Originally Posted by
hunters_life
Many many outfitters and guides in both Canada and Alaska can get you on Caribou for much less than 8-12k. Travel costs are what gets you. Bush pilots aren't cheap. At least not the ones I would want to fly with anyway. I usually get away with spending around around 4-5k in total but I go drop in. I don't use a guide. Just the knowledge of the pilots and guides around letting me know the best place to run across the migration at that time of year. A guide or outfitter may put you over that cost some but not a whole lot. Just make sure you do your due diligence and get referrals for every outfitter/guide you are considering. And contact them. Don't just take the word of the outfitter/guide.
Do you have a list of outfitters who charge less than $8,000? I know of no quality outfitters in Canada who charge less than that. Alaska, perhaps, but like you say then you have all the added expenses with the bush pilots, etc.... Everyone in Alaska has their hand out wanting money for anything and everything. You can get all inclusive hunts in Canada with no surprises....An Alaskan hunt could easily end up costing more than a guided hunt in Canada when it's all said and done.
The only place you can hunt caribou without an outfitter is Alaska.
Cost varies according to subspecies as well..Mountain Caribou can be pricey, but generally speaking they don't migrate so a person should have an opportunity at one.
CBGC (Nunavut and Northern Manitoba) are a little less. Migration into Manitoba has been hit or miss lately, but you can kill two bulls in either place.
Newfoundland for Woodland Caribou is an option, but it's not easy to get to and it's not cheap either.
Quebec is out unless they change their laws....