Ok guys this will need to be a quick one as I have a bow hanging in the wood shed and I ned to get cutting!
I have received dozens of emails and calls asking about animal movement up in unit 23. Not much to report to be 100% truthful. As most of you know the fall season up in unit 23 has come later in the past 6-8 years and the animals just don't move until the weather forces them to start the South trek. We use to book hunts as early as Labor Day Weekend back in 2003 ish but I keep my guys out of the country until Sept. 9th or so these days all because of the warmer fall Kotz now sees.
Weather is beginning to turn. This weekend was nasty in Kotz with very few planes flyingFriday/Saturday. Temps are starting to drop and the seasonal rains that signal the onset of fall have arrived. The animals are still north but with the weather changing we should start seeing early groups moving south over the Brooks in the next 8 days as long as we don't see an Indian summer set in. Very important that you guys heading up prepare for wet weather. Pack sox and make sure none are cotton. I go through 4-5 pairs of sox because they get wet. Boots. Do you have a second pair? Extra-Tuffs are a great back up boot.
I will write a 3rd edition when we start to get reports of animal movement. Most of you early guys will be in the upper Noatak and remember if you are doing a float hunt that raft is only a Taxi to move you from unproductive country into more productive. Very few guys actually hunt out of a raft. Unit 23 is wide open counter once you get out of the river valley. The best way to hunt that country is to find a good high spot and do some serious Bino work. The ability to see 5-6 miles in all directions and having high quality glass makes the hunt.
Good luck and send me some pics!
Walt
Northwest Alaska Back Country Outfitters
Drop Camps and Float Hunts
Unit 23-Kotzebue
907-259-4290
I have received dozens of emails and calls asking about animal movement up in unit 23. Not much to report to be 100% truthful. As most of you know the fall season up in unit 23 has come later in the past 6-8 years and the animals just don't move until the weather forces them to start the South trek. We use to book hunts as early as Labor Day Weekend back in 2003 ish but I keep my guys out of the country until Sept. 9th or so these days all because of the warmer fall Kotz now sees.
Weather is beginning to turn. This weekend was nasty in Kotz with very few planes flyingFriday/Saturday. Temps are starting to drop and the seasonal rains that signal the onset of fall have arrived. The animals are still north but with the weather changing we should start seeing early groups moving south over the Brooks in the next 8 days as long as we don't see an Indian summer set in. Very important that you guys heading up prepare for wet weather. Pack sox and make sure none are cotton. I go through 4-5 pairs of sox because they get wet. Boots. Do you have a second pair? Extra-Tuffs are a great back up boot.
I will write a 3rd edition when we start to get reports of animal movement. Most of you early guys will be in the upper Noatak and remember if you are doing a float hunt that raft is only a Taxi to move you from unproductive country into more productive. Very few guys actually hunt out of a raft. Unit 23 is wide open counter once you get out of the river valley. The best way to hunt that country is to find a good high spot and do some serious Bino work. The ability to see 5-6 miles in all directions and having high quality glass makes the hunt.
Good luck and send me some pics!
Walt
Northwest Alaska Back Country Outfitters
Drop Camps and Float Hunts
Unit 23-Kotzebue
907-259-4290
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