Hello fellow outdoor enthusiasts, I decided to provide a write up on my experience thus far through execution of the hunt coming in September 2020. The primary things I would like to discuss are: Choosing an outfitter/air taxi service, choosing a hunting game management unit, equipment and should the hunt be successful, getting the meat back to the lower 48.
Background: First I would like to make it be known that I am only provided a background on myself and hunting partner to help you determine if you fall into a similar experience category or end up being more or less experienced. Either way I hope it helps you get a good understanding of our starting point.
Budget: With hunts ranging from 5K to 20K, we both decided that we didn't want a guided hunt which reduced the overall cost but we didn't want to let 2-3K stop us from doing what we really wanted. We hoped to stay under 10K which included everything from travel and hotels to and from to the hunt and getting game back. We could discuss this to great extent but I would rather not.
I have been living in Idaho since 1992. I am currently 34 years of age and approximately 180 lbs. I exercise frequently but am by no means a gym rat. I would consider myself to be in above average shape. My hunting partner is originally from Pennsylvania, but has been living in Montana since 2016. He is, what I would consider, a freak of nature. He is in the same age range and weight as myself but in 300 movie physical shape. His physical capabilities far exceed my own, for goodness sakes who does 100 mile ultramarathons across the Rockies for fun!
I have been hunting in Idaho since I was a child. I first started hunting whitetail deer in northern Idaho with my dad. I would additionally join him on yearly archery elk hunts but due to my age, my involvement was mostly driving the dirt road shooting grouse and picking huckleberries. As I got older I began hunting more on my own and seldom with friends but I never fully got into the "hunt". I mostly hunted to provide meat for my family. From the age of 18-26, I was more or less tied up with military obligations and college. In 2009 I found myself relocating to Enterprise, AL. Alabama, believe it or not, is where my passion for solitude and the outdoors really began to take hold. My wife and I for the 1.5 years we were there frequently enjoyed deep sea fishing in the gulf of Mexico, catching blue crab, flounder gigging, scuba diving, pig trapping and hunting and finally an American Alligator hunt, in which a friend of mine and I harvested a 11'3" alligator in a 12' john boat (not the best idea). We used every free moment to take advantage of the new landscape and outdoor opportunities.
When we returned to Idaho in 2012 it was to Boise. I established new friends and new passions for the outdoors. I first started hunting waterfowl and upland game in my local areas. Shortly thereafter I started hunting a muzzleloader elk, antlerless season, that takes place every Sept. 1-15 in unit 45/52. Although this is mostly high desert country for those of you familiar with the area it is steep and rocky (lava rock) and the public land that holds unmolested herds are typically found 3-6 miles away from public roads. I really enjoyed these hunts for several years because it was a very exciting stock and spot hunt, and with the use of a muzzleloader in Idaho, no scopes, it was always very challenging to try and get writhing 100 yards. Out of the three years I participated in this hunt I harvested a cow every year. I attribute this to pure determination not necessarily skill. This hunt was a great way to start to understand animal habits and wind. Eventually I started joining my friends on archery elk hunts just to get out more and expand my knowledge base. For the last several years I have been accompanying them on their yearly adventures but have yet to make the transition to archery. I have harvested two bull elk in the backcountry with rifle and assisted on the harvest of several bull elk during archery season.
Outside of hunting my wife and I, and now +2 young boys, really enjoy camping (glamping these days), hiking and fishing.
My hunting partner has a similar background and grew up whitetail deer and beer hunting in Pennsylvania. He primarily utilized archery equipment to get the job done, but like myself, he also has served our country in the military and he continues to do so. I finished my career in a climate controlled helicopter and he continues his as a reserve Recon Marine (pretty much a stud). Now he resides in Montana and has been hunting elk, mule deer and mountain lion for the past several years.
Like many of you, the dream of an Alaskan Moose hunt, began several years ago. In 2012 we both shared our desire to venture to Alaska and hunt the great Alaskan Moose. In 2016 we both decided to pursue this dream and thus began the planning phase. As all of you know this is a very overwhelming part of the experience. I researched for hundreds of hours watching videos, reading forums, calling outfitters/taxi services and reaching out to those that had similar experiences.
Background: First I would like to make it be known that I am only provided a background on myself and hunting partner to help you determine if you fall into a similar experience category or end up being more or less experienced. Either way I hope it helps you get a good understanding of our starting point.
Budget: With hunts ranging from 5K to 20K, we both decided that we didn't want a guided hunt which reduced the overall cost but we didn't want to let 2-3K stop us from doing what we really wanted. We hoped to stay under 10K which included everything from travel and hotels to and from to the hunt and getting game back. We could discuss this to great extent but I would rather not.
I have been living in Idaho since 1992. I am currently 34 years of age and approximately 180 lbs. I exercise frequently but am by no means a gym rat. I would consider myself to be in above average shape. My hunting partner is originally from Pennsylvania, but has been living in Montana since 2016. He is, what I would consider, a freak of nature. He is in the same age range and weight as myself but in 300 movie physical shape. His physical capabilities far exceed my own, for goodness sakes who does 100 mile ultramarathons across the Rockies for fun!
I have been hunting in Idaho since I was a child. I first started hunting whitetail deer in northern Idaho with my dad. I would additionally join him on yearly archery elk hunts but due to my age, my involvement was mostly driving the dirt road shooting grouse and picking huckleberries. As I got older I began hunting more on my own and seldom with friends but I never fully got into the "hunt". I mostly hunted to provide meat for my family. From the age of 18-26, I was more or less tied up with military obligations and college. In 2009 I found myself relocating to Enterprise, AL. Alabama, believe it or not, is where my passion for solitude and the outdoors really began to take hold. My wife and I for the 1.5 years we were there frequently enjoyed deep sea fishing in the gulf of Mexico, catching blue crab, flounder gigging, scuba diving, pig trapping and hunting and finally an American Alligator hunt, in which a friend of mine and I harvested a 11'3" alligator in a 12' john boat (not the best idea). We used every free moment to take advantage of the new landscape and outdoor opportunities.
When we returned to Idaho in 2012 it was to Boise. I established new friends and new passions for the outdoors. I first started hunting waterfowl and upland game in my local areas. Shortly thereafter I started hunting a muzzleloader elk, antlerless season, that takes place every Sept. 1-15 in unit 45/52. Although this is mostly high desert country for those of you familiar with the area it is steep and rocky (lava rock) and the public land that holds unmolested herds are typically found 3-6 miles away from public roads. I really enjoyed these hunts for several years because it was a very exciting stock and spot hunt, and with the use of a muzzleloader in Idaho, no scopes, it was always very challenging to try and get writhing 100 yards. Out of the three years I participated in this hunt I harvested a cow every year. I attribute this to pure determination not necessarily skill. This hunt was a great way to start to understand animal habits and wind. Eventually I started joining my friends on archery elk hunts just to get out more and expand my knowledge base. For the last several years I have been accompanying them on their yearly adventures but have yet to make the transition to archery. I have harvested two bull elk in the backcountry with rifle and assisted on the harvest of several bull elk during archery season.
Outside of hunting my wife and I, and now +2 young boys, really enjoy camping (glamping these days), hiking and fishing.
My hunting partner has a similar background and grew up whitetail deer and beer hunting in Pennsylvania. He primarily utilized archery equipment to get the job done, but like myself, he also has served our country in the military and he continues to do so. I finished my career in a climate controlled helicopter and he continues his as a reserve Recon Marine (pretty much a stud). Now he resides in Montana and has been hunting elk, mule deer and mountain lion for the past several years.
Like many of you, the dream of an Alaskan Moose hunt, began several years ago. In 2012 we both shared our desire to venture to Alaska and hunt the great Alaskan Moose. In 2016 we both decided to pursue this dream and thus began the planning phase. As all of you know this is a very overwhelming part of the experience. I researched for hundreds of hours watching videos, reading forums, calling outfitters/taxi services and reaching out to those that had similar experiences.
