Alaska 2026 Caribou/Moose Hunt Air Charters

[rlg1965]

www.WillowAir.com

thank you!

 

[rmyoung1]

Kinda cool to see @Willow Air join the HT party. My dad and a friend have hunted with them. My dad has wonderful memories of that trip.

 

[Willow Air]

Kinda cool to see @Willow Air join the HT party. My dad and a friend have hunted with them. My dad has wonderful memories of that trip.

Thanks for letting us know.. it’s under new ownership and we’re very excited to be offering incredible experiences for hunters chasing their dreams here in Alaska!!

 

[Nuts]

If you decide you would like to DIY let me know. Not the same experience you would get with Willow Air who I recommend but I dont have that kind of money. I can do a 2 week float hunt for moose, caribou and blackbear. With fishing. And under $5k door to door per guy. 2 days on either end and its a 17-18 day trip.

 

[EWpres]

If you decide you would like to DIY let me know. Not the same experience you would get with Willow Air who I recommend but I dont have that kind of money. I can do a 2 week float hunt for moose, caribou and blackbear. With fishing. And under $5k door to door per guy. 2 days on either end and its a 17-18 day trip.

I'm curious to hear what you have to offer. Hugh at Willow Air is very nice and helpful. I'm considering a caribou hunt with them, but their moose hunts are just out of my price range right now. Still exploring options. Shoot me an email. [email protected]

 

[Nuts]

Responding here versus email just so everyone sees the clarification. I have done the float hunt I mentioned a bunch of times. I have friends that have done it as well. Its alot easier then people think logistically. What I have to offer is a run down of what I do. You would have to take that info and plan/book it yourself. Its just far easier then what people think. And far less costly for those willing to do the work. For those with the money Hugh is a pretty easy choice. For those without my way is the only other option.

 

[EWpres]

Responding here versus email just so everyone sees the clarification. I have done the float hunt I mentioned a bunch of times. I have friends that have done it as well. Its alot easier then people think logistically. What I have to offer is a run down of what I do. You would have to take that info and plan/book it yourself. Its just far easier then what people think. And far less costly for those willing to do the work. For those with the money Hugh is a pretty easy choice. For those without my way is the only other option.

Ah, I misunderstood. I thought you were offering outfitting support. I'd love to hear what you do. I've done a lot of digging into the DIY options, but your firsthand knowledge would be very helpful.

 

[Nuts]

Ah, I misunderstood. I thought you were offering outfitting support. I'd love to hear what you do. I've done a lot of digging into the DIY options, but your firsthand knowledge would be very helpful.

Email sent.

 

[Mudcreeker45]

If you decide you would like to DIY let me know. Not the same experience you would get with Willow Air who I recommend but I dont have that kind of money. I can do a 2 week float hunt for moose, caribou and blackbear. With fishing. And under $5k door to door per guy. 2 days on either end and its a 17-18 day trip.

What’s your info on this?

 

[jhb1983]

Responding here versus email just so everyone sees the clarification. I have done the float hunt I mentioned a bunch of times. I have friends that have done it as well. Its alot easier then people think logistically. What I have to offer is a run down of what I do. You would have to take that info and plan/book it yourself. Its just far easier then what people think. And far less costly for those willing to do the work. For those with the money Hugh is a pretty easy choice. For those without my way is the only other option.

 

[jhb1983]

Thinking hard about doing the airboat drop off diy hunt. What’s your thoughts on that?

 

[Nuts]

Thinking hard about doing the airboat drop off diy hunt. What’s your thoughts on that?

Depends what you want to get out of it. You will see other people. Typically quite a bit of people. They over book these things and drop off people every 1/2 mile to a mile or so. Its a lot. When you get any elevation you realize how many there are. And they have their traditional camps they use every year. Either the Caribou are there or they are not. They don't follow the herd or anything like that. Some offer an increased cost to take you deeper away from other people. That is a better option.

 

[jhb1983]

Depends what you want to get out of it. You will see other people. Typically quite a bit of people. They over book these things and drop off people every 1/2 mile to a mile or so. It’s a lot. When you get any elevation you realize how many there are. And they have their traditional camps they use every year. Either the Caribou are there or they are not. They don't follow the herd or anything like that. Some offer an increased cost to take you deeper away from other people. That is a better option.

Supposedly the company that I plan on going with will take us farther out there for more money than the other guys. And I’m told that the outfitters talk to each other on where the herd is or isn’t at. Not sure how true it is tho. We do plan on doing a spike camp to get away from people. We thought about a float down hunt but heard bad things about that also.

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

Supposedly the company that I plan on going with will take us farther out there for more money than the other guys. And I’m told that the outfitters talk to each other on where the herd is or isn’t at. Not sure how true it is tho. We do plan on doing a spike camp to get away from people. We thought about a float down hunt but heard bad things about that also.

We used an airboat transporter up there last year and hunted from a camp on the Echooka River. I think the advice you have gotten thus far is very good. I would be cautious of any transporter that promises to “take you farther than the other guys” for more money. At the very least, I would get that promise in writing in your contract. There were other groups last year who said they were promised to be “X” miles from any other group and that proved to be untrue. The situation is complicated by the multiple airboat operators in the area - nothing prevents a different company from dropping their hunters right next to you.

I did not get the impression that the different companies talk to each other about where the caribou currently are. From what I experienced, it seems they use the same campsites year after year, and you just hope the migration comes near you (it never came through last season).

I’m also not sure how useful it is to set up a spike camp away from the river. Keep in mind many of those rivers are pretty winding, and there are hunting camps every mile in many areas. Last year there was a group that hiked 3.5 miles from their camp on the Echooka River and set up a spike camp. What they failed to realize was that with the curvature of the river, that hike put them 1 mile directly behind our camp on the river. They weren’t happy to see us hiking past each morning, and we weren’t super thrilled to have someone camped on the ridge right above us.

If you want, send me a message about which transporter you are considering. I have a feeling it is probably the same one we used because I saw they were offering a “special” spot for more money this year.

 

[Redraider7]

We used an airboat transporter up there last year and hunted from a camp on the Echooka River. I think the advice you have gotten thus far is very good. I would be cautious of any transporter that promises to “take you farther than the other guys” for more money. At the very least, I would get that promise in writing in your contract. There were other groups last year who said they were promised to be “X” miles from any other group and that proved to be untrue. The situation is complicated by the multiple airboat operators in the area - nothing prevents a different company from dropping their hunters right next to you.

I did not get the impression that the different companies talk to each other about where the caribou currently are. From what I experienced, it seems they use the same campsites year after year, and you just hope the migration comes near you (it never came through last season).

I’m also not sure how useful it is to set up a spike camp away from the river. Keep in mind many of those rivers are pretty winding, and there are hunting camps every mile in many areas. Last year there was a group that hiked 3.5 miles from their camp on the Echooka River and set up a spike camp. What they failed to realize was that with the curvature of the river, that hike put them 1 mile directly behind our camp on the river. They weren’t happy to see us hiking past each morning, and we weren’t super thrilled to have someone camped on the ridge right above us.

If you want, send me a message about which transporter you are considering. I have a feeling it is probably the same one we used because I saw they were offering a “special” spot for more money this year.

Do you have a recommendation for outfitter/transporter? Looking at doing a plane drop off caribou hunt.

 

[jhb1983]

I would love to do a bush plane drop but I can’t drop 7k-8k just for a ride into the wilderness

 

[Nuts]

Do you have a recommendation for outfitter/transporter? Looking at doing a plane drop off caribou hunt.

Willow Air has a good set up. But there is decent smaller ones as well. ADFG provides a list of transporters.

 

[Redraider7]

Willow Air has a good set up. But there is decent smaller ones as well. ADFG provides a list of transporters.

Have you used any or recommend one besides willow air? group of 4 and looking for a more foothills/mountain style caribou hunt.

 

[Nuts]

No. But have communicated with the following about that

Northeest Alaska Backcountry Outfitters
Walt Maslen
907-822-4290
[email protected]

Copper River Air Service
907-822-4200
[email protected]

I can vouch for Walt Maslen. He often sets up hunts in Gates of the Artic that are highly successful. He also can offer recommendations

 

[Redraider7]

No. But have communicated with the following about that

Northeest Alaska Backcountry Outfitters
Walt Maslen
907-822-4290
[email protected]

Copper River Air Service
907-822-4200
[email protected]

I can vouch for Walt Maslen. He often sets up hunts in Gates of the Artic that are highly successful. He also can offer recommendations

Thank you!