Frequently Asked Questions

Logistical support and consultation before and after the hunt, including:

• Assist in booking commercial airline travel
• Arrangement of charters and flights to and from main camp
• Arrangement of Shipping your trophies to our expediter in Anchorage.
• The point of outfitting begins in our main camp. Included in the hunt cost is: all of the “bush” flights to and from the field, any moves while in the field,
• A fully outfitted and well stocked camp, professional licensed guide, packer/camp helper on moose hunts, and trophy care while in the field.

The point of outfitting begins in our main camp. Included in the hunt cost is: all of the “bush” flights to and from the field, any moves while in the field, a fully outfitted and well stocked camp, professional licensed guide, packer/camp helper on moose hunts, and trophy care while in the field.

Additional costs you can expect:

NON HUNTING COMPANION COST IS $7500.00 ON ALL HUNTS.

Airfare with a scheduled airline from your home to Port Alsworth, Alaska Contact Tammi at Tammis Travel ( 1 406-583-4994) for a quote.

Flight  from Port Alsworth to:

 

Flight  from POINT OF OUTFITTING to:

SLEETMUTE TO SHOTGUN BROWN BEAR Camp                   $1250.00 RT

 PORT ALSWORTH TO KEMUK MOOSE CAMP          $2175.00RT

KEMUK MOOSE CAMP flights include a 1 night stay at THE FARM LODGE in Port Alsworth on the incoming portion of your travel.

License and tags:

Hunting License $ 160.00
Black Bear tag $ 450.00
Moose $ 800.00
Grizzly Bear $ 1000.00
Wolf $ 60.00
Wolverine $ 350.00

 

Transportation of meat to your home for Moose, meat can be donated. Also horns and capes shipping to Anchorage.

This varies but we recommend you take only what you can take with you on the  commercial airlines and this is limited due to weight restrictions

The best way is to ship it from Port Alsworth to Anchorage via Lake Clark Air 90 cents per lb ( average weight of the required meat salvaged from a Moose is from 475lbs to 800lbs),a nd then on to a meat processor.

Transportation of horns and capes to your home from Anchorage. The best way to do this is to allow an expediter or taxidermist to crate your horns and dry cape and ship by truck to you taxidermist.             

Non Resident Hunter Preservation Fund    $150.00

Honest brown bear sizes range from 8-9½+ feet. We’ve even taken a few 10 ft. bears, but they are rare. Skull range in size from 22”-28”+. No doubt there is some bear-stretching that goes on in Alaska every year, as you can relate this to a “fish story”. Our historical kill success rate has been 90% or more depending on the weather in a given year.

We’ve taken moose in the 57”-74” range, but about 63” is average. And our kill ratio has stayed around the 85% mark, again depending on the weather in a given year.

Over the last 10 years or so we’ve seen a growing number of black bears and see no let up. Hide sizes will square about 6 to 7 feet, with some 8 footers every now and then, which is a big black bear. Skull measurements typically run between 18”-21”.

Hunting license and big game tags are easy. There is no lottery or drawing system for your hunting license and big game tags. You can get them directly from us, as we are an agent for Alaska Fish & Game.

In June we mail out all the paperwork to purchase your hunting license and big game tags from us and have them waiting for you upon your arrival in our main camp. Additional tags are available at our camp should you wish to take another animal during your hunt.

In addition to $85 for a non-resident hunting license, tags for the various animals are:

• Hunting License $ 160.00
• Black Bear tag $ 450.00
• Moose $ 800.00
• Grizzly Bear $ 1000.00
• Wolf $ 60.00
• Wolverine $ 350.00

Alaska has a unique system in which tags of equal or lower dollar value can be used for different species. Species dollar value in order from the highest to the lowest is as follows: Brown bear, moose, caribou, black bear, wolverine and wolf. In other words, a brown bear tag can be used for any species listed above. A moose tag can be used on a moose, caribou, black bear, wolverine or wolf.

This system offers hunters a multitude of different choices and creates more opportunity while hunting. Also, a wolf is rare and exceptional trophy. A wolf tag is only $30 (in Unit 19 they’re free) and every hunter should buy at least one wolf tag….just in case…..because there’re too many of them and they need thinning out! They’re killing the caribou & moose.

Different species live in different terrain and require different hunting methods. During our Spring bear hunts we may travel by snow machines looking for bears, a bear den or bear tracks. Our main method we use is to spike out in a tent camp in known bear denning habitat, hunting off snowshoes. Once we have located a bear that we have judged to be of the size and quality we’re looking for, the final stalk will be on snowshoes. If you’ve never hunted bear early in the Spring, in the deep snow as they are coming out of their den, this is a trip you should consider. Bear hide are most prime at this time and their claws are as long as they will ever be. Beautiful trophies!

In the fall, during our moose hunts, we are mainly using calling and raking techniques as the bulls are either in a “pre-rut” condition or the rut is in full swing. The terrain is made up of dense Spruce forest with some open tundra meadows, and the lower areas around the creeks and lakes are choked with willow and alder bush. With the nature of calling rutting bulls the action can be up close and intense. Bring your video camera!

During the fall brown bear / grizzly hunts our primary focus are on the hillsides where the bears can be found eating berries. We’ll position ourselves in a good vantage point and glass for bears. Once we spot a worthy animal we’ll begin the stalk, making sure to keep the wind in our favor.

Black bear hunting is similar to brown bear / grizzly hunting, as we’ll look for bears over a vast area. Once we locate one we’re interested in we’ll put the stalk on it.

We generally rise early each morning and hunt hard all day. While you don’t need to be a professional athlete to hunt with us (we go at your pace), you should be able to comfortably walk 2-6 miles a day while carrying your personal gear & lunch. Your comfort and safety are paramount to us. Your guide will always have emergency survival gear with him, plus an assortment of optics, knives and other field dressing supplies. Speaking of guides, our guides are very experienced and have been hand picked. Going on a hunting trip is a lot more than just killing an animal.

Lots of folks who hunt with us end up as lifelong friends. Be sure to make friends with your guide. He wants to be your hunting buddy anyway. Believe me, guiding is the most rewarding level of hunting. I haven’t met a guide yet who didn’t thoroughly enjoy sharing their knowledge with our clients.

Our camps are located in a very remote wilderness area with access only by Super Cub on tundra tires or ski-equipped aircraft for spring bear hunts. The flight from Iliamna to our main camp is about 45 minutes, where we have a fully-equipped cook tent with a table for 8, full time cook, big wall tents for hunters who choose to hunt from main camp and a hot shower. Each wall tent has its own wood burning stove, plenty of firewood, lots of matches, a cot with thick foam mattress, and propane lantern. Down the path a ways is a real “one holer” with a styrofoam seat and an assortment of magazines!

Your spike camp has a large tent with floor, sleeping cots with mats, 2-burner propane Coleman stove, Coleman propane lantern, table, and basic camp gear along with more food than you can eat.

On our Spring bear hunts, which are all 1×1, you will be transported from Fort Alsworth and flown directly to our fully equipped remote main camp. From there, and in order to cover large amounts of territory, we will scout by air for the best places to spot bears and then it’s spot and stalk from a spike camp. Be sure to bring the recommended clothing and gear from the list we have.

For the species in our area any .30 caliber magnum will work fine. By far the most popular gun in Alaska is the .338 Win. Or the 375 Win.Mag. Most importantly, bring a rifle you know well and are comfortable and confident shooting. Bullets that expand well into a nice “mushroom” seem to do well on everything from bear to moose. Bullet weights can vary from 200-300 grains, depending on what caliber you’re shooting. We get a considerable amount of wet weather: rain & snow.

Plan to use a stainless rifle with a synthetic stock. If you bring a blued gun with a wood stock it will get damaged and rust will begin to form. Typical shots can range from 30-200+ yards. We will ask what distance you feel most comfortable shooting and then give you an opportunity to check your gun at our range before the hunt. It’s very important to me that we all hunt well. In this case that means only taking high percentage shots that you’re comfortable with.

Our guides work hard to insure the you have a successful and enjoyable hunt. Each person values another person’s service differently and a generous tip for a hard working guide & packer is standard in the hunting industry. While each person must determine what amount to give, I think 5-10% of the hunt cost as a tip would be appropriate.

There is nothing I enjoy more than guiding Alaskan hunts and I wish I could guide every hunt personally! Unfortunately, if I’m guiding then I can’t be looking after all the myriad of logistical details that need to be taken care of to keep everyone’s hunt running smoothly.

But my guides are all trained by me and they will all give you the same great service that I would.

There are several options for you to choose from with regards of what to do with your meat. First of all, it is your responsibility to get the meat to Iliamna. Once there, you can have it all shipped to Anchorage for processing, and then air-freighted to you. You could have some shipped to Anchorage for processing and then donate the rest locally, or you could donate all of it locally. Donated meat does not go to waste. Generally, wild game processing in Anchorage runs about $2-$3 per pound and air freight will be an additional $3-$4 per pound (domestically), depending on your location.

Our obligation and hospitality doesn’t stop when you leave camp. After you leave we will have all of the antlers, capes and hides for your hunt shipped to Anchorage. We will notify you when your trophy leaves our hands and is on the way to the expeditor. You will deal directly with the expeditor – no middle men. Normally, they set up an account for you and present you with one itemized bill for all the charges when you get your trophy(s). Very professional and convenient. If you use Dave Dunn, the taxidermist we recommend, you can expect to receive your trophy 4-5 months after your hunt.

As a small family hunting service we have built our reputation on providing each client with personal service while trophy hunting in Alaska. If you choose to book a hunt with us I’m certain we can provide you with a quality Alaska hunting experience.