Got my permit yesterday for the 40 mile herd on the Taylor highway. Leaving Thursday so we can beat the rush for a camping spot. Yea right, the spot we go to we have never seen anybody there. We are always alone with bunches of Caribou, where we keep a low profile. We camp in a low saddle above tree lind that is a natural migration route, and there has always been Caribou there for the lat 40 years. We shoot and leave, once we get our Caribou we quickly leave the area so not to disturb the rest of the local herd, or to prevent anyone from seeing us ibn the area.
Unfortunately: I did not get drawn for Nelchina this year. There is a non-migrating herd of Wood Caribou there at a big lake. They are in the area year round, and never leave. Oh they move around but I can always find them with in 10 miles of the lake. I'll fly the area in the morning, come home and leave. Drive down to the Denali highway and park. Take the 4-wheeler in to the lake and set up camp. Next morning we know about where the Caribou are, and hunt in that direction. This is the hunt I usually take the wife and kids on, not too far and an easy ride in to the herd.