Author Topic: The Haul Road. (Read 912 times)

Daveinthebush · « **on:** January 19, 2004, 05:08:05 PM »

-----For those of you in the lower 48 the haul road is the road from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay, aka the Dalton Hwy.-----

Has anyone out there hunted the Haul Road in August for caribou and if so how was it?

akpls · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2004, 07:47:58 AM »

I believe all of the Dalton north of the Yukon River is in the "Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area". All hunting is by bow and arrow only. The corridor extends 5 miles on both sides of the highway. The caribou could be almost anywhere during that time and the weather can start to get nasty the farther north you go. My experience is not based on hunting there, but is from work related (surveying) trips.

lilbiggun · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2004, 04:06:33 PM »

Last August was great from hunting the road. Alot of nice antlers were turned into the shop were my wife works. More than past years. I dont know if was because of the floods or what but something pushed the bou closer to the road. I've never hunted it, I dont bowhunt.

poordave · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2004, 05:24:41 AM »

Hi Dave.
2nd week of Aug. 2001
5 days - camped at Happy Valley usual weather cloudy light rain most of the time. Last day snow light to heavy especially the closer you get to Antigun Pass. Roads wet no problem. Light clothing but you always take heavier gear. The rain was nice because the black fly's don't eat in the rain. Intestinal fortitude or bug hood. Mosquitos-not many. Caribou. Quote from trooper-"Worst year he saw for Caribou". We saw some cows but my son & his friend stalked 2 good ones he zigged they zagged. I saw several hundred on both sides of the Sag River but they were miles away & our time was up. The 1/4 mile rule hindered an ok bull for a visitor. The bull laid down for 2 hrs at 350 yds from the road. They were yelling to get the caribou to git from 15 yds & finally when he got up he ran straight down the illegal line.
2003-My son's solo trip. 1st week of Aug. 2 day trip. 30-50-80 degrees- very foggy, dry to freezing rain. Blew a couple shots on a P&Y-didn't take his dad's range finders, the 1 time that he didn't borrow them for the hunting season. When the fog opened up on occasion there were quite a few caribou. Not many bugs.
2nd week 4days, my son went back with a friend. Cloudy very windy & feezing rain a few mosquito's Caribou close to roads. Several stalks made on good ones but no dice. On the last day he took an ok bull at 62 yds measured with the MY range finders. Usually he doesn't shoot over 40 & told me it was a stupid shot (desperation shot?) 2 or 3 years ago he took 1st place compound bow divison Alaska state shoot still no reason ..
Distance from my place (Kenai) to Deadhorse driving around & back 2222 miles-Gas 123 gallons. Anchorage $1.38-- Fairbanks $1.46----Coldfoot $2.30---Deadhorse $2.20.
Driving time. Kenai to Fairbanks 654m 12hrs or so. Fairbanks to Yukon Bridge3 1/2 hrs 136 miles. Good place to sleep. Mosquitos were mad as the windows were shut but they made up for it on the way to the head. Haul rd 425 M . Paved in spots, drive time depends on roads-picture taking-at least 1 roll at Atigun Pass.
GPS numbers. Yukon Bridge 65 52.78 149 42.76
Pump sta #2 MP 104.4-- 68 50.56 148 49.35 ---Happy Valley 69 08.94 148 50.24 Deadhorse 70 12.96 148 24.09 Long winded but hopefully correct. Dave

Roggie L Hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2004, 07:39:37 PM »

Last August, several of the soldiers from Fort Wainwright went up the Dalton and hiked the five miles from the road to use their guns. Most got Caribou, and one got a Grizzly. They loaded the meat into Okios (the sled things they drag in snow) they drug them across the grass with little problems. They used a GPS to assure they were the five miles from the road. But you got to remember these are Infentry troops and they are used to long hikes. Five miles to them is not a bad hike.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2004, 07:46:58 PM »

I was in the army too. But I don't think that I can't walk as far as I could 33 years ago.

I think I will invite a few GI's with me and I will be the gun bearer.

Sourdough · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2004, 11:26:38 AM »

Read in the paper today that Senator Seekins has a proposal in to loosen the restrictions in the Dalton Highway Corridor. Like to allow the use of snowmachines, after sufficiant ground cover (snow) is availiable.