The following questions are commonly asked about our guiding operation.  Please feel free to write or call if you have any other questions or just want us to elaborate further.

WHAT IS YOUR GUIDE – CLIENT RATIO?

All hunts are guided hunts, one guide per hunter unless other arrangements have been made. We will expend every effort to assure your success, but being in reasonable shape will help, too.

WHAT ARE YOUR SPIKE CAMPS LIKE?

We are always trying to give our clients the best opportunity.  Spike camps are mobile in order to place the hunter in the best remote hunting area. The spike camps consist of high quality, comfortable tents and well-maintained camping equipment.  You will need to bring your own sleeping bag.  The home-made meals (vacuum sealed) vary from prepared food such as: bacon eggs and pancakes for breakfast, fresh moose, fish, pork chops and canned or fresh vegetables for lunch and dinner and nutritious snacks.  The guides will most often do the cooking however; any help you would like to give is appreciated.  All food, equipment and trash are hauled away from the campsite following each hunt.

WHAT KIND OF WEATHER CAN I EXPECT?

SPRING-In April and May you may expect below freezing at night up to the mid-’50s during the day.  You can expect a few snow flurries. The wind always blows here, so windproof clothing is a necessity.  April and May offer long days of hunting due to Alaska’s extended daylight hours which makes for ideal bear hunting conditions!  The main mode of transportation is flying out with the super cub or C-185 to spike camps or hunting from the main camp with snow machines (April/May hunts only).

FALL-The temperature at camp ranges from the ’60s during the day to the low 30’s

(down to the freezing level at night).  We may get early snow in late September,

which generally melts by mid-day. August 1^st to October 2nd is the prime fall hunting

times.  Both early and late hunts, well as, the mid-September hunts all have their

particular advantages and disadvantages that equal out in the long run.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD I MAKE?

You are responsible for arranging your own transportation, which includes jet service from Anchorage to Aniak, (we recommend you purchase REFUNDABLE tickets). We will make all arrangements for your flight between Aniak and our main camp. The cost of this flight to the main camp is $1,000 per person, round-trip. You will pay this amount upon your arrival to camp.  We are not equipped to handle credit cards at this time. If you are paying with checks, please bring extra checks with you.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Plan on arriving in Aniak on the morning of the day you are scheduled to arrive in camp. This will mean spending the night in Anchorage in order to catch the early AM flight to Aniak.   The weather may be a factor on getting you to camp; this is why it is important to take the morning flight into Aniak. If the weather is poor in the morning we have the rest of the day to get you to camp.  It is also important to note on your return flight to take the evening flight out of Aniak, which routes you through Bethel to Anchorage.  This gives you time for weather conditions to clear and time to take care of preparations for leaving camp. Again, refundable tickets are more transferrable should weather conditions occur.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE TROPHIES?

While in camp your trophies will be prepared and capes/hides packaged in airline-approved wax boxes for freighting to Anchorage.  You have a choice of using a local expeditor, Sean at D&C Expeditors in Anchorage (907-344-9719) or handle the expediting on your own. Since 9/11/01 the commercial airlines in Alaska no longer handle trophies and capes and require that you send them through an air cargo company to have them expedited from the state. If you choose to handle this on your own, plan on staying in Anchorage a couple of extra days at the end of your hunt. If you choose Sean at D&C Expeditors he will pick up your freight directly from the air cargo company in Anchorage and ensure transport to either you or your taxidermist.

MEAT (Please DECIDE prior to coming to camp)

The care of meat is critical to our guiding operation and we ensure that no game meat is wasted. All meat is immediately hung in a meat house at main camp.  There is a limit on time as to how long we can keep the meat.  You will be asked prior to your hunt as to the amount of meat you will want to keep. Whatever meat is not designated to the hunter is consumed in camp, brought to the local village or dispersed among individuals on our meat “wait-list”.  Should you designate to keep meat, we will cut and pack the meat in airline-approved wax boxes for transport to an Alaska –based meat processing company; Indian Valley Meats (IVM).  IVM will process all meat based on your specifications. Order forms are available at camp and are placed in your box of meat prior to shipping for processing.  All processing and shipping costs will be your own and will be handled through Indian Valley Meats. IVM is not a “holding” facility, it is a processing facility. Therefore, all meat that is shipped to IVM will be processed by IVM; no third-party transfers, please.

WHERE DO YOU PURCHASE TAGS & LICENSES?

The State of Alaska offers a simple and efficient way you can purchase your hunting & fishing licenses and all big game metal locking tags at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/Store/.  We recommend you talk to us prior to purchasing these items online so that you have the accurate species and amount.  Once you have purchased your license and tags online, please send us copies of your receipts of the tags, a copy of your Big Game Tag Record and a copy of your Hunting License. This has proven to be most efficient in preparing your paperwork to begin your hunt. You will receive your Moose Harvest tickets directly from us in camp; these are of no cost.

YOUR PHYSICAL CONDITION

Many hunters find the conditions challenging yet invigorating.  You will be hiking several miles daily on tundra and slope conditions, climbing 300 to 600 feet on occasion.  Your physical status has a tremendous bearing on the outcome of your hunt.  If you are out-of-shape or overweight your chances of success are appreciably reduced.  There are many factors considered in getting your game, therefore, increase your chances by being in reasonable shape.  Know your capabilities and advise us of them, including any physical limitations, special diets or medication.

AREA DESCRIPTION

Adams Guiding Services has been operating for 34 years under the ownership of Bob Adams; who has been guiding in the area since 1978.  We are located within the Kilbuck Mountains, which are about 60 miles south of Aniak.  The main camp is located in these mountains, on the Kipchuk River, which flows into the Aniak River. These two rivers and the Salmon River offer what we feel some of the finest moose, brown /grizzly bear hunting in the state. Fishing is also available for salmon, char and grayling.   Most of our spike camps are located on ridge tops near the headwaters of the rivers named above. A lot of the country is rolling hills with some 3,000 and 4,000 thousand-foot mountains.  This is spectacular country!

SUGGESTED CLOTHING FOR YOUR ALASKA HUNT

Note: We prefer you to bring your gear in TWO MEDIUM SIZED DUFFEL BAGS OR LESS. You will be separating gear out for spike camps and can only get ONE medium-sized duffel in the Super Cub for transport to your spike camp. Also, one large duffel WILL NOT fit into the charter airplane to get you into the lodge.

1. Two hunting-type trousers and two shirts. (Jeans are too heavy and do not dry fast)
2. Three pair of polypropylene thermal long underwear.
3. Six pair each of heavy and light socks.
4. A good lightweight raincoat (knee length) & rain pants. Gore-Tex won’t work well if old and dirty. Helly Hanson, Sitka Gear, etc. also makes a nice stretch, but waterproof jacket and pants.
5. A good hunting cap. Thinsulate or fibre pile (for cooler hunts), rainproof too.
6. One pair of good hunting gloves, Thinsulate with a Gore-Tex shell.
7. Footwear:

Spring and late fall hunts: 200 gram Thinsulate insulated, hiking boots/Winter Packs.

Aug-Sept Hunts: A good set of hiking boots.

All hunts: a pair of tennis shoes

8. A good quality set of binoculars, 10X40 power. (Very important)
9. A daypack for packing around your extra clothes, ammo, rain gear, camera etc.
10. A good warm windproof jacket with a vest.

The wind always blows here; so windproof outerwear is a must. We like to layer our clothing, a good waterproof shell with fibre pile underneath works good. Thinsulate jackets also work well.  When choosing your rain gear make sure you get it big enough to fit over your heavy jacket

11. A sleeping bag rated 0 to –10 below. We will supply the cots and sleeping pads.
12. Personal items such as toiletries for spike camp.
13. Water bottle (we have filtered running water to fill your water bottles)
14. A book/magazine to read and small reading light (clamps onto your cap).
15. We offer plenty of food; however, some hunters like to have along their own favourite light snack foods.