Fire department colleagues float hunt

[jakeweems]

I am hoping for some advice or suggestions on a moose float hunt. I have been planning a moose hunt with co-workers for a couple years. We all hunt elk/deer/bear and many more animals and are all wanting to adventure to a moose (maybe Caribou). We are driving from Oregon with a cargo trailer and all of are gear. We have one guy bringing two rafts who was a river guide/fisherman on the rivers here in Oregon. We were looking at doing the good pastor river but after finding out how much an air taxi was we decided it was too much (was quoted 3500 just for drop off with gear). We are now looking at general areas where we can do a float hunt and access both put in/take out. I am looking into the Chulitna from west fork to talkeetna. We have 9 days to hunt and are also will buy a bear and wolve tag for those possible opportunities. Any advice or help would be appreciated. We are putting in for draw hunts but know we will be most likely general season hunting for moose.

 

[SmokeRoss]

If 3500 is too steep for your group to split the cost for a hunt like this, you should probably just stay home.

 

[Larry Bartlett]

no dont do the chulitna or its forks. Danger, glacial silt, trees, fast currents, low moose density along the road system.

Consider steese or taylor highway float options

 

[Daveinthebush]

If you can find a copy of this book it is going to help you tremendously. It has information on the rivers, gear and all sorts of information. The author passed away a couple years ago, but you might still be able to get a copy.

 

[jakeweems]

If 3500 is too steep for your group to split the cost for a hunt like this, you should probably just stay home.

3500 each boss.

 

[Daveinthebush]

3500 each boss.

That sounds about right. I was quoted almost $2,000, ten years ago for a mile flight. With the cost of aviation fuel, if needed, it is going to be costly.

 

[mark knapp]

Alaska doesn't have a whole lot of rivers you can access on both ends by road because we don't have a whole lot of roads. Generally the seasons are short and many of the accessible floats are crowded. Generally, those willing to work harder or spend more will have more of a wilderness experience.

How many people do you have? How old? Budget?

 

[jakeweems]

Alaska doesn't have a whole lot of rivers you can access on both ends by road because we don't have a whole lot of roads. Generally the seasons are short and many of the accessible floats are crowded. Generally, those willing to work harder or spend more will have more of a wilderness experience.

How many people do you have? How old? Budget?

We have 5 guys in their late 20’s-40. We are definitely willing to work hard but worried about not knowing the area and wasting time. We are driving with all are gear to process and transport back to Oregon. We were willing to spend 500-700 on a drop off each but not 3500. We want to make this a hunt we can take are kids when they get a bit older and we don’t exactly make a lot of money. It is going to cost us a bit to drive but we want to have all are gear/machines/raft. We are definitely a group willing to work harder though.

 

[mark knapp]

We have 5 guys in their late 20’s-40. We are definitely willing to work hard but worried about not knowing the area and wasting time. We are driving with all are gear to process and transport back to Oregon. We were willing to spend 500-700 on a drop off each but not 3500. We want to make this a hunt we can take are kids when they get a bit older and we don’t exactly make a lot of money. It is going to cost us a bit to drive but we want to have all are gear/machines/raft. We are definitely a group willing to work harder though.

It's almost too late to start planning for 2023, what year did you want to come? $500.00- $700.00 is a drop in the bucket as far as airplanes are concerned.

 

[SmokeRoss]

Alaska doesn't have a whole lot of rivers you can access on both ends by road because we don't have a whole lot of roads. Generally the seasons are short and many of the accessible floats are crowded. Generally, those willing to work harder or spend more will have more of a wilderness experience.

How many people do you have? How old? Budget?

There are also the cautionary tales of groups accessing a river to later learn about low water levels, braiding, log jams, gravel bars, slack water, rapids, portages, insect plagues, rain, wind, snow, frozen rivers, etc.