Going to AK

taylorce1 · January 31, 2007, 09:26 AM

I just bought my tickets to AK yesterday. I'm going on a self guided Black Bear hunt in my in SE Alaska. I'm getting really excited as this will be my first hunting trip to AK. I'm going with some guys who have been going for the last three years so I'm not going in blind at least.

I'm taking my 06 on this trip which kind of leaves me under gunned compared to the guys I'm going with. They are bringing a .416 and two .375 H&H rifles, which kind of leaves my 06 as the little guy. My decision to bring the 06 was based on it being a Rem M700 ADL in a synthetic stock and I'll be hunting costal waters from a boat. I just couldn't bring myself to travel with one of my fancy wood stocked rifles on this kind of hunt in all that salt water, inland would have been a different story though.

I'm waiting for my new scope to come in a Leupold 2.5-8X36 VXIII and I'm going to mount it on new QR bases so if it gets damaged during the trip or hunt I can still use the old irons on the rifle. I've picked up quite a few Partitions in 200 grain over the years so I'm hoping the scope gets here soon so I can start working on load development for this hunt. I probably don't need the 200 grains for black bear but they have been lying around so I decided to use them.

I've ordered some Helle Hansen Impertech rain gear as it is supposed to be raining the whole time I'm there. I'm looking still for some good hip waders so any sugestions would be helpful. Gear is my biggest expense since I've never hunted in this kind of weather, but the whole trip should still run me less than $3000 all together.

Probably the biggest problem I have right now with the hunt is my work. We are working overtime 40-50 hours every two weeks. So I'm having a hard time finding time to work out, or should I say staying motivated to work out. Now they are talking about working Satrudays so that would make it real tough to get any range time in as well but I'm sure I'll figure it out soon.

banditt007 · January 31, 2007, 10:38 AM

i wouldnt feel under gunned at all. Its amazing, you go to AK and all of a sudden the black bears turn into the size of the biggest of grizzlys! wait that dosent happen, yet people feel the urge to bring cannons. i dont understand it. i wouldnt feel the least undergunned with a 30-06, its a black bear! Sounds like a great trip.

hoghunting · January 31, 2007, 10:16 PM

To find the answers that you might have, try this forum:

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/

It is an Alaskan forum and you can find plenty of information.

Fremmer · January 31, 2007, 11:51 PM

I suppose it might be good to have a magnum caliber in case you run into a really big bear. A really big pissed-off bear.

I hear they get pretty big in Alaska.

WeedWacker · February 1, 2007, 01:02 AM

My patented minigun backpack 12 gauge wiull do the trick for a quick escape

But seriously a '06 should be enough for bear. Maybe the psychological knowledge that you are hunting BEAR pops in your head and you see a kodiak or somthing instead of an 600 lb black bear (maybe more like 700 lb's would be more realistic)

stevelyn · February 1, 2007, 09:06 AM

The black bears aren't really that big at all. Actually your .30-06 is about perfect.
Rifle calibers only tend to get bigger the closer you get to Anchorage........or the Lower 48.

You going to be hunting POW?

taylorce1 · February 1, 2007, 10:00 AM

I don't feel undergunned at all. I even asked why they were bringing such big cannons on this hunt? The answer I got was that they had bought the rifles for an African hunt they did a few years back and they have been setting in the safe untill they started doing this AK hunt three years back, and felt like they could put them to use. Most of them hunt with pistol back east where they live because they don't like using shotguns.

Quote:

You going to be hunting POW?

Stevelyn educate me please?

moose fat · February 2, 2007, 03:14 AM

Prince of Wales Island=POW. Exactly which island or city will you begin you Alaskan adventure from?

Maybe somebody on the forum may know or have been there before.

I went to collage in Sitka and lived there for eight years. Was underwater a bit, diving, hunting for Sitka Black Tailed Deer up in the mountains behind Sitka, salmon and halibut fishing.

Bring a rod and reel, during your down time you can throw a line in the water.

Take advantage of your time there.

Don't even think about going near devils club, look but don't touch.

taylorce1 · February 2, 2007, 07:08 PM

Petersburg is the city I'll be near, that is where the plane lands anyway.

stevelyn · February 3, 2007, 09:00 AM

Petersburg is on Mitkof Island and Kupreanof Island is a quick skiff ride away. All of it is part of Tongass Natl. Forest. The whole area is crawling with black bears. I'm sure you'll do well.

Take fishing gear with you too and enjoy your trip.

Vitamin G · February 3, 2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

My decision to bring the 06 was based on it being a Rem M700 ADL in a synthetic stock and I'll be hunting costal waters from a boat.

I'm sorry, that just sounds wrong to me. Hunting from a boat? Might as well take a 22lr. Its not like the bear will charge you.

banditt007 · February 3, 2007, 10:30 AM

Vitamin G, i think he ment taking a boat as transportation to and from the area they will hunt. and that the gun would prob get salt spray/splashs of water on it. Thats how i took it anyway..if he plans on actually hunting from sitting in the boat...unless he is handicapped i'd give it two thumbs down.

WeedWacker · February 3, 2007, 12:09 PM

Sometimes ppl hunt from a canoe. It's not much different than having a blind but in the middle of the water and you cna change position fairly quietly

UniversalFrost · February 3, 2007, 12:43 PM

Yeah, when my dad and I went on a moose hunt many years ago we hunted predominately from a canoe. Funny thing is, after all those days on the water we ended up shooting one while walking from the camp down the trail to the canoe on the second to last day. I was always worried of taking a shot from the side of the canoe instead of a stright forward or rear shot, thinking that the recoil of the .416 rigby would tip us over. Guide said not to worry, but I didn't feel too much confidence is his voice.

Let us know how the hunt went. I am looking yo go back up there in a few years to do some hunting/fishing as well and any advice on the area is helpful.

taylorce1 · February 3, 2007, 02:14 PM

We will not shoot from the boat, we are using it as the main means of transportation. We will use the boat to get from the hunting area from the camp site and if it is calm we might glass from it looking for bears. When it comes down to the actually shooting the bear it will be done from a spot and stalk or a still position. I think shooting from the land will be much easier to get a steady shot from as I don't think the boat we will be using is very big.

HowdyZ_28 · February 4, 2007, 02:17 AM

For those of you up there/been there, what kind of fishing tackle do I need?
I want some big halibut... I'm hoping to be staioned up there in the next year and want to do ALOT of fishing.

Scott

stevelyn · February 4, 2007, 09:03 AM

Vitamin G,

Quite a bit of hunting up here has to be done from a boat due to the amount of coastline and inland waterways. The areas would otherwise be inaccessible.

You can shoot from a boat as long as forward motion has ceased after you chop power. Works okay on the inland waters where you don't have any wave action. I shot my last moose from a flat-bottomed riverboat on a slough off the Yukon River.

However, bobbing around on the ocean trying to get a sight picture is a lost cause. You're better off beaching and stalking once you see the critter.

HowdyZ_28

You have a PM.

January 31, 2007, 09:26 AM	#1
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,248	Going to AK I just bought my tickets to AK yesterday. I'm going on a self guided Black Bear hunt in my in SE Alaska. I'm getting really excited as this will be my first hunting trip to AK. I'm going with some guys who have been going for the last three years so I'm not going in blind at least. I'm taking my 06 on this trip which kind of leaves me under gunned compared to the guys I'm going with. They are bringing a .416 and two .375 H&H rifles, which kind of leaves my 06 as the little guy. My decision to bring the 06 was based on it being a Rem M700 ADL in a synthetic stock and I'll be hunting costal waters from a boat. I just couldn't bring myself to travel with one of my fancy wood stocked rifles on this kind of hunt in all that salt water, inland would have been a different story though. I'm waiting for my new scope to come in a Leupold 2.5-8X36 VXIII and I'm going to mount it on new QR bases so if it gets damaged during the trip or hunt I can still use the old irons on the rifle. I've picked up quite a few Partitions in 200 grain over the years so I'm hoping the scope gets here soon so I can start working on load development for this hunt. I probably don't need the 200 grains for black bear but they have been lying around so I decided to use them. I've ordered some Helle Hansen Impertech rain gear as it is supposed to be raining the whole time I'm there. I'm looking still for some good hip waders so any sugestions would be helpful. Gear is my biggest expense since I've never hunted in this kind of weather, but the whole trip should still run me less than $3000 all together. Probably the biggest problem I have right now with the hunt is my work. We are working overtime 40-50 hours every two weeks. So I'm having a hard time finding time to work out, or should I say staying motivated to work out. Now they are talking about working Satrudays so that would make it real tough to get any range time in as well but I'm sure I'll figure it out soon. Last edited by taylorce1; January 31, 2007 at 12:40 PM.

February 1, 2007, 01:02 AM	#5
WeedWacker Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2006 Location: Body: Clarkston, Washington. Soul: LaCrosse, Wisconsin Posts: 1,591	My patented minigun backpack 12 gauge wiull do the trick for a quick escape But seriously a '06 should be enough for bear. Maybe the psychological knowledge that you are hunting BEAR pops in your head and you see a kodiak or somthing instead of an 600 lb black bear (maybe more like 700 lb's would be more realistic) __________________ - Jon Disequilibrium facilitates accommodation. 9mm vs .45 ACP? The answer is .429

February 1, 2007, 09:06 AM	#6
stevelyn Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell Posts: 2,655	The black bears aren't really that big at all. Actually your .30-06 is about perfect. Rifle calibers only tend to get bigger the closer you get to Anchorage........or the Lower 48. You going to be hunting POW? __________________ Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets! http://fastersaveslives.org/ East Moose. Wear Wolf.

February 3, 2007, 09:00 AM	#10
stevelyn Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell Posts: 2,655	Petersburg is on Mitkof Island and Kupreanof Island is a quick skiff ride away. All of it is part of Tongass Natl. Forest. The whole area is crawling with black bears. I'm sure you'll do well. Take fishing gear with you too and enjoy your trip. __________________ Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets! http://fastersaveslives.org/ East Moose. Wear Wolf.

February 3, 2007, 12:09 PM	#13
WeedWacker Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2006 Location: Body: Clarkston, Washington. Soul: LaCrosse, Wisconsin Posts: 1,591	Sometimes ppl hunt from a canoe. It's not much different than having a blind but in the middle of the water and you cna change position fairly quietly __________________ - Jon Disequilibrium facilitates accommodation. 9mm vs .45 ACP? The answer is .429

January 31, 2007, 10:38 AM	#2
banditt007 Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2006 Posts: 694	i wouldnt feel under gunned at all. Its amazing, you go to AK and all of a sudden the black bears turn into the size of the biggest of grizzlys! wait that dosent happen, yet people feel the urge to bring cannons. i dont understand it. i wouldnt feel the least undergunned with a 30-06, its a black bear! Sounds like a great trip.

January 31, 2007, 10:16 PM	#3
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 1,559	To find the answers that you might have, try this forum: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/ It is an Alaskan forum and you can find plenty of information.

January 31, 2007, 11:51 PM	#4
Fremmer Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2005 Location: Nebraska Posts: 3,482	I suppose it might be good to have a magnum caliber in case you run into a really big bear. A really big pissed-off bear. I hear they get pretty big in Alaska.

February 2, 2007, 03:14 AM	#8
moose fat Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2006 Location: Alaska, Yukon R. delta Posts: 421	Prince of Wales Island=POW. Exactly which island or city will you begin you Alaskan adventure from? Maybe somebody on the forum may know or have been there before. I went to collage in Sitka and lived there for eight years. Was underwater a bit, diving, hunting for Sitka Black Tailed Deer up in the mountains behind Sitka, salmon and halibut fishing. Bring a rod and reel, during your down time you can throw a line in the water. Take advantage of your time there. Don't even think about going near devils club, look but don't touch.

February 2, 2007, 07:08 PM	#9
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,248	Petersburg is the city I'll be near, that is where the plane lands anyway.

February 3, 2007, 10:30 AM	#12
banditt007 Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2006 Posts: 694	Vitamin G, i think he ment taking a boat as transportation to and from the area they will hunt. and that the gun would prob get salt spray/splashs of water on it. Thats how i took it anyway..if he plans on actually hunting from sitting in the boat...unless he is handicapped i'd give it two thumbs down.

February 3, 2007, 12:43 PM	#14
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	Yeah, when my dad and I went on a moose hunt many years ago we hunted predominately from a canoe. Funny thing is, after all those days on the water we ended up shooting one while walking from the camp down the trail to the canoe on the second to last day. I was always worried of taking a shot from the side of the canoe instead of a stright forward or rear shot, thinking that the recoil of the .416 rigby would tip us over. Guide said not to worry, but I didn't feel too much confidence is his voice. Let us know how the hunt went. I am looking yo go back up there in a few years to do some hunting/fishing as well and any advice on the area is helpful. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

February 3, 2007, 02:14 PM	#15
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,248	We will not shoot from the boat, we are using it as the main means of transportation. We will use the boat to get from the hunting area from the camp site and if it is calm we might glass from it looking for bears. When it comes down to the actually shooting the bear it will be done from a spot and stalk or a still position. I think shooting from the land will be much easier to get a steady shot from as I don't think the boat we will be using is very big.

February 4, 2007, 02:17 AM	#16
HowdyZ_28 Junior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Posts: 13	For those of you up there/been there, what kind of fishing tackle do I need? I want some big halibut... I'm hoping to be staioned up there in the next year and want to do ALOT of fishing. Scott

February 4, 2007, 09:03 AM	#17
stevelyn Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell Posts: 2,655	Vitamin G, Quite a bit of hunting up here has to be done from a boat due to the amount of coastline and inland waterways. The areas would otherwise be inaccessible. You can shoot from a boat as long as forward motion has ceased after you chop power. Works okay on the inland waters where you don't have any wave action. I shot my last moose from a flat-bottomed riverboat on a slough off the Yukon River. However, bobbing around on the ocean trying to get a sight picture is a lost cause. You're better off beaching and stalking once you see the critter. HowdyZ_28 You have a PM. __________________ Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets! http://fastersaveslives.org/ East Moose. Wear Wolf. Last edited by stevelyn; February 5, 2007 at 01:06 AM.