Need someone to review my plan

[uncoolperson]

I think I have the regs (can someone check me on that?) and some of the logistics worked out.

Late aug/early sept I plan to meet up with my brother who is walking the Pacific Crest Trail (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,26007.msg296848.html) and do the section that makes it's way through the alpine lakes area.

I was thinking I'd try to work this into a high deer hunt scout trip, and bear trip.
I know this isn't the deer section, but a basic deer tag is good for the high hunt right?

Bears, my only experience with them is scary. My only experience cleaning a mammal is helping a friend clean a deer last year.
Anything special to keep in mind?
Should I work out some quick and easy ways out? I ask because my friends deer was just gutted and skinned and left hanging in a garage for a few, would a bear work out hanging out in a pack for a day or better (wow... starting to think of the weight, that could suck).

Now for the morals question, how much meat saved from the bear would make someone not a terrible person?

Deer I've hear grab the back straps and rack and walk off, same with elk... that doesn't sit right.
From alaska, and everyone I knew getting bear was just grab the trophy and walk off.
But, black bear burger was nummy.... So I gotta ask, if I walk up in there and decide I'm in way over my head, would lightening the load some be considered unlawful waste, or even immoral waste?

This was a quick, "hey that could be fun" read the regs for 2 minutes, asking the questions I know nothing about and a few I haven't gotten to looking up completely yet.

[jackelope]

if you kill a bear you need to get all the meat out, at least try your best. you will need to learn to skin it if you want the hide and consider that weight into your plan as well.  i wouldn't leave meat bundled up in your pack for more than however long it takes you to hike out...it needs air circulation. you should string it up in a tree by the quarters in the shade...get as much of it as you can handle in your pack and head out. get to your truck, unload and head back for round 2.  your plan needs to be hike to a destination that you can get out in 1 day and plan to make a couple trips to get your camp, gear and animal out. if you are even considering leaving meat in the woods just to make your hike easier, you need to learn some more and not hunt till you are clear on your responsibilities as an ethical hunter.
whoever told you to "grab the back straps and rack and walk off, same with elk" needs a swift blow to the head with a 2x4.

a modern firearm tag is good for the high hunt in the alpine lakes wilderness.

[Timberstalker]

whoever told you to "grab the back straps and rack and walk off, same with elk" needs a swift blow to the head with a 2x4.

 

[actionshooter]

If I saw anyone wasting game like that, I would have more points for next years drawings..............

[littlebuf]

your being up front with asking the question so i wont blast you. include getting the meat out in your plan, period or dont pull the trigger. this adds a lot more logistics to your plan but if you cant handle it or make it work than dont do the hunt. this is your obligation as a hunter and a sportsman

[stumprat]

If you are not willing to pack it all out. THEN DON"T SHOOT IT!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe you even asked this question.
O.K. I feel better now. If you happen to shoot a bear while your in there. Get the hide off right away. And put the meat in a breathable game bag. Now the most important thing for good bear meat. Get the meat into the nearest creek to cool. Then put it into a dry game bag.

If you only want a bear skull buy one. If you are willing to do the work to get your whole bear out then good luck to you.

[billythekidrock]

I will second littlebuff and not blast you since you asked......but man, you need to get a better plan and to read more in this forum. There are a few good threads on preparing and packing game out of the high country.

You need to be aware and mindful of a lot of things but blowflies and heat are two of the most important if you ask me. Leaving meat in the field because you are over your head is not an option. Empty your pack and leave your belongings and you can get them later.

I am not trying to be mean or rude, but I think you need to forget a highcountry hunt until you have more experience. Hunt and become successful in the lowlands (where you can get help if needed) before you venture up high.

[bucklucky]

Exactly BTKR, Exactly !

[uncoolperson]

okay, thanks... I knew this could be a touchy subject, but figured best to ask than get in over my head or do something stupid.

If the question isn't asked I'm left to assuming, and this isn't something I want to do that about. Never had anyone teach me the ways (though I keep trying to convince people to).

yes I should plan this out, it was a "hey this could be cool" idea this afternoon, fully intended to look into more... probably won't though after looking into it some, I'll just walk with him and pack a fly rod.

Thanks for all the info, I wasn't planning on doing something immoral (which is why I asked, didn't seem right).

[oneezreiter]

I think you did the right thing by asking the question, and am glad that you were willing to find the right answer before getting in trouble.  Well done

[uncoolperson]

I asked a few months ago on this board about getting ahold of some black bear meat, because I wouldn't feel right going by what my assumption was (hunting for a rug). I wanted to make sure I thought it was edible (and it sure was!).

thought I'd add that, maybe calm the waters I stirred up...

I'm sorry, wish there was some good way to explain over the Internet that doing wrong wasn't the intent. I was just trying to think of all the possibilities that might come up...

[littlebuf]

your original idea of doing a high bear hunt would be a blast and well worth the effort it would take to do it right. it just comes down to if you have the will and the time to do it, if now's not the right time don't give up on your idea the hardest work has the greatest rewards. this is especially true in hunting

[billythekidrock]

I don't think you stirred the waters. I think you did the right thing by asking and you are getting honest answers. Even though some replies may be blunt, they are most likely gut reactions to things we have heard or seen and don't like how it reflects on hunters.

The fact you asked is much more respectable then if you went out and killed a bear and posted it and then we found out you wasted meat because you weren't prepared. You would have never heard the end of it.

[bearpaw]

hey uncoolperson,
You did the right thing by asking other responsible hunters and this group on here is not a bunch of slob hunters, they joke around, but they will give you the straight skinny. Whenever you have any questions get on here or even feel free to personal message some of us. You are welcome to contact me anytime you need help.

Just so you know the wildlife officers are real sticky about bringing out all the meat. So it is both ethically important to bring out all the meat and it is a legal requirement.
Good luck, your trip sounds awesome to me, just be prepared.

[uncoolperson]

I figured I'd add one more to my "I'm not really a terrible person" list.

Grew up poor near the kenai, raising chickens. To this day I would almost rather starve than have chicken/eggs/fish.

Usually if I can get the fish out it goes to my wife or my mom and I grab a steak, works out nicely for me. If I don't see me getting the fish out in any worthwhile amount of time (overnight, etc..) I crimp the barbs and send em back. On occasion that one trout gets so messed up I can't stomach the idea of him dying in a lake worthlessly, so I have a lunch/dinner of trout.

really not a horrid person... really...

[littlebuf]

your not a horrid person but you obviously are a  uncoolperson   

[uncoolperson]

yeah, I get that alot.

[jackelope]

i apologze if i came across the wrong way. i know you're new to this and looking to learn. it wasn't the way it was intended except for the part about hitting the dudes in the head with the 2x4

[bow4elk]

whoever told you to "grab the back straps and rack and walk off, same with elk" needs a swift blow to the head with a 2x4.

 

make that a 4x6...treated!

[uncoolperson]

i apologze if i came across the wrong way. i know you're new to this and looking to learn. it wasn't the way it was intended except for the part about hitting the dudes in the head with the 2x4

like I said that didn't seem right to me at all... I read it somewhere online years ago regarding super hiking deer trips.
I went so far on my buddies deer as to try to preserve some of the skin for flies and such. (I've got to learn this skill!)

I just wanted to know so I could anticipate alittle more of what I might want to plan for. If I can't con a buddy into joining me for the laboring everything out (my brother wouldn't help with that) I'm just bringing a rod and barbless flies.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,23160.msg266164.html#msg266164
(meant what I posted there)

one more backing me up not being that uncool
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,12015.msg134546.html#msg134546

[tlbradford]

If you shoot a 200lb bear live weight, bone out the meat and remove all of the fat which will just make your meat taste like crap, and scrape most of the fat off of the hide, you are talking about a pack weight of around 80-90 lbs.  You need to get that meat coling as quickly as possible, so if you hang it and it can cool overnight, you should be good for a fairly long hike with little meat loss. To trim out a bear like I described you will probably need all of 4 hours unless your buddy has done one before.

[ICEMAN]

coolio, maybe you can walk a section with him, and then decide to hunt as you near an area which is close enough for you to pack it all out? Best of both worlds?

[uncoolperson]

80 lbs, 15 lbs pack weight (still not good at ultra light) and 8 lbs rifle, I think I could do that, even if it required dragging my backpack down a trail.

Thanks for that.

Iceman,
Thats kinda of the idea, wanted to know what to expect/plan for so I could plan out "this section is good, this section use the camera"... need to see if I can find handy ways out.

[ICEMAN]

Bring another person to help carry meat...

Stay and eat it all? 

Have your brother help pack it out, then he can get lost and hike back into his camp?

I'm just saying'... 

[uncoolperson]

Bring another person to help carry meat...

Stay and eat it all? 

Have your brother help pack it out, then he can get lost and hike back into his camp?

I'm just saying'... 

my brother will point at stuff to shoot, however draws the line there, he's a vegetarian.

[Machias]

Bring another person to help carry meat...

Stay and eat it all? 

Have your brother help pack it out, then he can get lost and hike back into his camp?

I'm just saying'... 

my brother will point at stuff to shoot, however draws the line there, he's a vegetarian.

Vegetarian--Old Indian word for bad hunter.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

This has been one of the best Internet threads I've read in a long time!

I'll just walk with him and pack a fly rod.

What? No camera? You go on that little hike. Hunt without a gun. Hunt with a camera just the same as you would if you had a gun in your hand. Improve your stalking skills! See game, conceal yourself, be quiet, take notice of the wind and use it to your favor, get closer than you would need to if you were shooting boolits, snap a photo and share with the world.

Having that feeling of, 'I know I could have taken that animal if I wanted to' is precious. Having proof is priceless.

-Steve

[Bob33]

From the 2009 big game regulations:

"2. Waste of Wildlife:
You may NOT allow
game animals or game
birds you have taken to
recklessly be wasted."

[saylean]

also, bear meat needs to be frozen at a certain temp (I think -30 below?) for X amount of days (like a month) to ensure the Trichinosis is killed off before eating. Something also to consider.

Or at least, it is advised to be frozen as such.

[whacker1]

Stay and eat it all? 

Have your brother help pack it out, then he can get lost and hike back into his camp?

I'm just saying'... 

If he is a vegetarian - he should be happy to help you pack it out, so that the game is not wasted.  Plus he should be in shape by now - hasn't he covered to about the Oregon border around now.  More power to him, but he is going to need some protein come the WA cascades.  A couple thousand miles without protein may change him from being a vegetarian.

It sounds like you are asking the right questions and gettting some fair answers.

[uncoolperson]

I understood that (in ref to the animal wasting in the game regs), I asked because I didn't know what is considered waste with bear.

I never intended on setting out with the plan being grab the hide and walk out (bear is nummy, I want more), I was wondering if somewhere around plan "T" it's acceptable. Apparently it isn't, so I need to work out a few other ideas to cover "wow, I'm a bigger idiot than I thought".


I'm most definately bringing a camera, if not a rifle than the digital SLR.

I'm bad at hunting, I'm not a vegitarian.
I'm thinking after 4 months of hiking around my brother will way out do me on any outdoorsy skills. Going to have to convince him to join me like he did last year. Having my younger brother tell me to stop slacking off works pretty good on the modivation a o'dark thirty. He does the vegitarian thing because he feels it's healthier, as far as walking one out it'd be "it's your problem". Which I would accept. Again it is why I was trying to think of anything that could possibly happen. Trying to do the responsible thing and anticipate as much as I can.


He's just over 1k through, should be on tahoe with a high school friend of ours playing with jetskis or some such nonsense for the 4th.



Thanks again for answering my question, again I am sorry I didn't word it better. I never intended to do something bad, just like to work up as many backup plans as possible. And I think it'd be neat to pile on a few more things to a sizable walk through the woods.


Didn't know about the Trichinosis thing, thanks for that. One more thing to work on anticipating.

[Alchase]

my brother will point at stuff to shoot, however draws the line there, he's a vegetarian.

That can work out well in your favor also, he can help you pack out the meat....and you won't have to give him any for the help, lol

New motto:
Confusedfuss say, better to ask question and get a$$ chewed today, then not and get your a$$ _____ tommorrow in the county jail for poaching,