First post here, I've been reading quite a bit on this forum, and need some advice about a DIY drop camp caribou hunt.
A little background, my dad, brother-in-law, and I would like to do a caribou hunt fall of 2018. From what I've read, I think the Brooks range would be our best bet. I'm curious about the pros and cons for each of the options that I've been looking at. We know we'll be looking at around 5-6k per person, but obviously don't want to spend more than necessary. Also, I'm active duty military so I will be able to check 5 70lb bags on Alaska Airlines. I was planning on packing 4 70 quart coolers, and the rest of my gear as an additonal checked baggage, and checking the meat back on my return flight. So finding a place where I can process and freeze my meat after the hunt is also a priority. Ultimately, whoever we choose to use, we'll have to negotiate some way to cancel (or postpone) the hunt for another year if I end up being deployed.
1. Fly into fairbanks, drive the haul road to a location that Brooks Range Aviation could pick us up (Pump station 5 I believe).
Pros:
Getting to drive the Haul Road
Cons:
Driving the Haul Road (vehicle damage and cost of renting a vehicle from Fairbanks that will sit while hunting)
Meat Storage until getting to Fairbanks
2. Fly into fairbanks, fly with Wright Aviation to Bettles, and then fly out with BRA.
Pros:
Cost of not renting a car
Processing meat at BRA in Bettles
Travel Time to Bettles
Cons:
Addtional flight into Bettles
Additional charges by Wright Aviation for weight over 40 lbs. I've read it's $1.80 per person into Bettles, and then half that back to Fairbanks, and I've read it's $1.80 both ways?
3. Fly with Wright Aviation all the way into the Brooks Range. I'm kind of leaning towards this as our best option. We average about 165 lbs each, and their Helio Courier's have 750lb weight limits so we should be able to get away with 1 flight in and 2 flights out.
Pros:
Convience of flying out of Fairbanks
Cons:
Longer flights into the Brooks Range possibly limiting hunting locations
Costs of longer flights
We'd like to hunt the beginning of September so I'm not sure if Wright Aviation aircraft would have the range to access the caribou this late in the season?
Thanks!
CJ
A little background, my dad, brother-in-law, and I would like to do a caribou hunt fall of 2018. From what I've read, I think the Brooks range would be our best bet. I'm curious about the pros and cons for each of the options that I've been looking at. We know we'll be looking at around 5-6k per person, but obviously don't want to spend more than necessary. Also, I'm active duty military so I will be able to check 5 70lb bags on Alaska Airlines. I was planning on packing 4 70 quart coolers, and the rest of my gear as an additonal checked baggage, and checking the meat back on my return flight. So finding a place where I can process and freeze my meat after the hunt is also a priority. Ultimately, whoever we choose to use, we'll have to negotiate some way to cancel (or postpone) the hunt for another year if I end up being deployed.
1. Fly into fairbanks, drive the haul road to a location that Brooks Range Aviation could pick us up (Pump station 5 I believe).
Pros:
Getting to drive the Haul Road
Cons:
Driving the Haul Road (vehicle damage and cost of renting a vehicle from Fairbanks that will sit while hunting)
Meat Storage until getting to Fairbanks
2. Fly into fairbanks, fly with Wright Aviation to Bettles, and then fly out with BRA.
Pros:
Cost of not renting a car
Processing meat at BRA in Bettles
Travel Time to Bettles
Cons:
Addtional flight into Bettles
Additional charges by Wright Aviation for weight over 40 lbs. I've read it's $1.80 per person into Bettles, and then half that back to Fairbanks, and I've read it's $1.80 both ways?
3. Fly with Wright Aviation all the way into the Brooks Range. I'm kind of leaning towards this as our best option. We average about 165 lbs each, and their Helio Courier's have 750lb weight limits so we should be able to get away with 1 flight in and 2 flights out.
Pros:
Convience of flying out of Fairbanks
Cons:
Longer flights into the Brooks Range possibly limiting hunting locations
Costs of longer flights
We'd like to hunt the beginning of September so I'm not sure if Wright Aviation aircraft would have the range to access the caribou this late in the season?
Thanks!
CJ