Alaskan Reindeer
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Trophy reindeer and sea ducks (Unmak Island) or salmon/halibut fishing (Atka Island). Background
Lodging and Food The lodge on Umnak Island is a very comfortable modern lodge (satellite TV, internet access, etc.) and we have home cooked meals for breakfast and dinner with lunch in the field while we hunt. We may also spike out on Umnak Island if the animals are too far from the main lodge and/or we need to create space between the two groups of hunters (i.e. one group of two will hunt from the main lodge and the other group will hunt from the spike camp). The accommodations on the Atka Island are not nearly as deluxe (you’ll be staying in a bunkhouse that is normally used by commercial fisherman), but you’ll have a warm bed and good food there as well.
Terrain and Hunting Style The terrain on the island is rolling hills covered in hummocks and some rock. Each day you will go out into the field via ATV and glass for animals. Once a trophy reindeer is located you will make the final stalk on foot. Hunters should be prepared for long rides on ATV’s (sometimes 20-30 miles per day) in rough conditions. If you are not an experienced rider, please let us know in advance. The stalking part of the hunt can be quite challenging as well (particularly on Atka Island), so the more conditioning you can do in advance of your trip the better off you will be.
The weather that makes it so difficult to get to this island can also make staying comfortable challenging. You should come prepared to deal with high winds, heavy rain and temperatures in the 30-50 degree range. Warm clothes that can be layered according to constantly changing conditions is a must. Commercial rain gear is also required – Gortex and other rain repellant gear that is good enough in most other environments will not make the cut in this part of the world. We recommend Helly Hansen Impertech II rain gear or some other commercial grade, heavy duty parka and bibs. Hunters should also bring waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support as well as a good pair of binoculars for glassing. A full list of recommended equipment will be sent out to clients once we receive your deposit. Travel Once you book your trip with us, we will put you in touch with a travel agent who will handle all the details of booking flights and hotels required for the inbound and outbound trip. It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance for both the hunting trip and the flights. We have a relationship in place with an insurance agent who has put together a travel insurance policy specifically tailored for this trip – we will get you the information to purchase this policy once you book a trip with us. Mother nature reigns supreme in this part of the world – be surprised if your trip goes as planned without any delays due to weather. Days lost to inclement weather are not refunded, nor can the hunting trip be extended – this must be clearly understood before booking. Clients must be willing to accept that they could not only lose hunting days going into camp, but also lose days coming home from camp due to Mother Nature (i.e. don’t plan any important meetings at work on the week you are supposed to go home!). Guns and Ammunition Rifles chambered in .270 Winchester or larger using premium bullets are recommended. Rifles with synthetic stocks and stainless steel barrels are highly recommended – this is exactly the kind of weather those rifles were designed for. Although bow hunting is perfectly legal, due to the high winds and open terrain, archery hunting is going to be a very challenging proposition. If you plan to bow hunt, please come prepared with realistic expectations and the ability to shoot consistently out to 50 yards. D 7 day hunts will begin in mid August and run until mid September on Atka Island. Hunts on Umnak Island will begin in early October and run until early November. Please call to inquire about exact dates and availability. Getting your Trophy Home Hunters will bring their frozen capes back to Anchorage with them at the conclusion of their hunt. A representative from Knights Taxidermy will meet you when you arrive in Anchorage and take the capes for final taxidermy at their location or expediting to another taxidermist based on the hunter’s wishes. Alternatively, hunters can attempt to bring the cape home with them as checked luggage, but they do so at their own risk. At the end of the season we will send all the antlers out to Knights Taxidermy on a charter flight. If clients decide to use a taxidermist other than Knights, they will arrange to have the antlers expedited to their taxidermist. All costs for transport of trophies and taxidermy are the responsibility of the hunter and will be billed to clients by Knights. Other Considerations We have exclusive marketing rights to the island for non-native hunters, but native citizens can hunt anywhere on the island. It is highly unlikely that you will ever see another hunter in the field, but you must understand that they have every right to be there. Should you encounter another native hunter while you are in the field, your guide will do everything in his power to make sure that there is no negative impact on your trophy hunting. Cost (all prices in USD) $10,900 for one trophy reindeer (2x1 guiding) and duck hunting on Umnak (Common and King Eider, Aleutian Teal, Mallard, Eurasian Wigeon and Harlequin are all possible depending on the weather and migration patterns), or 3x1 guiding for one trophy reindeer plus fishing for salmon and halibut (weather and time permitting) on Atka. Also included are all accommodations, food, beverages (non-alcoholic), transportation to/from island airports and trophy caping. Please note that if you shoot at and wound an animal efforts will be made to recover the animal, but the hunt is considered to be finished. Management reindeer may be available for $4500 after all hunters have taken their trophy reindeer. Additional trophy reindeer may be available for $6000. However, it is very important that hunters understand that additional animals will only be taken at the guide’s discretion and there is no guarantee that any hunter will actually have a chance for an additional reindeer during their hunt. Hunters will be expected to pay the $4500 or $6000 to the head guide before leaving the island, so please bring a checkbook if you think you might want to shoot an additional bull. Hunters coming to Umnak who wish to duck hunt should bring their own shotgun as rentals are not available – shotgun shells are available at the lodge for $35/box. All fishing equipment is provided on Atka Island. Observers are welcomed at $4500.00 per hunt. Deposit A 50% deposit is required to hold dates. The remaining 50% is due June 1st on the year of your hunt. All deposits are non-refundable for any reason. Requests for date changes once deposits have been paid will only be honored solely at our discretion and are subject to a 10% processing fee. Refunds All deposits and balances paid are completely non-refundable in whole or in part for any reason including but not limited to: illness, injury, flight delays, unforeseen loss of income, early departure, late arrival, business emergencies, family emergencies, etc. Also, please be aware that any animal that is injured in any way is considered fatal and will be charged at full price. Included All lodging, food and beverages while hunting (there is no alcohol in camp, hunters must bring their own if desired), transportation from island airport to the lodge or bunkhouse, professional hunting guides, and field preparation of animals. Not included Commercial flights to Umnak or Atka from Anchorage (charter flights are also available, but much more expensive), flights into Anchorage, any overnight hotels required coming or going to camp (minimum one night in Anchorage or Dutch Harbor and possibly others if stranded due to weather), licenses, tips, trophy shipment or taxidermy. Licenses Once you book a hunt with us, we will give you the required information to purchase all the required licenses for this adventure online from the Alaska Fish and Game website. To Book a Hunt or for More Information Contact: Dan Goodenow |
Species
These hunts take place on one of two islands in the Aleutian chain – either Atka Island for early season hunting (mid August to mid September) or Umnak Island (early October to early November). The animals in both locations were introduced from Siberia in the early 1900’s as a food source for local villagers and roam freely on the islands. Hunting will be conducted from the main lodge using ATV’s to get to the field and then stalking on foot for trophies. After the conclusion of the hunt on Umnak Island, clients will have the chance to pursue sea ducks (Common and King Eider, Aleutian Teal, Mallard, Eurasian Wigeon and Harlequin may be seen depending on weather and migration) while on Atka they ill have the chance to fish for salmon and halibut (depending on weather, salmon runs, etc). It is extremely important to note that this unique hunting adventure is only possible due to coordination with an organization that helps develop the Aleutian Islands for the benefit of the native citizens. In all cases, hunters are expected to show the native citizens and their customs respect.
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