Yukon River has lots of game. Here are a few points you might consider
-Expect to get your moose and (if you want) buy some bear tags as well. We do lots of river hunting up here, it's relaxing and successful.
I see few caribou on river trips however.
-Rivers do present a wide range of shooting situations however, so be aware of this. Some places the river is only 200 yards wide, but often you're looking at 400 yards or more from one shore to the other. You may be able to drift right up to a bull on the shore and drop him from 75 yards, but generally, hunting rivers like the Yukon River means longer shots, not shorter ones. There are often lots of long, open spaces. Be prepared to shoot moose out to 400 yards, or be prepared to pass on many of the moose you see.
-Bring cold weather gear. I mean full blown winter gear; coffee pots with an inch of ice in them in the morning are not uncommon. And the wind on the river can get cold too. While you may be in a T-shirt and shorts at three in the afternoon, it won't last.
-Bring waders and rain gear for packing moose to the boat, or butchering that moose that fell in the water. I've butchered moose in water without waders, and you really don't want to go there.
-Shoot your moose
twice right away. Really, don't be proud. Put one in the boiler to kill him, and one through the front shoulders (immediately!) so he falls right where you want him to. Moose that fall into the Yukon River are usually NOT recovered. Really. Seen it. Spare yourself this.
- Related to above; don't shoot anything (moose, bear etc) that's in a position where it will fall into any fast moving part of the river. Let him take those few extra steps away from the shore and on to land before you hit him. If you're shooting something on a steep slope that ends down at the river, be sure there is a good thicket of trees between the animal and the river, to stop it from tumbling down and then into the water. I've seen animals lost this way as well; shot 75 yards or more up a side hill, and then tumble all the way down into the river and then sploosh! Never to be seen again.
-Keep your meat cool and clean.
-Fishing can be pretty good in this time of year so don't forget your tackle. Maybe treat yourself to some fresh Grayling or Inconnu. Also, someone in your crew may want to bring a shotgun or small game rifle to take some rabbits or grouse. Good eats there as well.
-Rifle reccomendations - whatever your favorite big game rifle is. Since it's your favorite, it's probably the one you're the best shot with and most confident with. I never could see any difference between a moose hit with a .270 or a .375 H&H, as long as their hit properly.
