2015 Kotzebue AK - Who's Going Caribou Hunting

[taxidermist2]

Buddy and I will be heading there week of the 20th for drop hunt... thought it would be neat to compare notes with others who are going/ will be there this year!

 

[kodiak kid]

Take extra clothes. Its cold up there this time of year. Probably won't have too much competition.

 

[Bullwinkle50]

Kodiak,

I saw on the weather this morning that it was in the 20's and 30's around Nome and Kotz. Maybe it will hold out for another week or two for him.

Randy

 

[taxidermist2]

Let me re-state that..... week of September 20th..... should be slightly warmer then

 

[VernAK]

September 20th in the Arctic is getting marginal.....be prepared....If floating, check on freeze-up dates.....be prepared to walk out if necessary.

 

[strangerinastrangeland]

Me,me,me !! Im going!!

Oh well, crap, Im allready here.........But Hey!!

Late Sept is great for Bulls......... Cold clear nights or solid fog and snow, crisp or warm, what you really want is cold, and some snow on the mountian/hill tops to drive the Caribou along in their migration and so they come down from the ridge tops. Bring spare clothes for the cold/wet.

 

[taxidermist2]

At least shouldn't have to worry about bugs!

 

[stid2677]

At least shouldn't have to worry about bugs!

I would not bet on that,, got eaten alive in that area about the same time frame. They will hide on cold mornings and be very active once it warms up later in the day.

This photo of me with my eyes swollen from White Socks was taken on Sep 22nd,, be prepared for bugs!!!

 

[FullCryHounds]

I've plowed 18" of snow off several strips up there with a piece of plywood so we could takeoff and land. All between sept. 20-25. Usually September 21st is a mad rush to get the heck out of there!

 

[Gulkana Rafting]

I've plowed 18" of snow off several strips up there with a piece of plywood so we could takeoff and land. All between sept. 20-25. Usually September 21st is a mad rush to get the heck out of there!

We are finding just the opposite. In the past 5 years we have pushed our Float Hunts back from taking out no later than 9/25 to now we are float hunting as late as Oct. fish. Our Drop hunters are hunting as late as Oct 7th and the late hunts are bagging better bou than early hunts.

These pics are a October 5th float hunt.

Northwest Alaska Back Country Outfitters
Unit 23-Kotzebue
www.northwestalaska.net

 

[4merguide]

Our Drop hunters are hunting as late as Oct 7th and the late hunts are bagging better bou than early hunts.

These pics are a October 5th float hunt.

I'm sure they are really enjoying the meat at that time..........lol.

 

[limon32]

I was wondering the same thing about October meat!

 

[strangerinastrangeland]

If your gonna chase Bulls in Oct, go for young ones with long skinny antlers, they are only a year or two old and not Rutting.

Bulls with Little food in their stomach and tanked up on water is a sign of eminent Rut, the sour smell will follow a day or so later.

Fat Cows with no calfs are very huntable for table fare that timma yar too.

My wife B-day is mid sept,and untill the 2000's we usually had snow by then, but not for the last 15 or so years, the freeze up and snow dates are later. Bugs will be a daytime factor like Stid noted. Rains in day, snow at night is as possible as clear days and nights, its a flux timma year.

Youll do just fine in your "dates" with Caribou at this lattitude.

 

[taxidermist2]

While bringing home a book rack would be fantastic, we are going for the experience and the meat and will play the rut by ear... nothing wrong with harvesting a few cows if it is questionable but from all I have read thus far the rut "shouldn't" be in full swing until October time frame.

But hey stranger things have happened... I thought my wife wasn't going to approve me for the hunt so I am just happy for the chance to get out!

Now as long as we don't get socked in with a late fall blizzard for 2 weeks we will enjoy it...

On a side note I am surprised no one has responded they will be up there with us... maybe we will have the heard to ourselves!

 

[aroshtr]

Myself and a couple of buddies will be arriving in Kotz on 9-17 and plan on coming out of the field about a week later. This will be our first trip to Alaska, and can't wait. Very excited to see the tundra and vast remote areas. What can we expect for fishing at that time of the year. I am guessing there would be the possibility at some artic char. Is it worth bring a pole and a few lures?

 

[taxidermist2]

All depends where you get dropped off... for my crew we are bringing a lightweight foldup spinning combo with some small vibrax spinners - mainly for grayling which are awesome when cooked over a fire and good add-on to Mountainhouse...

don't forget to purchase fishing license if this is your plan

 

[Gulkana Rafting]

The bou in unit 23 don't rut until late Oct/early Nov. We would not put our clients on rutting caribou!

Walt
Northwest Alaska Back Country Outfitters
Unit 23-Kotz

 

[dvarmit]

Let me re-state that..... week of September 20th..... should be slightly warmer then

Two years ago we flew in Sunday, It got cold Monday night and Tuesday morning the rivers were frozen. Now, this year was a bit to warm but we had fun Heading back in May to thin out the bear population.


Day 3 of packing meat. As a side note, if this is your first trip pay attention to the bears. Saw a lot this year and would have tagged one if I wouldn't have spent 3 days packing meat out to camp.



Ready to leave..

 

[limon32]

What's a drop flight going for out there?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Gulkana Rafting]

We book our clients with 3 different services out of Kotz and each are charging $800 an hour for a 206 which hauls 800 pounds of gear/meat/men. Be careful of the "Package" hunts that charge per hunter.....It will cost you a lot more!

Walt
Northwestalaska.net
Drop Camps and Float Hunts
Kotz
907-259-4290