Gerald Martin
Well-known member
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- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 8,676
funny, I must have missed that email.
Alaska Black Bear – Part III
- Thread starter Big Fin
- Start date
funny, I must have missed that email.
BiggWimm
New member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2009
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- 635
^^^ HAHAHA!! I didn't see one in my inbox either...
ID_deerslayer
Active member
Fin, my email address is... I would make the time for a hunt like this! congrats again on a great bear!
jryoung
Well-known member
I'd pay my way to hunt with you...and I can cook a mean camp meal too.
What is the draw cycle for AK? I thought apps were due Dec-ish, is spring bear on year in advance?
What is the draw cycle for AK? I thought apps were due Dec-ish, is spring bear on year in advance?
Gerald Martin
Well-known member
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- Jul 3, 2009
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beggars.
Yeah, it is way in advance, as the season actually starts September 1 and runs until June 30 (?). So, the tag for 2014 starts in fall 2013, which had an application date of December 2012.
So, when I apply this coming December, it is for the season of 09/01/14 to 06/30/15.
Not sure how we didn't draw this year. Hell, there were lots of left over tags the first year they put it on a draw. Oh well, I guess that is why I will draw a bighorn tag in MT this year, gotta use my luck somewhere.
fishing4sanity
Well-known member
I always enjoy your narrative and photographs, and that bear is just amazing, congrats!
Monteman11
Member
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- Jul 31, 2011
- Messages
- 192
Great Stuff!
Awesome stuff Big Fin. I hunted out of Valdez the same week as you, just arrived a few days later thanks to cancelled flights. We saw 8 bears, but had 4 feet of snow to contend with lining most of the shorelines. All of the bears we saw were at the junction of fresh water streams/waterfalls and the ocean, aside from two on tidal flats, and they only stayed out in short 30 second to two minute intervals. One of my hunting partners did miss a decent bear, but most of the bears we saw were in the 5-5.5' range, aside from one 6'er that we had no way of getting to. We did see about 20 mountain goats and 10 humpback whales along with a pretty neat rookery of sea lions. Conditions just weren't right until the last couple days and the bears started to move. The grass literally greened while we were there. Late spring in the area according to the locals. Looking forward to try it again next year if I can get the right hunting partners. This was my first year and we learned a few tricks along the way for the future. Regardless of the bears, spending 5 days in Alaska beats work.
Awesome stuff Big Fin. I hunted out of Valdez the same week as you, just arrived a few days later thanks to cancelled flights. We saw 8 bears, but had 4 feet of snow to contend with lining most of the shorelines. All of the bears we saw were at the junction of fresh water streams/waterfalls and the ocean, aside from two on tidal flats, and they only stayed out in short 30 second to two minute intervals. One of my hunting partners did miss a decent bear, but most of the bears we saw were in the 5-5.5' range, aside from one 6'er that we had no way of getting to. We did see about 20 mountain goats and 10 humpback whales along with a pretty neat rookery of sea lions. Conditions just weren't right until the last couple days and the bears started to move. The grass literally greened while we were there. Late spring in the area according to the locals. Looking forward to try it again next year if I can get the right hunting partners. This was my first year and we learned a few tricks along the way for the future. Regardless of the bears, spending 5 days in Alaska beats work.
Bad news today. Found out that the plane that flew us in/out to our bear camp, crashed on Tuesday. Not too many details of what happened, but one person was killed and a couple seriously injured. When you think about what that must have been like it is amazing all did not sustain major injuries, or worse.
Adam was our pilot on the way out. He seemed like a great guy. Had lived in Montana for many years and spent most as a private pilot flying personal jets for the rich and famous. I am sure he feels terrible about what happened.
Hate to see that kind of news. Curious to learn of the cause.
Link to the story - http://www.adn.com/2013/06/04/2927414/coast-guard-1-dead-in-se-alaska.html
Adam, manning the controls and posing for the camera.
Probably my last flight in this old bird. I asked when it was built; answer - 1954.
Adam was our pilot on the way out. He seemed like a great guy. Had lived in Montana for many years and spent most as a private pilot flying personal jets for the rich and famous. I am sure he feels terrible about what happened.
Hate to see that kind of news. Curious to learn of the cause.
Link to the story - http://www.adn.com/2013/06/04/2927414/coast-guard-1-dead-in-se-alaska.html
Adam, manning the controls and posing for the camera.
Probably my last flight in this old bird. I asked when it was built; answer - 1954.
sheff
Member
WOW- I hope the survivors are OK.
Tonight, on Sportsman Channel, are the final prime time airing for this season. The final episode is this Alaska black bear hunt. Air times are 8pm and 11pm (Eastern).
Investigating a plan to go and hunt a different area this spring, given there are a few left over self-guided permits in some of the marginal areas.
I hope you get to watch this and it gives you some ideas to add this amazing hunt to your "Gotta do it soon" list.
Investigating a plan to go and hunt a different area this spring, given there are a few left over self-guided permits in some of the marginal areas.
I hope you get to watch this and it gives you some ideas to add this amazing hunt to your "Gotta do it soon" list.
B
big28hunter
Guest
Beautiful bruin! Love the white on his chest. Hoping to draw POW Island for this fall. IMO the greatest critter on the planet. Congrats!
Duck-Slayer
Well-known member
Maybe a different state.....
just kidding.... can you get a better area every other year with a preference/bonus point? or do they not have them?Matt
AK doesn't have a point system. So, us self-guided dudes have to apply each year for black bear in SE Alaska, with past drawing success or failure having no influence on the current year odds. Guided hunters get tags over the counter in these same units where we have to draw.
Duck-Slayer
Well-known member
I see, well good luck on the investigation of a different area.... ya know Idaho has black bears also....
Matt
For those of you who are getting spring black bear fever from this ridiculously warm weather, her is a video of this hunt to make the fever a little worse.
https://youtu.be/I_GwEhd3Eww
Can't wait to be back there in another 70 days.
https://youtu.be/I_GwEhd3Eww
Can't wait to be back there in another 70 days.
