costs / contacts for resident Musk Ox hunts

[Dand]

Hey,  I just realized that the draw permit hunt applications are due by mail Dec 15 or online by Dec 31 this year!

I am thinking about applying for Muskox permits on Nunivak or maybe even the Nome area.  But do any readers know who guides in these areas and rough costs for a guide?  Even tho I'm a resident, these areas are a long way from home and it might be worth using a guide to have a better chance of success. 

I'm open for any suggestions.  Thanks

[Graybeard]

Are you rich? IF not I doubt you can afford the cost.

[Tonk]

I have been hoping for another Pipe-Line to be added up in Alaska, maybe I could go up and still run some work and hunt on the side just a bit. This is the only way I could afford to hunt the moose, ox, bear etc.
Now back in the 70's, folks were renting out their basements for $800 dollars a month to construction people. You could save a fist full of dollars, if you didnt go to town to visit the French ladies or play cards etc. I remember common women laboring (holding signs on the road) making $80,000 a year back then. The place was very expensive if you left the bush!

[Sourdough]

Hunting on Nunavak Island you will need a guide.  The Musk-Ox are scattered around the island, and usually not within walking distance of Makouryuk.  And unless you hire a guide "They don't want you shooting their Musk-ox".  That was the attitude I ran into out there from the locals.

The Nome area I can not speak about.  I've had little dealings with folks there, and have only been there once passing through.

The way I see it, if you want to hunt for Musk-ox you have to have a guide since the animals are out away from the area you will land in.  You will need some form of ground transportation to get out to where the animals are.  That requires a guide.

[379 Peterbilt]

I've a moose hunt pard who did the Nunavak musk ox hunt last year. Don't quote me, but I think he paid around $5000 just for the transporter/guide.

I just entered for all my entries yesterday and looked at the odds of lifting a ox tag - It's like 1%

BTW, why is the Bison and ox draws  $10 per, instead of $5 like the other speices? I donated $10 for the DI454 bison tag, which like the ox, has a 1% odds of drawing. LOL.

[Dand]

Thanks Sourdough. I pretty much figured a guide would be needed.  Seems like the smart way to go anyway - would make logistics a lot easier.  I put in for a Nunivak hunt and if I get drawn I'll figure something out.  I know a couple guys who have done the hunts, but I've lost track of them. I'm sure if I get drawn I can get some info from ADFG as part of the required orientation.  

I know it won't be cheap but I don't think its on the scale of a nonresident bear hunt - those prices are crazy- $15-$20 thousand I think I've heard.  But at 55, I'm trying to squirrel away a few $ for some once in a life-time opportunities.  I found one comment on another forum where a guy paid about $5K for the whole thing. Guess I'll have to keep workin in the mean time.

Why thanks Peterbilt. I was just typing a note when yours popped up. Seems like our info matches. Yeah the odds are poor.  I have been making donations to the bison drawing for 7-9 years. I think the higher prices are due to the really strong demand, possibly for the intensive orientation package a drawing winner must complete before hunting.  Looks like they just instituted a system where unsuccessful applicants can earn points if they apply every year. Don't know how that works but I read that its done in other states.

[379 Peterbilt]

Dand

That's a good point. The extra $5 may keep a few from entering, thus better odds. (2% now? LOL)

I forgot about the orientaion for draw winners. Nice problem to have, eh? 

Good luck to everyone in the draw......which btw, winners wont be announced until as late as March. In recent years it was always the last Friday in January. Oh the extra suspence 

[Sourdough]

Those hunts are real popular, and F&G can double their cash intake by charging double for those hunts.  Money that is what it is all about. 

Look at how the big registration cow hunt in unit 20-B suddenly went to 51 drawing hunts.  Don Young (the biologist) realized how much money he could make for the Department.  He is doing the same thing to unit 20-A as well.

Dand:  When I was on Nunivak, the President of VolksWagen was there.  He was handing out $100.00 bills for everything.  The locals suddenly wanted $100.00 for everything. 

Partway through the project I was out there working on Marlin Perkins, the old man that did the wildlife series on TV came out.  They were filming Musk-Ox.  The Veterinarian I was working with darted an animal and the TV crew got up close and got some good close up shots.  When the Vet gave the reviving shot, the camera crew took too long getting away.  Old man Perkins almost did not make it.

The project I was working on required we take one animal for autopsy.  We needed a specimen looking for heartworm and lungworm.  The state lab also wanted a liver.  Knowing of this requirement the Vet decided I should get a resident tag for Musk-ox.  Therefore before going out there I had gotten a resident tag.  Back then there was only drawings for non-residents.  For a resident it was only a $25.00 tag.  Due to the logistics of getting there, residents were not going out there.  Cost too much to get there back then.

Well anyway when I did shoot one, the locals came unglued.  I had not hired a guide.  They claimed no one was allowed to hunt with out a guide.  It caused a lot of conflict.  The hide never made it back to Anchorage.     

[Dand]

Sourdough - sounds like you had a neat adventure on Nunivak. I suspect that most or much of the island is Native owned so hiring a guide may be the cost of access to or across the land. Frankly in that country in fall or late winter, I'd want the help of local wisdom while getting around. If weather gets bad its no place to fool around or be poorly prepared.  But it does hurt when a high roller passes through and creates some unreasonable expectations from the rest of us.  Those folks are pretty desperate for cash, no doubt a bunch of easy $100's created quite a party.

I agree Muskox require some caution. When I was attending UAF, they still had the muskox farm up there. I'd go watch the animals now and then. For some of the bulls they had removed the horns and strapped chunks of rubber tire over the boss of the horns. Sometimes I saw ox go after each other - the hits were impressive. A few years ago I was visiting that wild game place  at Portage south of Anchorage. They had a lone muskox bull in an enclosure.  Apparently it was mating time.  He was very frustrated looking for love - or a fight. If you were near the fence and turned your back, he'd slam into the guard fence inside the high fence. I turned my back and jumped a foot when that rascal smacked into the inner fence close to me; sounded like a car wreck. They had a big hog (wild boar?) in the pen for company. I heard the hog squawk a few times when the ox chased him around.