I'm interested in finding information leading to a fly-in drop hunt for moose in Alaska. I am not so interested in float trips for seveal different reasons, but being dropped on a lake would be perfect. Not sure exactly where to start the search however.

Any leads would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Brent

Brent,

Go to Bay Air on the web. They can do a great job for you. They are who I personally fly with each year. Very dependable and trustworthy outfit. Also Unit 17 where they operate has good moose populations and some truly huge bulls.

Regards,

Mark

I think there was a member here who did drop camps. Maybee Illiamna air guides. I think Stoney creek outfitters did a deluxe camp as well. Everything set up just no guide. There is always Lake Clark air and places like that. What level of drop camp are you after ?

Level of drop camp?

Above sea level? I'm not sure what you are gettin' at. If you mean with respect to gear needed, I can go either way. More interested in good hunting than plush camps. I could bring most or all of my own for that matter.

Brent

LOL, yeah above water would definately be a plus. There is a huge range of drop camps. Everything from a plane service that drops you where you want to go and hopefully picks you up to camps that are all set up, stocked with food and water etc. I think the best ones offer fly over service to check on you and spend a fair number of hours in the air scouting in advance. Most of theese rent you a tent, cots etc. Some will move you if your area is not productive. Also based on what I've read in AK you need to decide if succes is more important than a trophy. That will play some role in determining your hunt area. If you have some idea of the level of service you are looking for or how much you want to spend I'd be happy to take a peek in a AK professional guide magazine and see what is listed.In the meantime you might try to look at the Cabela's hunt catalog as I belive they offer some and

www.alaskaairtaxi.com



Also



www.outdoorsdirectory.com/directory/airtaxi.htm



For a list a licensed guides ;



www.alaskaprohunter.org

We at Iliamna air guides no longer do drop moose hunts. Their is a guy in central Alaska that does good moose drop hunts call him.
Rocky McEleven
Alasaka adventures
916-624-5630
They are up here in Alaska now so It may take a few days to get back to ya.... Good luck <<>> Maddog

Check out Willow Air, www.willowair.com. Several friends have used them with great results and speak very highly of them.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I believe I have heard of Willow Air a couple of times.

I'm not particularly interested in a plush camp per se, but it would make things easier not to have fly up our own camping gear from the plains of Iowa too.

Roughly what is the moose season and within that period are there better or worse times?

I'll have to slueth out the AK webpages on the units and seasons, but any quick comments about them would be welcome.

Thanks again,
Brent

Brent,

In Unit 17 the non-resident season runs Sept. 5-15. The best hunting is the last week with the 10th-15th prime time at the beginning of the rut.

Regards,

Mark

Normally moose season is in September, and depending on where you hunt the dates will vary: As Mark said, GMU 17 for Non-residents its Sept 5-15 and the best time to hunt for non-residents is Sept 5-15 (I'm not being a smart-ass..and you should listen to Mark Young' advice because he knows what he is talking about..but you should give the hunt the full 10 days). In Part of GMU 18, it is Sept 1-30. In a lot of GMU 19 it is Sept 1-20. And the variations continue through out the state. Some hunts are in August, some in Oct, Nov, Dec. Some areas require 50" antler width or 3 or more brow tines, and some areas just require antlers. There are a couple places were any moose will fit the bill. Normally, there is always some place in the state where you can hunt moose anytime you want, 12 months a year. Moose hunting is tough though. A good guided moose hunts goes for about $12,000 (+/-), and that is roughly an index to the diffeculty involved in getting one.



The best planning document out there is the Alaska Hunting Regulations, which the state will gladly send you for nothing. You can also get good information at http://wildlife.alaska.gov.

I completely agree with rwj on the duration of the hunt. If I was a non-resident coming to hunt moose particularly on my own in Unit 17 I would arrange to get dropped off about 3 Sept. As for the pick up I would arrange to be picked up about 17 Sept. These dates would give you scouting time, a better choice of drop off spots and meat packing time if you shot one the last day.

I'm taking a non-resident out this year but we are only hunting the last 6 days. Of course in this case we will be targeting a particular bull or bulls that have already been spotted. We won't have to speculate about moose being around a lake we might land on.

Regards,

Mark

I can also recommend 40-Mile Air out of Tok or Fairbanks. Just a transporter, must bring your own gear. (907) 883-5191, fortymi@aptalaska.net.