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Keith Rogan · May 14, 2001, 05:59 PM

Ron (and all),

Caribou bulls run 300-400 pounds generally, but there is a lot of variation among different herds because they are genetically isolated from each other.
The Mulchatna caribou herd in SW Alaska are the biggest of all, and it's not unusual to take bulls in the 500-600 pound range. The racks on these caribou are also much larger than average and if you look at the B&C records over the last few years you'll see that most of the big ones are coming from SW Alaska - Mulchatna. The herd is real healthy and growing - about 200,000 animals right now.
To hunt them you have to charter out from Anchorage or the Kenai area. The charter can cost over $1000 a head but it's well worth it because a good pilot will put you down on some lake all by yourself - right in the path of the caribou migration.
Most of these guys will check in occasionally and move you to a new spot if the herd "missed" you - which can happen.

But anyway, when it works (and it often does), you can glass thousands of animals as they pass and pick a true trophy.

The bad news is that it doesn't always work. You see a massive herd of animals from the plane and get put in at a lake ten miles ahead of them. Then, the next morning (you can't hunt the day you fly), you awake to a huge empty expanse of tundra and don't see a caribou for days because they decided to turn left somewhere - they're herd animals, so it's either feast or famine. That's why it's important to pick a GOOD charter pilot who will move you as needed to stay in front of the herd. Ask for references and follow up on them.

May 14, 2001, 05:59 PM	#9
Keith Rogan Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: Kodiak, Alaska Posts: 1,014	Ron (and all), Caribou bulls run 300-400 pounds generally, but there is a lot of variation among different herds because they are genetically isolated from each other. The Mulchatna caribou herd in SW Alaska are the biggest of all, and it's not unusual to take bulls in the 500-600 pound range. The racks on these caribou are also much larger than average and if you look at the B&C records over the last few years you'll see that most of the big ones are coming from SW Alaska - Mulchatna. The herd is real healthy and growing - about 200,000 animals right now. To hunt them you have to charter out from Anchorage or the Kenai area. The charter can cost over $1000 a head but it's well worth it because a good pilot will put you down on some lake all by yourself - right in the path of the caribou migration. Most of these guys will check in occasionally and move you to a new spot if the herd "missed" you - which can happen. But anyway, when it works (and it often does), you can glass thousands of animals as they pass and pick a true trophy. The bad news is that it doesn't always work. You see a massive herd of animals from the plane and get put in at a lake ten miles ahead of them. Then, the next morning (you can't hunt the day you fly), you awake to a huge empty expanse of tundra and don't see a caribou for days because they decided to turn left somewhere - they're herd animals, so it's either feast or famine. That's why it's important to pick a GOOD charter pilot who will move you as needed to stay in front of the herd. Ask for references and follow up on them. __________________ Keith