Caribou Hunts
Every year, we start our fall hunting season in August providing guided Caribou hunts. Our Caribou camps are located on high alpine lakes that are well used travel corridors. Typically we will take 2 guests per camp and plan for 8 days of hunting. Hunting is done within walking distance of our centrally located camp. The nearby tundra ridges make for great vantage points allowing us to spot migrating Caribou in all directions. Because they are such fast travelers and seldom linger in one spot for long, we focus our efforts in well known pinch points along the Caribou migration routes. Due to the unpredictable nature of Caribou migrations we have seen a wide range in the number animals per day. On several occasions, we have gone days without seeing a bull, to only then have literally over a thousand animals migrate through the valley in a single day!
Thanks to the healthy population and phenomenal camp locations we have nearly a 100% success rate on our guided caribou hunts.
Near camp, berry patches are a great place to find an arctic grizzly. Both bear and wolves can be harvested during our guided caribou hunts. Both predator species are found in higher numbers around the migrating Caribou, often following the herd. Fall bears are especially active as they fatten up for the coming winter. Bumper berry patches are generally good spots to find a bear along with any Caribou kill sites. A typical mature boar in the area will squire 7’ while some go over 8’. Although usually paler than their southern cousins they come in a wide range of coloration from reddish brown to the stereotypical “Toklat grizzly”.
Accommodations
Although there are many factors outside of our control during an Alaskan hunt, there are measures we take to insure a comfortable stay no matter what Mother Nature decides to throw at us. Camps are strategically placed to insure solid hunting locations within a close walking distance. As most of our falls hunting camps are accessed via float plane, we are typically set up on or near a lake shore. Guests are housed in canvas Sibly tents, heated with a wood stove and furnished with cots. A cook/mess tent is also set up to allow comfortable dining during adverse weather conditions. We take great efforts to prepare home cooked breakfasts and dinners that will satisfy any hungry hunter. While out hunting, lighter pack lunches are packed. All camps are supplied with at least one satellite communication device and appropriate survival gear.
Travel and Logistics
All of our guided trips originate in Fairbanks Alaska. We suggest booking a flight with an arrival date at least one day before the start date of your trip. There are several options of hotels near the airport that provide shuttle services. On day one of your trip we will pick you up at your hotel. If you have not already purchased your hunting license and tags, we will stop by Fish and Game before leaving town. From Fairbanks, we drive four hours north to Circle City. In this small rural community, your pilot will meet you with the float plane on the Yukon River. Most of our camps are accessed via float equipped Cessna 180. As we have to follow the strict laws of gravity, we ask that you keep your gear under 60lbs. Most flights to camp are an hour to an hour and a half. Due to the unpredictability of Alaska’s weather it is best to leave some flexibility in your travel plans. At times, delays of several days may occur due to severe weather keeping our airplanes grounded.
Guides
All of our guides are highly experienced and professional. Owner, Charlie Jagow, was raised hunting and trapping in the region, this experience has given him, not only knowledge of the area, but also a personal connection to the refuge and its wild places. Many of our hunting guides also live in the bush and have a life time’s experience worth of hunting in the Arctic. Hunting is a way of life for us. There are no schools or college courses available to train a guide; instead, this highly skilled profession is only learned from hands-on experience and apprenticeship. All of our guides have dedicated themselves to perfecting these skills. Guiding is not a job for us, it’s a passion. We love assisting our guest in the pursuit of a life time!
Fishing
There are opportunities to fish in most of our hunting camps. Some of the smaller rivers provide some of the best grayling fishing the state has to offer. Many of our lake camps are inhabited by both pike and graying. Light tackle, spinners and spoons are our choice for catching both species.
2023 Schedule and Prices
Contact us today about joining one of our 2023 hunts.
Trophy fees on secondary animals taken:
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- Grizzly Bear – $3,500 USD
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- Caribou- $4,500 USD
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- Wolf or Black Bear – $1,500 USD
Included in the hunt are bush flights to and from Fairbanks, camp gear, food, and one-on-one guiding. Not provided in the hunt is lodging in Fairbanks, hunting license, and tag fees.