A Yukon Delta Moose Hunt

This was an awesome write up, and I'm so glad you shared it with us. Congrats to you both!

This is quite literally my dream hunt, right down to the detail of doing it with my dad. This outfit has been on my radar for a couple years now as well. I really need to just choose a year and put a deposit down to make this thing happen before Dad gets too old.
 
Thanks for coming back to fill us in on the post kill details. I just can't get over how many moose you saw. I mean I've heard of guys going to AK and never even seeing a moose (cough* Newberg cough*). The only time I was in AK we were waiting for a sight-seeing flight and I guy asked for our help unloading a small plane full of a bull moose. I don't know how the hell you pack one of those, it took two of us to man-handle each quarter!
 
Good on you for getting your FIL up there and getting it done on a dream hunt.

You are one tough sumbitch to pack TWO moose mostly by yourself.

Congrats to you both!
 
Oak said:
Care to share what it costs to get a whole moose to the lower 48? I've been curious.
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I can tell you close. The charges on the receipt are not perfectly itemized. However, the shipping for one moose worth of meat (no antlers) on Alaska air cargo was $441. This was minus the ribs and a few random chunks of like brisket meat that ended up in the rib bag. I donated those.

The second load had the antlers from both moose, plus more meat. The cost of each set of antlers are not broken out on the receipt, so I am unsure but I would guess they are another $400 or so. Due to the dimensions of them, the receipt shows an actual weight and then a charged weight which appears to be about 2 1/2 times the actual weight.

You can add about $720 for the local butcher in Bethel to process the moose, which is steaks, roasts, burger, wrapped in white butcher paper. Then add a few bucks for boxes.
You do not have to use this butcher, you have other options. You could debone the moose yourself back at Papa Bears headquarters, and I think flash freeze it and then have it shipped to yourself, and process it at home. Honestly, that’s about the last thing I felt like doing when we got back.
There are also cheaper butchers in Anchorage, but I don’t think you really save anything by the time you pay to have it shipped to Anchorage and then pay for a day or two of cooler storage there.

So just shipping, not including processing, I’d say about $850
 
Congratulations to you and your father in law, had to have been an amazing experience I hope to enjoy one day soon
 
MTGomer said:
On the 21st, the plane would come to get us.
It had snowed on the mountains a light dusting the night before and all that morning it rained, snowed, and sleeted. It would switch back and forth about every 20 minutes, pushed by a continuous 15mph wind, gusting higher.
The pickup time got pushed back from 9:30 until around 3 and we hoped that they’d be able to come then. Visibility was decent but the lake had small whitecaps. Everything was torn down and staged at the lake shore for pick up, with the exception of the tent, which we didn’t take down until we confirmed via sat phone or inreach that the pilot wasn’t only on his way, but that he was not encountering weather that would make him turn back.

He made it.

It was all my FIL could do to hold onto the plane while the pilot and I loaded it. What a chore. He did this while I carried everything to the float and handed it up to the pilot. For big things like a moose quarter, I’d then climb onto the float and help him place it in the plane.
I went from cold and wet to hot and wet real fast.

You wouldn’t think loading a plane would be so much work for 3 guys, but in the conditions it was rough.

Finally we were in the plane and ready to go.

Back in Bethel, we landed right at the lake PBA headquarters is on. The staff helps quickly unload the plane while wet moose hunters with leaky waders get warmed up.


That night we ordered from the local sushi/seafood/cheeseburger place.

I consumed a 1/3 lb burger loaded up with bacon, mushrooms, and an egg, fries, an order of mozerella sticks, and a pint of seafood soup which was full of fish, clams, shrimp etc.
It must have been a 4K calorie dinner

PBA was able to change our flights for us before we got out of the bush. The moose hunting is excellent but this isn’t necessarily the part of Alaska you’d just hang around in after the hunt and see the sights.
The next day we wrapped our antlers for shipping, organized our stuff and in the evening they took us to the airport.


I really can’t say enough good things about PBA. They handle all the logistical things that would add so much stress and detract from the fun. On top of that, they put you into good moose hunting and the gear of theirs that you use is top notch.
The owners, as well as their pilots and the staff around the dock/lodge are all wonderful.

Whether or not I’d do it again will have to be asked after the pain in my hips goes away, but I’d certainly recommend them.


View attachment 196062
View attachment 196063
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Have to say Gomer, that smile for the pic looks more like a grimace.
 
Excellent, @MTGomer - thanks for taking us along. Also, great to hear the new ownership is continuing Steve's tradition of providing a top-notch experience at PBA.
 
So I have been kicking this hunt around for a few years. Wife said I was good to do it before I turn 50. I think reading thru this and talking with them is enough for me to finally put my name in the hat.

For those that don’t know you throw your name in +1 and they draw in Oct for the 2024 season. There is more demand than seats available. This hunt is mainly a 2-3 person group hunt. Right now there is no + 1 commitment from my group but there is a long time till then. So if anyone has serious interest PM me and we can chat.

Thanks Gomer for posting this thread.
 
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