Where's the nearest, reasonable (animals, access, etc) spot closest to Anchorage to bag a caribou?

Would probably be the Mulchatna herd over near Lake Illiamna. That means flying out though. If you are an Alaska resident and qualify for Tier II, then the Nelchina herd around Glenallen is fairly close (about 3.5 hours drive). There is a registration hunt for the 40 Mile Herd, which would be the closest you could get without getting drawn for the Killey River herd on the Kenai or flying out somewhere. Drive time to where the 40 Mile herd crosses north of Tok would be around 5 or 6 hours.

I have to agree with Alyeska. Those are the closest places. One thing to remeber is that if you do drive up the Highway to Tok, you may need to go offroad 40-60 miles depending on where the herd is and the state's emergency regs.

Hunting here isn't a "just park the truck and hike off into the bush" deal as he has said before. You might start thinking, long weekend, snowmachines or 4 wheelers, maybe a boat, pack all your gear in and out kind of hunt. You never can tell what you are going to get into up here. If you think you can get lost in the lower 48, Alaska is different. There is lower 48 lost, then Alaska lost.

I wouldn't tell anyone not to come, but I will say to make sure you are really prepared. even for a so called Alaska road hunt.

Good luck!

I agree with above. Mulchatna. Drive to Kenai Penn. and then fly out with "outfitter", like Natron Air, etc. Check with visitors center online, which I believe has links to outfitters, Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, taxidermists, and processors like Indian Valley meats or Alaska Sausage in Anchorage. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

Now that I have a Polaris Ranger UV, one has to ask, what is the hunting pressure like up in the Tok herd area?

CUB,
It can get crazy after everyone figures out where they are. Not quite as bad as the Haul Road, but definitely not a wilderness experience.