Caribou herds are prone to huge cycles of up and down periods. A herd may go from twenty thousand animals to over a hundred thousand animals in as little as ten years or so.

The Mulchtana herd grew rapidly in the late eighties and nineties, and seemed to peak about four or five years ago. It has been moving in a downward trend ever since. It has also changed some of its typical migration routes, etc.

The days of hitting the Mulchatna caribou from the Kenai Pennisula appear to be over, at least for a while. They are still having good luck over in Bethel which is why I recommended going after them on the west side.