In most states, choosing between a guided and a DIY hunt is about budget and experience. In Alaska, the law makes part of the decision for you. And for the hunts where you do have a choice, the country, the weather and the size of the animals make it one of the biggest decisions of the trip.

First: what the law requires

Species	U.S. citizen nonresident	Nonresident alien
Brown/grizzly bear	Guide or resident relative required	Guide required
Dall sheep	Guide or resident relative required	Guide required
Mountain goat	Guide or resident relative required	Guide required
Moose, caribou, black bear, deer	Guide optional	Guide required

A “resident relative” means an Alaska resident 19 or older, holding a current Alaska hunting license, within the second degree of kindred. Read the full guide requirement.

The three options at a glance

	DIY (road system or boat)	Transporter drop-off	Fully guided
Who finds the animals	You	You	Your guide
Getting in and out	You drive, hike, boat or float	Air taxi or transporter flies or boats you in and picks you up	Guide handles it
Camp and gear	You bring everything	You bring everything; some rent rafts or camps	Guide provides camp, food and gear
Meat and trophy care	You	You, until pickup	Guide
Typical cost beyond tags	Lowest	Middle, mostly flights	Highest, often $25,000–$40,000
Legal for bear, sheep, goat?	Only with a resident relative	Only with a resident relative	Yes

DIY: hunting on your own

DIY in Alaska usually means hunting off the road system, by boat, or on foot from a highway like the Dalton, Denali or Richardson. Southeast deer hunters often go by boat or ferry and hunt the beaches and alpine.

Pros: It’s the cheapest way to hunt Alaska. You set your own schedule.

Cons: Areas near roads get crowded, many are closed to nonresidents or limited, and some require hunter education. A moose can weigh well over 1,000 pounds, so packing one out on foot is a huge job.

DIY works best for: caribou along the haul road, Sitka blacktails, black bear, and residents or experienced hunters who know the area.

Transporter drop-off: the classic Alaska DIY hunt

A transporter flies you to a remote lake, strip or river, drops you and your gear, and picks you up on a set day. Some offer float hunts, where you raft downriver to a pickup point. Transporters provide transport, not guiding. They can’t hunt with you.

Pros: You get into remote country with far fewer hunters. Costs much less than a guided hunt. Great for moose and caribou.

Cons: You’re on your own in wilderness, often with grizzlies around. Weather can delay a pickup by days. Meat care in warm early-season weather is hard work. If you shoot a moose a mile from the strip, you’re carrying it.

Ask a transporter before you book:

• Which units and areas do you fly to, and are they open to nonresidents?
• How many other hunters do you put in the same area?
• What are the weight limits, and what does an extra meat flight cost?
• What happens if weather delays pickup?
• Do you rent rafts, tents, satellite communicators or meat-care gear?
• What success have past clients had there?

Fully guided: required for some, best odds for all

A guide knows the country, provides the camp, glasses up the animals, and handles field care and meat. For brown bear, sheep and goat, a guide is the only option for most nonresidents.

Pros: The highest odds and the safest way to hunt big bears and steep sheep country. Guides register for specific guide use areas, so they know their country well.

Cons: The most expensive option, and good guides book a year or more ahead. Drawing hunts need a guide-client contract before you apply in the fall.

Questions to ask any Alaska guide

1. What is your Alaska guide license number? Check it with the state’s Big Game Commercial Services Board licensing lookup.
2. Which guide use areas and units do you hunt? Then check the seasons and whether it’s a general, registration or drawing hunt.
3. Do I need to apply for a drawing permit? If so, they’ll need to give you a verification code before December 15.
4. How many hunters per guide? 1-on-1 and 2-on-1 hunts cost and feel very different.
5. What were your success and opportunity rates the last few years?
6. What’s included and what costs extra? Charter flights, trophy fees for extra species, meat charters, and trophy shipping.
7. What is your deposit and cancellation policy?
8. Can I talk to past clients? Read reviews, too.

So which should you choose?

• Brown bear, Dall sheep or mountain goat? A guide, unless you have a qualifying resident relative.
• First Alaska hunt for moose or caribou with limited backcountry experience? Go guided, or choose a transporter that offers more support.
• Experienced backcountry hunter after moose or caribou? A transporter drop-off or float hunt.
• On a budget? Sitka blacktails, black bear, or road-system caribou.

Related: How Alaska draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Alaska Hunting Guide · Cost of an Alaska hunt · Alaska hunting seasons

Guide rules are from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s 2026–2027 Alaska Hunting Regulations. Confirm the current rules for your species and unit before you book.