Is there a good way to have a self guided hunt in Alaska?

[teddy12b]

A buddy and I have been talking about doing some self guided Fishing/Hunting/Camping trip in Alaska.  Basically, we'd just like to be dropped off somewhere and carry everything we need for a week on our backs. 

We'd like to primarily fish, but if an opportunity for a shot at some game came up we'd like to hunt.  We'd like to carry rifles regardless for our own protection so if there was something to hunt we'd be up for that.  I just don't know what non-resident fees would be more affordable and where exactly in Alaska would be a good place to go for something like this.

[Ratltrap]

Sure. As everywhere there are licenses, area specific seasons, and limits to deal with, but much of Alaska is public land and there are opportunities for fishing and small game hunting. If you are talking about backpacking for big game, I'd suggest you focus on that alone. If you are mostly interested in fishing there is plenty of walk-in access to that off the various highways and the railroad or you can hire flights or boats to drop you off in more remote areas. I'd suggest you look at the information in the Alaska Outdoors Directory (http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/) and ask your question in their forum. One of the hunting books I've read that has good information on small game hunting is Upland Hunting by Jim McCann. His focus is mainly on grouse and ptarmigan, but he talks about how to locate good small game areas and some of the problems with small game hunting in Alaska.

[corbanzo]

If you want to do that, my favorite place is called the russian lakes trail, on the kenai peninsula.  It is about 20 miles, but that is only one trail.  You can go from there to doing the whole resurrection/devils pass trail system, if you want to get in a lot of hiking.  The russian river trail is along the upper russian river most of the time, and offers great trout fishing, and on the lower river, trout and salmon fishing.  But depending on the time of the year you have to watch out, cause there are many confusing regulations.  There are loots grouse in the area also.  The last time we went up there, we packed way little food as always, and ate like kings the entire time

Along the rest of the trail system there are a bunch of alpine lakes to fish mostly trout, but a few other species out of.  Though you cant hunt them in the russian system, the area is full of bears for viewing, we saw one black and one brown last time we were up there, and that was only two nights. 

I've never been there, but I head the alaska peninsula is also a great place to go visit, I need to sometime.

If you really want to come here to hunt, then the type of game will decide where you are going and how long you are going to stay there.  IF you get a permit for big game up here, dont waste it, pay attention to the game.,  If you want to go fishing and hiking, then go fishing and hiking, leaving the big game hunting for another time. 

[thxmrgarand]

This isn't exactly on point for your question but 4 or 5 years ago I had some work to do on Prince of Wales Island.  I took a pickup camper and my Chesapeake.  It was August.  Salmon were in every creek and cove.  Deer were like rabbits - I cannot remember the limit but I shot only one.  Every night I would howl outside the camper and wolves would howl from two to four points on the compass.  We ran into black bear.  Then on Sept. 1 we started hunting ducks and geese, having huge bays and salt marshes all to ourselves.  None of this required a guide of course, including wolves and bear if I had wanted to hunt them.  There are an estimated 1,000 miles of road on the island.  We parked at a different bay each night.  I cannot imagine a better playground for someone who hunts and fishes.  And of course, Alaska doesn't have the restrictive gun control laws that Canada has.

Alaska is huge; put a true-sized map of Alaska over a map of the Lower 48 and Alaska stretches from Maine to New Mexico.  There are lots of places to do what you have in mind.  You can caribou hunt in the Interior and not see or hear another person until the plane comes for you.  You can have an island all to yourself most anywhere from Southeast up to the Aleutians.  Good luck.  

[teddy12b]

To make this more cost effective I'm going under the assumtion that it will be less expensive to fly into the South Eastern area of Alaska.  As far as hunting would go, I'd just hunt whatever I could afford to hunt (least expensive big game), maybe black bear or carribou.  I haven't really looked into what the best deal would be. 

I'm starting to think that a fly in trip might be best for what I'm talking about.  Ideally, I'd fly into an Alaskan airport, hop on the puddle jumper and get dropped off wherever.  I'd like to get away to where I would be able to hike around at my leasure, fish, and hunt on a "target of opportunity" basis.  If I went I'd be just as interested in sitting and trying to take it all in as I would be to try to hunt something.  That being said I wouldn't mind grilling some fresh steak over the fire on the trip either and I'd be happy with small game as well. 

[thxmrgarand]

I am not the best person to give travel advice but no, the least expensive air travel destination in AK is surely Anchorage, with Fairbanks being second.  Much of Southeast can be reached by AK Airlines (a Seattle company) but without competition the flights are dear.  You won't find caribou in Southeast.  However if Southeast is your destination, you might look at the state ferry system (Alaska Marine Highway on-line) since it is subsidized with $100 million of oil dollars each year.  As a "walk-on" from Bellingham, WA, you would see all of Southeast and could even take a feeder ferry to Baranof Is., Prince of Wales Is, Chichagof Is., and other destinations.  You would go up the Canadian coast but avoid their gun restrictions (and more restrictions; they gave me a time last year driving from Skagway to Whitehorse when the Canuck border guard noticed the NRA sticker on my truck bumper!).  You need not rent a cabin on the ferry since there are showers for those who sleep outside.  You can bring your truck on the ferry but that substantially increases the cost. 

Alternatively, you can fly to Fairbanks, and then drive from there in a rental rig or have a bush plane outfit take you from Fairbanks.  You can drive the highway that follows the pipeline north but there are restrictions on shooting near the pipeline.  There's lots of information and advice available about float hunts.  The advice about the www.outdoorsdirectory.com website is good advice.  Good luck.     

[teddy12b]

Thanks for all the information guys I appreciate it.  I looked up some pricing on flights and my budget wouldn't have enough left over after the flights.  I think I'm going to try to look for a fly in trip in Canada. 

[corbanzo]

You could just get some fishing guide books, fly into anchorage, rent a car, and drive to the places you found, but make sure there are good hiking trails to get away to where the fish are, and try and find some grouse and rabbits on the way.  bring a shotgun, a camera, and a couple of fishing rods, you are set. 

[Dand]

First off start researching good sources and take a lot of time to plan.  You'll be able to come properly informed and prepared.

I'd suggest you start at the State Fish and Game website.  You can find tag and license fees, regulations, basic hunting and fishing information, local biologist contacts and a ton of other information.

here is the link to the home page: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/

Asking on this forum is a help too as there are quite a few knowledgeable folks posting.

HTH 

[SDS-GEN]

I've done what you are talking about a couple of times, if you bring a couple of friends along and fly in bear/deer in SE Alaska or caribou up north can be done for around $2500 total.  If you need to buy a bunch of extra gear ahead of time it will cost more.

[Winter Hawk]

Having recently left Prince of Wales Island after 5 years residency there, I would second it also as a fishing destination.  Drive to Bellingham, Washington and catch the Alaska Marine Highway ferry up to Ketchikan, then the InterIsland ferry to P.O.W. Island.  You can either bring your vehicle so you have transportation on the island, or come up as a walk-on passenger.  Google Alaska Marine Highway System and it will give you costs, you can make reservations, etc.  Staterooms are available, but lots of folks just sleep on deck.  If you bring a vehicle, throw a canoe or skiff on top to take advantage of the ocean fishing.  Deer are abundant, as are black bear.  There are a number of lodges and B&Bs if you need to get civilized. Also Google Prince of Wales Island and see what links you get.  There is lots of information out there.

Good luck,
-WH-