My Dad and I have been planning an Alaska barren ground (Tundra) Caribou trip for this August since last last year. We were originally planning an all DIY haul road hunt, but managed to find an airboat transporter to get us across the Sag River and to a spot where caribou have been seen recently. In the last week we've finally booked our flight, booked the airboat and booked our truck rental so it's feeling pretty official. We've got a checklist of gear that we're buying as we find good deals. I'm enjoying the planning and researching phase almost as much as I think I'll enjoy the hunt. We're planning to bowhunt but will have a rifle with us incase it's getting close to the end and we want to get something on the ground.

This will be a special hunt, as my Dad has always wanted to visit Alaska and we've been talking about doing some kind of adventure trip for a few years now. My dad is 76 and in amazing physical (and mental) condition, but we both realize at his age that could change quickly so our urgency to do something sooner rather than later drove us to this hunt (instead of waiting /hoping for years on western tags)

I've found a ton of good info online (especially the rokslide forum) and our transporter has also been a great help in planning, but curious if anyone on here has been to the North Slope in fall, been caribou hunting in general and has any tidbits of advice or lessons learned?

Enjoy the hunt. Planning does add to the excitement. I have a Washington whitetail hunt and have been in the planning phase for a spring scouting trip and then a Sept early season archery hunt.
For sure have good boots, gaitors, trekking poles, bear mace, water purifier. Carry a good knife that can do it all when cleaning. Also look up Alaska regs and see the wanton waste definition, they don't play.
Peak refuel meals are good if ya carry a jetboil. You can also make coffee and heat canned goods with the cook top.

Thanks Kodiak, I've always thought it would be fun to hunt deer in the Northern CA or PNW area. The landscape there is just so interesting to me.

Thanks for the advice, we agonized over boots (between Scarpa, Crispi, kennetrek and Schnee) and ended up going with Schnee's with light insulation. Kuiu Yukon gaiters, and we've got good knives and water purification from previous camping/ hunting outings. One of the things I'm researching now is a good value in trekking poles, trying to find the best option between $100-$150 for ultra durable, easy to use/ effective adjustments and comfortable.

I'm glad to hear that about the peak refuel meals, I've heard from other that theyre better than mountain house, I've got a discount from OnX elite membership that makes them about the same price as MH so I think I'll end up going with them. I've got a Jetboil Java kit so I'll use that for heating water and making coffee and our transporter says we'll find enough drift wood where we're going to be able to make small fires for cooking meat/fish/potatoes/onions etc.

I've also head they're serious about the wanton waste law. I skimmed over the booklet for caribou and luckily they provide a very detailed list of what must be harvested with drawings, but I'll definitely need to study it before we head up.

That sounds awesome, would love to hear how the trip goes. That is on my bucket list and I am looking at it in next couple years My father is also in his 70's and I would love for him to go with me. We did Antelope in New Mexico a couple years ago and also did free range Aoudad in South Texas last year.

Get poles that are light and collapse down to 20" or less or they hang down too far off pack for my likes... The wanton waste law requires rib meat, neck meat, everything. As far as the terrain and hunting, this place is a jungle. My Washington unit will have timber/pines similar to home, just more elevation in places.

Oh, vacuum seal a set of clothing and put in a dry bag. If you fall in water it's nice to change into dry clothing.

I’m sure you made sure the truck rental allows for use on the haul road. Get yourself the Alaska Gazzettere (sp).

The Milepost may be useful if you stay any extra and tour the FBNKS area

Grayling fishing the whole way up. Might find some pike too

Hit Coldfoot for gas, a burger and some pie

Plan for snow

Hippie heads suck! Whatever you wear, pack, walk in —- make sure you know where it rubs when wet. Mole skin!

Caribou look slow and move fast. Don’t chase them. Hippie heads suck!

Bug dope. About 10x more than you think you need

I lived in FBKS for several years and used to hunt north of Galbraith Pass

If you get the Gazetter, mark road access areas you find via google maps. You can’t discharge a firearm w/in 5 miles of the road. I know you have the boat man, but a plan B might be handy. Alyeska has rock sites along the way and they get you vehicle access off the road. Every mile saves ya. The road isn’t straight. Fish cops use planes up there

Get er done

This is on mine and a hunting buddies list, we looked at outfitters at sci last year and the cost have went up significantly so we may have to do a diy . I would like to know how it goes, we are heading to Wy this fal for elk if we draw , but this will be next

Agree with the Peak Refuel suggestions. Simple, tasty, and filling. Their peach cobbler is also good.

I used Argali trekking poles last year in the Wy mountains. I put a lot of ass on them at times and they never let me down.

I was part owners of an outfitting service and guided caribou, grizzly and sheep just North Brooks Range for a number of years.

Feel free to call me and I’ll be glad to help.

Hunted the North Slope a couple of times when I lived in AK. Amazing place. Tons of local and up to date AK info here, https://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/. Have a great time and stay safe. AK is incredible, but unforgiving.

I use black diamond trail trekking poles quite a bit with a heavy pack. I prefer the flip lock for the adjustment. I used other models and brands with the twist lock adjustment and they eventually break or stop working due to dirt gumming up the works.

Caribou was on the bucket list. The wife and I were gonna do a caribou float trip before we had kids and put that trip on hold. My concern with the float trip was our drift may not line up with the caribous migration timing. Sounds like the airboat might be a better bet.

Thanks for all the great info, guys!

I'm definitely going to get collapsible poles, It sounds like aluminum may be the best option for durability, but not totally opposed to carbon. Black diamond definitely has a lot of options in my range as well as REI branded poles.

I love the idea of vacuum sealing a spare set of clothes, just in case. We'll be wearing wool base layers and be carrying emergency blankets as a backup/ JIC measure also. I've heard of people getting soicked in with weather or dark, their GPS battery goes dead and that's all it takes to be spending a night on the tundra.

Our truck is from Alaska 4x4, they specifically cater to folks heading up the haul road and even offered a discount to hunters through the Rokslide forum.

We're planning to shakedown gear and identify any fit/ rubbing issues at this years Total Archery Challenge, but will definitely have leukotape on hand (it's like the more modern/ stickier version of moleskin) it's a life saver for covering hot spots on feet especially. will stick all week on your heel and will stop a blister in it's tracks.

We're hoping that bugs wont be too bad since were going up in late August, but still taking a couple bottles of Ben's 100 and head nets, just in case.

We're primarily going to bow hunt and our base camp will be within the 5 mile rifle exclusion zone, but if things arent looking good we are bringing a rifle so we can hike out passed the 5 mile zone and have a chance at one long distance. It will just be nice to be on the east side of the Sag river where there's a lot less hunter pressure.

It sounds like a few folks thinking about a similar trip, I'll be documenting the trip and will post any lessons learned and gear list when it's done but will also be glad to share any logistic info if anyone is getting serious about a trip.

Fou us, the gear is one of the most expensive parts since we don't have much that is suitable for the climate up there, but if you already had a lot of the gear (pack, boots, puffies, sleeping bag, tent, poles, wool laters, HD raingear, etc) then the biggest expense would be airboat, truck rental and airfare.