Bigfalls32
New member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2011
- Messages
- 13
Thanks Bart! As promised the checks in the mail!
Alaska Black Bear - Part II
- Thread starter Big Fin
- Start date
thecrittergitter
Well-known member
Bart! $20 bucks, your cheap! Joe, i will offer you $40
Lol
Have fun up there Joe, look forward to the pictures and videos!!.......
Bart and I will be down here harassing the bears in MT while you and Randy and hammering the bears in AK!
LolHave fun up there Joe, look forward to the pictures and videos!!.......
Bart and I will be down here harassing the bears in MT while you and Randy and hammering the bears in AK!
Three weeks from today, and the DeHaviland Beaver will be dumping us at the cabin. So far, only a one glitch, but a pretty big glitch.
Seems the new law guy in SE AK has decided that delivery of a rented skiff constitutes guiding/outfitting, so the guy I rented from last year cannot deliver the skiff to the cabin. Seems I have to go somewhere else to meet him, then take the "ship of fools" across Sumner Straits, which for anyone who has fished that part of SE AK, knows it is pretty big water for a 15' or 17' skiff. In fact, really big water.
Fortunately, Gary, the guy who I rent from has offered he would ride across the straits with me. Evidently he feels is is best for two guys to go down with the ship, than just one.
That adds a big complication, as now I have to take a plane to Pt. Baker to get the skiff, while Joe and Troy head to the cabin in a separate plane. I will meet them there with the skiff, assuming a tsunami doesn't hit on my way.
Oh well, it wouldn't be an adventure, without some adventure.
Seems the new law guy in SE AK has decided that delivery of a rented skiff constitutes guiding/outfitting, so the guy I rented from last year cannot deliver the skiff to the cabin. Seems I have to go somewhere else to meet him, then take the "ship of fools" across Sumner Straits, which for anyone who has fished that part of SE AK, knows it is pretty big water for a 15' or 17' skiff. In fact, really big water.
Fortunately, Gary, the guy who I rent from has offered he would ride across the straits with me. Evidently he feels is is best for two guys to go down with the ship, than just one
.That adds a big complication, as now I have to take a plane to Pt. Baker to get the skiff, while Joe and Troy head to the cabin in a separate plane. I will meet them there with the skiff, assuming a tsunami doesn't hit on my way.
Oh well, it wouldn't be an adventure, without some adventure.
Three weeks from today, and the DeHaviland Beaver will be dumping us at the cabin. So far, only a one glitch, but a pretty big glitch.
Seems the new law guy in SE AK has decided that delivery of a rented skiff constitutes guiding/outfitting, so the guy I rented from last year cannot deliver the skiff to the cabin. Seems I have to go somewhere else to meet him, then take the "ship of fools" across Sumner Straits, which for anyone who has fished that part of SE AK, knows it is pretty big water for a 15' or 17' skiff. In fact, really big water.
Fortunately, Gary, the guy who I rent from has offered he would ride across the straits with me. Evidently he feels is is best for two guys to go down with the ship, than just one
That adds a big complication, as now I have to take a plane to Pt. Baker to get the skiff, while Joe and Troy head to the cabin in a separate plane. I will meet them there with the skiff, assuming a tsunami doesn't hit on my way.
Oh well, it wouldn't be an adventure, without some adventure.
Fairly ballsy taking a wee lil boat across Sumner. Doable, but I doubt it's much fun. Hope the weather is nice
Why not one plane? And just drop them off and head to baker, the cabin isn't that far out of the way.
Fairly ballsy taking a wee lil boat across Sumner. Doable, but I doubt it's much fun. Hope the weather is nice
Why not one plane? And just drop them off and head to baker, the cabin isn't that far out of the way.
I commercial fished Sumner/Fredrick/Icy/Chatam one summer, and there were days it wasn't any fun on a 73' longliner. So the thought of a skiff is even less appealing. But, if the law man says we must, I guess we must.
Have thought about one plane, if we can fit all the junk. Not sure if we can.
A TV show does not travel light. The Beaver has a 1,400 pound weight limit. Pilot, two hunters, camera man, take up about 800 of that. Camera gear is about another 250. Ten days of goods, coolers, clothes, rifles, and everything else would have us just below the limit. And then, how do you fit all that junk inside one plane?
Logistics. Half the fun.
thecrittergitter
Well-known member
We will be lucky to have any bears out in three weeks in MT yet...........
So whats the difference between dropping the skiff off at Pt.baker and not Devils elbow,How is that not considerd guiding/outfitting?Three weeks from today, and the DeHaviland Beaver will be dumping us at the cabin. So far, only a one glitch, but a pretty big glitch.
Seems the new law guy in SE AK has decided that delivery of a rented skiff constitutes guiding/outfitting, so the guy I rented from last year cannot deliver the skiff to the cabin. Seems I have to go somewhere else to meet him, then take the "ship of fools" across Sumner Straits, which for anyone who has fished that part of SE AK, knows it is pretty big water for a 15' or 17' skiff. In fact, really big water.
Fortunately, Gary, the guy who I rent from has offered he would ride across the straits with me. Evidently he feels is is best for two guys to go down with the ship, than just one
That adds a big complication, as now I have to take a plane to Pt. Baker to get the skiff, while Joe and Troy head to the cabin in a separate plane. I will meet them there with the skiff, assuming a tsunami doesn't hit on my way.
Oh well, it wouldn't be an adventure, without some adventure.
Calvin
New member
That pisses me off, that they'd put you in a position to have to make that run. Hopefully you'll have smooth sailing. Fortunately the run is only 6 miles across the first channel, so in a skiff you can do it in a hurry. Don't be afraid to red line it across if you have a tide change where it lays down.
You non-residents need to seriously consider boycotting Alaska until they change these stupid rules.
You non-residents need to seriously consider boycotting Alaska until they change these stupid rules.
Calvin
New member
Hope you are already at your cabin, as it's about to get ugly out there. Welcome to SE AK.. You'll see some weather this trip!
Nope, headed up tomorrow. I see the forecast sucks. Marine forecast is 15-25 knots, with some gusts higher. Not sure what that converts to in form of seas on Sumner between Pt. Baker and the mouth of Keku Straights, but something tells me it will rival most carnival rides.
I have found a bigger boat to take me from Pburg down to Pt. Baker to pick up the skiff with most our gear on board. Too much bulk to fit it all in the Beaver. For sure two trips to get back out, with or without bears.
Joe and Troy (the camera guy) are flying into the cabin from Pburg. I will then take the skiff up to the cabin and meet them. The guy taking me on the boat has a pretty big boat, and stated he will take me and the skiff close to Keku, from Pt. Baker. That makes me a lot more comfortable, but it still looks like some ugly stuff.
Mrs. Fin was putting her foot down about me doing that trip without escort, so the bigger boat deal has salvaged the trip. Given the short-term weather forecast, it looks like she was justified in her demand.
Calvin, you 'spose a few guys will have to drown before AK G&F lightens up on these stupid rules that are cracking down on transporters, all in the effort to supposedly address rogue outfitting?
What is the difference between the guy who flies us in, versus the guy delivering a skiff? BS in my mind. If guides are really that concerned about losing business to transporters, seems they could find a different way to address the problem.
If not for the bigger boat taking me down there and across, I would cancel that cabin reservation and hunt somewhere closer to Pburg, due to safety issues. I am pretty sure that taking a skiff across there alone, in those forecasted winds and seas, could be hard on a guy's life expectancy.
I guess it was too easy last year. Looks like soaking rain, every day.
mn taxidermist
Active member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2010
- Messages
- 180
Sounds like more of an adventure all the time. Good luck on the boat ride and the hunt.
Calvin
New member
Be careful man. It can get out of control quickly, and it only takes a small mechanical failure or even running over a small log to get you in trouble when making a rough water crossing. One of my worst memories from my CG years was when I was working as a flight mechanic out of airsta Sitka. Two grown men, and a son were overdue from a deer hunting trip. Residents of Kake. We found the boston whaler on the beach the first day of searching, in Fredrick sound, with the cowling removed from the motor. The following morning the next flight crew found dad washed up, frozen to the beach, wearing a survival suit. Can't recall us ever finding the son or grandpa, despite many days of flying. I only flew on the case for the first few days though. Those were some very experienced boaters too, who understood the area. Take it easy and go slow.
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Lawnboy
Well-known member
Smart woman you have their Fin. I hope you guys have a fun safe trip. I'll be holding the snow down back at home
Big luke1981
Member
Good luck Fin. I hope you have a fun and safe trip. Looking forward to hearing all about it.
Fatrack
Well-known member
Ive been following this thread a little bit and it was cool to bump into Randy and Troy in the airport this morning. I shared the flight with them to Seattle im on a business trip and those guys r heading to AK to chase bears around....I wish I was going with them!!
Good luck guys can't wait to hear about it and see the hunt!
Good luck guys can't wait to hear about it and see the hunt!
Well, we made it to Juneau. One remaining air flight to Petersburg and we will be re-packing for the final leg. Weather in Juneau looks great. Hope the same can be said for Pburg and Kuiu.
Was neat to run into Fatrack on the flight this morning. Always cool to meet other Hunt Talkers.
Was neat to run into Fatrack on the flight this morning. Always cool to meet other Hunt Talkers.
shoots-straight
Well-known member
And so it begins. Good luck!
Well, there is never any easy answer to travel these days. Joe had to get rerouted and almost didn't make the MN to Seattle connection. Troy and I checked 9 bags of gear, cameras, coolers, and most anything else needed for comfort and safety. Well, more comfort than safety.
We met up with Joe in Seattle. Nice to visit and catch up with a life-time friend who I have only seen sporadically over the last 25 years. Will be lots of swapping of lies and stories over the next ten days.
Called up to Pburg and got an updated weather forecast. The winds have let down some, and the run with the skiff should be doable. The rain will suck, but that makes up for the beautiful weather we had last year. Guess the scales of weather are balancing out. Much easier to hunt in the rain than it is to film in the rain. Troy has the bum deal in this weather.
Lots of bear hunters on the plane to Juneau. Craig Morgan and his crew are headed up to film a spring grizz hunt. Lots of other guys headed out for the same experience we hope to have.
When we finally got to Pburg, I have joined up with my Uncle, Jim Stickler. Jim lives north of there a couple hundred miles, in the little burg of Haines. He is in the area with his boat, and has kindly offered to take me down to Pt. Baker and meet the skiff there. Will be nice to spend some time visiting with him.
Jim is my mother's youngest of her 6 brothers. He and I were roommates in college for two years at ASU. Amazing either of us survived the experience. We spent way more time on extra-curricular activities than the curricular duties. Hunting doves and quail being a large part of those "outside activities." Needless to say, both of our lives prospered upon going our own ways as we took on the responsibilities of real lives.
Jim will follow me from Pt. Baker, up to the cabin, with his boat. Says he might anchor out deep for a day and visit with us when we are not filming. He offered to catch us some halibut while we are out looking for Yogi who wants to be a the TV star. Hard to turn that one down. He has a business and family, so he will probably have to head back north to Haines in short order, but it is nice to combine this hunt with a chance to catch up and visit with an uncle who has always been more like my older brother.
Jim and I are leaving tonight at 11:00pm to catch the outgoing tide. The wind has died down, and we hope to be at Pt. Baker sometime tomorrow morning. Will grab the skiff around noon and get up to the cabin by 4PM.
This trip has been the one that had put the biggest knot in my stomach, of all we have filmed. First the date changes, then the skiff rental issues, then the weather forecast. Not sure why it had me fretting. Now that I am on my way and the bags seems completely packed (maybe too completely packed), I feel much more relaxed. I mean, what can I do about it now, if I did forget something. We never go on a trip without forgetting something, so why should this be any different.
Going to be leaving the real world of technological connectivity, real soon, so the updates will be hard to come by. I am keeping a daily journal and when we get back to Pburg, I will start scribing my notes to the Hunt Talk threads and make my best attempt to put into words a hunt that will probably be hard to adequately explain.
Whether or not the bears cooperate, I guess is not the bottom line. If they do cooperate, I will be very thankful, especially for Joe. This is his first Alaska hunt, and I would like for it to be a good one. Troy will do his usual stellar camera work, and hopefully capture a few of his world-class still images to share with the crowd here on the site.
With any luck, a bear will be part of this story. I have brought enough deer and predator calls to sink the Bismarck, so I have no excuses this year. I would love to call in a couple of those big blackies and them a close range Howa Handshake. Spot and stalk is always fun, but I think calling in these bears would be about as much fun as it gets. I love calling predators and the adrenaline rush that comes as they charge toward you in search of a meal. I suspect that heart rate spike will be magnified if it is a 350# black bear coming to the dinner bell.
This is probably the last post for a long time. Wish us luck. As is always the case, we sure can use some.
We met up with Joe in Seattle. Nice to visit and catch up with a life-time friend who I have only seen sporadically over the last 25 years. Will be lots of swapping of lies and stories over the next ten days.
Called up to Pburg and got an updated weather forecast. The winds have let down some, and the run with the skiff should be doable. The rain will suck, but that makes up for the beautiful weather we had last year. Guess the scales of weather are balancing out. Much easier to hunt in the rain than it is to film in the rain. Troy has the bum deal in this weather.
Lots of bear hunters on the plane to Juneau. Craig Morgan and his crew are headed up to film a spring grizz hunt. Lots of other guys headed out for the same experience we hope to have.
When we finally got to Pburg, I have joined up with my Uncle, Jim Stickler. Jim lives north of there a couple hundred miles, in the little burg of Haines. He is in the area with his boat, and has kindly offered to take me down to Pt. Baker and meet the skiff there. Will be nice to spend some time visiting with him.
Jim is my mother's youngest of her 6 brothers. He and I were roommates in college for two years at ASU. Amazing either of us survived the experience. We spent way more time on extra-curricular activities than the curricular duties. Hunting doves and quail being a large part of those "outside activities." Needless to say, both of our lives prospered upon going our own ways as we took on the responsibilities of real lives.
Jim will follow me from Pt. Baker, up to the cabin, with his boat. Says he might anchor out deep for a day and visit with us when we are not filming. He offered to catch us some halibut while we are out looking for Yogi who wants to be a the TV star. Hard to turn that one down. He has a business and family, so he will probably have to head back north to Haines in short order, but it is nice to combine this hunt with a chance to catch up and visit with an uncle who has always been more like my older brother.
Jim and I are leaving tonight at 11:00pm to catch the outgoing tide. The wind has died down, and we hope to be at Pt. Baker sometime tomorrow morning. Will grab the skiff around noon and get up to the cabin by 4PM.
This trip has been the one that had put the biggest knot in my stomach, of all we have filmed. First the date changes, then the skiff rental issues, then the weather forecast. Not sure why it had me fretting. Now that I am on my way and the bags seems completely packed (maybe too completely packed), I feel much more relaxed. I mean, what can I do about it now, if I did forget something. We never go on a trip without forgetting something, so why should this be any different.
Going to be leaving the real world of technological connectivity, real soon, so the updates will be hard to come by. I am keeping a daily journal and when we get back to Pburg, I will start scribing my notes to the Hunt Talk threads and make my best attempt to put into words a hunt that will probably be hard to adequately explain.
Whether or not the bears cooperate, I guess is not the bottom line. If they do cooperate, I will be very thankful, especially for Joe. This is his first Alaska hunt, and I would like for it to be a good one. Troy will do his usual stellar camera work, and hopefully capture a few of his world-class still images to share with the crowd here on the site.
With any luck, a bear will be part of this story. I have brought enough deer and predator calls to sink the Bismarck, so I have no excuses this year. I would love to call in a couple of those big blackies and them a close range Howa Handshake. Spot and stalk is always fun, but I think calling in these bears would be about as much fun as it gets. I love calling predators and the adrenaline rush that comes as they charge toward you in search of a meal. I suspect that heart rate spike will be magnified if it is a 350# black bear coming to the dinner bell.
This is probably the last post for a long time. Wish us luck. As is always the case, we sure can use some.
