Hey Everyone,

Planning out my next seasons adventures and was wondering if anyone had success with semi-guided or DIY "fly-in" hunts? (Being AK, WA, OR, CA, MT, ID) -- (Target species Deer, Elk, Caribou, Moose... etc)

Fly in access being on the "easier" side and tags being "over-the-counter" (or near to it in a non-premium draw)

Also.. Friendly Guide Suggestions are greatly appreciated to facilitate the "semi-guided" hunt.

Thanks!

My favorite "fly in" hunts are on the north slope (AK) for caribou. Requires some serious fuel planning and cooperative weather, but its a beautiful part of our state to explore.


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Alaskabound wrote:My favorite "fly in" hunts are on the north slope (AK) for caribou. Requires some serious fuel planning and cooperative weather, but its a beautiful part of our state to explore.

Thanks Alaskabound, I'll certainly look into it.

Fuel is the number one issue when you are North of the Brooks (or most any remote site). Having cans or better yet bushwheel bags helps a lot. If you are going to scout you hunting site first having extra fuel along helps also. Find a nice place to land heavy and stage fuel for trip out. Have a GOOD plan for taking care of your meat!! I hear of lots of waist because people shoot on the first day of a hunt but want to stay the week with the meat going bad in warm weather. If you want to stay fly the meat out and ship it home then go back to hunting. Bring along a sat phone. Calling flight service before you head out will save you from flying two hours to a runway covered in fog. Bring more than one way to tie down your plane.
DENNY

Hi Goose,

I struggle with this one a lot (with the exception of AK). Most hunting occurs during my busy work season, thus the 'fly in' thought process has huge appeal.

Having hunted big game in all the states on your list, I think you're going to find the flying prior to hunting very restrictive in most of them, except AK. At least in the sense of flying directly to the field, and then also with respect to the post flight harvest interval.

Nevertheless, some time can be burned up setting camp, and glassing / scouting. In the event that flying directly to the field proves not worth it, some hunts still benefit from flying to the nearest strip.

I would also add that (and I'm sure you know this) your list is missing the two best Muley / Elk states.... I suspect this is because the majority of the hunts there are draws , and the states are considered 'premier'. Having said that, even the premier states have 'sleeper' hunts, that aren't too tough to draw. Start putting in now, and in the next year or two you won't be looking for another OTC tag.

Here are two juvie bulls that my daughter and I killed the year before last on the last day of a hunt like that. We spent 7 days chasing a 380+ 7x7, and took these with hours to spare. I know, I know... tomorrow's trophy's today... but they ate well anyways.... It was my 5th hunt in 10 years in that unit, and the success has been exceptional. To put it in to perspective, we drew it again this year in addition to a pair of sleeper muley tags that will undoubtedly get filled.



I back that hunt up with an OTC elk in SW CO, and an easy draw combo in SW MT. Between the three the season doesn't go dry unless work is on fire.

The unit my strip is on is over ran with desert mulies to the point that there has been depradation hunts 3 years running now, and I know of more than one 200 class buck in the area, but alas, that draw is done for this year. If you are an archer and want to try that, it is OTC, shoot me a PM The only draw back to the archery hunt here is that it is the last hunt of the season, and they get a TON of pressure.

Take care, Rob

There must be some fly in hunting in Idaho. I've been reading a few folks whining about it on Rokslide.

We do it for Sitka blacktail in SE AK. Can fly and hunt same day, at least for now. We stay close to home, but can overnight in some cases. There are also several lakes to access with floats. All over the counter tags. Season starts the first of August and runs through December.

I know people do fly in hunts up north all the time. They are much better planners than me. I could fill the 206 with overnight gear for 2 people without even thinking about hunting. I think that if I had the urge to do that, I'd go with the pros. Probably save money in the process.

I did an Idaho fly-in early season mule deer hunt with my hunting partner this last season in unit 27, with no success. We hit the middle fork, and while there was plenty of animal sign, we didn't even see an animal in 2 days of glassing, and hiking a little over 12 miles. I know a lot of outfitters use any publicly available strips to their advantage, and I'd imagine that it's a contributing factor to our lack of success. Also saw some monster wolf tracks too.

Just be prepared for increased pressure wherever you go...

IncipientSpin wrote:I did an Idaho fly-in early season mule deer hunt with my hunting partner this last season in unit 27, with no success. We hit Mahoney Creek, and while there was plenty of animal sign, we didn't even see an animal in 2 days of glassing, and hiking a little over 12 miles. I know a lot of outfitters use any publicly available strips to their advantage, and I'd imagine that it's a contributing factor to our lack of success. Also saw some monster wolf tracks too.

Just be prepared for increased pressure wherever you go...

Funny coincidence that you mention this. I just watched to YouTube video that was published last month of a guy that flew into Mahoney on a deer hunt. He said there were lots of animals and had his little 3 point down a couple hours after landing.

Mahoney is a busy place during hunting season.

Last year I flew in and hunted the Eagle Cap Wilderness in NE Oregon. I am putting in again this year. Loved it!

Animals aren't stupid...they figure out that in the fall people kill them, and it doesn't matter what vehicle they arrive in. Habitat alteration has made many of the Idaho airstrips poor game country, but every fall dozens of hunters get flown into Chamberlain, Cold Meadows, Cabin Creek, Fish Lake, etc.. You don't need to have a plane or be a pilot...there are plenty of charter companies to hire. Outfitters also use the airstrips as base camps, though I don't know how many of them hunt locally verses just pick up clients and horse pack to different areas.

I've always thought backcountry air strips should have a one-mile no hunting zone around them. It would reduce what many see as a bruising effect the airstrips have on the land, and it'd probably make for better fly-in hunting, providing you're willing to walk 6,000 feet before you start...

Well for my hunt out of Reds last year covered a little over 22 miles in total and only camped at the airstrip the last night. No “road hunting” for us.

The hunting in Idaho is abysmal. All of it. Especially near any of the airstrips in the Frank. Total waste of time.

This was one of the prime reasons for my interest in back country aviation but it wasn't until I had my license and a back country capable airplane that I realized what a serious undertaking it is. Fuel. Weather. Weight. Lots of stuff to scare a green pilot.

I hope to change that this year. I had an amazing ATV moose hunt in the rut last fall but this year I'd like to step up my game and go in by air.

whee wrote:

IncipientSpin wrote:I did an Idaho fly-in early season mule deer hunt with my hunting partner this last season in unit 27, with no success. We hit Mahoney Creek, and while there was plenty of animal sign, we didn't even see an animal in 2 days of glassing, and hiking a little over 12 miles. I know a lot of outfitters use any publicly available strips to their advantage, and I'd imagine that it's a contributing factor to our lack of success. Also saw some monster wolf tracks too.

Just be prepared for increased pressure wherever you go...

Funny coincidence that you mention this. I just watched to YouTube video that was published last month of a guy that flew into Mahoney on a deer hunt. He said there were lots of animals and had his little 3 point down a couple hours after landing.

Mahoney is a busy place during hunting season.

Dang Whee, just saw this. Send me a link to that video, maybe I can figure out what I'm doing wrong haha!

IncipientSpin wrote:

whee wrote:

IncipientSpin wrote:I did an Idaho fly-in early season mule deer hunt with my hunting partner this last season in unit 27, with no success. We hit Mahoney Creek, and while there was plenty of animal sign, we didn't even see an animal in 2 days of glassing, and hiking a little over 12 miles. I know a lot of outfitters use any publicly available strips to their advantage, and I'd imagine that it's a contributing factor to our lack of success. Also saw some monster wolf tracks too.

Just be prepared for increased pressure wherever you go...

Funny coincidence that you mention this. I just watched to YouTube video that was published last month of a guy that flew into Mahoney on a deer hunt. He said there were lots of animals and had his little 3 point down a couple hours after landing.

Mahoney is a busy place during hunting season.

Dang Whee, just saw this. Send me a link to that video, maybe I can figure out what I'm doing wrong haha!

I believe that this is the video to which Whee is referring:

That plane was there when I was there!! Does anyone know if he's active on BCP?

Edit: After watching the clip, I see they went upstream/downstream, I went uphill. Lesson learned

Just so you know, they completely changed the tags available in 27. The November controlled hunt, which used to be unlimited tags for all will now be limited to 52 non resident tags. Last year, cascade airport was nothing but Washington plates. No longer.

This will push a whole bunch of out of state hunters to the earlier season tags and make the situation and crowds worse for late October. The earlier poster was correct. Timing is everything. If the bucks aren't pushed down, hunting can be terrible....and they don't get pushed down unless there is weather.

November is good but weather gets really iffy. You can get trapped in there for several days.

Mike knows this area. Sounds like the new regs will be a problem.

Gunman wrote:Mike knows this area. Sounds like the new regs will be a problem.

* Only if you're not an Idaho resident. Might help success with local guys and gals, which is fine by me.