FALLING FOR WINTER CARIBOU IN ALASKA’S FAR NORTH, OCTOBER IS COLD AND SNOWY BUT OFFERS BOWHUNTERS A CHANCE AT BIG BULLS IN THE RUT
BY BRIAN WATKINS
O
ctober up north is an end cap to fall in Alaska. Most hunts have yielded to the long winter ahead, but deer, caribou and goat seasons continue into that month. Since we had tagged out on goat and deer earlier in autumn, our last option was caribou. Nick Muche, Trevor Embry and I had heard tall tales about how amazing hunting caribou in October can be. They’re in mid-rut and gathered in big herds. If you time it right, you can have a hell of a hunt.
WE LEFT THE FALL weather of Anchorage to face the harsh winter of the Last Frontier’s far north. Above the Alaska Range, winter sets in a few weeks before it falls on Anchorage. As it often goes with hunting, we weren’t in for an easy time. The stories of caribou migrations along the highways made us willing to drive relentless hours in search of a herd. But when we arrived in an area we know well, the caribou were few and far between. Nick had spotted a few caribou up in the mountains, though a ways off. The
snow had already fallen waist-deep, so trekking to the herd would be a feat. The animals were nestled in a valley about 1,500 vertical feet above our level. We had a simple plan: I was to hike the mountain and see if I could either get a shot or push the herd down the slope. I got to within 50 yards of the biggest bull I have laid my eyes on in 10 years of hunting caribou. I went to draw my bow, and my release had frozen shut. The bull stood above the rest of the herd, ready to chase smaller bulls off.
When fall is in full swing throughout Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, to the north in the Brooks Range, it’s winter conditions and waist-deep snow – and also some great hunting for caribou. (BRIAN WATKINS) aksportingjournal.com | JUNE 2022
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
43
