Hunter is a licensed guide in Alaska, and I worked alongside him as an apprentice guide.
We started our journey with a one-way flight to Anchorage in late August.
A Demanding Environment
Moose camp was in a desolate spot only accessible by bush plane or horse.
While a demanding trip, traveling by horse made packing in and out during the author’s time there much easier.
We departed on horseback in late August and managed to do the 30-mile horse ride in about 10 hours.
The ride was treacherous.
To be honest, that alone made it worth it.
Moose hunting in Alaska is an experience like none other. The wildernessis awe-inspiring.
It was lying along the glacial river like it had been waiting for me all year!
The next day, everything hurt.
I had never ridden a horse in such sketchy terrain, or for 10 straight hours in a row!
Some of the best moose hunting areas are also some of the most beautiful. To reach them requires non-typical transportation like bush plane and horseback.
The year prior, I had spentSeptember in Alaska hunting caribou by myself.
I was rewarded with a beautiful bull on the last couple of days of the hunt.
We were able to spot moose, grizzly bear, Dall sheep and caribou right from camp.
Finding sheds like this is a very clear sign you are in the right area for moose hunting.
The first client scored a giant 63 wide bull towards the end of his hunt.
Hunting moose from horseback was a fun and unique experience.
The horses are machines, and its hard to imagine hunting giant animals like Alaskan moose without their help.
Quality optics are a must when moose hunting in Alaska. The glass should be clear and the body ruggedized against bumps, falls and the weather.
Every morning wed take them up the mountain for a two-hour ride to the glassing knob.
These horses pushed up steep faces in knee-deep mud like it was easy.
Moose are giant and afraid of nothing, therefore their curious nature and confidence can get them in trouble.
A successful hunt is not guaranteed, which makes filling your tag an even more exciting experience.
Most of the time these were smaller bulls, some legal and some not.
Hunter spotted the giant 63 bull one evening before dark.
We were glassing when this bull started pushing a cow through the trees.
Grizzly bears are numerous in Alaska, and you do not want to encounter one unprepared.A handgun like this Springfield 1911 in 10mm can be an effective tool for bear defense.
We left on our horses that day hoping wed get to see that bull again sometime.
A number of days later, Hunter was in front on his horse when he spotted the bull again.
To our surprise, he was in an open meadow just 300 yards from us this time.
Be prepared for the ever-changing environment when hunting in the wilds of Alaska. You won’t be able to run back to the truck if it starts to get chilly.
Hunter worked with the client, and I tied up the horses and mules as fast as I could.
The client let off some shots, and the bull went down.
It all happened in just a couple of minutes.
Take care of your transportation and it will take care of you. If you are using horses and mules, make sure you care for them as well as yourself.
A Titanic Target
Alaskan bull moose weigh roughly 1,400 pounds on the hoof.
For all our clients, shots were under 350 yards.
Just like any other game animal, aim for the heart or lungs for the most ethical kill.
Rugged is the order of the day when it comes to moose hunting in Alaska. With the right equipment and careful planning, it can be the experience of a lifetime.
We approached the moose and were blown away by its size.
This was my first time walking up on a bull moose.
This thing made our horses look small!
We then chopped off some pine tree branches to cover and hide the meat from the birds.
This also helps keep the grizzlies from finding it.
We indeed saw grizzlies or grizzly tracks every day, so I never went anywhere without my sidearm.
Its more common than you think to get attacked by a grizzly in grizz country.
We arrived the next morning with a string of mules.
Loading the meat is still a timely process.
After loading all of the meat, we started our long journey down the mountain.
Throughout the 30 days at moose camp, we only saw sunshine for two of the days.
The damp, wet weather was harder to deal with than I expected.
Sometimes it would rain all day and all night; it was incredible.
Hunting moose in Alaska during September takes place during the rut.
Although we saw a lot of bulls pushing cows, the rut was not as hot as we expected.
Every day I wore base layers and midweight hunting pants topped off with waterproof pants.
Additionally, plan on spending a lot of time behind your binoculars and spotting scope.
The good news is that moose are giant animals and they genuinely arent that hard to spot.
The bad news is that they like to live in thick alders and timber.
There were several times I spotted giant bulls and they only showed themselves for a split second.
Besides that, their grayish bodies stand out when they are in the alders.
In September, the alders are a variety of beautiful fall colors like orange, red, and yellow.
Many people find success calling moose during the rut.
We did some calling, but honestly, it wasnt as helpful as I thought it would be.
The country is so big and glass-able that all our opportunities came from great spots from Hunter or me.
My next piece of advice would be to be prepared for the pack-out.
Not everyone gets the opportunity to hunt moose with horses and mules.
Depending on how many people you have, cutting up and processing the bull is about a half-day job.
Packing it out takes an additional day to a day and a half with mules.
A hind quarter can weigh roughly 150 lbs.
Alaska has strict meat rules, which I admire.
The hunter leaves behind just some bones and guts from their harvest, and thats it!
If youre planning on doing this, ensure you have an exit plan for your meat.
Most people hire bush plane transit services for drop camps and meat transportation.
We had another client later in the month tag out in a similar way.
He harvested a slightly smaller bull with some great character and paddles.
Conclusion
Go into your guided or DIY moose hunt with everything planned beforehand.
Have a good satellite messaging gear to communicate with the necessary people while youre in the backcountry.
Spend the time and money getting good gear, with an emphasis on the rain gear!
Did I say some?
Shoot straight my friends, and good luck out there!
If you are looking for a guide, just contact us atdixietopoutfitters@gmail.comto book your dream hunt.
