CARIBOU

We are based in King Salmon, Alaska. All of our services originate from King Salmon. You will have to fly commercial airlines to King Salmon. We have a discounted rate between Anchorage and King Salmon, and will be happy to help you realize these savings.

Our caribou hunts focus on the Mulchatna River caribou herd. The current world's record caribou, as well as numerous former world's record bulls have come from the Mulchatna herd. 2003 estimates put the herd at somewhere between 150-200,000 animals and stable to growing.

The primary game management units the Mulchatna herd travels and frequents is units 9B, 17B and 17C. Beginning with the 2003 season, the nonresident limit in these two units is 1 caribou. The resident limit remains at 5. However, only 1 of these five may be a bull from these units. I expect this to have a very positive effect in the near term and over the long haul, making available a greater ratio of bulls to cows, and availability of trophy bulls.

Caribou hunts are available the month of September only. Operating float planes, we do not want to run the risk of having lakes freeze up, which generally can take place any time after October 1.

Folks often ask when the "best" time to hunt is. I always figure the best time is the time that you are here. I go through the same challenges with each party in an effort to find the best hunting conditions for any given week. Basically, it's easier to narrow down the "best" time based on your needs, and available time.


SEPTEMBER hunts usually mean more inclimate weather with the changing of the seasons. Also expect to see more hunters in the field at this time due to the moose season also overlapping caribou season. You can expect all the caribou bulls to have stripped their velvet by around September 7. The rut begins to kick in around the middle of September and peaks in early October. This is an excellent time to find numerous groups of caribou being gathered and tended by bulls anxious to breed cows.

Our pricing is based on a 2-person minimum. This is for practical and safety reasons. We are a dealer for Mountain House freeze dried foods. We offer to provide these light-weight, delicious meals at our cost in an effort to help you with staying within your allowable weight limit, as well as providing a nutritious, no-brainer method of preparing your meals in the field. I highly recommend them. Your party is required to erect your own camp. Everything flies with us on the plane.

The next thing you'll note regarding pricing is the savings to be had by having more people in your party. I can take a maximum of 4 hunters and their respective gear per flight. If your party exceeds 4 hunters, I just make additional flights.

Many people ask about mid-hunt "checks", moves, etc. You are paying for a single lake location. I try my best to place you in an area that will lend itself to a successful caribou hunt, given the current conditions at the time. In real life, since I am a 1-man operator, I make every attempt to visit camps approximately 3-4 days after being dropped off. This is in order for me to retrieve meat and/or antlers to be flown back to town. If your party needs closer supervision during your hunt, you might want to consider a guided hunt.

As for moves.....you are paying for a single lake drop off. If, for some reason, your party desires to be moved, the move will be billed at $500/hr. The reason this is generally not practical is because there may be only one person in a party who didn't score, and the balance of the party is not interested in sharing the costs associated with a move on this one person's behalf. More often than not, the one person who didn't score elected to simply pass on caribou when he had the chance, and allowed the caribou to "dry" up. I know some of my competitors will "bait" you in with the promise of mid-hunt checks, moves, etc. In real life, many times these "promises" are simply not fulfilled. I just don't want to promise you anything I can't deliver. Our hunters are always right at 100% successful on caribou. And their success has not been as a result of needing to be moved.

The duration of your caribou hunt is 7 days, including flights in and out. The law states that you cannot hunt the same day you are flown into the field. With this in mind, the majority of our hunters are finished within 2-3 days after I've dropped them off. When I make my meat/antler run, and discover a party is indeed finished and would like to come out early, I make every effort to accommodate you. Sometimes I can take a couple of hunters out with the meat and antlers. Other times I'll have to wait until the next day to get you out. Either way, I try to be flexible to your needs, depending on scheduling, weather, etc.

We are a Fish & Game License vendor. We provide all licenses and tags to our clients. You will receive a packet of information approximately 100 days prior to your arrival. Among other things, a blank license form will be included for you to fill out and return. We will have your license made out for you, along with the respective tag(s), ready for you to sign and pay for. This really streamlines getting a party into the field.

In closing, Sheryl and I do appreciate your interest in using our services and will do everything we can to make your caribou hunt an enjoyable and positive experience. We try to live by the philosophy that life is a 2-way street, and attempt to run our business accordingly. I will purposely make your hunt sound worse than what it will actually be. I've learned over many, many years by using this approach, that I don't have to make excuses to you later on.

PRICING

All prices based on a 2-person minimum. 50% non-refundable deposit required to confirm booking. Balance due 90 days prior to arrival. 4 W AIR is a fully-licensed, insured FAA AIR TAXI, as well as LICENSED TRANSPORTER.

GENERAL INFORMATION

HUNTING SEASONS & TAG FEES

NON-RESIDENT LICENSE FEES

SUGGESTIONS FOR PACKING

OUTFIT YOURSELF WITH HIGH QUALITY GEAR AND CLOTHING!!!!!

We suggest your clothing include:

*INSULATED HIP BOOTS *WATERPROOF LACE-UP HIKING BOOTS *LONG UNDERWEAR--POLYPROPYLENE/WOOL BLENDS TYPE *A 4-IN-ONE TYPE PARKA W/THINSULATE LINER W/HOOD *GORETEX/THINSULATE GLOVES *WOOL SHIRT, PANTS, SOCKS *GORETEX PANTS

We suggest other gear to include:

*SPOTTING SCOPE & BINOCULARS *COMPASS!! *WATER PURIFYING FILTER/TABLETS *BIC LIGHTERS *RIFLE W/SOFT CASE--We can't pack the hard cases on board the floatplane. We'll be glad to store your hard case while you hunt. *ARCHERY GEAR--Same as for rifles. *FISHING GEAR--in TOP CONDITION!! *SLEEPING BAG--SYNTHETIC FIBERS ARE BEST...QUALOFILL, ETC. *ANY PERSONAL MEDICATION *MOSQUITO HEADNET!!

4 W AIR
BOX 4401
SOLDOTNA, AK 99669
907-776-5370 (VOICE AND FAX)
email: fourwair@alaska.net
visit our web page: http://www.alaska.net/~fourwair