Has anyone been into the Swanson area yet Moose hunting? If so how was it? Has anyone hunted that area before? Thanks for any info!
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Swanson Area Moose!?
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The Swanson River Moose
Back when I thought sleeping on the ground was fun I floated the Swanson River with my wife and a couple of friends. Took 5 moose in 5 trips. Been years since I did it. Last week is best. If you got a friend try the canoe lake system late in the season. Be ready for a couple of days packing out and doing the portage thing. Hunting the road is like pulling the slot machine.
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Before you pull the trigger, be triple sure you can pack it. It's really easy to get a ways back in, and then if you get a moose, you can really be in a bind. Just portaging back a few lakes with your camping gear is a good workout.
From the time I've spent back in there, I'd say take any legal bull you see. The vegitation has really grown up, so there isn't as much browse as there used to be. The area really could use a good fire.Those that are successful in Alaska are those who are flexible, and allow the reality of life in Alaska to shape their dreams, vs. trying to force their dreams on the reality of Alaska.
If you have a tenuous grasp of reality, Alaska is not for you.
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Thanks Paul. I have been training for this hunt for 4 months and work out regularly at the gym so fitness is not problem. My hunting partner is really fit also. I heard that this area was getting overgrown. Does AK not do prescribed burns? Any ideas on where to fly into? Does the Vegitation relax the closer you get to the mountains on the NE side of Swanson?Thanks!
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I've always hunted via canoe, so can't help on where to be flown into. Are you planning on floating the river to get out, or are you being flown out? Unless you have a canoe, you aren't going to be traveling far through that country, and definately don't want to be a packing a moose too far from where you can put it into a canoe. There are restrictions on which lakes planes can land on. If you're being flown in, I'd scout from the air vs having a pre-determined drop point.
There are a limited number of controlled burns done down there. There have been some fires down there as well as natural ones, but no big ones. Good moose habitat needs 1000's of acres to be burnt, as not all areas that burn will sprout up with useable vegitation. The real problem is from Sterling South to Homer there are enough homes and cabins, that a fire won't be allowed to really get going as someone is going to loose a structure or two.Those that are successful in Alaska are those who are flexible, and allow the reality of life in Alaska to shape their dreams, vs. trying to force their dreams on the reality of Alaska.
If you have a tenuous grasp of reality, Alaska is not for you.
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Thanks Paul! Fly in and out. My buddy's uncle knows which waters are accessable by plane but he has not given me that info. Having not been there before myself, and I am getting nervous relying on his uncle to put us on Moose. His uncle has hunted that area quite a bit in the past but the more info I can get the better. It sounds like we might need to fly in an inflatable canoe. We will scout from air and drop as close as possible to them. Thanks again!
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liv2hnt - Don't forget that the regs also stipulate that you can shoot a young bull that has either a spike or a fork on at least one side. In my opinion, there is no finer eating moose than a spike. Not much to look at, but boy are they tasty! (and more numerous in many areas as well)
-Brian
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