Q. What is a typical gear list for a hunt?
A. Alaska weather is always changing so be sure to layer clothes. Listed below are suggestions of gear that will help to make for a more comfortable hunt. Please try to keep all gear to 50 pounds or less.
- 1 pair rain gear, lightweight Gore-Tex is suitable but stretchable pvc type rain gear, such as Helly Hansen Impertech is highly recommended
- 2 pair of fleece, or synthetic pants-avoid heavyweight style
- 1 synthetic jacket shell
- 1 mid-weight fleece jacket or pullover
- 2 thermal shirts, any of the light weight hunting companies such as Sitka, kuiu or cabelas
- 1-2 thermal bottoms
- 1 extra fleece shirt or pullover if weight allows, you should be prepared for temps in the mid 60’s to mid 20’s.
- 5-7 top quality hiking socks
- 1 daypack – 2500 cubic inches from brands such as mystery ranch or stone glacier
- 1 Sleeping bag: Synthetic bags rated between 0º to 20º degrees are fine.
- 1 Therma-rest self inflating pads are great.
- 1 warm hat.
- Gloves- 2 pairs of warm gloves
- Boots-recommended brands include Crispi, Kenetrek or Zamberland
- 1 pair camp shoes
- 1 pair of gaiters recommend Kenetrek, outdoor research, KUIU or Sitka
Miscellaneous Gear:
- Small knives, suitable for caping animals are preferred.
- 2 Nalgene type water bottles, at least 32 ounces each
- Flashlight-small LED headlamp, or similar. Headlamps are recommended
- Daily prescriptions add a couple of extra days in case there are any weather delays
- Binoculars
- Spotting scope is optional as all guides carry one
- Laser rangefinder is optional, as guides pack one.
- 20 rounds of Ammo should be sufficient, but 30 is not too much
- Camera
Spring bear hunts depending on hunt time frame may require specialized gear I will contact you with a more extensive list if applicable.
Q. How much hiking is involved in our hunts?
A. While our hunts are conducted via horseback or ATV you can still expect some hiking but the amount of hiking depends on the type of hunt you are on. On a typical Dall sheep hunt most clients should expect to hike about 4 miles a day as we use the horses to get up to our high mountain spike camp but from there you are usually on foot. On a moose hunt clients should expect to hike about 2 miles a day. Most moose hunts are conducted by riding the horses or ATV to a high glassing knob in a high moose traffic area and then putting a stalk onto a moose.
Q. Where do flights into the field leave from?
A. Flights into the hunting areas usually leave from Fairbanks so we suggest that when clients come to Alaska they make flight arrangements into Fairbanks as opposed to Anchorage. If you do happen to fly into Anchorage there are a few ways to travel to Fairbanks. First clients can take a connecting flight through alaska airlines as they offer non-stop service from Anchorage to Fairbanks http://www.alaskaair.com/. Second clients can take the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, this is the link to their homepage where reservations can be made http://alaskarailroad.com/. The train is usually cheaper but it does take about twelve hours so plan accordingly. Lastly clients can rent a car and drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks just be prepared because it is a six to eight hour drive depending on how many stops you want to make. Rampage Alaska is not responsible for these travel arrangements, but we can arrange for pick up once in Fairbanks.
Q. Is there a lot of resident hunters in our area?
A. This is a question we get asked a lot as many clients would like to know about the hunting pressure in our game management units. There are two areas that we hunt in. The first area is a non-motorized area which is why many of our hunts are conducted via horseback. Because this area is non-motorized there is not much hunting pressure from residents. The second area that we hunt in is motorized but does not have any roadside access making it difficult to get to so it is unlikely that clients will see another person other than our guides and packers.
Q. Do clients get to keep the meat from their trophies?
A. That is completely up to the client, some clients choose to take only the high grade cuts of meat home with them while others choose to take the entire animal and some clients choose to only take the trophy. If you would like to take your meat home along with the trophy we suggest Alaska Trophy Express. This is a transporting service who picks up in Alaska the last week of September or first week of October and drives a refrigerator truck down to the lower 48 with several stops from the west coast to the east coast. To reserve a spot on this truck you will need to pay a $100 deposit on their website the summer of your hunt. Alaska Trophy Express will only transport moose, caribou or sheep at this time. More information regarding the reservation along with meat storage and routes through the lower 48 can be found on their website at https://www.alaskatrophyexpress.com/. Rampage Alaska is not liable for the costs of shipping the meat back to the client’s home although we can help to get the meat from the field to the transporter.
Q. What happens to the trophy when the hunt is over?
A. First off any sheep, black bear, grizzly bear or wolf has to be sealed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game or a state trooper BEFORE clients leave the state of Alaska with their trophy. At the end of the hunt trophies and meat will be transported into town. Clients can choose to have trophies mounted here in Alaska or if they have a specific taxidermist they would like to have do the mount we can arrange to have the trophy shipped (rampage alaska does not cover the shipping cost).
Q. How can clients get their trophies mounted in Alaska?
A. If clients would like to have their trophy mounted here in Alaska we usually suggest D&C expediters and taxidermy which we can arrange for transport of the raw trophy to them. Here is a link to their website to inquire about pricing http://www.dandcexpediters.com .
Q. Where can clients get a copy of the Alaska hunting regulations?
A. A copy of the Alaska hunting regulations can be found on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=regulations.main.