I need some Alaska advice from residents

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

So my brother in law is getting commissioned in the Army next month and his tentative first duty station in Fort Richardson Alaska. My father in-law has it in his head that since his son is in the Army he will be able to go their and hunt moose as a resident.

He wants me and his daughter to be on board with it and we are for the most part, except the unguided part. It seams to us that the guide’s expertise would be invaluable in this instance at least logistically speaking. I feel my father in law is getting in over his head. What are your thoughts he doesn’t know the area, his son does not even hunt and further more having spent a good deal of my life in the service I know my brother in law will have zero time as a boot 2nd LT to do anything.

What are you thoughts?

Jon

[Speedo]

He won't be able to get a resident license until he meets the residency requirements, he will be able to purchase a nonresident military license at the resident rate.

As far as the logistics are involved there are a lot of variables involved but without backcountry access and knowledge of critters things can be difficult.

Gus

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Gus

Thanks I think thats right along the lines of what my self and his daughter were telling him. He just didnt want to hear it I suppose.

Jon

[Gene Jr.]

I'm not an AK resident but have done a DIY caribou hunt and I'm headed back this year to hunt with a friend who is a resident. I'll be a packer on his sheep hunt since I can not hunt them without a guide.

From experience: get a guide or at least an outfitter to help out. Since you don't need a guide for moose you can go with just an air taxi or semi-outfitted hunt. This might be best. It would help a LOT with logistics and take a lot of stress off your trip.

On my DIY caribou trip we did it all on our own without any help. Not the best choice but we were successful on getting a pair of bulls. In the end we didn't save much money and added a bit of stress to our trip.

Have fun!

[comfisherman]

Its a toss up, I always tell everybody alaska really comes alive when you leave the road system. Unfortunately without a fair bit of equipment and local knowledge its hard to know where to go. If you do the road hunt stuff with fort rich as a starting point be prepared to be out their with every other person from fort rich that had the same idea as your father in law.

Its hard to believe such big country can feel crowded but the road systems really get hit pretty heavy. I did a hunt with a buddy in 05 and 08 and was absolutely flored. However I grew up in the middle of truely nowhere, so my perspective is a little skewed.

The previous advice about residency fits with what I've heard, however I don't have regs in front of me.

[dig]

You may not hunt as a Resident unless you are an established resident. At a minimum I would hire a transporter sometimes known as an expediter. Hunting moose is a serious endeavor, once you get one on the ground the nightmare begins. Climates are extreme, work is extreme, costs are going to be relatively high to fly and establish a decent camp.

[Speedo]

Originally Posted by dig

You may not hunt as a Resident unless you are an established resident. At a minimum I would hire a transporter sometimes known as an expediter. Hunting moose is a serious endeavor, once you get one on the ground the nightmare begins. Climates are extreme, work is extreme, costs are going to be relatively high to fly and establish a decent camp.

A large bull moose can exceed 1,600 lbs. and the country that you are likely to encounter them in will likely be wet. In some areas the meat cannot be boned out meaning that you can be looking at somewhere around 800 lbs. of meat to transport. If you fly in, find out what it is going to cost you to get your meat hauled out before you fly out as this can be costly. If you use a float plane don't shoot anything that you can't pack to the lake. Packing on the tundra will probably be different than anything you have ever experienced before. I've lived and hunted in Alaska for more than 40 years and I continue to learn every time I go out.

Gus