Crickets, eh? Surely someone out there has killed stuff up here with a crossbow. I think - and people can correct me on this - the rules for crossbow usage up here have changed in recent years, so maybe it's just going to take time?

I'm a pragmatist, with a lot of my hunting up here. The bottom line is meat in the freezer. I am fortunate to have the world's best hunting buddy; we split everything down the middle, irrespective of who pulls the trigger. We live in an area for which any bull with antlers is legal, so we don't have to step on eggshells about whether the antlers meet some size requirement. As such, I typically shoot the first bull that shows himself.

Fall caribou are a bit different. I still want meat. But the area we hunt often offers up closer opportunities, and it's been the norm we get moose a few weeks later, so meat will be there. I've thought of possibly trying to harvest a caribou during the fall season. I was just looking to see if anyone has had any success with things like moose, caribou, or brown bears.

 

Wish I could help more man. It’s on my to do list.

try this. Essentially you need a crossbow education certificate for AK and can hunt During general weapons seasons and in general area’s. Area’s restricted to archery only cannot be hunted with a crossbow unless you have a special use permit crossbows are not allowed shrinking archery season with out special use permit.

Crossbows in Alaska, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Alaska Wildlife News is an online magazine published by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game

www.adfg.alaska.gov

 

Also how cold is it in your area during fall caribou? This may effect you decision. Are there issues with your crossbow in freezing weather? I have had issues with compound bows accumulating snow and ice before. I would assume that most vertical bow hunting to b advice would translate to crossbows as well. You want a big heavy arrow with a coc head for big game like that. If you decide to get it done please let us know how it goes as I am really interested.

 

Hi Jake. My area isn't all that severe for weather. Caribou opens August 1st; it's often quite warm during the days in August (for here anyway - 60s, maybe low 70s), Even later in season, into September, freezing's usually not an issue, though it can get down into the 30s at night. I don't anticipate weather being a factor. Both caribou and moose die pretty easy, once hit. I have zero concerns about a crossbow's effect on a caribou. I believe, based on what I've read, that if I take and pass the state course, I'm good to go. The area I live in... there's no special seasons for different weapons, though we do have seasons that are area residents only, which is pretty sweet for those of us who live here.

Hope you get to scratch your itch, regarding AK. Moving here a long time ago was one of the best decisions I ever made.

 

I crossbow hunted for Brown Bear a few years back and never got a shot. Since then they’ve changed the laws and it’s now darn near impossible for a non-resident to meet the crossbow ED requirement due to the mandatory in-person session. Regulation says they‘ll accept a reciprocal crossbow course from another state, but most other states cover crossbows as part of their bowhuniter ED program. Different if you live in Alaska.

 

Welcome, guys!! I love hunt'n Stones in northern BC, but sorry, I cheat and just pack my quarter bore.....got my first one this past Aug 2nd! And he's a gooder!!!