Post by Ken O'Neill on Apr 30, 2019 9:44:31 GMT -5
I found myself hijacking my own thread "Coupla' bears for Rey", so instead of continuing down that bear tunnel, I thought I'd start another thread. In 1998 I hunted in the Nushagak Hills of Western Alaska, looking for a nice Black Bear. I had taken a blonde color phase several years earlier in Alberta.
My outfitter, Mike Richmond, had various licenses in camp. The way things worked in Alaska in those days, and perhaps now, is that you could use a Black Bear (or any other) license for any animal, providing that the license cost the same, or less, for the animal you decided to shoot. Then you can buy another license for some animal, and continue to hunt. A grand policy indeed, when you're out in the wilderness.
On the first day, I realized we were in the middle of a Caribou migration, and I really got excited. After spending most of the day glassing and stalking, and using my Black Bear license, I was able to take this 'boo at 125 yds, with my 12-1/2" Contender in .375 JDJ:
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As soon as I shot the Caribou, the skies really opened up and we decided to leave the skinning and meat recovery until early the next morning when the deluge stopped. Before dawn next morning, we headed out, and arriving at the animal I began to skin it out in the heavy fog. Suddenly I saw a shaggy head peer through the fog, at about 25-35 Yards. My mind screamed "wolf!" and I sat behind the 'boo, grabbing my .375 JDJ. Through the fog came one, then another and another … Wolverines! Coming to breakfast! They saw or smelled me and began to move quickly to my left. I shot the third one. He dropped, but made the most hellacious sound I'd ever heard. I finished him with another shot. Evidently a .375 JDJ is barely enough for a 30 pound-ish Wolverine:
Mike Richmond told me that of all the animals in Alaska, he'd like to take, but hasn't, the Wolverine tops the list. I'd much rather be lucky than good.
Finally on the next to last day, my chance came for a great Black Bear. 125 yards, Win. Mdl. 70, .375 H&H:
Why the rifle? Well a huge Moose had been seen in the area, and since I was on a roll ….
My outfitter, Mike Richmond, had various licenses in camp. The way things worked in Alaska in those days, and perhaps now, is that you could use a Black Bear (or any other) license for any animal, providing that the license cost the same, or less, for the animal you decided to shoot. Then you can buy another license for some animal, and continue to hunt. A grand policy indeed, when you're out in the wilderness.
On the first day, I realized we were in the middle of a Caribou migration, and I really got excited. After spending most of the day glassing and stalking, and using my Black Bear license, I was able to take this 'boo at 125 yds, with my 12-1/2" Contender in .375 JDJ:
[/As soon as I shot the Caribou, the skies really opened up and we decided to leave the skinning and meat recovery until early the next morning when the deluge stopped. Before dawn next morning, we headed out, and arriving at the animal I began to skin it out in the heavy fog. Suddenly I saw a shaggy head peer through the fog, at about 25-35 Yards. My mind screamed "wolf!" and I sat behind the 'boo, grabbing my .375 JDJ. Through the fog came one, then another and another … Wolverines! Coming to breakfast! They saw or smelled me and began to move quickly to my left. I shot the third one. He dropped, but made the most hellacious sound I'd ever heard. I finished him with another shot. Evidently a .375 JDJ is barely enough for a 30 pound-ish Wolverine:
Mike Richmond told me that of all the animals in Alaska, he'd like to take, but hasn't, the Wolverine tops the list. I'd much rather be lucky than good.
Finally on the next to last day, my chance came for a great Black Bear. 125 yards, Win. Mdl. 70, .375 H&H:
Why the rifle? Well a huge Moose had been seen in the area, and since I was on a roll ….
