This hunt focuses on the Mulchatna River caribou herd. This herd produced the current world's record caribou, as well as numerous former world's record bulls. In 2003 the herd was an estimated 150,000 or more animals and stable to growing.

The primary game management units are units 9B and 17B. Bull-to-cow ratios and the number of trophy bulls are increasing because the state has finally acted to curb overhunting of bulls. Last year both non-residents and residents were limited to one bull. Previously non-residents could kill two and residents could take five bull. Residents may still take caribou, but only one can be a bull.

Caribou season opens August 1, and the air taxi operator quits at the end of September because he does not want to run the risk of having lakes freeze up, which generally occurs after Oct. 1.

"Folks often ask when the best time to hunt is," the hunt provider said. "I always figure the best time is the time that you are here. I go through the same challenges with each party in an effort to find the best hunting conditions for any given week. Basically, it's easier to narrow down the best time based on your needs and available time."

AUGUST HUNTS: Generally better camping conditions, warmer temperatures, additional challenges in caring for meat, bugs more prevalent, caribou in velvet. Early August hunts usually produce some big bulls. The biggest caribou ever taken by a customer of the operator was a 426 net B&C behemoth that was killed on August 3, 1996.

SEPTEMBER HUNTS: More uncomfortable weather with the changing of the seasons, more hunters in the field, virtually all caribou bulls stripped of velvet by Sept. 7, the rut beginning in mid-September, an excellent time to find numerous groups of caribou being tended by breeding bulls.

Pricing: Determine whether you want camping gear provided for your party. You must provide your own food whether gear is provided or not. The operator is a dealer for Mountain House freeze dried foods and can order them at wholesale cost for your party. These lightweight meals help our hunters stay within weight limits and are nutritious and regarded by most hunters as delicious. Your party is still required to erect your own tent. The operator is not a registered guide and, hence, cannot offer any help in the field.

You can save money by having four people in your party. If your party exceeds 4 hunters, the operator will make additional flights.

Many people ask about mid-hunt checks and moves. You are paying for a single lake location. The operator tries to place you in an area that will lend itself to a successful caribou hunt, given the current conditions at the time. He tries to visit camps three or four days after the dropoff to retrieve meat and antlers to be flown back to town. If your party needs closer supervision, consider a guided hunt. If, for some reason, your party desires to be moved, the move will be billed at $450 per hour. This is generally not practical because there may be only one person in a party who has not scored, and the hunters who have filled their tags don't want to share the costs of moving for one person. More often than not, the one person who didn't score elected to simply pass on caribou when he had the chance, and allowed the caribou to "dry" up. Some operators will promise mid-hunt checks and moves but in real life with tight schedules affected by bad weather and aircraft maintenance, these promises often are not fulfilled.

"I just don't want to promise you anything I can't deliver," the operator said. "My hunters are almost always close to 100 percent successful on caribou anyway, and this success has not resulted from my moving them."

The duration of your caribou hunt is seven days, including flights in and out. The law states that you cannot hunt the same day you are flown into the field. With this in mind, the majority of our hunters are finished within three days after I've dropped them off. When I make my meat/antler run, and discover a party is indeed finished and would like to come out early, I make every effort to accommodate them. Sometimes I can take a couple of hunters out with the meat and antlers. Other times I'll have to wait until the next day to get you out. Either way, I try to be flexible to your needs, depending on scheduling, weather, etc.

We are a hunting and fishing license vendor. We provide all licenses and tags to our clients. You will receive a packet of information approximately 100 days prior to your arrival. Among other things, a blank license form will be included for you to fill out and return. We will have your license made out for you, along with the respective tags, ready for you to sign and pay for. This really streamlines getting a party into the field.

We also have a 13x15 walk-in freezer. We provide the use of our freezer at no additional cost. We provide at no additional charge waxed, wet-lock boxes for packing your meat. Most of the stores and some of our competitors are charging as much as $25 per box for the same thing. These are the same boxes the fish processors use to ship frozen fish all around the world from Alaska. To my knowlege, we have not had a client lose any meat or fish on their return to the Lower 48.

"I will do everything I can to make your caribou hunt an enjoyable and positive experience," the operator said. "I try to live by the philosophy that life is a two-way street, and I attempt to run the business accordingly. I will purposely make your hunt sound worse than what it will actually be. I've learned over many, many years by using this approach, that I don't have to make excuses to you later on."

PRICING for 2004

All prices based on a 2-person minimum. 50% deposit required to confirm booking. Balance due 90 days prior to arrival...Deposit 90% refundable if cancelled more than 90 days prior to arrival...or apply toward another trip. The operator is a fully-licensed, insured FAA AIR TAXI, as well as LICENSED TRANSPORTER.