Super cubs are limited by FAA to 50lbs of cargo and a passenger. Few follow the rule to the pound, but 40Mile seems to stick to their guns on that one. If it doesn't include your rifle, you should be able to squeak in at 50lbs, otherwise I think it would be really tight for two guys for a 10 day trip. I have just about the lightest possible backpacking gear you can buy for sheep hunting, and I would still be just over 50lbs with a rifle for a 10 day trip. Sharing a rifle and splitting gear is the only way we'd make it under the limit.
Can't help with the float/drop as I've never done a float hunt. I'd love to one day, but to do it right and the places I want to go will be a 2 week minimum trip.
I've been on quite a few drop hunts, and about half a dozen dead moose...
Aside from standard camp gear and food, hunting in Alaska isn't some mythical place filled with danger around ever bend. The killers are hypothermia, and... that's bout it. Recenly it seems like getting shot by a fellow hunter and rolling your ATV in a river are number two.
Keep dry and warm and you'll be fine. Good rain gear is a must. I don't care for the breathable stuff on extended hunts, because if it rains for a week straight it WILL get saturated, it won't keep you dry and you will never dry out. On a moose hunt where you don't walk around much the non-breathable waterproof stuff is a perfect fit.
A hip boots, a packable come-a-long and a good saw are key pieces of equipment along with about 100ft or more of heavy rope. Drop a moose in a swamp and you'll soon realize how much moose hunting sucks.
I like the Stanley 14" carpenters saw. They run about $12. They work for cutting wood, and cutting out antlers. Best I've found so far. Fits right against my back inside my pack. Wyoming saws are a joke when it comes to moose, as are the cheap folding saws. You can literally spend hours cutting out horns with junk saws, vs about 10 min with the Stanley.
If you plan on caping out your bull, look for TTC (Taxidermy Trophy Care). It works like salt, but you need about 1/10th as much. A quart will set the hair on a moose cape with salt you'd need 20lbs. That said, learn how to cape/flesh if you plan on keeping the cape... Plan on spending 4-5 hours fleshing it or more. Even if you don't want it, They sell for about $350-400 green/salted.
Make one of these moose scrapers as well... an empty quart oil jug has better tone, but I made due with a Power Aid bottle.
Have fun, and good luck planning. Keep in mind that most of the good air taxi's are booked a year out or more. I think 40mile opens the phone line the first of the year for return customers, and then if there's any slots left they take calls the following week for those bookings. If you haven't flown with them before, you probably won't get a moose hunt with them.
Here's 3 guys with a 50lb minimum camp. We lived pretty good sans a heater in the tent...
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. In 2012 the river we were floating rose 8 feet in about 2 days.It rained all day eight out of the ten days we were floating. Pick your river carefully and start with and easy float. I personally would not want to pack moose hind quarters much over a quarter mile. A drop hunt really limits your hunting options to a rather small area. I like being mobile and hunting hot sign. I think it is much easier to pick a drainage than to pick a spot. Just my thoughts
