MDHunter
Ultimate Member
If you don't mind me asking, what does a trip like this run? and how much less than a guided hunt. This trip may not be in my near future but when my boys are older, a trip with us three would be on my bucket list for sure.
If you and your boys did a bowhunt off the Dalton Highway north of Fairbanks, it could be done for about $3500 per person, but understand that you would be stalking caribou in the open, with no cover, and it's tough to get a shot at them (I think the AK bowhunters practice out to 60 or 80 yards, way past my comfort zone). You would also have company from other bowhunters.
If you use a bush pilot service like I do, plan on adding another $4K per person in flight costs. A once in a lifetime adventure isn't cheap, and this is a costly trip, but well worth it in my mind.
Here's a notional list of costs that you might incur:
Roundtrip airfare to Alaska $800
Excess Baggage Fees $200
Non-resident AK hunting license $160
Non-resident AK caribou tag $650
Rental Car/Truck in AK $800
Rental Car/Truck Gas $200
Hotel Rooms in AK $400
Camp Food/Gear $300
Food in AK Before/After Hunt $200
Bush Flight Service $4,000
Satellite Phone Rental $150
A guided hunt would likely run you another $5K or so per person for caribou, much higher for moose.