Author Topic: Its Official, Im headed to Alaska for black bear (Read 9742 times)

saylean · « **on:** August 08, 2015, 04:44:08 PM »

Got an invite from a life long buddy of mine...headed very soon to Alaska for black bear action, spot and stalk for basically the cost of the tag and flight. While not my first choice of what to hunt while in Alaska (caribou....at least until I can afford a grizzly) I am still very excited as this will be my first time ever to the great state. Regardless of success, seeing it will be enough for me. Getting a bush plane ride, dropped off and out for a few days....I am thinking about all I will need...and in a short time...

Any sage advice from out of state hunters would be great. I am bringing my rifle and a hand gun. I will be outside of Wasilla. Looking forward to it! Most of what I need will already be provided as far as camp goes...I need to figure out if I should bring my muck boots or my standard hunting boots...really just thinking out loud....and wanted to share. I will post pics when I get back of course.

PS...you KNOW I am buying a wolf tag!

MountainWalk · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2015, 05:27:49 PM »

Was gonna mention the wolfie tag.. have a blast. AK is fun.

Machias · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2015, 01:41:08 PM »

Have fun, lots of photos!!!

Good luck!

Turner89 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2015, 02:05:59 PM »

Sounds awesome

on the pictures.

Wea300mag · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2015, 04:27:33 PM »

Sweet, good luck!!!

bugs n bones · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2015, 05:13:06 PM »

My dream as well....have a great time and take lots of photos

MLBowhunting · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2015, 06:39:30 PM »

Bring both pair of boots.

WAnoob · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2015, 07:13:24 PM »

I was born and raised in Eagle River, Alaska for 25 years. Any specific questions you have about hunting up there feel free to ask.

Randy,

saylean · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2015, 09:36:21 PM »

Thanks Randy. I am expecting a phone call soon from the guy flying me in there, so I will have lots of questions for him. Thanks to everyone else too for the good luck wishes. I am not sure quiet what to expect as far as terrain....whether it will be willows, timber, etc. I plan on bringing my coyote howler to try to call in a wolf. I will bring my predator call, but am not sure if I will have the manliness to use it due to the grizzlies around. Hopefully I can have a better idea in the coming days, so I can explore it on google earth a bit.

Bob33 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2015, 09:43:27 PM »

What a great opportunity. Best wishes. I look forward to your story.

KenPCPilot · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2015, 09:58:38 PM »

cool. Yeah Alaska is an amazing place. POW Island is a very cool place to hang out.

j_h_nimrod · « **Reply #11 on:** August 11, 2015, 10:13:28 PM »

You will likely be on rivers or creeks, I would bring the Muck boots at the least or hip boots or waterproof breathable waders if you have them. I will be guiding for blackies on POW at the end of the month and my Simms are indispensable. Otherwise, make sure you have plenty of bug spray and your normal hunting kit depending on what your buddy recommends. Chances of seeing grizz are good but nothing to really worry about. If I remember, regs around Wasilla allow residents to harvest two brown bears. Need a guide and lots of $$$ unless you are hunting with direct relations though.

saylean · « **Reply #12 on:** September 02, 2015, 08:27:30 PM »

Final preparations are coming to an end shortly....

Double checking gear, clothing, rifle, etc...

Regardless of the outcome, to be able to see Alaskan bush country will be such a blessing. I am greatly looking forward to this. I hope to see some northern lights too....

Netminder01 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2015, 08:31:48 PM »

tag for the upcoming stories & pics

saylean · « **Reply #14 on:** September 13, 2015, 08:49:18 AM »

Success.....

more to come ....

saylean · « **Reply #15 on:** September 13, 2015, 01:41:38 PM »

I love Alaska. I am truly 100% jealous of people who live up there. I had a very short window to make it happen up there (literally a day and a morning to hunt), I was hunting a unit that generally has 15% success for out of state black bear hunters. Timing was everything on this trip and it worked out amazingly. I will keep this short for personal reasons. Long story short, I flew into the area, saw 3 bears but could not hunt due to regulations of "same day fly". One was digging in shale for pika, absolute HOG. All were within a mile of camp.

Next morning, I called in a sow and 3 cubs from 500 yards out to about 60. Hunted much of that day, saw a few more. Went back to camp, spotted one outside of camp and hustled up to a rocky knob and started to call while my buddy photographer got set up for pics. This bear was about 500 yards out too. I called with a RRCALLS (once again, Rick does amazing work). Bear commits and starts down to us. Then another bear pops out just above where that one went down. So now two bears are coming in. I glance to the right and ANOTHER bear is runnin at me at about 100 yards out from the creek bottom. Three bears, one set. It slows down, changes direction trying to wind us and walks up to me at 30 yards. I pop it in the skull as I am above it on a rock outcropping, piles up right there, not even 100 yards from camp.
7 bears called in, in one day, and one set was a triple. Incredible.

There is much more to this with many more pics, but that's for another project.
I am so blessed to have had such great hospitality, share it with a life long friend, spend what little time I was able to in Alaska and come out both successful and unharmed.
I am invited back anytime and you can bet I will be returning ASAP. When I was getting the hide and skull sealed, I got to check out a nice grizzly getting sealed too...archery kill at ground level. Died in 6 yards.

Bear was an old sow (dry, no cubs), teeth were worn nicely and was missing some claws, about 17.5 in skull, 5'7 nose to tail. Wish I would have had more time, but I am sure even if I had a week, I would say the same. Pics are of the momma and cubs I called in early morning, the creek I drank out of, one as the bear lay and general area and view from plane.

Taco280AI · « **Reply #16 on:** September 13, 2015, 01:47:58 PM »

Nice pics, hope to make it up to AK sometime

Mark251 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 13, 2015, 03:06:27 PM »

Great pics! Congratulations

jasnt · « **Reply #18 on:** September 13, 2015, 08:24:37 PM »

That what dreams are made of!

sounds like a blast.

tgomez · « **Reply #19 on:** September 15, 2015, 07:46:28 AM »

Nice sow, always wanted to go to Alaska myself. Im sooooooooo jealous!

Thanks for sharing the story and picks. Was this your first trip to Alaska?

seth30 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 15, 2015, 07:57:48 AM »

That is awesome!

saylean · « **Reply #21 on:** September 15, 2015, 12:54:24 PM »

Quote from: tgomez on September 15, 2015, 07:46:28 AM

Nice sow, always wanted to go to Alaska myself. Im sooooooooo jealous! Thanks for sharing the story and picks. Was this your first trip to Alaska?

Yes, but not my last. Think I'm going for moose and bear next year.

tgomez · « **Reply #22 on:** September 17, 2015, 12:15:53 PM »

Nice, hope you tag out on both. Saving up to send my father to Alaska, he has always dreamed of going on a hunt their. I figure it's the least I can do for him teaching me so much about hunting and the great outdoors! Anyways, good luck and congradulations on the Alaskan black bear.

WAnoob · « **Reply #23 on:** September 29, 2015, 01:05:48 PM »

Quote from: saylean on September 13, 2015, 01:41:38 PM

I love Alaska. I am truly 100% jealous of people who live up there. I had a very short window to make it happen up there (literally a day and a morning to hunt), I was hunting a unit that generally has 15% success for out of state black bear hunters. Timing was everything on this trip and it worked out amazingly. I will keep this short for personal reasons. Long story short, I flew into the area, saw 3 bears but could not hunt due to regulations of "same day fly". One was digging in shale for pika, absolute HOG. All were within a mile of camp.

Next morning, I called in a sow and 3 cubs from 500 yards out to about 60. Hunted much of that day, saw a few more. Went back to camp, spotted one outside of camp and hustled up to a rocky knob and started to call while my buddy photographer got set up for pics. This bear was about 500 yards out too. I called with a RRCALLS (once again, Rick does amazing work). Bear commits and starts down to us. Then another bear pops out just above where that one went down. So now two bears are coming in. I glance to the right and ANOTHER bear is runnin at me at about 100 yards out from the creek bottom. Three bears, one set. It slows down, changes direction trying to wind us and walks up to me at 30 yards. I pop it in the skull as I am above it on a rock outcropping, piles up right there, not even 100 yards from camp.
7 bears called in, in one day, and one set was a triple. Incredible.

There is much more to this with many more pics, but that's for another project.
I am so blessed to have had such great hospitality, share it with a life long friend, spend what little time I was able to in Alaska and come out both successful and unharmed.
I am invited back anytime and you can bet I will be returning ASAP. When I was getting the hide and skull sealed, I got to check out a nice grizzly getting sealed too...archery kill at ground level. Died in 6 yards.

Bear was an old sow (dry, no cubs), teeth were worn nicely and was missing some claws, about 17.5 in skull, 5'7 nose to tail. Wish I would have had more time, but I am sure even if I had a week, I would say the same. Pics are of the momma and cubs I called in early morning, the creek I drank out of, one as the bear lay and general area and view from plane.

Congrats on your Harvest, glad you enjoyed Alaska. I can say I do miss it but not the winters so much. Shoot me a PM if you have any questions about moose hunting, I may and actually try to go moose hunting myself next fall up there. Assuming my hunting partner stays committed.

Randy

Turner89 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 05, 2015, 06:21:05 PM »

I bet calling them, and having 3 different bears comming in was pretty cool

saylean · « **Reply #25 on:** October 07, 2015, 02:47:16 PM »

Quote from: Turner89 on October 05, 2015, 06:21:05 PM

I bet calling them, and having 3 different bears comming in was pretty cool

It was crazy cool.

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Author Topic: Its Official, Im headed to Alaska for black bear (Read 9742 times)

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