Gut punch - September caribou hunt cancelled

[glass eye]

@mevertsen Another pic from that trip

 

[Ericbender]

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.

We’re flying out with them in 2 weeks and this is awful to see. They moved us to Fairbanks too but the group going at the same time as us in Kotz cancelled so we were able to sneak in. 75 percent is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

We’re flying out with them in 2 weeks and this is awful to see. They moved us to Fairbanks too but the group going at the same time as us in Kotz cancelled so we were able to sneak in. 75 percent is absolutely ridiculous.

I was luckily able to get all of my money refunded after significant back and forth with them. They also gave us the option of hunting out of Kotzebue after canceling us in Fairbanks, but it would have been about a week and a half earlier and my vacation was already set. By that point I had also lost all confidence in them, so I just wanted to get my money back and move on. I hope your hunt is successful and everything goes smoothly.

 

[seeth07]

Speaking of this thread...I was just talking with a CO worker this morning and his dad just had a trip canceled by these same knuckleheads with the same story of only a 75% refund. They just got their notice last Thursday and they were supposed to leave next week.

 

[rlg1965]

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.

absolute bummer! I bet you can make something happen! Good luck keep hammering!

 

[Sheltowee]

keep hammering!

 

[Gellar]

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[Sheltowee]

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[Carnage2011]

Anyone heard anything from outdoors international? I believe that’s their booking agent.

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

Anyone heard anything from outdoors international? I believe that’s their booking agent.

Anyone heard anything from outdoors international? I believe that’s their booking agent.

I contacted Russ Meyer from Outdoors International several times via phone and text message. He never answered his phone so I left a few voicemails. Russ did call me back after about a week and a half, but I was at work and couldn’t answer. He didn’t leave a message and I had gotten my refund check in the mail that day, so I didn’t bother calling him back.

 

[Krista907]

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.

I’m sorry to hear but not surprised. Try Charlie Jagow or Tyrrells. Might be too late this season but they may have recommendations that are more reputable than unguided.

 

[Krista907]

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

Agree. There is currently a class action against another outfit that defrauded a lot of people to the tune of $660,000. I’d just as soon see these outside outfitters kicked out of Alaska

 

[Krista907]

I would try to find out who the two pilots were and reason why they can no longer provide services to Arctic Air.? Their response might be interesting. IE, if Arctic Air failed to uphold their legal obligations, then their position of hunt costs out of their control does not hold water nor protect them.

We’re flying out with them in 2 weeks and this is awful to see. They moved us to Fairbanks too but the group going at the same time as us in Kotz cancelled so we were able to sneak in. 75 percent is absolutely ridiculous.

Just talking with the air taxi they were using last year. It sounds like the air taxis don’t want anything to do with unguided. They abused the air taxi outfit that they contracted and there was also a fatal aircraft crash that killed one of their pilots. No hunters were on board.

 

[Krista907]

UPDATE: After countless phone calls, texts, and emails Arctic Air finally agreed to refund all of the money that I paid them. The check came yesterday and I deposited it immediately. It thankfully cleared. Thanks to everyone here for all of the suggestions - it was very helpful to convince Arctic Air to give a full refund.

In other good news, we were able to book a replacement transporter. The transportation will be an airboat instead of an airplane and we are hunting the North Slope instead of the southern Brooks Range. My hunting partner and I are ecstatic that we are going hunting after being down in the dumps for a week.

Thank you to everyone who made suggestions or gave advice.

Glad you got your money back! They are shady to say the least. They are learning that the air taxi they used last year doesn’t want anything to do with them. If you ever do want a great hunt look up Charlie Jagow or the Tyrrell family.

 

[Hunter II]

I contacted Russ Meyer from Outdoors International several times via phone and text message. He never answered his phone so I left a few voicemails. Russ did call me back after about a week and a half, but I was at work and couldn’t answer. He didn’t leave a message and I had gotten my refund check in the mail that day, so I didn’t bother calling him back.

Russ isn’t just a booking agent. He is part of AA. Search his name.

Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

www.commerce.alaska.gov

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

Russ isn’t just a booking agent. He is part of AA. Search his name.

Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

www.commerce.alaska.gov

That makes sense why he pushes their hunts so hard.