Gut punch - September caribou hunt cancelled

[Magnum Sherpa]

I got an email from my transporter this morning that he is canceling all of his hunts out of Fairbanks this year. I originally found out about this transporter from a member’s positive review of his trip on this forum a few years ago, so I wanted to warn others here who might consider using Arctic Air/Unguided Alaska in the future - DON’T DO IT!

The company is not even refunding all of my money, which is ridiculous in my opinion since this is not a weather-related cancellation or other issue, but just a failure of being able to provide flying services.

I’m going to hopefully try to salvage the trip since tags, airfare, hotels have already been purchased, but I think it’s a long shot. If anyone has any leads on transporters or aviation services for the first 2 weeks of September I would be grateful.

 

[Gellar]

that sucks.

On one hand at least he let you know. There’s a lot of stories out there where the outfitter/transporter ghosts the client.

On the other hand, IMO, his failure to contract reliable services to fulfill his part of the agreement are not your problem no matter if he already purchased food and whatever BS he claimed. I don’t know how much he retained but I’d be looking into taking him to court and getting my money back.

 

[seeth07]

I got an email from my transporter this morning that he is canceling all of his hunts out of Fairbanks this year. I originally found out about this transporter from a member’s positive review of his trip on this forum a few years ago, so I wanted to warn others here who might consider using Arctic Air/Unguided Alaska in the future - DON’T DO IT!

The company is not even refunding all of my money, which is ridiculous in my opinion since this is not a weather-related cancellation or other issue, but just a failure of being able to provide flying services.

I’m going to hopefully try to salvage the trip since tags, airfare, hotels have already been purchased, but I think it’s a long shot. If anyone has any leads on transporters or aviation services for the first 2 weeks of September I would be grateful.

can you share the contract?

 

[Sheltowee]

Strongly recommend you contact the AK AG's Consumer Protection Unit: https://law.alaska.gov/department/civil/consumer/cp_complaint.html

 

[seeth07]

I’m going to hopefully try to salvage the trip since tags, airfare, hotels have already been purchased, but I think it’s a long shot.

Could always try to get a vehicle rented and head up to the haul road or give the 40 mile herd a try from the road granted that option may have all zones closed by then.

 

[Mallardsx2]

They hosed you and kept 25% of your money?!

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

They hosed you and kept 25% of your money?!

Yep

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

Strongly recommend you contact the AK AG's Consumer Protection Unit: https://law.alaska.gov/department/civil/consumer/cp_complaint.html

Thank you.

 

[brymoore]

Yep

I’d fight that.

 

[Wild Bill]

I'd fly up to this guys place and gouge his eyes out like I'm The Mountain from GOT.

But I'm very petty and spiteful.

Sorry man, that sucks.

 

[SC Living Outdoors]

I hope you can get your money back.

You can 100% salvage your trip. Just pivot. Go hunt to the haul road. Go moose hunting. Go black bear hunting. Go deer hunting down south. If you booked Alaska Air you should be able to change your destination if needed. Alaska has tons of great options.

 

[Bluffgruff]

I got an email from my transporter this morning that he is canceling all of his hunts out of Fairbanks this year. I originally found out about this transporter from a member’s positive review of his trip on this forum a few years ago, so I wanted to warn others here who might consider using Arctic Air/Unguided Alaska in the future - DON’T DO IT!

The company is not even refunding all of my money, which is ridiculous in my opinion since this is not a weather-related cancellation or other issue, but just a failure of being able to provide flying services.

I’m going to hopefully try to salvage the trip since tags, airfare, hotels have already been purchased, but I think it’s a long shot. If anyone has any leads on transporters or aviation services for the first 2 weeks of September I would be grateful.

If you were flying into fairbanks, I'd just take the air charter money and turn it into a rental vehicle and go on your own. Alaska 4x4, gonorth, uhaul, turo, whatever.

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

can you share the contract?

I have to edit it to take out a bunch of personal information first.

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

I hope you can get your money back.

You can 100% salvage your trip. Just pivot. Go hunt to the haul road. Go moose hunting. Go black bear hunting. Go deer hunting down south. If you booked Alaska Air you should be able to change your destination if needed. Alaska has tons of great options.

We are considering the Haul Road hunt as an option since we already have caribou tags purchased. I have watched videos on it and know about the 5-mile rule for rifle hunting, but not much else. I also don’t know much about moose hunting as a NR. That seems like a tough DIY hunt without some sort of air taxi.

 

[buckbull]

Ive never read a decent thing about artic air. Hopefully you can make lemonade from the lemons.

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

Ive never read a decent thing about artic air. Hopefully you can make lemonade from the lemons.

The guy running it now seems to be totally incompetent. I understand issues with weather are out of anyone’s control, but suddenly losing all of your planes and pilots?

 

[brymoore]

It sounds like his business is failing.

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

It sounds like his business is failing.

It definitely does, and for the sake of other people who might unknowingly book with him in the future I hope he shuts down for good. He should stick to being a lawyer because this hunting thing doesn’t seem to be working out.

 

[Nick87]

That sucks. I hope your able to get some money back.

 

[Foxtrot1]

I'd fly up to this guys place and gouge his eyes out like I'm The Mountain from GOT.

But I'm very petty and spiteful.

Sorry man, that sucks.

My brother had an issue when buying cattle.4 hour drive to have a face to face conversation boiled down to my brother, telling him, "I'm willing to go to jail over $13k. Are you willing to go the rest of your life without teeth for it?" Miraculously, the guy came up with the $13k he owed my brother.