Alaska Wildlife Photography Trips | Master Guide Smokey Don Duncan

Alaska Wildlife Photography Trips Alaska Private Guide Service Smokey Don Duncan, Master Guide #136
Brown Bear \| Moose \| Grizzly Bear \| Black Bear \| Wolf \| Caribou \| Fishing \| Waterfowl \| Photography Trips \| Snow Adventures

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Alaska Wildlife Photography Trip Information

For the last 15 years, we have watched the moose and bears during their prime viewing times. Our past experience give us the knowledge of when and where the best chances for photo opportunities. The three trips offered below take place at their best viewing times, and each trip allows you to catch other native species in their natural environment.

The brown bear and moose photography trips takes place on the Nushagak River, 300 miles west of Anchorage, near the village of Koliganek (approximately 22 miles away). Koliganek is 90 air miles north of Dillingham, a busy commercial fishing port and the major start point for bush travel, sport fisherman and hunters. Dillingham is the hub for air travel in Southwest Alaska and is about 350 air miles from Anchorage. Most of you will fly directly from Anchorage to Koliganek for $620 round trip.

For the trip, we will camp in a River-ine environment made up of spruce, birch, cottonwood, alder willow, high and low cranberry bushes, fireweed,artic cotton, wild flowers, and many other flora. The river corridor has many channels, which are bounded on the outside by sloughs and open tundra. There are mountains in the distance with some visible from camp, and others accessible by jet boat.

Brown Bear Photography Trips

During the summer, the salmon run up the river, first the kings, then the reds, and then the silvers. Toward the end of July, the Kings have spawned and begin to seek shelter from the current in the back eddies, slow-moving sloughs, and the inside turn of long gravel bars (like the one the APGS camp is located on). The bears, both big boars and sows with cubs, congregate at these prime spots to feed and lay on the winter fat. On average, 6 bears live on the island my camp is on and many more feed a short boat ride away.

The long daylight hours of the midnight sun means long opportunities to film the bears during prime feeding hours. Since the breeding season is over and there is an abundance of food, the sows with cubs can frequently be seen in close proximity to the big boars. The bears do not seem to be bothered by human presence during this period as is the case in other areas and different seasons.

When I first set up camp on the island, bears would use our boats to fish from the higher deck and usually didn’t damage anything. I have left camp for days with the cook door open and returned to find nothing disturbed. Bears are unpredictable though, so it’s important to hire a guide familiar with bear behavior in the specific area.

The riverside base camp, K1, is professionally outfitted with all the comforts you should need, including a generator to recharge your camera batteries. The steel framed tents are covered with weatherproof fabric and have wood floors, comfortable cots with thick pads, lights and a wood stove. The camp also carries radio for emergency communication to the village; satellite phones can be rented in camp if you need to stay in touch. The trip also utilizes jet boats equipped with both jet motors and trolling motors for silent running. The boats provide enough flexibility to travel the back sloughs that are seldom disturbed by fishing traffic.

The Brown Bear photography is best from July 20—August 30. There may be some flexibility around the start date of the trip, please contact Alaska Private Guide Service for more information. Other film and photo opportunities exist to capture waterfowl, moose, river otters, caribou, bald and golden eagles, osprey, beavers, sea gulls, spawning salmon, and scenery from the mountains to the expansive tundra lands and flora. Also, don’t forget the world-class fishing available at the K1 base camp! -- top

Moose Photography Trips

By mid-September the big Alaska Yukon Bull Moose are in rut. The big bulls are challenging one another for the right to breed with the cow moose. Their antlers are smashing together, and they call to one another throughout the night. During this mating season, the moose tend to lose their fear of humans and for the most part, the brown bears keep clear of the bulls.

The nights are longer in the fall, and the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) can be seen on most clear nights. The leaves and the tundra are in full fall color. Usually there are large movements of caribou through the area as an added film opportunity. There are also plenty of wildlife available to photograph, including waterfowl, river otters, bald and golden eagles, osprey, beavers, sea gulls, salmon, and the beautiful scenery of the mountains, tundra lands, and tundra flora as they experience the fall color change.

During the course of the trip, you will stay at the fully outfitted Alaska Private Guide Service base camp, K1. K1 is professionally outfitted with all the comforts you should need, including a generator to recharge your camera batteries. The steel framed tents are covered with weatherproof fabric and have wood floors, comfortable cots with thick pads, lights and a wood stove. There is also a shower and privy available. The camp also carries radio for emergency communication to the village; satellite phones can be rented in camp if you need to stay in touch. The trip also utilizes jet boats equipped with both jet motors and trolling motors for silent running. The boats provide enough flexibility to travel the back sloughs that are seldom disturbed by fishing traffic. -- top

Photo Trip Prices

Moose or Bear Trips				Special Family Rate
# of Guides	1	1	1	1
# of Photographers	1	2	4	2
Price per Person	$5,000	$3,700	$2,700	$3,500

Licenses

Fishing licenses

	Non-resident	Non-resident Alien
Hunting License	$85.00	$300.00
Fishing (7 days)	$55.00	$55.00
Fishing (14 days)	$80.00	$80.00
Fishing Year Round	$145.00	$145.00

King Salmon Stamps

1 Day	$10
3 Day	$20
7 Day	$30
14 Day	$50

Licenses can be sold by mail or in camp. -- top

Travel Information

Each trip is priced from Anchorage and lasts a week. You will arrange a flight into Anchorage to arrive Saturday night (or earlier if you are interested in spending a few days in Anchorage). We provide a list of hotels and motels near the airport for your convenience.

On Sunday morning at approximately 10 am, you will fly from Anchorage to Koliganek using one of our arranged charter planes. This flight lasts approximately 1.5 hours. The Alaska Private Guide Service will meet you in Koliganek and take you on to the lodge or camp by either boat or plane (as appropriate). On your return trip the following Sunday, you will take the charter plane back to Anchorage and arrive around 3 pm. If you choose to leave that day, please arrange for an evening flight to return to your home.

*If you arrange for your own flight to Dillingham and then to Koliganek, you may deduct $440 off the price of the trip. Please plan to arrive at Koliganek at noon. -- top

Smokey Don Duncan, Owner, Master Guide #136 and P.H.
Wayne Gregory A.G., Fishing and Waterfowl Guide
299 Alvin St. Fairbanks AK 99712
Phone: 907-457-8318 Email: apgs@gci.net

Alaska Wildlife Photography Trips Alaska Private Guide Service Smokey Don Duncan, Master Guide #136