Typical Day & Tactics

Hunters arrive in Whitehorse and are encouraged to get a hotel and spend the night to ensure all their baggage arrives, so as not to lose any time afield. Plenty to see and experience in Whitehorse, which only builds anticipation for the hunt ahead. The following morning, the outfitter or his staff shuttle the hunters to the charter plane base and fly them directly to the hunting area, alleviating any time in basecamp. This may also provide a bonus half-day of pre-scouting. In the meantime, hunters can get unpacked, settled in, and excitedly prepare their gear for the next 10 full hunting days!

Wake up early and enjoy a hearty breakfast, assemble a lunch with plans to be in the field until dark. Kick off the adventure by cruising the lake or river by motorboat, or climb by Argo, quad, or horses to a strategic vantage point and begin looking for Moose! With any luck the weather is favorable and it does not take long to spot movement. In addition to Moose, all hunters will have various tags in their pocket. This hunt provides hunters bonus species (with no trophy fee) such as Wolves, x2 Black Bears, or Wolverine. And while it’s a Moose hunt, all hunters are welcome to substitute Moose for Grizzly Bear or Mountain Caribou. These species can also be added to any Moose hunt for a trophy fee payable upon success. The bottom line is that it’s quite difficult to go home empty-handed!

Depending on proximity to camp, scarf down lunch in the field, or head back to the cabin for a quick midday reprieve. The afternoon will typically follow the same program as the morning. Search for Moose, or key in on a bull that’s been spotted earlier, all the while keeping eyes peeled for other species such as Bears, Caribou or Wolverine. Most Moose are hunted by spot & stalk, along with some calling strategies. Ultimately, any and all legal hunting tactics are used to get hunters in front of a trophy bull! During the rut, the Moose are quite aggressive and conspicuous. Many hunters get to experience a good show, and it’s not uncommon to see several quality bulls in the course of a few good weather days.

The real work begins once your Moose is on the ground! These Alaska-Yukon bulls are huge and it’s no small feat de-boning and caping them. With any luck, the Moose goes down in a spot that’s accessible by motorboat or Argo, and if not, horses are often a backup option. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and hardworking, which greatly assists the recovery process. Once back in the camp, the Moose is trimmed and hung. After that, your attention can now be put on looking for any bonus or additional species.

A final perk is the myriad of bonus fishing opportunities available once the “pressure is off”. Species such as Arctic Grayling, Lake Trout, and Northern Pike can be had, location-dependent. But there is always something willing to grab a fly or lure! Once the hunt has concluded the charter aircraft returns to shuttle you, your meat, and trophies back to Whitehorse for the trip home. Many have mentioned, that these 10 days in central Yukon might have been the best 10 days of their lives! And that’s something we’re extremely proud of.

Landscape & Climate

Central Yukon is a mosaic of mountains, lakes, wetlands, and water bodies, with stands of mixed timber, natural meadows, dense willow, and alder thickets especially in riparian areas. Most Moose hunts do not typically occur in mountain habitat and it’s the low country that is focused on such as along lakes or river shores, especially those with plentiful willow or alder tangles used as both cover and forage in the Fall season. Various stage burns or natural meadow transitional areas are also key Moose hotspots and tend to be glassed from strategic high ground. Overall, the land is typical of the Northern Boreal, quite wet in the low areas bisected by the numerous surrounding mountains. Beautiful, harsh, rugged, remote, and wild are all descriptive words that quickly come to mind.

Mid-September to early October is the classic Moose rut and primetime to be afield. This time of year, the leaves are actively changing, almost in fast forward, it seems. With two rotations/changeovers per season, leaves are mostly green when the hunts commence, to mostly fallen once they conclude. Frost is typical in the mornings and the land is ready for winter this time of year. The first hunt rotation in September does not always see snow, but the second rotation could see it begin to fall at any time. Temperatures tend to hover around the freezing mark, which is ideal for hunting and meat hanging. Cool, calm and clear weather offers the best Moose and rut hunt conditions. For detailed weather data, Wikipedia is an excellent resource as it provides historic weather trends in the “Climate” section and is available for any region worldwide.

Meals & Accommodations

Most Moose hunters can rely on staying in Cabin accommodations during these hunts. Cabins are roomy and well maintained with separate sleeping quarters for guides and hunters. Each has common and dining areas however to regale about the day. Cabins come complete with generator-powered electricity, running water, some have showers, and all have outhouses to meet all creature comforts, despite the extremely remote setting. Camps are usually on lakes or swollen river segments, complete with Argos, quads, horses, and motorboats, as needed or required. On occasion, outpost camps are established and hunters stay in detailed wall-tent camps, but again, all creature comforts are provided to keep hunters warm, well-fed, and dry for the duration of the hunts. Should a mountain unit be selected, spike camps can also be used should this provide quick access to a specific strategic hunting area. As needed or desired.

Meals in camp are “home-style” and usually prepared by the guides or on occasion, a camp cook. Breakfasts are hearty and typical fare with items such as bacon, sausages, eggs, pancakes, waffles, toast, granola, fruit, juice, tea, and coffee. Lunch is often packed for the day afield and typically consists of various sandwiches and snacks such as cookies, fruit, granola bars, etc. For dinner, classic camp menu items would range from pork chops, steaks, hamburgers, chili, tacos, fried fish & chips, and of course, Moose! Pair these items with sides such as pasta or rice dishes, bread/buns, potatoes, and salad.

Key Equipment Suggestions

Due to weight restrictions on float-plane charters, hunters are asked to limit their pack load to 100lbs of equipment for this hunt. A more detailed equipment list is provided upon booking, but essential items include;

A good day pack, various underlayers beneath overlayers using materials such as polypropylene, merino wool, fleece, Prima-loft, and Gortex. Warm hat & gloves, quality lightweight sleeping bag, hiking socks, both rubber/neoprene boots, as well as properly broken-in hiking boots, and camp shoes or slippers. Good Rain gear, lighter/waterproof matches, LED headlamp with extra batteries, x10 binoculars, range finder and spotting scope (if desired), Nalgene water bottle or Camelback bladder, personal wash kit, a soft rifle case & 40 rounds of ammunition (if gun hunting).