whitewolf2025
New member
Just out of curiosity, how much does it typically cost for a fly in hunt for sheep, or caribou?
Fly-in hunting
- Thread starter whitewolf2025
- Start date
tboehm
Well-known member
Thats way to vague of a question. How far do you want to fly? How much weight do you want to bring? What kind of plane? Where will you fly out of? It's endless... you could spend 500 to more than 3000 per man. If you provide some more info the members here can give you some better numbers.
Alaska_Lanche
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,694
- Reaction score
- 289
Yep depends greatly on distance traveled and what not. Was looking at the Brooks Range for my wife and I to go was knocking north of $4500-$5000 for both of us ($2500ish apiece) but with her leg being a somewhat unknown we ended up doing a flyout sheep hunt for $700 for both of us or $350 apiece be the distance flown is MUCH less.
whitewolf2025
New member
Sorry for the vagueness. I really have no idea how far/where or how much weight - just trying to see if this is even within my price range. I've been out hunting off the road system a few times but I've only ever gotten a single caribou, unfortunately. I'm graduating in a few weeks (finally!!) I was just thinking about buying myself a nice present. I'm a 23 year old student, which of course translates into not having very much money. $500 would probably be about all I could talk my husband into, he just about had a **** fit the other day when I spent $300 on a new pair of hiking boots and poles..lol.
I guess just to nail down some specifics, maybe flying out for caribou or sheep on the Haul rd? I don't even know where they fly out of... Been up there once during the early spring, hiked in 10 miles, and that's where I got my single caribou. I'd probably be flying in with my friend, and we'd probably just have enough gear with us to last up to a week, assuming flying in was the route we'd be taking.. Thanks
I guess just to nail down some specifics, maybe flying out for caribou or sheep on the Haul rd? I don't even know where they fly out of... Been up there once during the early spring, hiked in 10 miles, and that's where I got my single caribou. I'd probably be flying in with my friend, and we'd probably just have enough gear with us to last up to a week, assuming flying in was the route we'd be taking.. Thanks
AK Troutbum
Well-known member
I don't think your going to have any luck finding someone to fly you in (and out) to anywhere, in any size plane, in the Brooks for $500. Especially with the price of fuel now and the direction it's headed. Who knows though, you may get very lucky. As a for instance, back in 2006 (the last time I used an air service up there) Bettles Lodge charged $250 each way just to come out and pick you up in a 206 from the Haul rd. That's about a 15 min. flight, landing on established strips/runways, and when fuel was much cheaper than now.
whitewolf2025
New member
Just what I figured. I'll have to wait until I'm too old and decrepit to hike in before I'm able to afford to fly out. Time to hit the trails and get training!
tboehm
Well-known member
One way to cut it down would be to look at doing a fly in and float out for a road pick up.
That's why they are flying. (And to figure out where the sheep are so they don't have to look once they get on the ground). Be ethical. Walk in.
Alaska_Lanche
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,694
- Reaction score
- 289
HAHA...I am assuming you are joking by suggesting the those that fly in are unethical??
whitewolf2025
New member
I don't have anything against walking in, just I hear that in general the success rate is better if you fly in and there are less people. And I have seen a lot of people while hunting and not been very successful...
Last edited by a moderator:
There is always a way to save a couple grand for a fly in hunt if you really want to do it. No more buying lunch, coffee, soda pop or (gasp) beer. Car pool, stop smoking, turn the heat down in the house, walk to work...there's a million ways. Don't run up debt so that your PFD can go into the hunting savings. Get creative. Afterall, there is nothing more ethical than suffering and saving for a couple years so you can do a fly-in 
martentrapper
New member
I know a couple guys who flew into the whites in a private plane and did some hunting for sheep. Pretty sure they landed a cub on a gravel bar and walked from there.
If your husband doesn't own a plane you could always find one who does!!
If your husband doesn't own a plane you could always find one who does!!
sambuck12
Active member
I flew into the brooks last year for sheep. It cost 2100 for 5 of us to fly in... we floated out. Saved lots of money.
AFHunter
New member
I would shop around if I were you. You can fly into the Brooks for your price range. I would suggest flying in and out of Happy Valley. For your price range, you will be flying on back-hauls--the dates/times will be up to the transporter and may/may not work.
What is a back-haul and how can I get in on one? I won't be carrying much with me and I think there is little chance I'll be carrying much on the way back...
...in fact, if someone wants to drop me off when they're scouting "landing areas" in July, I'd be ok with camping until a good back-haul.
...in fact, if someone wants to drop me off when they're scouting "landing areas" in July, I'd be ok with camping until a good back-haul.
too bad they don't have space "A" to the back country........but if you happened to put effort to walk in there, they might give you a lift out for a hind quarter and a back strap.........and if that doesn't work, always take your VISA card.
Haha thanks. I was a little less than serious about the trip in, but is that what you mean by a back haul... catch a ride back in when the pilot drops off a party? Seems like that would be ideal if one were to actually kill something, and fairly nice just the same if he didn't. Like a cat up a tree, it seems like I could hike a lot further out than I'd like to hike back in with a sheep on my back.
Of course, I can also see how a transporter wouldn't want to be picking up a hunter as he dropped off a party... since they'd probably like to be under the impression that they were going to an empty spot.
Of course, I can also see how a transporter wouldn't want to be picking up a hunter as he dropped off a party... since they'd probably like to be under the impression that they were going to an empty spot.
I'm SURE a transporter would love to haul someone both ways - the only question is will they give you a price break to do it?
There is only one way to find out & that's to call around.
He could drop you off close to his pick up, but not in the same site & still save lots of time & gas - same way for your pick up. I know one hunt planner that used to schedule drops & pickups on the same flight. Drop off 2 guys on a river to float for moose, then pick up a party on the same river (up or down stream or on the next drainage. It was a huge money saver for him.
