Caribou Drop Camp DIY Hunt Brooks Range Alaska 2020 

Thanks guys for the great hunt..my friend Dean, & I were scheduled to go on this exact hunt on Sept 1 2020. August, my friend died of a brain tumor...I watched every minute of your adventure and lived it as if Dean & I had gone ! Life is short, cherish & enjoy the time you had together and the times you will have in the future. I may never get to go on an adventure like this, but the feelings I had watching your trip I know my friend would be happy you shared it with me! Thanks. Steve

Great job guys what an adventure so proud of you guys and great idea with the coffee cups well done guys

So many of the things that happen to you guys has happened to me in Alaska. My dad and I did the same thing once with the pots and pans on a rope, been stranded for days waiting for a plane. My last trip we had two electric fences one for tent and one for the meat. Them bears up there get pretty bold.

Nice job guys! My friend and I have done the DIY AK trip for moose 3 times now without bringing home a moose. We’ve come sooo close and created memories that can’t be explained only experienced. Two drop camps and one float hunt that turned into a white water expedition. Already planning our next adventure. Congrats on an awesome hunt and story telling!

Pretty cool! Living the dream!

My friend and I were supposed to go 8-5-2020 but had to put off until this year. We went through the same outfit, Arctic Air. Probably used your tent! Anyways, we were dropped off about 10mi south of where you camped at. Temps were high, weather was great but no rain deer. Sheila told us to head for the hills. We already were hunting the tops of the hills. Well the weather set in, no rain deer. So I urged my fried to look over the next rise. Well low and behold a bull shows him self and my friend tags out. We go the rest of the week and no rain deer. Well the day we are supposed to fly out of the field, Shelia messages us and say that they cant pick us up for 2 more days. That night, a griz comes into camp an tries taking my buddies meat. We shot at it 2 different times. The bear comes back early in the AM and takes my buddies hide and horns. So the next morning we go looking for the head and cape. On our way back to camp, I spotted 2 decent size bulls headed our way. We high tail it to get in front of them. I got a 200yrd shot off and dropped a good size bull. We were just about finished quartering when we got a message saying that the plane will pick us up in 1hr. We haul back side back to camp and tear down camp, pack everything to the shore. 5 min later, the plain landed. Awesome trip!

I kinda want to chase some caribou now. Great video!

Well what an adventure! I live in western Alaska and deal with giant brown bears on the regular, few tips for next time, electric bear fence, you can DIY one for not much, and also use a radio, that’s what we use to keep those pesky critters away, nice job and glad you enjoyed it!

Never chase caribou - they know how to walk through that crap! The smart 'bou hunter waits in camp for them to come... Great hunt - the Brooks is an amazing place to be and experience!

Thanks for all adventure and the info

I have hunted in the Arctic for over 20yrs and have been at that exact spot. I will give you a hint. I always keep my meat right in front of the door to my tent typically within 50ft or less. I try to keep my latrine area upwind of camp. We do not use game bags at all when it is cold as they get bloody and stink we keep clean bags for the flight out only. I have never had bear problems on meat but most everyone who leaves meat out to far will get it stolen. I get pretty aggressive if we see bears and chase them out of the country. Keep in mind I am a Alaskan resident and will shoot them if the need arises but I have never had to . What you guys did on the last night was good but I would have been even closer. I really think the the biggest problem guys have is leaving their meat in bloody game bags. We stack up large piles of brush put the meat on it put brush over the top than a tarp over that tie it down real good then pee all around it . We put more brush on top of the tarp so it gives us time if we did have a visitor. My meat is my trophy so that is what I do!!!!!

Nice hunt. Caribou are an awesome animal to hunt with a bow. Unfortunately, you can't call them in or set in a tree stand and their environment can be brutal but you got it done. Congratulations to the two of you. Hope you get back up here to do it again. Mr. Bruin, I'm sure, thanks for the meal.

Going on a caribou hunt this year out of bettles Was highly considering going with this flight service. Was a great hunt thanks for sharing

The “walk” isn’t as bad as the “sandwich”!! 👍😜👍

Awesome hunt Tom! Watched it with my Dad the other night. Looks like a ton of fun! Thanks for sharing!

Yes sir, dang nice... well done

Aloha from Hawaii. What an awesome hunt. Great job gents 🤙

Great video thanks for sharing!

Great video

Awesome job. Great video.

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Jealous. Supposed to go on a diy moose hunt in the Yukon but canceled due to COVID. Glad you made it.

Just ran into your guys channel damn this is cool!!! This is one of my dream hunts with a bow

Nice work dudes!

Kotzebue Sound. 🌊

Nice job, hate the meat was eaten by bears. Would love to see a break down video of expenses and planning. Thanks for sharing, God bless

I am planning a hunt to AK. I have never been there Before. In watching this I am very impressed with the set up and what they did for you at the Drop camp. Would you be willing to share the info. with me and contact info to help me plan and get a hunt like this for me and my son? Thank you Wonderful video and the truth of the hunt, and the fun, and the adventure and realness of it was truly one of the best DIY hunts that I have seen to date. This video truly gave me hope. I like your comment at the beginning about it being daunting but really not that bad. I am at the 'Daunting stage' currently and this video gave me hope! Thank again.

Some day, maybe 🤔

Awesome documentary of you guys Hunt . Congratulations on your success, to bad for the bear getting your meat. Great Memories Made ! What sunglasses were you wearing there ? Keep on keeping on and Stay Safe !

I have a booked caribou hunt this September. A couple questions for if you wouldn’t mind answering. Is there anything you would, do different. I am also going with attic air. Would you recommend there rental package, or bring your own camping gear. We are like you and are back country hunter have ultra lite tents and mini wood stoves. Is there enough wood to have a fire in a micro stove in a tent. If you would do it a again what would advice would you give. Just want to pick your brain appreciate any info. God bless. Thanks

"Double shovels on both sides." I expect/accept excitement. But have you ever thought of editing?😢😂😮

I really enjoyed the video congratulations on the kills

Robert Keen yeah man!

Awesome! Well done I did this exact hunt in 2020 we literally set camp up in same spot you guys did we saw 9 bears luckily the closest one was 700 yards from camp

I loved the video. I would love to know more specifics about cost and travel in Alaska and camp cost and all.

Thanks Tom for the video. Lots of good tidbits in there. My son and three others are going up for the same hunt with Artic Air this fall. Couple questions. 1) Did you guys go in with bear spray and side arms in addition to the rifle and bow? If you didn't take a side arm and spray post hunt did you want to have them ? 2) Whats your thoughts on a bear fence/electric at least for the meat ? Thanks sir. John

Curious what you used for filming. Looked like a handheld camcorder and cell phone. Let me know. I’m heading there soon. 👍 Congrats on the hunt and thanks for sharing.

Great video but the mine been there since 80s had nothing to do with the change of migration warmer weather has 75 percent I believe but they are caribou the most wondering animal thee is....caribou have always crossed the road they jus changed migration and it’s gotten way warmer lastly 12 years or so

Beautiful background. Right?

Enjoyed video can I get you answer a couple of questions would you bring some kind of alert system for meat and did Shelia weight you and your gear separately and what did you tip pilot going and coming back and if you were going back whats the one thing you would bring to make your trip even better besides that bear fence I appreciate your wisdom Thanks

What kind of waders did y’all take and how did they perform

Great Video and congrats on the caribou!! Doing this exact trip in 2022. Do you have a shareable gear list? Any advice on boots/wadders and or other gear you would recommend or not recommend? Thanks

Hey guys the video brought back memories from my hunt. I see you stayed at the Korean lady's b&b...I know, we were in the same room! Did you guys go out the front door and order the $45.00 pizza next door? We harvested one during our hunt and hope to make it back out there one day. Who knows? Maybe we'll see you there.

I'm so glad you got a caribou. And I have a question to ask. If you kill and tag a bull and a bear eats it up. Can you shoot another bull for the same tag because of the loss of meat. I liked watching your hunting experience. I don't hunt but I'm sure it would've been an expensive trip with no meat to bring home. Good job on the video footage. But I would've liked to see more videos of the fishing and catch..Enjoy your caribou they're the best meat in the world.

Is there any sort of bear proof storage container ... easy to handle ... easy to transport ... that could have saved your meat? Or ... maybe an electric fence setup? With all the good effort you fellows put into the trip... hope there is a next time ... along with bear planning.

Great video, we have an upcoming hunt with Sheila this year. One question we keep overthinking is waders. Boot on or stocking foot? Any recommendations here would be greatly appreciated.

I'm booked for 2022 with Arctic Air also. I was wondering if you were able to take your packs on as a carry on with Alaska Airlines?

I will be doing the same hunt come September.

Curious, but would've thought being closer to the mountains would give you more options. Any chance at moose or black bear in the area?

Tom could you please share who you booked this hunt with, fly in, etc… it seems like they know what they are doing. Thanks

Sad deal. No bear fence. No noise makers

The “outfitter” should’ve set you up with an electric bear fence.

Gents I noticed two tents. Is that part of the rental for two guys?

I'm headed on this hunt in a few weeks. If you have a gear list and weights would you be willing to share it?

Great hunt guys. Was wondering if you had a weight restriction on the flight out to camp? If so how much was it?

So how did this compare to hunting elk for you two? I’ve hunted caribou wirh my bow one time and killed two bulls. That was enough for me. I’ll take chasing elk any day over caribou. Don’t get me wrong, my caribou hunt was fun, but once was enough. I will NEVER get tired of chasing elk wirh my bow!! On a scale of 1-10 I’ll give a caribou hunt a 4 while chasing elk with a bow is 10!

Loved the video thanks! Im doing this in a year or two. Any advice on best gear to keep your feet dry and warm? I know its pretty wet and squishy out there

What dates did you hunt?

How did the Black Ovis merino and Adak bino case work for u?

Give your bows to someone you dont like and use your rifles

Nice shots, lousy music background. Lyrics are nothing positive... just saying. Dialogue is good. Thank you for the video.

Damn bone arrows are a bunch of bullshit put them in the truck no wonder the Cowboys won as far as the Kali in Bowles

Too bad the camera man doesn’t seem to notice the is a focus feature, along with a zoom on the video camera.

Antlers not horns.... yes it matters. Is a man a woman? A antler is not a horn. We need to stop this bs.

Amazing, Thanks for sharing guys. How much is the average cost per person, and what do you think of doing similar trip with kids 12-14 years old?

That brush looks like wonderful bear cover. Sooo sorry to see the loss of meat o the 1stone.