2020 Alaska Caribou hunt

Rick Cox

Rick Cox

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Anyone have any recommendations for fly in outfitters for a solo Alaskan caribou hunt? Any other input? Regions etc?
 
I used shadow aviation out of fairbanks to hunt the porcupine herd. Nothing provided other than transport. Super honest and fair.
Wright's air out of fairbanks is good with a great reputation also.
There are many others that other guys can chime in on I'm sure.
Avoid arrowhead outfitters and bushwacker. Tons of bad reports on both.
This late in the year it's gonna be hard to get in with a good one. Those that aren't booked up for next year already is usually for a reason.
 
If I were you I'd start contacting them NOW. A friend and I had a Hell of a time a couple months ago nailing down anything. We are actually going with Shadow in 2021. They are just a transporter so you'll have to do the research of where to get dropped off. And while you used to be able to get a decent outfitter to do some scouting and drip you off in front of movement more and are going that way. Brooks Range Aviation seemed decent too, they appeared to drip you in places they'd seen movement through. Bushwacker has dropped off the radar completely, which seems to be a good thing. Arrowhead is so up and down I'd avoid them. I have heard both horror stories and good ones. I had a couple others I tried to contact and they just never got back with me. Not impressed with that. Oh, and be prepared for $3-4K cost. Yep, it's gotten pricey. I paid half that in 2012 on the North Slope.
 
The nice thing with shadow is he charges by the hour. If you pack light enough 2 guys can share 1 trip and split the cost.
All other I've talked to are around 3k per person or much more. We payed 3400 total in and out. If overweight or taking 2 caribou each would add another flight for about half the mentioned amount. But 1 guy could kill 2 for the first price

It's law now that the transporter can't offer advice on where to go beyond basic area. Most are following that very closely
 
I just spoke to Andy @ Shadow Aviation. They are booked up. I have also been in touch with Arrowhead Outfitters. Anyone know anything about this group? Their website boasts a 97% success rate on caribou.
 
Rick Cox said:
I just spoke to Andy @ Shadow Aviation. They are booked up. I have also been in touch with Arrowhead Outfitters. Anyone know anything about this group? Their website boasts a 97% success rate on caribou.
Click to expand...
I hunted with them once. Never again.
The success rate is not accurate at all. The pilot himself told me around 10% the year I went.
Got a 15 minute flight for 3k each.
You have to drive to them first 10 hours from fairbanks.
Only saw a couple caribou in 5 days.
I could go on and on but there's a reason they are never fully booked.
If you Google them you'll find some good reports but far more the other way
 
I was told if 1 guy in a camp gets one t they consider that 100% for that camp.
It's based on camps not individuals
 
What are the reports on caribou numbers? It’s been a little while (couple years) since I checked but numbers were WAY down.


I hunted the mulchatna herd in 2010 and saw 1 caribou one day and on last day about 20 that were 10 miles off.

Always dreamed of the big herds of caribou but at least for awhile the numbers were way down on those Alaska herds.

Best of luck and hope you write a report of who what when and where as I would love to go someday again if a descent chance of the result being different than my first time.
 
Lmcquin said:
What are the reports on caribou numbers? It’s been a little while (couple years) since I checked but numbers were WAY down.


I hunted the mulchatna herd in 2010 and saw 1 caribou one day and on last day about 20 that were 10 miles off.

Always dreamed of the big herds of caribou but at least for awhile the numbers were way down on those Alaska herds.

Best of luck and hope you write a report of who what when and where as I would love to go someday again if a descent chance of the result being different than my first time.
Click to expand...
Porcupine herds and 40 mile herds have rebounded nearly completely.
Not sure other areas
 
Zak with tok air is another possibility.
But his services are higher likely running 5k for 1 person. Which is why he sometimes has opening.
Hunts the 40 mile herd. Drops you off in a supercub
 
Rick, if you need/want a second let me know. This is a hunt I have wanted to do for sometime, but just haven’t pulled the trigger. Have done a little research. 40 mile and Tok air are the best I have found, but unless one is a repeat customer or extremely lucky and finds a cancellation it is tough to find a slot.
I have heard Golden Eagle out of Kotz. Is solid . Also, Billy Molls and Brooks Range Av.
 
Rick Cox said:
I just spoke to Andy @ Shadow Aviation. They are booked up. I have also been in touch with Arrowhead Outfitters. Anyone know anything about this group? Their website boasts a 97% success rate on caribou.
Click to expand...
They're going to preach a high success rate, it looks a lot better than the truth. But no way is it that good. Aside from some Google searching I have a coworker who used them for a sheep and bear drop off. While he was gone they used his truck to taxi people to and from the parking area and lake they flew from. He figured that out when he hopped in and his gas gauge was way lower than it should be. He barely made it to Coldfoot to fill up.
Until some of his friends backed out another friend I know still planned on using them this year on the principal that all fly outs become nuts at that time of year and he could put the legwork in once they dropped him off as long as he had an idea where they were. He had a point, in a couple/few week period they are trying to drop off and pick up a lot of people of varying skill level, most of who think it's going to be an easy hunt. And realize, that can often be the case, but caribou move a lot and tundra can be evil to walk on. Get in front of good group as they pass and it's incredible. Get in front and they up and decide to take a left turn a mile or five back the day prior and it's a very boring day or week.
A couple outfits fly out of Kotzebue. Me personally, I don't like that, it adds another flight and freight charges. I like to drive to my fly out spot. But I'm a resident.
 
Silvertip Aviation seemed good. As I recall their packages included all your camping gear. A plus for an out of stater. I minus to me. I have and know my gear too well.
 
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