I have been doing as much reading on here as I can, and cannot seem to find much on southern brooks range float type hunts. I have been looking at several streams around Coldfoot both south and north would be in (2 4 A) . I know there is the 5 mile corridor there for archery only that is a draw unit. I would be looking to either line rafts or potentially pack in pack rafts with a buddy to target moose. My understanding is much of that water is skinny and not to be operated by powered boats. I am planning to be up there this fall to do some looking around and no actual hunting in that area. Before I get up there though, was wondering if what I am thinking about is even possible. Are any of those streams or rivers capable of being rafted back to the road if you first line up or carry in to hunt them. And if they can be accessed in this manner, are there moose in general there to be targeted? I am not looking for stream names to consider or anything like that, unless you have specific recommendations for or against that you would be willing to share in PM. Mostly I am just trying to see if I have a viable idea? Thanks for any information you are willing to share!
South brooks hike and float - moose
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Larry Bartlett
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not really. brushy shallow creeks except for the Jim and Koyukuk forks.
As Larry stated, I've been up there several times and I haven't seen one boat on any of the rivers or streams. Trying to get five miles out? If there was one to do that on many would also be doing it.
pipercub
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How do you haul out a moose in a pack raft?
You can put in at coldfoot and hunt down towards Bettles. Fly out of Bettles to Prospect or back to coldfoot. You could also fly out of coldfoot or Bettles and float to Bettles…
You can put in at coldfoot and hunt down towards Bettles. Fly out of Bettles to Prospect or back to coldfoot. You could also fly out of coldfoot or Bettles and float to Bettles…
Larry Bartlett
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Admire your thinking outside of box. In Alaska, access is the most limiting factor. Not game populations. Anywhere with good access, you will find company. Esp. access of a highway. The comment on floating out a moose with a packraft is spot on. No one realizes how big a mature male moose is until its on the ground and humbles them.
I had a PR49 for a while. As light as it is why not pack an extra one in the raft just in case you get a moose. Just a thought.
4merguide
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I know that's not you Larry, but was just wondering if you know if there's actually a whole moose in there with him? If there is that's pretty impressive! Kinda surprising he's not sitting lower in the water with that kind of weight.
Larry Bartlett
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That's my buddy Josh Cleghorn. I took the picture from my own 49 loaded with moose. No actually each of our 49s had 1/2 moose on board just because we could...our third guy was in a Pioneer Xstream.
A whole moose on a PR49 unless its a 40" is TIGHT on freeboard. Lakes, yes. Mile rivers or sloughs, yes. whitewater or <6" channel depth, no. Might have to walk it downstream slowly, but guys do it all the time. I'm still trying to find the one great shot I have with one of my customers loaded with a 60"+ bull and himself...i'll post it when i find it.
A whole moose on a PR49 unless its a 40" is TIGHT on freeboard. Lakes, yes. Mile rivers or sloughs, yes. whitewater or <6" channel depth, no. Might have to walk it downstream slowly, but guys do it all the time. I'm still trying to find the one great shot I have with one of my customers loaded with a 60"+ bull and himself...i'll post it when i find it.
pipercub
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Bad advice - getting in any of the South flowing Brooks rivers in a pack raft and shooting a moose…use a raft big enough to handle the river currents and the load…
