Dr. Mike D'Ambrose with an opening morning 70
We hunt Moose and Grizzly Bears in the Central Brooks Range, an extremely remote and unspoiled part of Alaska. We've been hunting this area since the early 1990’s. All hunters are guided one on one and there are typically between two and four hunters in the field at any time. The only other hunters you can expect to see are those who may be sharing camp. Moose season is September 5-25. We run two 10 day hunts back to back: September 5-14 and September 16-25. Grizzly bear season is open August 10 - September 30.
Mountain Monarchs usually only guides a handful of moose and grizzly hunters each fall, allowing us to concentrate on each individual hunter. We conduct both fixed camp hunts out of a lake or gravel bar location or by doing jet boat or float hunts with rafts down proven rivers and creeks.
A typical spike camp setup.
We hunt primarily from spike camps equipped with cots, lanterns, and a heat source - either propane or woodstove. Depending on game movement, hunters may spend several days in more primitive backpack spike camp conditions but guides are in routine communication through radio and satellite phone. Float hunts are a very effective way to hunt moose in our area and one we use commonly. You will be dropped off on a lake or gravel bar, with a predetermined pickup point somewhere down river. You and your guide will determine how long to spend at each camp before continuing downstream. You may make camp in 2-5 different locations during a 10 day hunt, dependent on length of river traveled, weather, and game movements. Dry bags and waterproof gear are a must on trips of this nature.
Jet boats are often utilized often to hunt certain river systems. These hunts are very effective as you can travel both upriver and downriver at your guides discretion. In this scenario, you may hunt out of just one location for the entirety of the hunt, using the jetboat to access different areas for day hunting.
Our Moose season coincides with their rut, making for a truly memorable and quintessential hunt. Cow as well as bull grunting and raking is very effective for locating and hopefully drawing in a trophy mature bull. Finding a good glassing knob with elevation over the valley floor is essential for locating bulls. We focus our attention primarily in the river and lake areas, as this is where most rutting activity is concentrated. Once a trophy bull is spotted, you and your guide will work to get to a good shooting location and working to call the bull in to you. Killing a bull is one thing, killing one in an area that is manageable for extraction is another. The closer to a river, lake, or other extraction point is key, as there is well over 1000 pounds to move once a bull is harvested.
You an expect to see on average 5-8 bulls during your hunt. Although we have harvested and seen bulls over 70" that is not the norm. You can expect to kill a bull in the 57-65" range, with our average over the last several seasons at 62".
Grizzly Bears inhabit and are found in the same regions as the moose this time of year. They will either be cruising the rivers getting the last bits of salmon runs, foraging for roots and grasses on the gravel bars, or working fields and hillsides for the last of the berries. Lots of glassing from your elevated glassing knob are key to finding bears and are usually stalked on an opportunity basis. If a proven fishing hole is found, you may sit over it waiting for bears to come out to feed. You can expect to see on average of 3-5 bears per hunt. We aim to shoot mature boars in the 7.5'+ category.
2020 bull catching the late night Aurora show.
You must purchase a hunting license and any tags with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game before arriving. Wolves are also prevalent in the area. It is no longer required to purchase a wolf tag in GMU 24B.
If time allows during your hunt you may get the opportunity to fish in the Alaska wilderness. There is no guarantee that there will be time to fish on your trip. However, if you hope to fish, a fishing license is required.
|
Alaska Tag & License Fees |
Non Resident | Non Resident Alien |
| Hunting License | $160 | $630 |
| Brown Bear/Grizzly Tag | $1,000 | $1,300 |
| Moose Tag | $800 |
$1,000 |
Alaska Moose Hunts Gallery
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