New guy with a question

[lundboat]

Been reading some of the posts here for a few weeks, and I like what I am seeing. Looks like a great group here. I have a question about a guided trip that I already have set up. I&#39;ve never been moose hunting before, so I don&#39;t really know what I&#39;m getting into. I have the trip set up in 2004 for a 1X1 hunt on the south side of the Brooks Range. The guide has the only airstrip around locked up, so other hunters are not in the area. (I checked that out with other hunters). The trip is for 8 full days of hunting, using a jet boat to get up and down the river with hiking to higher elevations to glass. My question is about the potential to add on for artic grizzly. They are not that many of them, but they are seen during the hunts. I can&#39;t afford to do a "combo" hunt in 2004, but would be able to if I delay the trip to 2005. There is a guy booked for 2005 that would be willing to give, well can&#39;t really say what the guide told me he would give up for a swap, his year for mine. The way I am understanding things, a bear tag is also good for taking a moose, so I could go in 2004 on a single animal hunt and take the first good bear or moose that comes along. Or wait till 2005 and maybe get both. The problem is both have advantages and dissadvantages. I probably would never be able to afford going on a bear hunt again, but could afford to go on a Canadian moose hunt (not Alaska again, unless unguided). My top priority is moose (this guide has been guiding for 15 years with only 2 clients not getting moose and 2-4 clients per year). Second is the bear, but it would be VERY cool to go after. This will be a blackpowder hunt. Any thoughts would help! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-hitting-self.gif

[Moose-Hunter]

Man, I&#39;m not even going on this hunt and it&#39;s still a hard decision! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-toothless-aqua.gif If I was doing this, and in your postion, I would go on the 2004 hunt and go after moose, especially with the type of success rate your guide has going for him. But, do you plan on taking all the meat home with you, or plan on donating most if it? In that case, go shoot a grizzly. Best part about hunting moose is having all that meat in the freezer.

[lilbiggun]

If it was me, I would wait a year and do both. Since AK might not be an option for another hunt for a while, 1 more year isnt gonna kill you. If you want to only hunt 1 animal in 04, go for the bear. Moose you can do unguided (to save costs) if need be or go to canada.

[1SoCalHunter]

lundboat:
First let me welcome you to the best hunting forum on the web, this forum is full of nice people that we are willing to share information, so please feel right at home, pull up a chair and relax.
About your 2004 hunt, all I could say is WOW!, you are in for an awesome hunt, I wish I could afford one of this hunts now.
If I were you, I would just keep the 2004 moose hunt and then you worry about the grizzly, don&#39;t miss the fun.

[marmot]

Why not just get a black bear tag. Way higher probability of success and the price is right. Save the Griz hunt for another time and you will enjoy it more.

[Widux]

Who&#39;s the Guide? can as I remember exchange tag for beast of equal amout but not get two for one- better check what&#39;s up now- also there are only a few Griz in Brooks but i had a couple of friends from Australia up a few yrs ago and they each got nice ones one with his Sharps- moose few and not biggest in state-eight days not a very long time up there but most hunts are getting shorter as folks don&#39;t want to WASTE their time want to kill and go home to talk about it!
depending upon where you are you&#39;ll probably be above Black bear territory.

[lundboat]

Hey guys, thanks for the insight. Still have not made up my mind yet, but I&#39;m thinking about delaying for a year. Filling in with a "cheap" hunt for 04 would not be a problem. On the other hand, I keep asking myself if a bear is that important to me. Been up close and personal more than once, and I did not have the same "instincts" as when I have encountered elk or deer. I&#39;ll keep running this around in my head for a couple of months. The outfitter is Alaska Mountain and River Guide Service. I picked him for a couple of reasons. First, highly recommended with good track record. Second, exclusive area with large bulls (consistant over 60" average). Third, he uses the entire river system via a jet boat. Fourth, no other hunters in the area. And fifth, the time frame actually does work out for me. Not that I need to get home to talk about it or feel like more time spent hunting is a waste of time. It just happens that between having a new job and trying to keep my wife happy, one week gone is the max I could do. If I had more time? Yukon...... but then thats in the works for about 5 years from now http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-dancin-red.gif