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