- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Winter Olympics
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Researching Alaskan Outfitters
Posted on 1/1/25 at 12:00 pm
Posted on 1/1/25 at 12:00 pm
I have the opportunity to take one of the following trips this year. I’m struggling to find a comprehensive list of outfitters in each area as I want to make sure I’m considering the best ones. Google gives me the top ads and a handful of options.
I’m considering calling the local Wildlife and Fisheries office to see if they can refer me to someone or use Facebook. Does anyone have any suggestions on ways to find the best outfitters?
1. Alaskan Moose
2. Montana Elk
3. Alberta Mule deer
I’m considering calling the local Wildlife and Fisheries office to see if they can refer me to someone or use Facebook. Does anyone have any suggestions on ways to find the best outfitters?
1. Alaskan Moose
2. Montana Elk
3. Alberta Mule deer
7
Posted on 1/1/25 at 12:13 pm to CalcasieuTiger
I know a guy who takes one hunt like this every year. He claims that the good outfitters for moose and elk are booked 3-5 years in advance. For instance he booked his 2025 Yukon moose trip in 2021.
He also hunts with a Montana elk outfitter that he flew to Montana and drove see this guy and basically "interviewed" with him. The point of the interview was for the outfitter to vet him as a client and put him on his waiting list for a slot. He stayed on the waiting list for 7 years until someone died and he got an annual spot.
So this year he's doing the Moose trip, and then he's taking a buddy with him to shoot his Montana elk. He can't afford to do both, but he doesn't want to give up his spot with this elk guy because he'll never get it back.
That's essentially what the high end elk and moose places will be like. I'm not saying you can't book a hunt 6 months in advance and have a good experience. But an outfitter that has an open spot just means that he's either new, or he doesn't have enough success to get repeat bookings. So maybe you can get lucky that way, but it's a risky proposition.
Alberta deer seems like a more reasonable ask if you're trying to put something together on short notice.
He also hunts with a Montana elk outfitter that he flew to Montana and drove see this guy and basically "interviewed" with him. The point of the interview was for the outfitter to vet him as a client and put him on his waiting list for a slot. He stayed on the waiting list for 7 years until someone died and he got an annual spot.
So this year he's doing the Moose trip, and then he's taking a buddy with him to shoot his Montana elk. He can't afford to do both, but he doesn't want to give up his spot with this elk guy because he'll never get it back.
That's essentially what the high end elk and moose places will be like. I'm not saying you can't book a hunt 6 months in advance and have a good experience. But an outfitter that has an open spot just means that he's either new, or he doesn't have enough success to get repeat bookings. So maybe you can get lucky that way, but it's a risky proposition.
Alberta deer seems like a more reasonable ask if you're trying to put something together on short notice.
Posted on 1/1/25 at 12:20 pm to No Colors
Thank you for the advice. Do you have any idea on how your friend went about identifying these outfitters without being referred to them by an individual who had first hand experience with them. I’m fine with waiting, I just want to know who to wait with.
This post was edited on 1/1/25 at 12:21 pm
Posted on 1/1/25 at 12:20 pm to CalcasieuTiger
My wife's uncle has a captain/guide that he meets up with in Homer. He charters this boat and they head down to Kodiak Island area for a week of fishing and hunting.
They catch fish a few days then hop on the island to hunt for a few days. They sleep on the boat the whole time and have meals prepared daily by the crew. I know he's taken a moose and a bear.
They catch fish a few days then hop on the island to hunt for a few days. They sleep on the boat the whole time and have meals prepared daily by the crew. I know he's taken a moose and a bear.
Posted on 1/1/25 at 12:24 pm to El Segundo Guy
I’ve started researching Outfitted, self-guided moose hunts - either float hunt for 10 days or base camp with boat and motor.
Like $15-20k vs low $30s for fully guided.
Like $15-20k vs low $30s for fully guided.
Posted on 1/1/25 at 2:40 pm to CalcasieuTiger
quote:
Do you have any idea on how your friend went about identifying these outfitters
Back in the 2000s (before kids etc) I hunted with a guy named Rob Arnaud. I had a friend who was friends with Beau Turner, the son of Ted Turner, who was the largest landowner in Montana at the time. Rob Arnaud managed all of the hunting on the Turner rances and several other big name family ranches in Montana.
Rob Arnaud retired a few years ago and sold or merged his business into Montana Hunt Company. It's widely considered one of the best if not the best elk experience in the country.
If you look at their website under Elk, I hunted Ranch #5. Very beautiful and a ton of Elk. (Not a Turner ranch but just as good).
They can give you an idea of how long the waiting list is for their ranches. But with tip and all you're looking at $20-25k or so.
My buddy is hunting with Shockey in Yukon and it's $50k for a moose and a multi year waiting list.
Posted on 1/1/25 at 2:52 pm to CalcasieuTiger
I know someone who recently went out with this guy:
Audun Endestad
He's evidently a bit of a legend as he was an Olympian for Norway.
Even though he's evidently 71, he's supposedly as hardcore as ever.
I was told it was nearly a transcendent experience of going off into the wild.
I hear he's pretty selective about who he'll take. Even if you don't use him, he could be a good resource to find someone legit. This dude is no nonsense.
Audun Endestad
He's evidently a bit of a legend as he was an Olympian for Norway.
Even though he's evidently 71, he's supposedly as hardcore as ever.
I was told it was nearly a transcendent experience of going off into the wild.
I hear he's pretty selective about who he'll take. Even if you don't use him, he could be a good resource to find someone legit. This dude is no nonsense.
Posted on 1/1/25 at 3:09 pm to CalcasieuTiger
There is a lot of trash out there, I was lucky enough to go on an Alaskan float moose trip in 2015, by chance put with a semi retired guide who has written books and given seminars on float hunting and operated the biggest outdoor Alaskan website , and killed a BC bull, even with all that the trip was not without major issues,
Posted on 1/1/25 at 3:47 pm to No Colors
Thank you for explaining more. I really appreciate it.
Posted on 1/1/25 at 3:48 pm to Big Scrub TX
Thank you for the lead. OB always delivers. 
Posted on 1/1/25 at 3:48 pm to Tigerpaw123
quote:
Tigerpaw123
What kind of issues?
Posted on 1/1/25 at 3:55 pm to CalcasieuTiger
Lack of proper equipment
Overselling the potential of the hunt
One guide was delayed a few days
Overselling the potential of the hunt
One guide was delayed a few days
Posted on 1/1/25 at 4:51 pm to CalcasieuTiger
quote:
Thank you for the lead. OB always delivers.
Please LUK how it turns out. Posted on 1/1/25 at 7:41 pm to Tigerpaw123
Tigerpaw, you did outfitted, unguided float trip?
Posted on 1/1/25 at 8:44 pm to Larry Gooseman
No sir, outfitter provided most everything , 1x1 guide for me and my buddy
I would be happy to talk about it with you
I would be happy to talk about it with you
This post was edited on 1/1/25 at 9:29 pm
Posted on 1/1/25 at 9:25 pm to Tigerpaw123
That was a fantastic write up.
I’m years away from this kind of trip but will bookmark this and your offer if I get serious.
I’ve been watching videos on YT and it looks incredible. I think k the mental toughness would be something I really have to lock down.
I’m years away from this kind of trip but will bookmark this and your offer if I get serious.
I’ve been watching videos on YT and it looks incredible. I think k the mental toughness would be something I really have to lock down.
Posted on 1/1/25 at 9:30 pm to Larry Gooseman
It was a trip of a lifetime for sure, Mike Strahan, my guide and the author of that write up unfortunately died of COVID
Posted on 1/1/25 at 9:31 pm to CalcasieuTiger
Check out Bonnet Plume
LINK
Great family owned business. Some of the best moose hunting in the world. Money will need to be no issue for you, but they are top notch.
LINK
Great family owned business. Some of the best moose hunting in the world. Money will need to be no issue for you, but they are top notch.
This post was edited on 1/2/25 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 1/2/25 at 7:25 am to CalcasieuTiger
Join Epic Outdoors today.
LINK
You need to be building points. You already missed the Alaska draw. Epic can help you with the process. They also have a list of preferred outfitters.
LINK
You need to be building points. You already missed the Alaska draw. Epic can help you with the process. They also have a list of preferred outfitters.
Posted on 1/2/25 at 8:17 am to CalcasieuTiger
Sportsman cove, Alaska
This is what I’m doing when I have some time and I here they do some killer hunting excursions, drop you with landing craft at a point or cove with a guide and y’all get picked up at a set date
This is what I’m doing when I have some time and I here they do some killer hunting excursions, drop you with landing craft at a point or cove with a guide and y’all get picked up at a set date
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News