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Important details on hunts offered by Outfitter 102 |
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Travel Itinerary, Weather & Communications These are inter-related because weather in Alaska is very unpredictable and can complicate any hunting trip. Sometimes it’s simply impossible to fly because of high winds, fog, heavy rain, snow or all of the above and in the same day! This may prevent hunters from getting picked on time by the outfitter or air taxi. Therefore it’s strongly suggested that you make your travel plans to include an open ended return ticket and make your spouse or contact person(s) back home aware that you could return late and, if so, you will let them know as soon as you have access to a phone. If you do miss your pickup flight from spike camp to main camp, because of inclement weather, chances are your spouse will be worried. This is understandable but, unfortunately, there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it. We’re located in a remote, rugged wilderness environment and weather is a fact of life. Please do not attempt to call my home. First of all, I’m not there and, secondly, my wife cannot help but can only sympathize with you. Being the wife of an outfitter she is used to weather delays. When I arrive in Anchorage, what then? You really only have two basic options. (1) You overnight in Iliamna. This is the preferred itinerary because you can get to our main camp early and then out to your spike camp early and start scouting early for your hunt the following morning. Otherwise, because of Holliday Air’s schedule with other hunting clients, you may not get to our main camp until late in the day and to your spike camp late in the evening. Therefore, we suggest you stay at the Iliamna Lake Lodge (907-571-1525) for about $100 a night, which includes a real nice evening meal and breakfast. They’ll even pick you up and return you to the airport, which is only 2 miles away, so you can catch an early morning flight to our main camp. Have your travel agent book your final destination to Iliamna. (2) If you overnight in Anchorage: Because you need to catch the early morning flight to Iliamna it would be most convenient to stay close to the airport. The closest motels are listed below. These have airport shuttle service. Best Western Barratt Inn Super 8 Regal Alaskan These are the closest motels to the airport that offer reasonable rates and accept major credit cards. Remember, you need to take the early morning flight from Anchorage to Iliamna if you do not overnight in Iliamna. Or you may select your own accommodations from the choice at the airport near the baggage claim area and call a taxi. NOTE: If you’re planning to do a halibut-fishing trip out of Whittier, you should first rent a car and check into your motel/hotel. Then the following morning drive to Portage where you can either drive your car aboard the train and let it take you to Whittier or you can drive thru the new tunnel. Once in Whittier you can spend the night at Junes B&B for about $ 65.00 a night, including meals. The following morning you leave aboard the B&B owner’s boat and fish for halibut all day. When you return you drive (or take the train) back to Anchorage and have the motel keep your fish in their freezer, providing you spend the night there on your return trip from hunting. What About Air Service From Anchorage to Iliamna & Return? This is via ERA Air Lines (Toll Free: 1+800+866-8394). This airline is located in the Anchorage International Airport terminal building and accepts major credit cards. Your travel agent can make the arrangements for you. When I Get to Iliamna What Air Taxi Service Do I Contact For a Flight To Your Main Camp? Upon Arrival |
Handling & Transportation of Meat/ From The Bush To The Processor We will fly your meat and trophy back to main camp. If you want to keep your meat we suggest you make prior arrangements with Holliday Air to fly in and make a “meat haul” back to Iliamna. As of 2001 their flat rate for flying a moose, including meat/horns from camp to Iliamna is $400. For a caribou it’s $75. Also, be prepared to split your antlers because most moose and caribou racks do not fit in a Cessna 185, which is the type of airplane Holliday Air uses. If you have a record book set of antlers and don’t want to split them, the option is to pay a premium for transportation. This will usually require having a Super Cub make a special trip from Iliamna to main camp and return. The cost for this is about $400. Compared to a Beaver on wheels, it would be about $800. We strongly suggest you make prior arrangements with Iliamna Lake Lodge, before you leave for main camp, to hang your meat in their walk-in cooler with name tags & hunting license number until you arrive. Or, as an alternative, you need to make prior arrangements with Northern Air Cargo (before you leave for main camp) to fly your meat to Anchorage (including a signed air bill and transfer slip authorizing a designated individual for pick up) where your processor can pick it up. Your meat means a lot to you and to us….but it means nothing to anyone else. If you have not made prior arrangements and tagged the meat, antlers and hide, once it reaches Iliamna no one will know what to do with it and it could sit on a pallet for days exposed to flies and the heat until you get there. By then it’ll be spoiled. So, you see, a little pre-planning can make all the difference. Another strong recommendation is, on your return from main camp to Iliamna, plan to spend the night at the Iliamna Lake Lodge and use their facility to de-bone your meat. Or, with prior arrangement, they will do it for you at a reasonable price. They also sell shipping boxes for the return trip and charge a small fee for overnight storage in their freezer. This way after a well-deserved shower, a good night’s rest, and a hearty breakfast, you can continue your trip home via Anchorage without all the hassle and having to overnight there. Please gauge your de-boning time with your return flight to Anchorage and ultimate departure to your final destination. From Iliamna to Anchorage your meat and trophy will be strapped to a wooden pallet and flown by Northern Air Cargo, which has 1 flight a day Tuesday thru Saturday. They DO NOT fly on Sunday and Monday, so plan your return accordingly. Once in Anchorage, the meat and trophy is your responsibility to transport to a local butcher or pack for your return trip. It’s also recommended you bring some old garden hose and duct tape to protect the antler tines during shipment, which will probably have to go air cargo. For shipping meat you should use waxed cardboard boxes. If you have made prior arrangements with a local butcher, he can pick up your meat at Northern Air Cargo (with your signed transfer slip) and take it back for processing, wrapping, labeling, freezing and shipping. Your next question is probably what do you do with it then? Here are the names of several very reputable local butchers who will, with prior arrangements, pick up your meat at Northern Air Cargo, take it back and process it according to your instructions, wrap, freeze and ship it to you after you have returned home. Please allow a couple of weeks for this. All the meat processors are very busy during and immediately after hunting season. Also, give consideration to letting your meat age for about a week prior to processing. Trapper Creek Meats 907-561-8088 Alaska Sausage & Seafood 907-462-3636 |
Taxidermy Capes Northern Air Cargo (Phone: 907-243-3969) is the only carrier from Iliamna to Anchorage. The rate is about $.32 per pound and this is paid in advance. The meat and antlers are shipped on a wooden pallet. There is one (1) flight daily Tuesday thru Saturday only. They do not fly on Sunday or Monday, so make your return plans accordingly. Once you pick up your meat/antlers in Anchorage, it is your responsibility from then on. Or, if prior arrangements have been made with your butcher or taxidermist, they can pick up your meat/antlers from Northern Air Cargo for you. Weights of Alaska Big Game Species Species Live Weight, Carcass Weight, Boned Weight Moose: 750 - 1650, 375 - 825, 250 - 600 Hunting License & Tags A packet of information regarding the cost of hunting license and tags is sent out in early June. You must pre-pay the hunting license and tags by personal check and it must be received no later than August 1. After you fill your initial tag and wish to purchase additional tags, they can be purchased in main camp. The outfitter is an authorized agent for the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game. Please be prepared to pay for these in cash. The prices are as follows and are not subject to any state sales tax: Non-Resident Hunting License - see http://hunts.net/licenses.html Care of meat Proper care of the meat in the field is critical, especially in warmer weather. No butcher in the area will accept meat that smells bad. Even if you don’t want the meat it’s still your responsibility until it reaches Iliamna. We strongly recommend you order the instructional video “Field Care of Big Game” from the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game by calling (907) 267-2187. The cost is $15 including shipping & postage and they take major credit cards. The address is: Alaska Department of Fish & Game When and how is the final payment due for my hunt? You can pay by personal check in advance of your trip if the check clears before the outfitter leaves for camp in mid-August. He won't accept any personal checks after Aug. 1. He does not accept credit cards. After August 1 you can pay in cash only. There are no banks or ATM machines within 100 miles of hunting camp. In early June he sends a packet of information to everyone in your hunting party. The packet outlines each person’s total cost, their deposits received and their balance due. This way there is absolutely no misunderstanding when you and your hunting party arrive in camp. |
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