Anyone hunt with Unguided Alaska/Arctic Air this year?

[Pwr]

AT&T had service. Verizon did not, but hotel WiFi is decent.

 

[Jry7978261]

I paid a deposit on a transporter hunt with Unguided Alaska for caribou in September of 2025. Has anyone hunted with them this season? I understand that mid-season they changed their base from Kotzebue to Fairbanks. I’ve read a few less than encouraging trip reports on other forums regarding this season. It seems they were very overbooked and the communication between the pilots and owner wasn’t the greatest. I don’t know if I have any options anyway since my deposit was not refundable. I’m just trying to figure out what I might be getting myself into.

Hey Magnum Sherpa. Myself and 3 others are also booked with them for end of Aug. I was wondering if we could chat. I definitely have some concerns. And I kinda wanted to see how your experience to this point has been.

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

Hey Magnum Sherpa. Myself and 3 others are also booked with them for end of Aug. I was wondering if we could chat. I definitely have some concerns. And I kinda wanted to see how your experience to this point has been.

Certainly. Are you hunting out of Kotzebue or Fairbanks? We got switched to Fairbanks. I texted Gary about 3 weeks ago because I had some questions about the Fairbanks hunt (the website really only has FAQS for the Kotzebue hunt) but I’ve heard nothing back from him. I did however receive an invoice during that time telling me the balance of my hunt is due June 1.

 

[Jry7978261]

Certainly. Are you hunting out of Kotzebue or Fairbanks? We got switched to Fairbanks. I texted Gary about 3 weeks ago because I had some questions about the Fairbanks hunt (the website really only has FAQS for the Kotzebue hunt) but I’ve heard nothing back from him. I did however receive an invoice during that time telling me the balance of my hunt is due June 1.

Yes same thing, we got switched to fairbanks about a 6 weeks ago. We were told we would get update emails confirming our dates and where we were going but havnt gotten anything. But they are asking for final payment. Have zero documents in writing on where and what dates we are hunting was all just verbal...... .

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

Yes same thing, we got switched to fairbanks about a 6 weeks ago. We were told we would get update emails confirming our dates and where we were going but havnt gotten anything. But they are asking for final payment. Have zero documents in writing on where and what dates we are hunting was all just verbal...... .

I think we got switched to Fairbanks around the end of March. I was told there would be a series of informational emails coming, but I’ve gotten nothing yet. I did get an updated contract confirming my dates and changing the hunt origination to Fairbanks. Did you use Russ and Outdoors International as your contact/booking agent? I may try to get in touch with them if I can’t get a reply from Gary. I have a bad feeling as well, but too much money is sunk into the trip at this point.

 

[Jry7978261]

I think we got switched to Fairbanks around the end of March. I was told there would be a series of informational emails coming, but I’ve gotten nothing yet. I did get an updated contract confirming my dates and changing the hunt origination to Fairbanks. Did you use Russ and Outdoors International as your contact/booking agent? I may try to get in touch with them if I can’t get a reply from Gary. I have a bad feeling as well, but too much money is sunk into the trip at this point.

I did not use outdoors international. But I have spoke with russ there when was having trouble getting any help after we originally booked. I have tried to call russ the last two weeks and left voice mails. No response. We are in the same boat. Alot of money invested and can't even get a phone call back on what's happening as far as dates and to get flights booked ect. Very frustrating

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

I did not use outdoors international. But I have spoke with russ there when was having trouble getting any help after we originally booked. I have tried to call russ the last two weeks and left voice mails. No response. We are in the same boat. Alot of money invested and can't even get a phone call back on what's happening as far as dates and to get flights booked ect. Very frustrating

It really is frustrating - definitely not how a business should be run. I’m going to try to be optimistic, do the things that I have control over, and hope for the best. Good luck and I hope you have a fun and successful trip.

 

[Dave N]

Sounds like you guys need to send a letter or email stating no more payments until they give you the info you need and asked for. Skeptical me thinking you're getting ripped off.

 

[cgasner1]

Probably a outfitter association you could reach out to

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

Probably a outfitter association you could reach out to

He’s technically a transporter and not an outfitter, so I’m not sure.

 

[OverlordBear]

You guys are probably getting ripped off these transporters are just glorified taxis who don’t give a rip about the quality of the hunt and will just put as many camps as possible next to “easy runways” that at least was my experience with RAM AIR and Arctic Air out of Kotzebue AK. If you put it on a credit card you could dispute the payment as fraudulent if they don’t respond.

 

[Andouille]

I would do three things in this order:
1. Review your contract language and determine the terms of refunds for cancellations by the transporter. If the lack of refund constitutes a breach of contract on their end, then:
A. Let the transporter know that you are reporting them to the ADFG Big Game Commercial Services Board unless they provide a refund. The board may pull their transporter license if they are breaching contracts. Have anyone else that got hosed by the transporter also contact the Board.
B. Let the transporter know you are reporting them to the Alaska Better Business Bureau
C. Let the transporter know you are sharing your experiences on popular hunting forums (Hunttalk, Rokslide, etc.)
D. Credit card chargeback as indicated above.
2. If transporter is not in breach of contract, then request that your deposit be put towards a future hunt, if you can stomach going with them again.

 

[Krista907]

I live in circle on the Yukon and have seen the outfit you’re all talking about. I won’t tell ya what I’ve seen but Try these instead

Double Shovel Outfitters - Double Shovel Outfitters

doubleshoveloutfitters.com

https://tyrrellstrails.com/

 

[Krista907]

They told us they’d message us when they were coming. They never did. Caribou came into camp and one of the older guys we had with us (70) shot it. Not a second after the caribou hit the ground one plane came in and the pilot was yelling at us to get moving. So two of us went. Were supposed to come back that day for the other 2 but weather got bad. Pilot and Gary didnt communicate well at all. Gary only has 2 planes and puts out 20+ hunters.

I live in Circle where they began to base out of after they were basically chased out of Kotz. Without going into detail or disparaging them online, I will say it’s all true. If you want a good hunt it will cost ya but you will have a way better experience with Charlie Jagow or the Tyrrell family.

 

[Krista907]

To be 100% fair. Gary did go back and get our antlers that we couldn’t get on the helicopter afterwards and did ship them to us. Which he didn’t have to do especially with how bad he was getting picked on from everyone’s reviews. Just wanted to mention that.

His hunters left whole animals covered by brush up on the Chandalar right by my friends hunting camp. Others got stranded there with no food and my friends had to accommodate them. Weather has been crappy again this year so I expect more of the same sh!t show as last year. Hunters would also get stranded in Circle where I live for days and we don’t have a hotel or restaurant so I would let them use my grill and stay in the town’s equipment shop to stay out of the rain.

 

[Krista907]

Joined just to reply to this discussion as I have been watching for reviews. I was in Kotz Aug 2024 with transporter - RAM Aviation. It was a great experience and going back in 2025. We did not have a lot of opportunities but went 4-4 on decent bulls. Bears were everywhere and stole any food not in our tents. Also got some of our meat.
When we arrived at motel in Kotz we found that ArcticAir had 8-10 groups backed up waiting to get out in the field. They also had guys that were left in the field 3-5extra days. It sounds like to make as much money as possible Arctic books as many trips as a perfect schedule will allow without accounting for the 2-4 weather days every week that they cannot fly. It was a crappy week weather wise and even our transporter was behind by a couple days, but we did make it into the field on the scheduled day.
The day we left for our hunt 15arctic guys got fed up and left without ever hunting. Another 10-15 flew to another location with Arctic to fly into the field from another village.
We were picked up from the field our scheduled day and when we made it back to Kotz we learned that Arctic had left that area altogether. Rumor was some of their hunters had to be picked by the coast guard.

Yes they shifted their base of operation to Fairbanks and quickly learned that getting from Fairbanks to circle was hit and miss with weather that time of year. Lots of hunters stranded in Circle for the duration of their hunt. Some guys with 5 day hunts never did get out due to weather.

 

[Tmullen1]

I paid a deposit on a transporter hunt with Unguided Alaska for caribou in September of 2025. Has anyone hunted with them this season? I understand that mid-season they changed their base from Kotzebue to Fairbanks. I’ve read a few less than encouraging trip reports on other forums regarding this season. It seems they were very overbooked and the communication between the pilots and owner wasn’t the greatest. I don’t know if I have any options anyway since my deposit was not refundable. I’m just trying to figure out what I might be getting myself into.

Hey man how did you guys end up making out on this trip?

 

[Tmullen1]

Hey Magnum Sherpa. Myself and 3 others are also booked with them for end of Aug. I was wondering if we could chat. I definitely have some concerns. And I kinda wanted to see how your experience to this point has been.

How did you end up making out?