| WHAT TO HUNT AND WHERE: Alaska is a hunter's | | | | a mixed-bag hunt and prices vary considerably. The |
| paradise. Hunting here can provide the full scope of | | | | best way to find a reliable guide is by references. |
| experiences- from caribou to deer and moose, from | | | | AIRCRAFT CHARTERS: |
| grizzly and brown bears to wolves, from Dall sheep | | | | Many hunters choose an air charter service to fly in |
| and mountain goats to muskox, from waterfowl to | | | | to prime hunting areas to hunt these species. The air |
| ptarmigan and several grouse species. | | | | charter operator is licensed by the state to charge |
| Diverse Alaska geographic areas offer adventure for | | | | for flying hunters and their game meat. The drop-off |
| everyone, give us various choices: | | | | hunt is less expensive than a guided or outfitted hunt |
| Interior Alaska. From mountains and rolling hills, river | | | | because the air charter takes care of transportation |
| valleys covered with forests to the vast spaces of | | | | and may throw in some planning tips. The hunter |
| treeless tundra at higher altitudes and in the far north. | | | | provides all of the camp gear and performs all other |
| Temperaure varies greatly throughout the year, from | | | | functions on his own. Before you contract with an air |
| -50 Celsius (-58 Fahrenheit) in the winter months to | | | | charter operator, you should have a clear |
| +30 Celsius (+86 Fahrenheit) during summers. There | | | | understanding of the costs of services and know |
| are just a few highways in the interior part of Alaska. | | | | exactly which services to expect. Prices and services |
| Most of the area can only be reached by plane, boat | | | | vary considerably. Air charter operators may charge |
| or by foot. Summer is warm but short. Climate and | | | | a flat rate or by the hour for flight time. When |
| landscape conditions provide variety of big game: | | | | calculating costs on an hourly rate, you have to take |
| moose and cariboo, Dall sheep in the mountains, | | | | into account dead-head time, the time a pilot |
| some wild bison, muskox in the arctic Alaska, wolves, | | | | spends flying back to base after dropping you off |
| black and grizzly bears, waterfowl, some grouse and | | | | and the time spent flying out to pick you up. Again, |
| ptarmigan . | | | | be sure to ask whether the package includes flying |
| Southeast (the narrow and long part between the | | | | out the meat and antlers. Some package deals also |
| Pacific ocean and Canada). Consists of mainland and | | | | include being checked on at least once during the |
| many treed mountainous islands along the coast. The | | | | hunt to bring out game or move you if you |
| main hunting trophies here are brown and black | | | | haven’t been successful. The cost of air |
| bears, moose and mountain goats, black-tailed deer | | | | charters also depends on the size of the plane and |
| and wolves . Guided hunting is done mostly by boat, | | | | the number of hunters sharing the cost. Make sure |
| the most popular hunting spots are on the islands in | | | | you explain the number of hunters in your group and |
| the central part of the area. | | | | the amount of gear you will have. There are two |
| South and Southwest (to the south and west of the | | | | ways to go you can pick a specific site and ask |
| Yukon river). Mountainous inland with many rivers and | | | | the pilot to take you there, or you can choose a |
| lakes, ragged coastal line dotted with numerous | | | | general area and ask the pilot for a good hunting |
| islands. The region offers a wide variety of game: | | | | spot within that area. |
| deer, Dall sheep, caribou, moose, wolves, wolverine, | | | | When planning your trip, keep the weather condition |
| brown and black bear, waterfowl, grouse species. | | | | in mind. Besides making your hunting miserable, poor |
| ALASKA GENERAL HUNTING REGULATIONS: | | | | weather may disrupt your flying plans. Allow time on |
| If you hunt in a general season, which is open to an | | | | both ends of your schedule for weather disruptions |
| unlimited number of hunters, you will need a harvest | | | | how much time depends on the normal |
| ticket. Harvest tickets are available at no cost where | | | | frequency of bad weather for the area at that time |
| hunting licenses are sold. Non-residents are required | | | | of year. Ask the air charter operator for references. |
| to have a big game tag for the species they are | | | | You can search online for licenced transporters in |
| hunting. Some remote rural areas may not have | | | | your area. Check also this extensive list of Alaska |
| licenses available or the vendor may run out of | | | | Aircraft Charters, Bush Pilots, Air Taxis. |
| harvest tickets. Be sure to purchase your license, | | | | FIREARMS: State law prohibits the following: |
| game tags, and pick up harvest tickets before you | | | | Fully automatic firearms |
| leave home or a population center. When a population | | | | Rifles with a barrel less than 16" |
| of animals is too small and/or the potential number of | | | | Shotguns with a barrel less than 18", |
| hunters too large to allow a general season or a | | | | Rifles or shotguns less than 26" in total length |
| registration hunt, the Department may offer drawing | | | | Rifles, shotguns and handguns are legal for hunting in |
| permits. A Drawing Permit Hunt Supplement is | | | | Alaska. Rimfire cartridges generally maybe used only |
| published every May. The drawing for permit hunts is | | | | for small game. You can read this informative article |
| held in early summer, and everyone who applies will | | | | on how to choose a Firearm, Cartridge and Bullet. |
| be notified of the results by mail or can locate the | | | | WEATHER: Alaskan summers are cool, the average |
| results on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's | | | | temperature is +14 deg.C (58 F) in summer and -12 |
| website. The Supplement contains all of the drawing | | | | deg.C (11 F) in winter but it can vary greatly between |
| hunts by number for all big game species. Most of | | | | different regions of the state. Winters are cold and |
| the drawing permit hunts are open to both resident | | | | dark. Early spring can be cold, but often days warm |
| and nonresident hunters. A hunter may apply for | | | | to above freezing with a lot of sunshine. It receives |
| three drawing permit hunts for each species. A fee is | | | | midnight sunshine during the part of summer and |
| charged for each separate hunt. You can pick up a | | | | goes into 24-hour darkness during the part of winter. |
| Supplement at any Fish and Game office, on the | | | | Summers are the wettest time of the year, south |
| website, or at license vendors. | | | | regions are well known for their dampness. You can |
| Hunting permit applications and forms can be | | | | check next week weather forecast for Anchorage |
| downloaded off the Internet and printed out. You | | | | here. |
| can also purchase hunting licences, duck stamps, big | | | | GETTING THERE: You can fly to Anchorage direct or |
| game tags online, print them at home and you may | | | | one-stop from most major US cities. From there |
| go hunting or trapping right away. Complete Alaska | | | | Alaska Aircraft Charters, Bush Pilots, Air Taxis will |
| Hunting Regulations Guide can be found here. The | | | | help you to explore America's greatest playground. |
| basic non-resident hunting licence costs $85 plus | | | | Many small villages and towns have all weather |
| some extra fees for big game tags. | | | | airports and served daily by small air carriers. |
| HUNTING GUIDES: | | | | LODGING: Depending on your preferences it can be a |
| Nonresidents may hunt moose, caribou, deer, and | | | | small camping tent or a luxurious hunting lodge with all |
| black bear without a guide. Hunters who are not | | | | modern conveniences and comfort. There are also |
| Alaska residents must beaccompanied by a | | | | some primitive cabins for private use maintained by |
| registered Alaskan guide or they must hunt with | | | | government. These can accomodate 4 to 8 people, |
| close relatives within the second-degree of kindred | | | | cost from $20 to $50 (USD) per night and have to |
| who are Alaska residents when hunting brown or | | | | be reserved in advance, ususally- a month. You need |
| grizzly bears, Dall sheep or mountain goats. You can | | | | to contact the proper agency directly to book a |
| search online for licenced big game guides in your | | | | cabin. |
| area. The best guides deliver 80-100 percent for | | | | TRAVEL TIPS: Northern weather can be |
| most big game species. In addition, guides are familiar | | | | unpredictable. Consider taking with you and wearing |
| with their areas and possess equipment that the | | | | multiple layers of clothes in response to a wide |
| average hunter might not care to purchase for one | | | | variety of temperatures and weather conditions. |
| time use. However, a guide's knowledge, experience | | | | Obtain detailed maps of the area beforehand. Do not |
| and equipment do not come cheaply. Although figures | | | | forget to pack first-aid and survival kits as well as |
| vary from guide to guide, expect to spend | | | | bear repellents. Be sure you check available |
| $8,000-$12,000 for a brown/grizzly bear hunt, | | | | information, understand all the guidelines for hunting in |
| $4,000-$6,000 for a sheep hunt and $1,500-$3,000 | | | | Alaska before you leave home. |
| for a goat hunt. Moose and caribou are often part of | | | | We wish you a successful and safe trip! |