Solo DIY Alaska moose float hunt ‘26

[archer36]

I don't see a Satellite phone in your equipment list.

 

[Betterinthebush]

I don't see a Satellite phone in your equipment list.

It there. Under item (5) camp gear midway down. it’s a big gear list. Easy to miss.

 

[Aaron N]

Thanks for asking! I’ve got three positions on hilltops I’ve hunted from with success, so that is what my plan is. I’ve got a spot on the river for camp that is good high ground that I’ll be at down river from the glassing hills. In the morning I’ll motor up river to where I can land the boat and at night float back to camp making cow calls for bulls in the weeds to investigate. This tactic has worked well for me before. I’ll be at the same camp the entire time.

I wasn’t sure if you were hunting the whole length of your float or not. Wishing you success and hoping for plenty of pictures

 

[Altitude sickness]

As you know, one of the biggest threats you face is a sharp knife, slipping and hitting an artery. Rick Young from Rick Young binocular straps was cutting up a moose and as happens, you get tired, slippery hands, odd positions. he ended up cutting his femoral artery. then bad weather set in so the National Guard had the only technology to fly in very thick fog. He barely survived.

 

[Altitude sickness]

The TV episode is out there somewhere

 

[Betterinthebush]

As you know, one of the biggest threats you face is a sharp knife, slipping and hitting an artery. Rick Young from Rick Young binocular straps was cutting up a moose and as happens, you get tired, slippery hands, odd positions. he ended up cutting his femoral artery. then bad weather set in so the National Guard had the only technology to fly in very thick fog. He barely survived.

No doubt. Fatigue, wet/cold hands, poor decisions, taking short cuts with safety, general lack of respect, has claimed more lives in Alaska than all the people killed by bear the world over by an incalculable margin.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I did a float hunt with my Dad before he died, inserted on remote strip in the Charlie Preserve and floated the Charlie to the Yukon and took out in Circle, AK. It was absolutely one of the hardest hunts I’ve ever made. I had an opportunity on a very good bull at 60 yards but was not putting 1 more pound in that raft after dragging it the majority of the time for the first 6 days. I lost 34 pounds in 15 days! Wouldn’t trade the memory of that trip for all the money in the world.

 

[Surgeon1]

This will be a great adventure! I was in my 30's I did 4 fly in moose and Caribou hunts always with a
buddy (a different one each time, lol). We always got Caribou and a total of 6 moose. Hunted 3 areas
over near the Yukon River. The best camp was on a lake with a preplaced john boat that allowed us to go up and down river. Got 4 big bulls there in 2 years but Caribou was hard to get good bull there.
Killed one 76" moose 5 mi from camp took 3 hard days to pack out. Nothing beats shooting them close to water esp if the float plane or boat can get up close to it. We always had prearranged day for the floatplane do a resupply, haul meat out or relocate us (only did relocate once) but weather was frequently a problem with the schedule!
Handling a bull moose by yourself is monumental effort in it self! I'm very envious of you taking this
challenge on. We had multiple bear encounters, shot 2 Black bears but lots of Grizzly's to run off!

Good Luck and I'll be thinking of you. Travel safe, hunt safe and stay alert.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

The TV episode is out there somewhere

It there. Under item (5) camp gear midway down. it’s a big gear list. Easy to miss.

@Betterinthebush if you wanted to seriously cut down on the gear list, get the entire trip paid for and really lighten your load.......

 

[Betterinthebush]

@Betterinthebush if you wanted to seriously cut down on the gear list, get the entire trip paid for and really lighten your load.......

View attachment 709585

lol! Nope!

 

[deewayne2003]

Good luck, always wanted to do an Alaska float trip for moose.

 

[Altitude sickness]

If you ever do book a float hunt, ask questions about the traffic on the river. ensure it’s not pounded by the locals for subsistence hunting and fishing

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Kaboats are the bomb. I love mine - have had it eleven years now. I have a 1.2 hp Tanaka for fly-in hunts on lakes and such, and a 6 horse Suzuki (came on a skiff I bought) for river moose hunts.

I am excited for you. Enjoy the planning; it's a large part of the fun.

 

[R eight]

Sounds like a great adventure. But I reckon it’ll turn into real hard work if you shoot a bull.

And…….I reckon you’ve got more gear than you’ll use in a month of Sundays. Do you reckon you really need so much?

Good luck.

 

[Satari416]

Alaska is my favorite state and probably the most beautiful place I’ve had the opportunity to visit (Kodiak and the KP). A DIY moose hunt is on the horizon for me but I’d be going with a +1. Admire your desire to do a solo trip and look forward to reading a post hunt report. Thanks for sharing your well laid out list and trip breakdown.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Sounds like a great adventure. But I reckon it’ll turn into real hard work if you shoot a bull.

Best line I ever heard about moose hunting: It's a lot of fun, unless you get one.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Sounds like a great adventure. But I reckon it’ll turn into real hard work if you shoot a bull.

And…….I reckon you’ve got more gear than you’ll use in a month of Sundays. Do you reckon you really need so much?

Good luck.

Haha! Yes, packing out a bull is work. To give readers an idea; a moose hind quarter will routinely hit +/-~165#’s, forequarter ~125#’s on the same critter. Both cannot be boned out. Loins, tenderloins, sirloins, neck can be boned but the boned carcass had better be cleaned for the burger bag. The trick to safe packing is a top of the line freight pack (Barney’s) with an oversized hip belt and thick shoulder pads, tight lashing keeping the weight on one’s shoulders and lastly perfect lifting technique.

As far as too much gear? 12 seasons of packing and guiding under my belt. 5 seasons in this area. There is not one item on my list I’d want to do without. I’ve shaved it down to my bare minimum.

BTW, when I take a moose for myself, I don’t pack out the cape. I swore off fleshing moose rugs the last client I had. That rack on my boat in the OP was 63”. He’s a Europe mount on a pedestal. I..will..never..flesh, turn, or salt one single moose rug again. So, at least I don’t have that junk to pack out of the bush.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Confession: I may not have read your list as closely as I should have. Did you have citric acid on it?

 

[WAB]

have a great hunt! You are well prepared for it. Many don’t understand what it takes to travel the backcountry of Alaska, you do.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Confession: I may not have read your list as closely as I should have. Did you have citric acid on it?

Yep and a pound of black pepper;-)