BUYER BEWARE!
Though
most air charter services offer hunters a good experience, there are a
few bad apples in the barrel. One hunter reports getting dropped off “in
the middle of nowhere” to hunt moose with a couple of friends. Within
three days they realized they were in a dead zone far from quality moose
habitat. There wasn’t even a track to be found. Other parties find
themselves in the midst of other hunters and wind up stalking the same
animals as other groups. Still others are gouged by unanticipated
last-minute or after-the-fact hidden costs. Beware of charter services
that give vague answers, seem hard to contact, or are new arrivals to
the area. Not all who fit this resumé are bad, but be careful; new
arrivals may be learning the area on your nickel. Consider charters that
are well established in their area or that have long track records of
success. If they’re providing some of your gear, ask about the brand
names, age and condition of it before you commit your cash.TWO PRINCIPLES
There’s a saying that in Alaska you shouldn’t fly from one side of the range to hunt the other. Fall weather here is notoriously fickle, and your air service may not be able to get through the pass. Some charters avoid this by staging an aircraft on the other side during hunting season. Check with your air service to see how they deal with this or you could lose some of your hunting time to weather. Alternatively, hire an air service that’s already based in a nearby village; they know the area well and can get you into a productive spot with fewer delays.
BEGIN YOUR SEARCH
Begin your search for an air charter service with a look at the Air Taxi listings in the services pages of the Alaska Outdoors Supersite™. While this is not a complete listing, it will get you started on some charters that operate in certain areas of the state. Contact the Area Biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; ADF&G personnel will not refer you to a commercial operator, but the biologist may tell you the name of the company that performs survey work for them. Chances are, they’ve picked a winner. Search the forum archives on Outdoors Directory for information on air charters, and finally contact folks who’ve flown with the charters on your list. As you talk to hunters, be aware that unsuccessful hunters may wrongfully blame the air service. Read between the lines to see what’s really going on.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Some air services hop around from one “hot” hunting location to another from year to year, while others remain in areas that have consistently produced for them. Consider charters that are well-established in their areas or that have a long track record of success. Ask for references from last season and a few seasons before. Don’t judge an air service by one season; in some years everyone does poorly. As far as money goes, find out whether you’re paying a flat fee or by the hour (the latter can get expensive if the plane has to turn back because of bad weather). Ask about mid-hunt meat hauls. If you’re floating a river, ask about flying the river to scout for hazards before you drop off. Expect to pay extra for these services, but realize that they may be essential to your safety and the proper care of your meat.
Michael Strahan has been an Alaska hunting guide, author, and regular presenter on hunting topics at sportsman's shows and other venues. He is frequent contributor to the Alaska hunting forum.
News
Here are some of the headlines. For the complete January hunting news, including details on these stories, please see the archives for the month.
- Wolf control program back in operation
- Afognak Island purchase win for hunters, outdoors people
- Board of Game publishes hunting proposals
- State wolf control program halted on technicality
- ADFG publishes deer, sheep, muskox reports
- ADFG Bear Hunting Clinic in Anchorage on 25 Feb [audio!]
- Wolf initiative petition dies
- Su Valley moose numbers down
New on the Website
DIRECTORY: 23 January 2006: Revelation Mountain Outfitters 220 Fowler Branch, Harts, WV 25524 Tel. (304) 855-9301, email, tony@alaskahunts.net. Registered Guide Tony Dingess specializes in hunting the great Alaska brown bear, and Dall sheep. Our sheep hunters have averaged 37.5 " x 14" rams over the past three seasons. Other species are available on a customized basis. Hunt areas include the Chugach Mountains, the Alaska Range, western Cook Inlet, and more. We strive to provide the epitome of the Alaskan wilderness hunting experience for the bow hunter, rifle, muzzleloader, and handgun hunter. Certified to conduct hunts in Game Management Units 9, 14, 16, 19 and 21. Fair-chase backpack hunts from the ground, not the air!
DIRECTORY:
19 January 2006:
Swiftwater Outfitters 3401 Lois
Drive, Anchorage, AK 99517. Telephone (907) 272-2120. Email:
swo@alaska.net. Swiftwater specializes in taking groups of 2 -4 on
guided hunts for moose, caribou, brown and black bear. Our camps are
located on the Nushagak River and excellent fishing is included. None of
our guides have less then 5 years experience in the area. We have had
excellent success rates on big moose. If you like to hunt with your
buddies, or family, we provide an affordable way to do so. A reference
list of ALL our past 4 years hunters, not just the chosen few, is
available for serious inquiries.
DIRECTORY:
19 January 2006:
Terry's Outdoor Connection
862 Oak Avenue, Ortonville, MN 56278. Email:
tlr@wat.midco.net. Get ready for the outdoor adventure of a
lifetime! We specialize in customized fishing and hunting trips with
lodges, guides, and outfitters located around the globe. We can
arrange trips in Alaska for brown, black, and grizzly bear, moose,
caribou, mountain goat, Dall sheep, halibut, salmon, trout, etc.
Customized for your needs. We arrange hassle-free outdoor adventures.
Whether you're planning a corporate strategy retreat, a sales meeting or
a gathering of friends, we can help you tailor a memorable, exciting get
away.
Hot Forum Threads
Here are some of the top threads from January from the
Alaska hunting forum.
- twodux discusses game farms and gives his opinion about them.
- AK375HH is looking for information about hunting brown bears near Caswell Lakes.
- AK375HH brings up the age old question "What handgun is big enough?"
- Jeff L wants some input on whether black bear meat is good eating and how you would prepare it.
- martentrapper questions whether he is getting a better deal hunting for his meat rather than just going to the local grocery store. How much does your game meat cost?
- Broomedram is planning a 7 -10 day float hunt; he's looking for input on raft capacities and comfort.
- Burton inquires about other people's experience wearing Meindl's for sheep hunting.
- Thebear_78 asks an important question regarding having a loaded or an empty chamber while hunting.
- Jason in Anchorage is asking for opinions on tents for sheep hunting.
- Michael Strahan brings attention to an interesting article in ADN about grizzlies living in the Anchorage bowl.
- sal asks for some advice and opinions about what scope to use for his wife's 30.06.
- Akres starts a hot discussion about private property and public access in Alaska.
- BRWNBR is asking for other's viewpoints regarding some issue with guide land use and air taxis that won't drop hunters in these areas.
- GunsmithRob starts a discussion about access fees that vary based on what game is hunted in some areas of Alaska.
- Indiana Bowman asks about tents for Kodiak Island or other treeless alpine areas?
- twodux brings up the topic of ADF&G's access restrictions in some areas of the state.
- BRWNBR gives his opinion of The Alaska Hunting Forum and how it compares to others.
Search all messages on the
Alaska hunting forums for specific topics.