Moose Hunt 2018

[gerry]

JD, it's time for your the 35 Whelen to come out of the safe, There, someone had to say it

Gerry,

Not a bad idea. A 250 gr PT at 2450 fps would certainly get the job done.

JD338

It would work great although personally I would probably use the 225 gr AccuBond or Partition at 2700 + fps for a bit more range. What kind of terrain will you be hunting in? A lot of moose hunting is fairly close range stuff.

 

[longrangehunter]

JD,

Would it be Ok to ask whom you'll be hunting with? My brother and I hunted their a few years together, long time ago, and he hunted their for 10 years. He even worked the shows with the outfitter for many years back in Michigan.

 

[JD338]

http://www.pateyoutfitting.com/index.html

JD338

 

[mcseal2]

Good luck. I'm headed to AK on my first moose hunt also. 300WM with 180gr Accubonds will be accompanying me.

My wife better not find out about your hunt. We just got WY antelope for our honeymoon!

Need more information on your moose hunt[emoji4]


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Going with Papa Bear Outfitters out of Bethel. He is basically a transporter who pre-scouts areas while guiding fishermen. He will fly us out in a float plane and dump us out for 10 days to hunt on our own. It seemed to be the best option I could afford. It's more than a full DIY but far less than guided. I think it's a smarter option for me than picking a spot on a map and going for it since I can't get there to scout an area. We can rent a sat phone and a lot of our camping gear from him too so we don't have to take all ours. The friend I go on all my out of state trips with is going with me, we have hunted together for years. Very much looking forward to it!

 

[salmonchaser]

Good luck. I'm headed to AK on my first moose hunt also. 300WM with 180gr Accubonds will be accompanying me.

My wife better not find out about your hunt. We just got WY antelope for our honeymoon!

Need more information on your moose hunt[emoji4]


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Going with Papa Bear Outfitters out of Bethel. He is basically a transporter who pre-scouts areas while guiding fishermen. He will fly us out in a float plane and dump us out for 10 days to hunt on our own. It seemed to be the best option I could afford. It's more than a full DIY but far less than guided. I think it's a smarter option for me than picking a spot on a map and going for it since I can't get there to scout an area. We can rent a sat phone and a lot of our camping gear from him too so we don't have to take all ours. The friend I go on all my out of state trips with is going with me, we have hunted together for years. Very much looking forward to it!

I'm familiar with his operation, he does a good job. Will you be floating the river or operating out of a fixed location?


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[mcseal2]

He recommended the fixed location for a first moose hunt, so we went that route. Don't argue with the expert!

We have a lot of experience running shallow sandy rivers in a surface drive boat catfishing holes nobody can reach with an outboard, canoed, camped and fished in the Algonquin park in Canada, but no experience on an AK rafting/hunting trip. I can read water pretty good and avoid most problems before we get to them, but my experience is in much different areas than an AK river. Without knowing an area I might get to impatient and spend to much time covering water and not enough time waiting for moose too, I hear they come to a call on their schedule and might take days. I'm used to coyotes that come within 15 minutes!

 

[salmonchaser]

He recommended the fixed location for a first moose hunt, so we went that route. Don't argue with the expert!

We have a lot of experience running shallow sandy rivers in a surface drive boat catfishing holes nobody can reach with an outboard, canoed, camped and fished in the Algonquin park in Canada, but no experience on an AK rafting/hunting trip. I can read water pretty good and avoid most problems before we get to them, but my experience is in much different areas than an AK river. Without knowing an area I might get to impatient and spend to much time covering water and not enough time waiting for moose too, I hear they come to a call on their schedule and might take days. I'm used to coyotes that come within 15 minutes!

You might consider taking one of the newer generations SPOT systems. You can send/receive text, they are very reliable. My guess is he doesn't have a specific spot, rather one of several in mind, depending on where they are seeing moose. In any event check on the fishing forecast. If he puts you on a lake with a good river nearby you could have some fun, in addition to a great moose adventure. He'll know what's available.
It's good country you're heading into, it'll be a good trip.



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[Vince]

Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.

I wish you success on your endeavors together.

Vince


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[mcseal2]

He recommended the fixed location for a first moose hunt, so we went that route. Don't argue with the expert!

We have a lot of experience running shallow sandy rivers in a surface drive boat catfishing holes nobody can reach with an outboard, canoed, camped and fished in the Algonquin park in Canada, but no experience on an AK rafting/hunting trip. I can read water pretty good and avoid most problems before we get to them, but my experience is in much different areas than an AK river. Without knowing an area I might get to impatient and spend to much time covering water and not enough time waiting for moose too, I hear they come to a call on their schedule and might take days. I'm used to coyotes that come within 15 minutes!

You might consider taking one of the newer generations SPOT systems. You can send/receive text, they are very reliable. My guess is he doesn't have a specific spot, rather one of several in mind, depending on where they are seeing moose. In any event check on the fishing forecast. If he puts you on a lake with a good river nearby you could have some fun, in addition to a great moose adventure. He'll know what's available.
It's good country you're heading into, it'll be a good trip.



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Thanks we will look into that. We have also looked at the Garmin In-Reach devices with the GPS and satellite text capability in one unit. I asked about the fishing and he said it's really not worth packing fishing gear that time of year. You are right about him putting you where he is seeing moose and not having a specific location decided on way ahead of time. I'm sure looking forward to it.

 

[salmonchaser]

Understood on the fishing, all riversytems are different. Our rainbow char and grayling are off the charts in mid September.
Good luck, buy a bug shirt.


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[mcseal2]

Will do, thanks.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I bought a Inreach last year and they are pretty handy. I use it all over Idaho as well as AK and other states.

 

[salmonchaser]

I'm a technology dork. Our first system was the spot, send help. We are upgrading to Inreach.


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[mcseal2]

I am slow to change on some of it, but I'm warming up to technology. I love the Onx Maps program on my I phone for a GPS I've been using.

 

[gerry]

I'm a technology dork. Our first system was the spot, send help. We are upgrading to Inreach.


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I have InReach an it's pretty good for the most part. Occasionally there is an issue getting a message out but generally it works well, I think you will be pleased.

 

[salmonchaser]

We tried Sat. Phones for awhile. Hated them. The vintage we had were heavy and unreliable.
The inreach is pretty handy. I guess what I like the most is the ability to communicate both ways.
There is nothing quite as disturbing to our guests as arriving at our pickup location, I'm always 15 early, the appointed hour arrives, an hour passes. It's very rare but it happens. Of course it's more important being able to get help if someone gets hurt. Best case you're at least an hour out but that beats the hell out of a couple of days.


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[mcseal2]

I kept telling myself to be patient on the In Reach technology and good GPS technology would get included in the units making for one less item I needed to carry. I think they are there now. It really doesn't eliminate an item as much as it adds a 2nd GPS for me now as I always carry my I phone even when I don't have signal to read books on during downtime. On hunts sometimes I need to slow down and take a mid day nap, especially since my hunting buddies all like them. Hunts with long daylight hours sometimes those naps help avoid a crash later in the hunt. Anyway a book helps get my mind off how to find/harvest whatever I'm after and slowed down so I can sleep. Also if the weather forces me to stay in camp having reading material is priceless.

 

[salmonchaser]

I kept telling myself to be patient on the In Reach technology and good GPS technology would get included in the units making for one less item I needed to carry. I think they are there now. It really doesn't eliminate an item as much as it adds a 2nd GPS for me now as I always carry my I phone even when I don't have signal to read books on during downtime. On hunts sometimes I need to slow down and take a mid day nap, especially since my hunting buddies all like them. Hunts with long daylight hours sometimes those naps help avoid a crash later in the hunt. Anyway a book helps get my mind off how to find/harvest whatever I'm after and slowed down so I can sleep. Also if the weather forces me to stay in camp having reading material is priceless.

Patience will be a virtue.


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[salmonchaser]

As you prepare for your trip, think core strength. Packing the loads I hope you'll have, the tundra will test you. I actually think snow shoeing is great preparation for Tundra hiking, but snow will be in short supply prior to your trip. Running, biking being in good shape obviously will help significantly but adding stairs or some other exercise to really condition your hip flexor will pay great dividends. If you prepare for every step requiring you to raise your knee waist high, while standing on a pillow, you're ready.



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[Brake708]

Best of luck on your upcoming hunt.