Nearly all of Peterson’s Bristol Bay Outfitters guided hunts take place in Federally Permited Guide Use Areas. What this means to you as a clients is that we have the exclusive permit to guide hunters in these areas.
Brooks Range
We have two exclusive guide areas in the Northeast corner of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), often called the last great wilderness remaining in North America. The area is 100 miles by 60 miles. ANWR is excellent sheep habitat as well as home to healthy grizzly and moose populations. It is also seasonal backyard for the Porcupine caribou herd. The major valleys have thin stands of spruce and willow below 2700 foot elevation, above, to 7000 foot
peaks, mostly rock and tundra sheep meadows. The sheep inhabit a fairly small home range and the grizzly and moose move around quite a bit. The caribou are the real gypsies. They calve on the north slope of the Brooks in June and gradually migrate south and east during July, August, and September, ending up in October mostly in the Yukon Territory for the remainder of the winter.
The Brooks Range generally has the best weather in the state, with temperatures averaging 55F in the early season, and 40 in the late season. Snow starts at the higher elevations in September. Snow can occasionally hinder sheep hunting in early September, but it always melts in a day or two. After September 15, it usually sticks at higher elevations and as a result, I rarely book this time for sheep. Most hunts involve packing into spike camps so it helps to be in good shape. A raft hunt for sheep and/or grizzly is very exciting and includes excellent arctic char fishing.
Bristol Bay
Peterson’s Bristol Bay Outfitters exclusive guide area in Southwest Alaska (Bristol Bay) is located in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR). The area covers over 3000 square miles. The central section of the TNWR is exclusive to John and he is limited to 6 brown bear clients per year. The Refuge is mostly open tundra with alder brush and some birch along the rivers. Both areas receive large runs of salmon, which is the main source of food for the large brown bear population. Although currently there is no moose season in the Togiak Refuge, the herd is increasing and a season for nonresidents is likely in the future.