What to Expect

Big game hunts cost a lot of money- and everybody wants to know what they are getting for the price... what to expect when they arrive in Alaska and during the hunt.  So here is sort of a rundown on how things should go.

Alaska is known for having bad weather.  So, when you are planning your hunt and getting airline tickets, keep this in mind.  Ideally, you should  arrive in Alaska a day or two before your hunt starts, and leave room at the end of the hunt to allow for weather delays.

Depending on your arrival time in Alaska,  we will pick you up at the airport or hotel. If you are hunting sheep, moose or early bear you will be picked up in Anchorage.  From there we will go to Fish & Game, and purchase your hunting license and tags. Then we are off for a 2 1/2 hour scenic drive up the Matanuska Valley and arrive at a base we will have set up near the airstrip that we'll use to fly in and start our hunt. 

 If the weather is bad or it is too late to fly into camp you will be staying at a nearby lodge/restaurant or B&B.  We have good working relationship with owners, and this will be where you will store your extra gear not needed in the field.  There is also a place nearby where we will shoot your rifle to make sure that it is ready to go. 

If you come up for our late fall brown bear/goat hunts or spring brown/black bear hunts, we will be operating in the Prince William Sound. Basically things will happen in pretty much the same order just a different location.  You will arrive in Valdez or Cordova instead of Anchorage.

From here we board our Super Cub bushplane with all your gear and we fly to spike camp.  Depending on what you're hunting and weather conditions, the flight runs between 15 minutes and an hour. Along the way you will get to see some beautiful country filled with game. Once we land you will be met and welcomed by your guide.  This is where your hunt will start. All hunting is done on foot from here. Type of food will depend on the species you are hunting. Sheep and mountain goat hunts mainly subsist on  Mountain House "Freeze Dried", candy bars, cheese, salami, pilot bread and other assorted goods.  Lodging is in 3 or 4 season, top-quality, mountaineering back pack tents. They are well suited for this type of hunting.   Bear and moose hunts have more of 'meat and potatoes' type meals... more home-style food.

Upon the success of the hunt, if there is some reason you are unable to get out right away (assuming that you get weathered in), your trophy will be cared for in the field by your guide-  "skinning, turning, fleshing, and salting".  Once you are out of the field you have several options to get your trophy home.  There are several taxidermists and expediters that we go through to make sure your trophy will get properly taken care of and shipped to wherever you choose.  As far as meat, there are also a few good processors that can take care of your meat and ship it to your home- or you can freeze it and take some of it on the plane with you... or you can choose to leave it with your guide.