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Alaska Hunting Guide
Author: TravelMake.com
WHAT TO HUNT AND WHERE:
Alaska is a hunter's paradise. Hunting here can provide
the full scope of experiences- from caribou to deer and moose, from grizzly and
brown bears to wolves, from Dall sheep and mountain goats to muskox, from
waterfowl to ptarmigan and several grouse species. Diverse Alaska geographic
areas offer adventure for everyone, give us various choices: Interior Alaska.
From mountains and rolling hills, river valleys covered with forests to the vast
spaces of treeless tundra at higher altitudes and in the far north. Temperature
varies greatly throughout the year, from -50 Celsius (-58 Fahrenheit) in the
winter months to +30 Celsius (+86 Fahrenheit) during summers. There are just a
few highways in the interior part of Alaska. Most of the area can only be
reached by plane, boat or by foot. Summer is warm but short. Climate and
landscape conditions provide variety of big game: moose and caribou, Dall sheep
in the mountains, some wild bison, musk ox in the arctic Alaska, wolves, black
and grizzly bears, waterfowl, some grouse and ptarmigan . Southeast (the narrow
and long part between the Pacific ocean and Canada). Consists of mainland and
many treed mountainous islands along the coast. The main hunting trophies here
are brown and black bears, moose and mountain goats, black-tailed deer and
wolves . Guided hunting is done mostly by boat, the most popular hunting spots
are on the islands in the central part of the area. South and Southwest (to the
south and west of the Yukon river). Mountainous inland with many rivers and
lakes, ragged coastal line dotted with numerous islands. The region offers a
wide variety of game: deer, Dall sheep, caribou, moose, wolves, wolverine, brown
and black bear, waterfowl, grouse species.
ALASKA GENERAL HUNTING REGULATIONS:
If you hunt in a general season, which is
open to an unlimited number of hunters, you will need a harvest ticket. Harvest
tickets are available at no cost where hunting licenses are sold. Non-residents
are required to have a big game tag for the species they are hunting. Some
remote rural areas may not have licenses available or the vendor may run out of
harvest tickets. Be sure to purchase your license, game tags, and pick up
harvest tickets before you leave home or a population center. When a population
of animals is too small and/or the potential number of hunters too large to
allow a general season or a registration hunt, the Department may offer drawing
permits. A Drawing Permit Hunt Supplement is published every May. The drawing
for permit hunts is held in early summer, and everyone who applies will be
notified of the results by mail or can locate the results on the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game's website. The Supplement contains all of the
drawing hunts by number for all big game species. Most of the drawing permit
hunts are open to both resident and nonresident hunters. A hunter may apply for
three drawing permit hunts for each species. A fee is charged for each separate
hunt. You can pick up a Supplement at any Fish and Game office, on the website,
or at license vendors. Hunting permit applications and forms can be downloaded
off the Internet and printed out. You can also purchase hunting licenses, duck
stamps, big game tags online, print them at home and you may go hunting or
trapping right away. Complete Alaska Hunting Regulations Guide can be found
here. The basic non-resident hunting license costs $85 plus some extra fees for
big game tags.
HUNTING GUIDES:
Nonresidents may hunt moose, caribou, deer, and black bear
without a guide. Hunters who are not Alaska residents must be accompanied by a
registered Alaskan guide or they must hunt with close relatives within the
second-degree of kindred who are Alaska residents when hunting brown or grizzly
bears, Dall sheep or mountain goats. You can search online for licensed big game
guides in your area. The best guides deliver 80-100 percent for most big game
species. In addition, guides are familiar with their areas and possess equipment
that the average hunter might not care to purchase for one time use. However, a
guide's knowledge, experience and equipment do not come cheaply. Although
figures vary from guide to guide, expect to spend $8,000-$12,000 for a
brown/grizzly bear hunt, $4,000-$6,000 for a sheep hunt and $1,500-$3,000 for a
goat hunt. Moose and caribou are often part of a mixed-bag hunt and prices vary
considerably. The best way to find a reliable guide is by references.
AIRCRAFT CHARTERS:
Many hunters choose an air charter service to fly in to
prime hunting areas to hunt these species. The air charter operator is licensed
by the state to charge for flying hunters and their game meat. The drop-off hunt
is less expensive than a guided or outfitted hunt because the air charter takes
care of transportation and may throw in some planning tips. The hunter provides
all of the camp gear and performs all other functions on his own. Before you
contract with an air charter operator, you should have a clear understanding of
the costs of services and know exactly which services to expect. Prices and
services vary considerably. Air charter operators may charge a flat rate or by
the hour for flight time. When calculating costs on an hourly rate, you have to
take into account “dead-head†time, the time a pilot spends flying back to base
after dropping you off and the time spent flying out to pick you up. Again, be
sure to ask whether the package includes flying out the meat and antlers. Some
package deals also include being checked on at least once during the hunt to
bring out game or move you if you haven’t been successful. The cost of air
charters also depends on the size of the plane and the number of hunters sharing
the cost. Make sure you explain the number of hunters in your group and the
amount of gear you will have. There are two ways to go  you can pick a specific
site and ask the pilot to take you there, or you can choose a general area and
ask the pilot for a good hunting spot within that area. When planning your trip,
keep the weather condition in mind. Besides making your hunting miserable, poor
weather may disrupt your flying plans. Allow time on both ends of your schedule
for weather disruptions  how much time depends on the normal frequency of bad
weather for the area at that time of year. Ask the air charter operator for
references. You can search online for licensed transporters in your area. Check
also this extensive list of Alaska Aircraft Charters, Bush Pilots, Air Taxis.
FIREARMS:
State law prohibits the following: Fully automatic firearms, Rifles
with a barrel less than 16" Shotguns with a barrel less than 18", Rifles or
shotguns less than 26" in total length Rifles, shotguns and handguns are legal
for hunting in Alaska. Rim fire cartridges generally maybe used only for small
game.
WEATHER:
Alaskan summers are cool, the average temperature is +14 deg.C (58
F) in summer and -12 deg.C (11 F) in winter but it can vary greatly between
different regions of the state. Winters are cold and dark. Early spring can be
cold, but often days warm to above freezing with a lot of sunshine. It receives
midnight sunshine during the part of summer and goes into 24-hour darkness
during the part of winter. Summers are the wettest time of the year, south
regions are well known for their dampness. You can check next week weather
forecast for Anchorage here.
GETTING THERE:
You can fly to Anchorage direct or one-stop from most major US
cities. From there Alaska Aircraft Charters, Bush Pilots, Air Taxis will help
you to explore America's greatest playground. Many small villages and towns have
all weather airports and served daily by small air carriers. LODGING: Depending
on your preferences it can be a small camping tent or a luxurious hunting lodge
with all modern conveniences and comfort. There are also some primitive cabins
for private use maintained by government. These can accommodate 4 to 8 people,
cost from $20 to $50 (USD) per night and have to be reserved in advance,
usually- a month. You need to contact the proper agency directly to book a
cabin.
TRAVEL TIPS:
Northern weather can be unpredictable. Consider taking with you
and wearing multiple layers of clothes in response to a wide variety of
temperatures and weather conditions. Obtain detailed maps of the area
beforehand. Do not forget to pack first-aid and survival kits as well as bear
repellents. Be sure you check available information, understand all the
guidelines for hunting in Alaska before you leave home. We wish you a successful
and safe trip! Visit us at www.travelmake.com for more information and useful links.
About the author:
TravelMake.com - one of leading online discount travel agencies, a source of
useful travel information. Visit us: www.travelmake.com
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