, fees, raft rental, gear etc.) at $6,000 since I needed an extra meat flight out. My buddy who passed on a bull probably spent $4000 so if what is advertised is provided it would be alot more comfortable camp than we had at a slightly higher price but with none of the headaches of getting your gear to AK. I would say do your homework on the area and what info you can get about hunting pressure and game in the area. I definitely agree with the recommendation to hunt the last part of the moose season so you get rutting activity. The price seems fair to me!

Thanks for all the good information guys. I have spoken with Greg and decided to book the hunt. My decision was based on his answers, your comments and the real desire to take my 72 year old father on one last "wilderness" trip and do it ourselves. Don't get put off by his age, he's tough as hell and a very experienced woodsman. I know we will have a blast and some great experiences.

I am aware that a hunt can be done for less money but I also know I can make the money faster while someone else is handling logistics. Meaning my time is better spent at my job than lining up flights, areas, gear and all the other "stuff". I am happy to pay an outfitter for his services.

I posted here to get comments on Joe, the area and questions to ask Greg. Thank you for providing the answers. I will have many more before we go. Hope I post a great hunt report in 11 months.

Ski+3

Looking forward to your hunt report. Hope you and your dad shoot a couple 60 inchers!