I have been dreaming of hunting the king of the deer family for as long as I can remember. This fall, that dream will finally come to fruition.

In this article, I’ll explain how I researched the countless options and what led me to book with this specific outfitter. There are many options for do-it-yourself hunts, and I’ll walk through information I have gathered over the years.

My main message for this article is: Don’t wait.

If you have ambitions for a hunt of this caliber, find a way to make it happen now. We never know what the future holds. Those who wait for the perfect opportunity, or until money and time are more available, often never make it to the great wilds of the north.

Guided vs. Unguided Moose Hunts

I feel like the first major decision to be made when researching a moose hunt is whether you are looking at hiring a guide or considering a drop camp.

Figuring out a budget for the hunt is a good starting place. Guided moose hunts are not cheap. From the information I have gathered over the last several years, they typically range between $25,000 and $40,000.

Unfortunately, nearly all moose hunting in Alaska will require being dropped off by an air transporter. These can range from $7,000 to $20,000, depending on the transporter and where exactly you are trying to get.

Many of the best transporters have waiting lists that are several years long. Some conduct a drawing to determine who will land a spot with one of their bush pilots. It becomes a supply-and-demand issue. There simply are not enough pilots to get everyone in and out of the field.

All Canadian provinces require nonresident hunters to hire a guide to hunt moose.

Drop Camps

If your budget doesn’t allow for hiring an outfitter, there are many great options for drop camps.

The most popular and highest-rated transporters include Papa Bear, Renfro’s, 40-Mile Air, Willow Air, and Davis Outfitters. There are many others, but these are the groups that stood out the most during my years of watching reviews and talking directly with them and their clients.

These groups will either take you to a predetermined spot they have repeatedly hunted, or some are willing to take you to a spot of your choosing, assuming they can land there safely. Many of these drop camp options allow you to hunt with a group of two to four people. This allows you to experience Alaska with family or friends and provides strength and safety. However, this also typically means that not all of you will be successful. In many cases, groups are lucky to kill one bull.

Finding a legal bull where it can be retrieved is often the real feat of moose hunting. Having extra manpower in camp is a must. Packing a moose much farther than a mile simply isn’t doable. Six hundred pounds of meat, and in some areas bone-in meat, equates to planning on eight to ten trips with very heavy packs.

Terrain and Access Considerations

With both guided hunts and drop camps, there will be many options regarding the terrain of the hunt.

You may be dropped off at a lake or river drainage and use boats or rafts to access moose country. In parts of Alaska, you can land on long ridges and hunt from a base camp. I suggest thinking about what fits your skills and fitness level best.

With both options, getting the moose to a location where it can be extracted is key. Whether that means shuttling loads to where a raft can be utilized or packing everything back to the landing site for the plane, retrieval must be considered before the hunt begins.

Float Hunt Logistics

If the plan is to float a river, the logistics of the hunt become a bit more complicated. 

Water flow can vary greatly in Alaska. If rivers get too high, places to get out of the river become harder to find. If the flow gets too low, dragging loaded rafts through shallow water is no picnic. Many people are successful each year with this style of hunt. Just be sure to gather as much information as possible before arriving.

Questions to ask include:

• How far do we have to pack the rafts to get to the river?
• How many days will it take to float completely out?
• What happens in the event of an emergency on the river?

Guided Hunts

Alaska’s overall success rates on moose hunts hover around 20% annually. Hiring a guide can increase the historical success rate to more than 80%.

There are countless outfitters in Alaska and Canada to choose from. It can be overwhelming.

I built a spreadsheet and started making phone calls about five years ago in preparation for making a decision. This helped me keep track of information and easily compare outfitters.

Alaska vs. the Yukon

Most hunts in the Yukon are more expensive than hunts in Alaska, especially when adding Canadian taxes and the additional cost of airfare.

There are several groups that I considered in the Yukon, including Yukon Stone, Caesar Lake Outfitters, McMillan River Adventures, Rogue River Outfitters, Midnight Sun Outfitters, and Blackstone Outfitters.

All of these groups consistently kill giant bulls, and all of them average above the magic 60-inch mark. Ultimately, I decided to stick with Alaska, although I still dream of experiencing the Yukon. It might have to be on a Dall sheep hunt.

Choosing a Hunting Style

Alaskan hunts can cater to nearly any skill level.

There are guided hunts from luxury cabins that access hunting areas using very expensive boats. There are horseback options that provide access to remote country few people ever witness. There are countless options to hunt around large lakes.

If you are from the Rocky Mountains, there are also opportunities to hunt ridges and attempt to spot and stalk large bulls. Each option has pros and cons, but each option produces large bulls every year.

When I was looking for a hunt, I didn’t really want to do a float hunt. I didn’t like the idea of having to deal with a raft daily and being confined to the river. I looked at a few options with outfitters that land on lakes and hunt the surrounding areas, but I focused the most on ridge-style hunts. I am a glasser. I wanted to be able to put optics to use and find animals from vantage points.

The outfitters I looked at the most were Renfro’s Alaskan Adventures, Grizzly Skins of Alaska, Hidden Alaska Guides and Outfitters, Dillinger River Outfitters, Davis Outfitters, and the outfitter I ultimately chose, Alaska Big Game Outfitters.

Why I Chose My Outfitter

As with any guided hunt, do your homework.

Get references from recent hunters. Ask for pictures. Be certain to get all the cost information, as many outfitters require air transportation fees in addition to hunt and license costs.

Talk through success rates and be specific about what you are expecting. Be sure to inquire about other opportunities, such as brown or grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, caribou, and wolverines.

This is one of the main reasons I chose the outfitter I did. It is a 15-day hunt that includes moose and brown bear. I also really connected with the outfitter. After numerous conversations, I could tell that we hunt and think alike. As a newer outfitter, he was looking for hunters who were willing to hunt hard and be ready for an adventure.

Check and check.

Booking Early and Last-Minute Openings

One thing is certain: pricing is still climbing.

Locking in a hunt multiple years in advance can result in thousands of dollars in savings as prices change annually. Another option to consider is a last-minute cancellation. Many of the outfitters I talked to have cancellation lists that hunters can be added to.

It happens nearly every year when a client has something unforeseen come up and needs to reschedule. This often opens the door for a somewhat discounted rate to fill the vacant slot. If you have money ready and aren’t afraid to drop everything and go on an adventure, consider getting on some of these call lists.

The opportunities usually book quickly, so you must be ready if you are notified of a hunt that matches your dreams.

Conclusion

I guess we will see how all this research pays off in a few short months. I feel good about my choices and am excited to see what hunting Alaska is like for myself. Undoubtedly, I will have unforgettable experiences and tales to tell for decades to come.

If hunting moose in Alaska or the Yukon appeals to you, I urge you to start taking steps now to make it a reality.

Watch for a follow-up article later this year to see how I fared.